Chapter 44
After finishing preparations to leave and stepping outside of Ker, I saw that Callias and his party were waiting for me.
Though several people were gathered together, Callias immediately caught my eye.
He wasn’t the tallest or the biggest among them, but strangely, he was the only one I could see.
He smiled at me.
“What happened yesterday feels like a dream.”
It was as though I had wandered through a warm dream together with Callias.
I felt much closer to him and smiled back.
“Rassa isn’t here.”
I whispered to Callias, who had come close to me.
I had been looking for Rassa since morning, but no matter where I searched, I couldn’t even find a shadow of her.
Callias regretfully explained why.
“After her prayers, she’s exhausted and unable to receive guests.”
“Oh dear…”
I was disappointed, both because I worried about Rassa and because my curiosity remained unsatisfied. Seeing this, Callias comforted me.
“Rassa’s prophecies are difficult for everyone. They often sound like incomprehensible riddles. But looking back, I’ve always come to understand her words when the time was right.”
“But what if I’m too dull to understand them even when that time comes?”
“In that case, you will meet Rassa again—just as we happened to meet the Utar tribe.”
When I still looked uneasy, Callias spoke with firm conviction.
“Rassa’s coincidences are never coincidences. Don’t worry.”
Hearing him say that left me with no choice but to nod.
Then he leaned close and whispered:
“Besides, Chloe is not dull.”
“Th-thank you for saying that.”
His words reminded me of what Rassa had told me—that I should believe in myself.
“But believing in myself… it’s not easy.”
It felt like I had been given a difficult lifelong assignment.
We greeted the Utar tribe before parting ways.
The chief’s wife gave me a necklace made from a small pebble she had found at the lake.
It was a beautiful necklace with a vivid blue stone.
The color was so strikingly bright that it was as fine as any jewel.
“It’s a wedding gift. My humble work, but I made it while praying that the Lord will protect you, my lady.”
She couldn’t bring herself to call me a marchioness and instead addressed me as “bride.”
“It’s truly lovely! You have wonderful hands!”
At my praise, she blushed and whispered:
“I wanted to give it to you because it resembles the color of your eyes.”
A gift with such meaning—it filled me with genuine joy.
She seemed hesitant to place the necklace on me herself, as if worried it might be rude. Seeing that, I bowed my head to her.
“Would you put it on for me?”
“Oh, yes!”
Flustered, she hurriedly clasped the necklace around my neck.
The sincerity of a gift made while praying for me moved me deeply, and I hugged her tightly.
“I truly love it! I’ll treasure it always. Thanks to you, I’ve gained something precious.”
She blushed, bowed to me several more times, and hid behind the chief.
After resting for one night, we mounted our horses again.
The Utar children, who could already ride on their own at the age of six, watched with amusement as I had to be lifted onto the horse by Callias.
For the first time, I felt embarrassed that I couldn’t do something others my age could.
During that short time with the Utar, I had experienced and felt many things for the first time.
All of it became lessons and resolutions for me.
“Once I reach Ronhaim, I must learn horseback riding.”
The mountain goat gifted to us by Bihar proved very clever.
We followed only the goat’s steps, and it guided us safely past the many dangers and hidden obstacles in the snow.
After much riding, in the early dawn as a blizzard began to blow, we finally arrived at Ronhaim Castle.
Utterly exhausted, we dismounted. The castle’s servants stood waiting with lanterns in hand.
It was late, and one might expect them to be tired, but none showed signs of weariness.
Each wore an expression of joy at Callias’ return.
“Everyone’s holding lanterns.”
That was the first thing that struck me.
Though perhaps it was simply because the night was so dark.
“But why not use magic lamps? Is there a reason?”
In Arental, candles were rarely used except for emergencies. Magical lamps were preferred—they were safe, easy to use, and didn’t go out in the wind.
But here, everyone carried candlelit lanterns.
“Especially when the wind is this strong…”
Sure enough, I saw many servants relighting their extinguished flames.
“How strange.”
Later, I learned the reason, and I was relieved I hadn’t voiced my ignorance then.
Ronhaim was so poor that even the castle couldn’t afford expensive magic lamps. At that time, I hadn’t even imagined such a thing.
Because the lantern flames kept going out, we hurried into the castle.
Before we arrived, Callias had sent Brentián ahead to announce my visit, so the servants did not mistakenly address him as “king,” as Bihar had done.
“You must have endured much hardship, my lord. Thank goodness you’ve returned safely.”
The steward greeted Callias with deep joy.
A great scar ran diagonally across the steward’s face.
In Arental’s imperial palace, people with large visible scars were never hired. It was surprising that here, even a high-ranking steward bore such a mark.
Callias grasped the steward’s hand firmly.
“Nothing serious happened while I was away?”
“Nothing worth urgent report, my lord.”
“That is good. You’ve worked hard guarding the castle, Mainz.”
“I’ve only fulfilled my duty.”
Callias smiled proudly, then introduced me to the servants.
“This is Princess Chloe Idelian of the Imperial House of Idelian, and soon to be Marchioness Rodrian.”
The servants all bowed deeply.
“I look forward to your guidance.”
Their faces were stiff with nervousness, and I sighed inwardly.
“It’s all right. Things will get better with time.”
Callias glanced around, then asked Mainz:
“I don’t see the head maid. Where is she? I’d like her to attend the Marchioness.”
“Well, my lord…”
Mainz hesitated awkwardly, lowering his voice as though I shouldn’t hear.
Callias frowned as he listened.
“That’s a baseless presumption. Go bring Granata at once.”
So the head maid’s name was Granata.
“But…”
“Now.”
Mainz wavered, glanced at me nervously, then forced an awkward smile.
At that moment, a powerful voice echoed through the hall as someone approached.
“No need, my lord. I’ve come myself.”
It was a woman who looked to be in her sixties—the head maid, Granata.
Her voice was bold and commanding.
As she walked, I heard a sharp thunk, thunk, like wood striking stone. I instinctively glanced at her feet.
At first I thought it was the sound of a cane.
But when her skirt shifted, I saw a wooden prosthetic leg in place of one of her feet.
The prosthesis wasn’t carved to resemble a foot—it was simply enough to let her stand and balance. Her gait was slightly unsteady, yet still proud and imposing.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Granata Villeno. Please, call me Granata.”
She bowed with precise courtesy.
Then, with a cold expression, she lifted her skirt slightly to reveal her wooden leg.
“As you see, my body is not whole. The steward feared Your Highness would be displeased and tried to hide me. I had to break the door to come here, and I apologize for the delay.”
Mainz paled and tried to stop her.
“Granata, please, don’t—”
But Granata brushed him aside with a single gesture, utterly unmoved.
Then, with that same crisp formality, she turned to me.
“At Ronhaim Castle, I will be serving you, my lady. Does my crippled body displease you? The steward said that in Arental, cripples are considered offensive. I do not know if that’s truth or rumor, so I ask you directly.”
Overwhelmed by her presence, I could barely move my lips, let alone speak.
Her piercing gaze looked as though it might swallow me whole.
“S-so scary…”
To my shame, I felt tears prick at my eyes.
But with everyone watching intently, waiting for my response, I forced myself to hold them back.
Even Mainz, who had tried to stop her, stood silent, waiting for my answer.
