"Why don't you try taking Lady Frey out for a change?"
"What?"
"Forgive my forwardness, but there isn't a soul in the South who doesn't know the Lady is blind. But surely, she cannot remain locked away in this castle forever."
It was true that being blind was no sin. Nor was a blind person a criminal. However, curiosity and pity were often more poisonous than anything else. Frey was a younger sister as delicate and fragile as a glass doll. A sister he had to keep hidden in his arms and protect for as long as he lived.
"It is too soon."
Curtis refused firmly, waving his hand to dismiss him. Robert sighed inwardly and turned to leave, but paused.
"That aside, what shall we do about the entry requests?"
"Let them pass. Close the outer gates a little later than usual. Keep the guards on duty. But strictly forbid any outsiders from entering the inner castle."
Curtis, who had picked up his documents again, added:
"Except for the White Mask."
* * *
Frey’s stubbornness was stronger than that of any ox. Even after successfully getting her to eat, she would capriciously take a single bite and wipe her mouth with a napkin, so Roxana treated her with the heart of a mother bird feeding a hatchling.
"If you eat just this much, I won't ask you to eat any more. I promise."
"Why should I do that? Who do you think you are? Do you think you can get cocky just because you brought me some food?"
People do not change easily. Just because she was touched by the food did not mean Frey’s personality or character had shifted. Roxana hadn't expected it to, but the sharp retort still drained the strength from her body.
"Yes. I am nobody. But you are the one and only precious daughter of the House of Russell. You must stay healthy to live a long life, eat good food, and visit wonderful places."
"What good is visiting wonderful places when I can't see? You’re mocking me, aren't you? Implying that I’m trapped in this castle because I’m a blind woman who can’t see a thing!"
Frey, incensed, overturned the food.
"Eek, Roxana!"
Alice, who had brought the food with her, rushed over to Roxana. Roxana, who had been doused in the stew, wiped the mess from her cheek with her hand.
"Are you all right?"
A flustered Alice offered her handkerchief. Roxana signaled her thanks with her eyes, then calmly wiped the stew from her cheeks, nose, lips, and neck. She then spoke to Frey in a gentle tone.
"I am fine, my Lady. It had already gone cold. You knew that when you tipped it, didn't you?"
"What do you mean I knew? I wish you’d gotten burned. Then I wouldn't have to see you ever again."
"I know you don't mean that."
"……You are truly annoying."
Alice clicked her tongue at the exchange. She had thought Lady Frey was the most stubborn person she knew, but Roxana was no match for her. It felt like watching an unstoppable spear meeting an impenetrable shield.
"I apologize if I forced you when you truly didn't want to eat."
"If you had just cleared it away sooner, this wouldn't have happened."
"I will make something even better next time."
"That’s enough, clear this away and get out. I’m going to sleep now."
"Ah. Then let me prepare your bedding and—"
"Get out!"
Because of the shouting, Roxana and Alice were chased out of the room. Fearing that Frey might have ears like a ghost and find something else to pick at, Alice walked on her tiptoes. It wasn't until they reached the kitchen that they could finally breathe.
"I feel like that booming voice is still ringing in my ears."
"She certainly has a powerful voice."
"How can you not change your expression at all? When you said you’d prepare her bedding, I thought my ears were failing me."
"That is my job."
Roxana shrugged, dipped her index finger into the remaining stew in the bowl, and tasted it. It wasn't under-seasoned or too salty. Perhaps she simply didn't want to eat dinner tonight.
"Roxana, aren't you even afraid of Lady Frey?"
"Afraid?"
"Yes. If you make one wrong move, you could get slapped, and in the worst case, you could be punished for incurring the Marquess's wrath."
"She may be prickly, but she isn't a scary person."
"What?"
"She’s like a beautiful, sensitive cat."
"A cat?"
She preferred these busy, hectic days to the repetitive routine she had before. Every time she saw Frey’s face, it overlapped with Curtis’s, making her flinch, but unlike her brother, Frey was a fairly pure girl. She wanted to become the hands and feet for the woman who could not see. Thinking that this was the only way to atone, her resolve hardened.
"Good heavens. You’ve lost your mind."
Leaving the horrified Alice behind, Roxana placed the bowls into the water she had drawn and began to wash them. Alice shook her head, unable to even think of picking up a dry cloth.
"I thought you’d be crying and running away within a few days, but you’re quite the tough one……."
"Hm?"
"No. It’s nothing."
Alice gave a wry smile, and just as she was about to focus on the dishes:
"Roxana! Alice!"
The door behind them swung open, and Kesi came running in. She was a maid who had become much closer to them since they had saved her younger sister.
"Did you hear the news? That the Fairy Banquet is being held tonight?"
"Oh! That’s right! Is it that time of year already?"
Alice clapped her hands and tossed the cloth aside. Her face, like Kesi’s, was flushed with a rosy glow.
"Fairy Banquet?"
"Oh, right. You’re from out of town, aren't you?"
Alice asked, as if realizing it just then, and exchanged a meaningful look with Kesi.
"You seem like a novice to all this. You can look forward to tonight, my lady."
The 'Fairy Banquet' was the visit of a gypsy troupe.
The arrival of the gypsies, who traveled the country selling dance, song, and acrobatics, was an exciting festival that happened once a year. In peaceful times, most welcomed the gypsies' visit. They stayed for a short while, showed rare things, and received only a small amount of food and money in return.
"Look at that outfit! Her midriff and limbs are completely exposed. Where on earth do they get clothes like that and how do they wear them?"
"Look at that smooth skin. They must buy potions from a witch and apply them, right?"
"That monkey is waving at us!"
Led by a flamboyant carriage, a group of dark-skinned gypsies in revealing clothing entered the inner castle. As if watching a triumphal procession, the residents of the territory stood facing each other along the main road, waving their hands. In the midst of the bustling crowd, Roxana soon lost sight of Kesi and Alice.
"Kesi? Roxana?"
While she was being jostled here and there, the crowd surged away, following the gypsy troupe. Just as Roxana, who had been left behind on the roadside, was brushing off the dust and standing up, something tumbled nearby.
"Did one of the gypsies drop this?"
When she picked it up, it was a white mask. It was designed to completely cover the face, save for small eye holes, and had black fabric attached to the back to fully conceal the hair as well.
"Excuse me!"
Roxana, who had been turning the curious object over in her hands, called out to the gypsies, who had already become a single point in the distance. However, the loud sound of instruments and the cheers of the people buried her voice.
Only after pushing through the crowd was Roxana able to approach the gypsy troupe. When she knocked on the door of a carriage, a gypsy who had just finished his performance makeup greeted her.
"A white mask? Ah, that belongs to our leader."
"Is that so? Where is he right now?"
"Who knows. More importantly, miss, are you free right now?"
The oily-smiling male gypsy stroked the ends of her hair. Just as Roxana was flustered by the sudden contact, a female gypsy wearing a wig from inside the carriage slapped the man’s hand away.
"Cut it out. It’s not like you’re in heat."
"I was just trying to talk to her. I’m not cheating, are you angry?"
"Shut up. More importantly, miss?"
The female gypsy, having sent the man away, scanned Roxana from head to toe.
"Do you work in that castle?"
"I do."
"Then that’s perfect. The leader went there. You can just deliver it to him directly."
"Pardon?"
"Without that, there’s no performance or anything today. It’s more precious than life to our old woman, so you must get it to him quickly. Understand?"
Roxana’s eyes widened in bewilderment. The female gypsy gave a cold smile and slammed the carriage door shut.
She had intended to return to the castle anyway, having seen the gypsy troupe. She wasn't used to the rowdiness, and she needed to get to sleep as usual to serve Lady Frey the next morning.
"Have I been dragged into something pointless……."
Still, she couldn't shake an uneasy feeling. Sighing, Roxana presented her identification and entered the inner castle. Thinking she should return the mask and head to her room, she wandered through the inner castle. But for some reason, there were no patrolling soldiers, and everyone had gone to see the gypsies, leaving the surroundings completely silent.
"Where on earth could he be?"
As she kept walking, the soles of her feet began to ache. After wandering and searching, she arrived in front of the zelkova tree in the courtyard. A low swing hung there, perhaps for the children. She had seen it a few times in passing, but had never sat on it due to the eyes of others. After a quick glance around, Roxana sat down on the swing with a thud.
The mask she had brought was of a style rarely seen here. Mysterious, patterned letters were inscribed on the forehead. Just as she was examining it closely, she heard the sound of footsteps on the grass, and a man approached from behind her.
0 Comments