Chapter 21 - Foreign Kindness

Chapter 21 – Foreign Kindness

Dia bowed deeply to Nabel, who was approaching. Then, she glimpsed a hair of a unique color that was not found in the West. Certainly, she belonged from the East.

Dia also bowed her head at Ronée, recalling Nabel’s order before he left. “The owner of the palace will come, so be prepared.”

The owner of the palace has finally arrived, she thought.

Nabel glanced at Dia, as if he didn’t have to say anything. The chief maid then greeted with a warm smile. “The master of the palace?”

Ronée looked at Nabel as he laughed, but deep within, he was becoming impatient. Ronée was like a journal Nabel didn’t want to show to anyone.

“Can we dare ask your name?” Dia asked softly, and Ronée looked back at her. “Ronée,” she paused. She was hesitant to reveal her surname. “…de Rieda.”

At her answer, the maids around them held their breaths.

“Be comfortable.”

Ronée glanced around briefly and caught a glimpse of subtle fear in their faces. Most of the people she met at the Rieda mansion were hostile to her, and those who heard her rumours avoided her. Because of this, she was able to perceive people’s reactions better.

Everyone in the hallway was staring. Perhaps it was the formidable presence of the Emperor of the West, but that wasn’t entirely the reason. Even Nabel knew that.

After a moment’s silence, Ronée finally nodded her head. “I will.”

A warm smile then spread across the face of the chief maid. “I heard a lot about you. First, would you like a little rest?” Her gaze turned to Ronée’s legs, which were a little swollen from their long travel.

“I will prepare a massage.” Dia held her arm toward Ronée. At the end of the corridor, several eyes were fixed at their backs.

They were strangers to Ronée, and among them was Knight Nesha, who had unintentionally interfered with her and the King’s moment together. Pulps of sweat began to form on his palms. “Why is the timing so bad these days?” he thought.

“…….” Nabel’s gaze turned towards them. Their complexion was as pale as a sheet.

“I’ll be looking around the castle for a while,” Ronée interrupted.

Nabel still had urgent matters to attend to. Above all, Nabel was the Emperor of their country. Ronée hadn’t completely realized it yet, but there were countless people who he had business with, so she tried to understand it a little. He would be very busy.

“Alright.” Nabel nodded helplessly at her words. He wanted to spend the whole day with Ronée, if only he could. For the last ten years, he had been enduring his longing.

It was all because he wanted to keep her safe, and it was only possible if he regained the throne that he had no interest in.

“…Instead, stay only at Ronée Palace.” Nabel looked around. It didn’t reassure him that Ronée would be exposed to strangers. It was not an order. It was close to a request or appeal.

“Why?” Her question was pure curiosity. Was there less work left than she thought?

The faces of the people at the end of the hallway looked desperate as they clutched a pile of documents. They seemed to be waiting for Nabel.

“Outside this palace, it’s still dangerous.” There was a reserved smile on Nabel’s lips. “I’ll get it organized as soon as possible.”

Ronée understood. She captured Nabel’s figure in her eyes. He was no longer her younger brother Nabel. It wasn’t just his appearance that changed. Now, he was needed by his country and his own people. But, there were also those who envied him and desired his demise.

“I’m not going far. I am tired.” Ronée smiled reassuringly. Nabel held her hand. “I’ll be finished soon. You should take a rest,” he said. His gentle voice echoed in the hallway. It was a warmth only Ronée.

Meanwhile, the servants behind them were frozen in their feet. They didn’t hear their master’s sweet voice, which had never happened before. Only his previous words were ingrained in their minds.

He said he would organize the palace as soon as possible, and it only meant a storm was coming.

*

“I didn’t know that I would be serving the owner of Shinshu.” The chief maid, Dia, wore a delighted face. Next to her, Ryne was assisting Ronée.

“This is a perfume that I have never seen in the East Continent….”

According to Ryne’s words, most of the Easterner’s enjoyment was prohibited. Because the people in the Eastern Continent were weaker than those in the Western Continent, there was much they worried about.

Moreover, Ronée’s health was not in its best condition. A doctor even had to be summoned to give her a diagnosis before a massage.

“Hmm….” Domelo, the doctor who resided in the palace, was the son of the physician dedicated to the Iver family. He looked at Ronée’s condition and spoke with a troubled expression, “Start with a taste test first, until she gradually adapts to the food of the Western Continent…”

Upon hearing the doctor’s advice, Dia called for another maid. “Tell the chef right away to prepare the dishes for our guests.”

“Yes.” The maid went straight into the hallway and reported, “The food that the owner of Shinshu will eat….”

It bothered Ronée that the word ‘Shinshu’ was constantly being mentioned. Most of all, she was keenly aware of their behaviour.

When they saw Bell and called him Shinshu, they treated Ronée with utmost respect. It was very different from her own family who branded her as a devil’s summoner.

The people at the palace tended Ronée. She was perceived not as a curse, but as a child of God. Kindness was a stranger to Ronée.

There had been people who had treated her kindly, but as soon as they discovered that magic had no effect on her, she was labeled a cursed demon, and they turned their backs on her. Since then, Ronée was scared of meeting new people.

“…Dia.”

“Yes?” Dia responded, bowing her head.

“Is Shinshu common in the West?”