Chapter 105
*Tap, tap, tap, tap .
Slush, slush, slush, slush . *
Holding a water bucket in each hand, I awkwardly struggled down the street .
“I-I’m going to fall…!”
If I focused on my left hand too much, then I’d lose sight of my right and vice versa .
As I trotted down the path like a drunk salaryman coming home from work at night, the trail of water puddles scattered on the road like polka dots . The buckets that were once full were now down to about a sixth of its capacity already .
Hey, aren’t I being a bit useless here!?
“That’s why I told you it’s fine to just take it one at a time . ”
Lily looked back over her shoulder and sighed with a sour face .
She adjusted her pose and strode back to me with light steps . Even though her own two buckets were still full of water, she gave off the impression as if they weren’t heavy at all .
It’s surprising that someone as thin as Lily would have this much strength . This just goes to show the difference in our experience .
By the way, since I was hopeless at balancing the pole on my shoulder, I carried the buckets by hand instead .
“Here, please put them down . Let’s rest a bit . ”
Despite saying that in a monotone voice with an empty expression, I knew that deep down she was worried for me . I found out how kind Lily really was after we had spent these past few days together .
I gladly took her kind offer and set the buckets down on the ground .
Slowly parting my numbed fingers from the handle, I opened my hand . My palms were red all over .
“It hurts…”
“Unsurprising, considering that you are a princess that’s trying to draw water . ”
“But that’s because I couldn’t do anything else…”
I was supposed to be treated as the Kua Clan’s honoured guest since they couldn’t keep a princess locked up forever . This could change at any moment, though . Basically speaking, I could simply sit in my room and do nothing all day long with no prying eyes . On top of that, I was kindly allowed to walk freely in the village, provided that someone was with me .
But at the same time, their over-the-top kindness made me uneasy .
After I told them that I will lend a helping hand, the chief gave his permission . But other members had completely opposite reactions, including Lily, who cried out in protest . Despite having an outsider wandering around their village and refusing my help at first, the villagers eventually gave up on trying to stop me . In the end, they gave me advice, albeit with a face like they were chewing wasps, and at times even asked me for help . Perhaps, deep down, they are truly good people .
“That’s not true . You’re just not suited for labour-intensive tasks is all . ”
“Yeah, a princess should hold herself in her room like a good princess should . ”
Someone grabbed away one of my buckets as their voice sounded behind me .
A middle-aged man about forty years old walked past me and carried the water bucket as if it was made of nothing .
“U-Um! That! I can carry it by myself . ”
“If I leave it to you, it’ll be dark before we get back . ”
I tried to chase after the man, but he dismissed me and kept on walking .
“That might be the case! But-!”
“This is in the way, you blockhead . ”
“Waah-!?”
As soon as I said that, a black shadow moved to my side and flipped my skirt . I held down the hems of my skirt in a panic and shrieked out loud like a frog . When I glanced over, a boy with a cheeky expression was laughing his head off .
“What are you doing!?”
“Your frilly clothes are annoying . I just brushed it off a bit, that’s all . ”
I protested with a beet red face, but he just continued to laugh .
This shitty brat!
“Don’t be rude, Rolf . ”
“Yeah yeah . ”
Lily scolded him, but that shitty brat Rolf turned a deaf ear and dismissed her .
There were a lot of bystanders looking from afar, but perhaps I should be thankful that they even took care of me at all as they were overlooking Rolf’s behaviour just now . …No, it’s impossible .
I mean, I honestly couldn’t deal with those bratty types because I’ve been around different kinds of boys up until now .
The boys that surrounded my life were always true gentlemen .
It wasn’t only Georg and Michael, born aristocrats, who carried gentlemanly etiquette around me; even Lutz and Theo, who were of lower standing, had never treated me like this .
In a sense, this brat was the most ‘boy-like’ boy I had ever met .
His ash grey hair was cut short and trimmed, his eyes the colour of almond, and he sported a dark tan skin distinctive to the Kua Clan .
That face of his could be classed as beautiful, but his personality behind the mask was beyond wild . Despite his small frame, he clearly had firm and sturdy muscles, especially around his arms and neck . He resembled a wild dog and, in a way, looked similar to Wolf .
With a sharp glare, he turned to me and raised an eyebrow .
“What’cha looking at? Bleh!” Rolf stuck his tongue out at me and blew a raspberry .
“…Nothing . ”
I take that back . Not similar . Not similar at all .
Wolf was occasionally tough with others, but he would never treat any girl like this . I’m sorry I compared you to this shitty brat .
“Marie, please . Let’s go . ”
“Yes . ”
When Lily prompted, I gladly followed . Rolf also tagged along but I ignored him .
Lily stopped walking once we reached a large stone . We lowered the water buckets to the ground and got down on our knees . After slowly putting my hands over my chest, I gently looked down .
Of course, Rolf did the same thing . I only copied the posture they took and stared blankly at the standing stone in front of me .
I say ‘standing stone’ but apparently, it was once a statue .
The weather may have eroded it away, but I could barely make out the shape of a person . When Lily first showed it to me, she said it was a statue of The Goddess .
She was said to be the founder of the Kua Clan who wielded the power of miracles .
If she so desired, it would rain . If she sang, flowers would bloom . Plants grew in an instant . Illnesses and injuries were cured with simply a wave of her hand . A woman of many legends and the woman the Kua Clan wholeheartedly worshipped and believed in .
“Sorry for making you wait . ”
Lily finished her prayer and stood up . By the way, she never once forced me to pray with her .
“Are you gonna make tonight’s meal as well?”
“That’s right . ”
I nodded at Rolf’s question .
I couldn’t help much with physical labour, but it was the complete opposite when it came to cooking . Naturally, they refused to let me help out when I had first asked them . Who in their right mind would want an outsider to cook for them, let alone a princess, right? Perhaps it’s the fruit of my persistence that I eventually got a chance to cook for them, but only one chance . If I failed, I wouldn’t get another shot .
However, when it turned out I could unexpectedly cook, they had left the job to me ever since .
“What will you make tonight?”
“I had some spices lying around so I was thinking of something different . ”
In addition to herbs and vegetables, this village also raised spices as well . Probably because some spices can be used as medicine too .
There were so many different kinds grown here, some of them rare enough to the point where I couldn’t obtain them through Master Julius .
Coriander and cumin went around trade circulation in the neighbouring Kingdom of Wind so I wasn’t surprised to have found it here, but to think I would find chilli and turmeric here as well .
With all these ingredients, I can make that .
“Would Lily be alright with tedious jobs?”
“Yes . If anything, I quite like it . ”
“Me too . ” Rolf chimed in .
“I didn’t ask you . ”
While I was having a pleasant conversation, I heard the sound of fluttering wings .
The black feathers of birds that were flying overhead danced in front of us .
‘I hope you haven’t forgotten the reason we’re here . ’
His sarcastic and cynical smile flashed through my mind .
I stretched out my hand and grabbed a falling feather .
“…Of course not . ” I murmured in a tiny voice .
Lily looked over curiously and asked ‘Did you say something?’ to which I replied with a bitter smile:
“Nothing . ”
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