Chapter 38
Perhaps now he finally understood why the former king of Altnebra had made such a fuss about marrying a witch.
Still unable to quite believe it, he muttered to himself.
“Usually when people have a lot of time… don’t they read books, or do embroidery or something…?”
“Ah, I’ve never tried embroidery, and books, well…”
Kiara lowered her head again. A moment ago, she’d been proudly showing off her pulley system, but now she was a completely different person. Hunched over, she muttered in a barely audible voice.
“I…I can’t read.”
“You can’t read?”
Ael raised an eyebrow at her shy confession. It made no sense. How could someone capable of building such a complex mechanism not know how to read? As if she sensed his confusion, Kiara quickly added an explanation.
“T-the language I speak… I mean, the witch’s tongue. I can read and write that just fine…”
Finally understanding, Ael nodded.
To her, it was essentially a foreign language. She probably could have picked it up quickly, too, if only she hadn’t avoided people so much. But that would’ve left her with little opportunity to learn.
While she remained small and dejected, a sudden knock knock came at the door.
Kiara flinched, panic spreading over her face once more.
“Wh-who…?”
Startled, she backed toward the bed, clutching at the sheet. But before she could duck under it, Ael swiftly snatched it away. Flustered, Kiara let out a sharp yelp.
“Ah! Ahhh!”
“…Come in. The door’s open.”
Ael called out casually toward the door, completely unfazed. By the time the servants entered with the bathwater, Kiara looked like she’d turned not just pale but practically blue.
She desperately wanted to pull the sheet over her head like before, but Ael had it firmly in hand. No matter how hard she tugged at it, it didn’t budge.
In the end, Kiara, thoroughly mortified, shut her eyes tight. To her, the sound of water being poured into the tub echoed louder than ever.
‘Please… just hurry… hurry up and leave…’
She bit her lower lip anxiously and begged in her heart.
At last, the servants finished pouring the bath and began heading out of the room in a rush. It was their first time seeing the witch so up close. Their expressions were stiff with unease.
“Stop right there.”
Ael’s voice halted them in their tracks. The startled servants hesitated, pausing mid-step.
“Leaving without even a word of greeting?”
“…Sir?”
The servants blinked in confusion, having been about to leave in silence without acknowledging Kiara at all. Ael frowned and spoke again.
“Whatever happened in the past, the witch’s curse has now been lifted. Wouldn’t it be polite to exchange greetings at the very least? You might keep running into her around the castle.”
“G-greetings…”
The servants muttered in confusion. Greetings? Kiara had long been someone everyone avoided. People believed just meeting her eyes would curse them. Even if the curse was lifted now, how could they truly believe it?
Though she said nothing, Kiara felt the same way deep down.
‘Greetings…? And keep running into each other…?’
Those were the very people who had thrown stones, cursed, and spat at her before. Honestly, she didn’t want to see them again.
Besides, hadn’t Ael told her not to leave the room? As this thought crossed her mind, Kiara suddenly shook her head in confusion.
…Could it be that he’s trying to send me out?
Meanwhile, Ael firmly commanded once more.
“Hurry up.”
“…G-Greetings, Witch… ma’am.”
“Kiara.”
To the hesitant servants who bowed awkwardly, Ael spoke again.
“Even if she is a witch, it’s better to use her name. Call her Lady Kiara.”
If you keep calling her ‘witch,’ they’ll treat her like the scary outcast they fear. But maybe, if they start using a different name, dealing with her will get easier. People’s prejudices are often easier and more effective to cover over with new labels than to try and fix directly. Ael had learned this through experience.
Though still reluctant, the servants bowed their heads to Kiara as instructed.
“…Then please rest comfortably, Lady Kiara.”
At last, the servants hesitantly shifted their steps, glancing around nervously. Whether it was because they were simply glad to finally be released, or because of Ael’s intention, their expressions had noticeably lightened as they headed toward the door.
But then—
“Wait a moment. Stop right there.”
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.