Chapter 18
The time when I thought I had thoroughly deceived everyone. The time when I firmly believed that losing my voice was the right choice.
I thought that way and just let it go by myself…
The moment I faced that fierce face, a foreboding feeling that my past, which I had barely managed to forget, would be dragged out and torn apart flashed through my mind.
Eric stared intently at Aria’s flustered face, as if he had anticipated it.
“Are you surprised because you realized your futile love? Or are you surprised because someone knows the real reason Edward came back to life? Or are you surprised because someone knows the real reason Edward came back to life?”
“Why did you save me? If you hadn’t done that that day…If only you had just let him die…
At the murmur, Aria unknowingly turned her head, which she had been avoiding, and faced him.
And only then did I realize that a sad light had crossed Eric’s face.
“I might not have had to live in such pain. Then maybe you wouldn’t have been so wary of me…
Eric, who had been hesitating for a moment, shook his head and then stood up. As if he didn’t want to show his true feelings.
“Unfortunately, the world doesn’t just lift up the hands of those who sacrifice. So, why don’t you take full advantage of me until your anger subsides? It might just be the most valuable thing you’ve ever chosen.”
Eric, who whispered incomprehensible words into my ear, went straight out of the room. For a while, Aria just stared blankly at the door.
How much do you really know?
No, more than that, did my choice really change Eric’s life?
Maybe that’s why he pointed her out as a maid. To take revenge on herself and Edward…?
In her confused state, unable to gather her thoughts, Aria buried her face in her hands and sighed.
At that moment, the unfamiliar sensation on her face drew Aria’s gaze to her right hand.
My hand tightly wrapped in a white bandage. Eric’s actions seemed far from seeking revenge on me.
Aria gently squeezed and released her finger wrapped in the bandage.
The bandage still retained a warm sensation.
She turned her head and looked out the window.
In various places of the main building, the lights were still brightly lit, as if Isabella was still there.
“Why did the plate that was just sitting there fall to the floor? Of course, you already know who the culprit is.
Recalling Eric’s words, Aria lowered her head.
No matter how much I think about it, it was Isabella who dropped the plate.
The thought that the reason she acted that way was because of me wouldn’t leave my mind.
After joining the Bailey family, I couldn’t attend any other gatherings, so there was no one I could call a close friend.
A woman who treated him more warmly than the people of Bailey and spoke to him. That was Isabella.
In Aria’s mind, the days spent harmoniously with Isabella came to mind.
“Aria, it’s been a while!
Isabella, with a bright smile, had run over, spreading out her voluminous pink dress.
Lips that glisten red like fully bloomed roses. The golden irises contained in the cat-like, slightly upturned eyes, set against the flawlessly white skin, gently turned towards Aria.
“Last time, you saw Bailey, but you couldn’t see him, right? I’m so glad to see you. How much I’ve missed you.
The long, voluminous pink hair cascading to one side gently spread in the wind.
At the sight of Isabella like this, Aria couldn’t take her eyes off her and stood there with her mouth agape.
As her eyes narrowed while crossing her arms, Aria barely regained her composure and nodded.
Edward squinted at Isabella and Aria.
“Aria is mine, Isabella.”
“Oh my, why would you say something so hurtful! I’m closer to Aria than you are! Right, Aria? Right, Aria?”
Could it really be believed that a mere commoner is close friends with the daughter of a noble, no less the daughter of a count who is related to the king?
I know it’s a story that anyone would laugh at, but Isabella seemed to like it and kept Aria close.
Unlike the aloof and self-centered young ladies, Isabella is proactive and indifferent to social status.
The only woman that the elite of high society covet and desire.
Aria felt good just hearing that she was such a friend.
I was just grateful to Isabella for respecting my humble self. That was how it was…
Aria shook her head at the unnecessary tears as she reminisced about the past. Perhaps this treatment is only natural.
Tears I couldn’t understand the reason for kept streaming down my cheeks.
No matter how much I wiped and scrubbed with my bandaged hand, the hot tears kept streaming down my skirt.
Silent weeping. That was the only expression she could make.
A morning with a pleasantly warm air mixed in after a harsh winter has passed.
Aria was leaving the Bailey household early, leaving behind a short note for Eric.
[Young master, I’ll be back from the village market shortly. It won’t take long. Lunch is already prepared, so eat when you wake up.
The weekly market held in the square near the Castella Fortress took place every week, on a set day.
It’s a sparsely populated place, but on this day, countless flags flutter. It was because the outside vendors were setting up flags to mark their territory.
The reason Aria was heading to the village market after a long time was for one simple thing.
She, with her hood pulled deep over her head, hurriedly quickened her pace as she passed the mobile cart shops.
I quickly cut through the narrow alley crowded with people and arrived in front of a shop.
Aria looked up and fondly gazed at the store sign she hadn’t seen in a long time.
As Aria stepped inside, as if she were familiar with it, the first thing to greet her was the pungent smell of grass.
Various herbs spread out on the long wooden table, piles of underbrush stacked high on the floor, and even old tools.
Standing in front of the door, Aria stretched her lips into a long line at the familiar scenery.
One employee, who was constantly sweeping the dust off the floor, was pouting, clearly dissatisfied with their job.
It seemed that because of that, they didn’t even notice the guests arriving.
When Aria tapped on the door, only then did his gaze turn towards her.
“Hey Long time no see!
A brown-haired man of similar age tried to approach Aria but hurriedly brushed the dust off his clothes.
“Oh no, I’m sorry! I’ve had a mountain of cleaning to do since this morning, haha. Ah, just a moment! I’ll go get the boss! He’s currently boiling herbs over there. Boss! Boss! Miss Aria has arrived!
At the sound of “Aria,” the manager hurriedly limped out.
The fine wrinkles and gray hair around his eyes, as if they carry the marks of time. A man who always wears a neat black suit that doesn’t quite fit the image of a pharmacy.
And once, she was the dedicated maid who worked for Aria’s family, the Reynolds family.
Jacob, seeing his master after a long time, straightened his back even more and maintained a neat posture to hide his limping steps.
“Ah, Aria! What brings you here……?
In response, Aria scribbled on her notepad.
I came to get some medicine.
Jacob put on the glasses on the table, looked at the notebook, and nodded.
Soon, his gaze turned to the employee next to him.
“Finish sweeping the floor outside, and clean those herbs and put them in the storeroom.”
“That was picked in the morning, so it hasn’t dried yet…”
“Are you really going to lay it all out like that? Hurry up and get ready!
At Jacob’s scolding, the employee opened his mouth to speak but then picked up a broom and walked out weakly.
As the staff member left, Jacob hurriedly pulled Aria into the room.
He locked the door tightly, looked around, and then deeply bowed his head towards Aria.
“Miss, please forgive me for daring to call your name so casually! To protect your safety, there was no other choice.”
Aria gently narrowed her eyes and lifted him up.
No. You did well. Now I’m not even a noble lady anymore. Thank you for always putting my worries first.
Looking at Aria’s notebook, he let out a long sigh.
“Miss, your voice is still the same. No matter what herbs I give you, it seems to be of no use. What should I do about this? It would have been nice to have that holy water at a time like this…
It’s okay. I’m used to it now. Have you heard any news about the rest of the family?
Jacob nodded silently. Aria lowered her gaze mournfully and then smiled again.
It was a perfectly clear smile, but somehow that smile looked so forlorn that it broke the hearts of those who saw it.
Jacob limped over and placed the steaming tea in front of Aria.
“Miss, by the way, what kind of medicine do you need? It must be a voice remedy, right?
Aria, who was holding the teacup, shook her head.
Looking at the steaming car, Aria pondered for a moment, then set down her teacup and wrote in her notebook.
It’s not my medicine. It looks like a wound torn by the claws of a large beast. We need medicine to treat it. It doesn’t seem like a wound that can be easily healed. I don’t know what kind of curse it is, but I’m tormented by nightmares every night.
Jacob, who was closely examining the note, furrowed his brow slightly and stopped in his tracks. He pushed up his glasses and asked.
“Rumor has it that the son of the Bailey family who went to war has returned. Is that person the one you’re talking about? Is it about that person?
The rumors spreading around were faster than the wind.
Aria’s eyes widened and then narrowed again. Jacob shook his head.
“Sigh, you keep taking care of those people just because they did something nice for the young lady. Bailey’s son rescued the emperor who had fallen into a trap among the ambushed Jagal tribe soldiers, so I guess that’s where the wound came from.
“The beast that the Jagal tribe rides is not an ordinary beast. That’s not a power that a person can unleash. It’s a curse. Even if you give him the medicine, it will only have a temporary effect; in the end, he will have to endure it on his own.
At those words, Aria’s heart sank.
