*Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Slush, slush, slush, slush.*
Holding a water bucket in each hand, I awkwardly struggled down the street.
"I-I’m going to fall…!"
If I focused on my left hand too much, then I’d lose sight of my right and vice versa.
As I trotted down the path like a drunk salaryman coming home from work at night, the trail of water puddles scattered on the road like polka dots. The buckets that were once full were now down to about a sixth of its capacity already.
Hey, aren’t I being a bit useless here!?
"That's why I told you it’s fine to just take it one at a time."
Lily looked back over her shoulder and sighed with a sour face.
She adjusted her pose and strode back to me with light steps. Even though her own two buckets were still full of water, she gave off the impression as if they weren't heavy at all.
It’s surprising that someone as thin as Lily would have this much strength. This just goes to show the difference in our experience.
By the way, since I was hopeless at balancing the pole on my shoulder, I carried the buckets by hand instead.
"Here, please put them down. Let’s rest a bit."
Despite saying that in a monotone voice with an empty expression, I knew that deep down she was worried for me. I found out how kind Lily really was after we had spent these past few days together.
I gladly took her kind offer and set the buckets down on the ground.
Slowly parting my numbed fingers from the handle, I opened my hand. My palms were red all over.
"It hurts…"
"Unsurprising, considering that you are a princess that’s trying to draw water."
"But that’s because I couldn’t do anything else…"
I was supposed to be treated as the Kua Clan’s honoured guest since they couldn’t keep a princess locked up forever. This could change at any moment, though. Basically speaking, I could simply sit in my room and do nothing all day long with no prying eyes. On top of that, I was kindly allowed to walk freely in the village, provided that someone was with me.
But at the same time, their over-the-top kindness made me uneasy.
After I told them that I will lend a helping hand, the chief gave his permission. But other members had completely opposite reactions, including Lily, who cried out in protest. Despite having an outsider wandering around their village and refusing my help at first, the villagers eventually gave up on trying to stop me. In the end, they gave me advice, albeit with a face like they were chewing wasps, and at times even asked me for help. Perhaps, deep down, they are truly good people.
"That’s not true. You’re just not suited for labour-intensive tasks is all."
"Yeah, a princess should hold herself in her room like a good princess should."
Someone grabbed away one of my buckets as their voice sounded behind me.
A middle-aged man about forty years old walked past me and carried the water bucket as if it was made of nothing.
"U-Um! That! I can carry it by myself."
"If I leave it to you, it’ll be dark before we get back."
I tried to chase after the man, but he dismissed me and kept on walking.
"That might be the case! But-!"
"This is in the way, you blockhead."
"Waah-!?"
As soon as I said that, a black shadow moved to my side and flipped my skirt. I held down the hems of my skirt in a panic and shrieked out loud like a frog. When I glanced over, a boy with a cheeky expression was laughing his head off.
"What are you doing!?"
"Your frilly clothes are annoying. I just brushed it off a bit, that's all."
I protested with a beet red face, but he just continued to laugh.
This shitty brat!
"Don't be rude, Rolf."
"Yeah yeah."
Lily scolded him, but that shitty brat Rolf turned a deaf ear and dismissed her.
There were a lot of bystanders looking from afar, but perhaps I should be thankful that they even took care of me at all as they were overlooking Rolf's behaviour just now. …No, it's impossible.
I mean, I honestly couldn't deal with those bratty types because I've been around different kinds of boys up until now.
The boys that surrounded my life were always true gentlemen.
It wasn't only Georg and Michael, born aristocrats, who carried gentlemanly etiquette around me; even Lutz and Theo, who were of lower standing, had never treated me like this.
In a sense, this brat was the most 'boy-like' boy I had ever met.
His ash grey hair was cut short and trimmed, his eyes the colour of almond, and he sported a dark tan skin distinctive to the Kua Clan.
That face of his could be classed as beautiful, but his personality behind the mask was beyond wild. Despite his small frame, he clearly had firm and sturdy muscles, especially around his arms and neck. He resembled a wild dog and, in a way, looked similar to Wolf.
With a sharp glare, he turned to me and raised an eyebrow.
"What'cha looking at? Bleh!" Rolf stuck his tongue out at me and blew a raspberry.
"…Nothing."
I take that back. Not similar. Not similar at all.
Wolf was occasionally tough with others, but he would never treat any girl like this. I'm sorry I compared you to this shitty brat.
"Marie, please. Let's go."
"Yes."
When Lily prompted, I gladly followed. Rolf also tagged along but I ignored him.
Lily stopped walking once we reached a large stone. We lowered the water buckets to the ground and got down on our knees. After slowly putting my hands over my chest, I gently looked down.
Of course, Rolf did the same thing. I only copied the posture they took and stared blankly at the standing stone in front of me.
I say 'standing stone' but apparently, it was once a statue.
The weather may have eroded it away, but I could barely make out the shape of a person. When Lily first showed it to me, she said it was a statue of The Goddess.
She was said to be the founder of the Kua Clan who wielded the power of miracles.
If she so desired, it would rain. If she sang, flowers would bloom. Plants grew in an instant. Illnesses and injuries were cured with simply a wave of her hand. A woman of many legends and the woman the Kua Clan wholeheartedly worshipped and believed in.
"Sorry for making you wait."
Lily finished her prayer and stood up. By the way, she never once forced me to pray with her.
"Are you gonna make tonight's meal as well?"
"That's right."
I nodded at Rolf's question.
I couldn't help much with physical labour, but it was the complete opposite when it came to cooking. Naturally, they refused to let me help out when I had first asked them. Who in their right mind would want an outsider to cook for them, let alone a princess, right? Perhaps it's the fruit of my persistence that I eventually got a chance to cook for them, but only one chance. If I failed, I wouldn't get another shot.
However, when it turned out I could unexpectedly cook, they had left the job to me ever since.
"What will you make tonight?"
"I had some spices lying around so I was thinking of something different."
In addition to herbs and vegetables, this village also raised spices as well. Probably because some spices can be used as medicine too.
There were so many different kinds grown here, some of them rare enough to the point where I couldn't obtain them through Master Julius.
Coriander and cumin went around trade circulation in the neighbouring Kingdom of Wind so I wasn't surprised to have found it here, but to think I would find chilli and turmeric here as well.
With all these ingredients, I can make that.
"Would Lily be alright with tedious jobs?"
"Yes. If anything, I quite like it."
"Me too." Rolf chimed in.
"I didn't ask you."
While I was having a pleasant conversation, I heard the sound of fluttering wings.
The black feathers of birds that were flying overhead danced in front of us.
'I hope you haven't forgotten the reason we're here.'
His sarcastic and cynical smile flashed through my mind.
I stretched out my hand and grabbed a falling feather.
"…Of course not." I murmured in a tiny voice.
Lily looked over curiously and asked 'Did you say something?' to which I replied with a bitter smile:
"Nothing."
TN: Give me a second. I'm sure I can think of some excuses as to why this is late… Oh! I've got one! …No, not really.
EN: Lmao I have no excuse too, other than "Je suis busy." Also, Lily is a good girl and Rolf is a funny kid. Please join the discord, we have gambling problems and a dungeon. And I found it cute how Rose thinks that the Kua Clan kids are essentially ripped farmers. Here, an image to bless you all.
Discord: