Chapter 3
“What exactly did they say she looked like again…?”
The man frowned, struggling to remember.
“They said she looked creepy.”
A little girl who had been hidden behind him answered casually.
“As if anyone doesn’t already know that.”
She even added a jab.
“Hey, the adults are talking—”
“Half a geun of pork, please.”
Ignoring the man’s scolding without a care, the little girl placed a silver coin on the counter.
“Dana. I told you last time I don’t sell half a geun…”
Hero let out a sigh and tried to send her away, but knowing how poor her family was, he couldn’t simply pretend not to care.
“Just this once.”
Dana beamed and nodded enthusiastically.
Then she rummaged through her pocket again before holding out a four-leaf clover to Heinz.
“…What’s this?”
“I found it earlier!”
Dana smiled without a trace of worry.
Heinz, however, remained expressionless.
Hero nudged him a couple of times, but Heinz had no intention of relaxing his face.
“Instead of that, why don’t you finish what you were saying earlier?”
The woman who had escaped from the Imperial Palace—
That was the part Heinz actually cared about.
“They said she looked really gloomy. Apparently she was someone from the Imperial Palace. Aren’t all the people there supposed to be handsome and beautiful?”
“…”
She definitely said she was a commoner.
Heinz recalled the story Elthia had told him the previous evening.
“She might’ve been a servant… or someone who handled menial work.”
Even after hearing Hero’s explanation, Dana tilted her head.
“They said she looked just like a witch.”
The corner of Heinz’s lips lifted into a faint smirk.
Now that he thought about it, Elthia really did resemble the witches from fairy tales.
“Huh? You smiled!”
Dana pointed at Heinz with a delighted expression.
The moment she said it, his face returned to its usual blank expression.
“Here’s your half geun of meat. Be careful not to trip on your way home.”
“Thank you! I hope you sell lots today!”
After Dana left, Heinz fell into deep thought.
Hero watched him curiously for a moment before the increasingly crowded marketplace forced him back to work.
***
By the time Elthia opened her eyes, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon.
I’ve burdened him for over half a day.
She had to leave immediately.
He had only agreed to let her stay for one night.
If he discovered she had remained until now, he might become angry.
Her body burned with fever, and every muscle ached, but she could endure it.
As Elthia forced strength into her trembling legs and slowly stood up, Heinz walked through the front door.
“Ah…”
Her lips parted awkwardly.
“I-I was just about to leave…”
Without replying, Heinz walked into the kitchen and unwrapped the paper bundle he had brought with him.
Inside was fresh meat, clearly butchered only moments earlier.
“…Then I’ll be going. Thank you for helping me last night.”
Elthia bowed deeply before reaching for the doorknob.
“If you leave now, you’ll be caught immediately.”
Having confirmed that Imperial Knights were still stationed around the area on his way back, Heinz spoke calmly.
“…What?”
“They’re searching everywhere for you.”
His words stopped her in her tracks.
Silently, Heinz placed meat and various vegetables into a pot and set it over the fire.
Soon the rich aroma of meat soup filled the small house.
Although Heinz looked like a young boy who had never experienced hardship, he prepared the meal with remarkable ease before placing a steaming bowl in front of Elthia.
“At least eat this before you go.”
“You’ve already done more than enough by hiding me for a night. I couldn’t possibly accept this too…”
“You lost a lot of blood.”
He answered matter-of-factly.
“If you leave like this, you’ll just collapse again.”
Elthia lowered her eyes to the food.
Naturally, the ingredients couldn’t compare to those served in the Imperial Palace.
Even so…
The cooking itself was every bit as good.
Right then, her stomach growled loudly.
“…Then I’ll eat.”
Smiling sheepishly, she sat down and carefully took her first bite.
Back when she survived on cold leftovers and meals no one else wanted, no matter how delicious the food had been…
It had never tasted like this.
A bitter smile appeared on her lips.
She remembered how she had endured such pitiful treatment, comforting herself in secret before falling asleep every night.
Even then…
She had believed herself fortunate simply because the Emperor hadn’t abandoned her.
Even though…
Perhaps she had already been abandoned long ago.
“…This is the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten.”
Elthia spoke softly.
It wasn’t empty politeness.
She truly meant every word.
Heinz, however, simply shoveled another spoonful of meat soup into his mouth without responding.
She hadn’t expected much of a reaction.
Besides Beth, no one had ever shown her kindness without expecting something in return.
She simply wanted to express her gratitude.
On the other hand, Heinz found Elthia’s constant concern for others rather unpleasant.
It’s all an act.
Given enough time… she’ll become just like everyone else.
***
“The child born under the curse of House Grunui.”
No.
“The child who devoured her own parents at birth.”
Those were the names people had always used to describe Elthia.
She was blamed for bringing ruin upon House Grunui.
Her mother, Isadora Grunui, died giving birth to her.
Her father, Dajia Grunui, later lost his life in an unfortunate accident.
Afterward, the eldest son of the family, Petra Grunui, inherited the house.
A cold-hearted man without blood or tears.
But compared to the family’s former glory, he was nowhere near enough to restore its prestige.
Elthia still remembered him vividly.
She remembered the cruel insults he had hurled at her throughout her childhood.
Even now, recalling those days made her entire body tremble uncontrollably.
Petra was someone she feared.
That was why she kept her ability hidden.
She awakened her power—
the ability to heal others—
when she was eight years old.
That day she had been playing in the flower garden with Beth, the maid who looked after her.
When Beth was injured, Elthia instinctively healed her.
She begged Beth to keep it secret and desperately concealed her gift.
But another servant reported it.
Eventually, Petra learned the truth.
The moment he found out, his eyes lit up.
House Grunui’s fortunes had already begun to decline.
The only way to restore the family was to send Elthia to the Imperial Palace.
And her miraculous healing ability was more than enough to attract the Imperial Family’s attention.
Under the pretext of making her the Crown Prince’s childhood companion, Petra sent eleven-year-old Elthia to the Imperial Palace.
Her opinion never mattered during that decision.
To say she had been sold would have been more accurate.
Petra didn’t care what she wanted.
As she clung to his leg in tears, he kicked her away with a look of utter disgust.
“You’re old enough to understand your responsibilities now.”
“If I’ve fed and sheltered you all these years, it’s time you repaid the debt.”
“Brother… please…”
“The day I become your brother…”
Petra looked down at her coldly.
“…will be the day you become the Empress of the Laurel Empire.”
Still refusing to give up, Elthia clung to him once more.
Even if she was despised…
Even if she ate cold meals every day…
Even if endless abuse awaited her…
She wanted to remain here.
Because…
This was the home where her mother, whose face she had never seen, had once lived…
Where her father, whose gentle hands had stroked her hair, had once smiled…
And where her brother still lived.
“You wretch. You’re lower than a beast.”
The strength gradually left the hands clutching Petra’s trouser leg.
“You killed your own mother and father.”
“And you thought you deserved to live here in comfort?”
“…”
“Spend the rest of your life atoning in the Imperial Palace.”
“If you fail to become Empress…”
“…then you’ll lose the last remaining family you have.”
Elthia stared at his heartless back for a long time.
Her vision blurred with tears.
Again and again she wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
Yet…
She smiled.
…If it can help my brother…
I’ll do it.
If she could loosen even a single chain that bound House Grunui…
She believed she could spend her entire life acting for their sake.
She believed she could endure every bit of pain.
She was wrong.
From that moment onward…
Hell began.
Every day she was forced to heal people before crowds of spectators, like an animal on display at a zoo.
The demands only grew greater with each passing day.
“…Please…”
“I want to stop.”
The Emperor at the time—
Edwin’s father—
ignored the desperate plea of the young girl.
“I hope you understand.”
“The only reason you’re allowed to remain here…”
“…is because of the ability you possess.”
No matter how rare or incurable the disease…
Anyone touched by Elthia’s hands could be healed.
After exhausting days of healing countless people, she would smile, looking forward to spending even a little time talking with Edwin.
Yet even then…
Edwin never spared her so much as a glance.
She’s ugly.
She’s creepy.
Father favors her more than me.
Those were the reasons he rejected Elthia.
But the greatest reason of all…
She never smiled at anyone.
She always hid behind her long hair.
Yet whenever she looked at him, she smiled.
He hated that smile most of all.
So he continued tormenting her.
Every time he saw her, an inexplicable stirring welled up inside him.
At the time…
Edwin never understood what that feeling truly was.
