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Chapter 43
“Did you find it?”
With the squeak of the hinges, a boy with red hair entered the cabin.
He limped slightly, dragging one leg as if it hurt.
But the boy didn’t seem to feel pain; his face was excited, full of expectation.
His flushed cheeks and bright eyes scanned the room quickly.
Soon, a cloud of choking dust fell onto the boy’s head, and he coughed, covering his mouth.
“Ugh, dust! Clean this place! Even a rich old lady could hire a cleaner!”
“You’re a small one, why so talkative?”
“I’ve lived countless ages, and you call me small?”
“You’re even smaller than my granddaughter right now, so small is accurate.”
The boy said nothing further and plopped down on the couch with a pout.
“I don’t know. I’m hungry.”
“You just ate, and you’re still hungry? And what’s with that tone?”
The elderly woman, her pale blonde hair neatly braided, clicked her tongue. Then she tapped the boy on the couch with her cane.
The boy muttered in a small voice, “Does eating make me full?”
It would be fun if he acted like he did two hundred years ago, breaking things here and there.
“Fix your leg first, you fool.”
Even in this state, life went on without major problems. Watching them struggle was oddly interesting.
“…Please! To me…!”
“I lost my leg in the war… Almighty…!”
Though he never understood their suffering, he now felt he could begin to grasp it.
“Power has to return first.”
The boy protested quietly, watching the old woman’s reaction.
Then she struck his back with a loud smack.
“Do you plan to ruin the house?”
“It hurts! Why hit me? And I’m smaller and weaker than your granddaughter now! Can you treat a child like this?”
“A child? You’ve lived far longer than I have. I should just throw you out, tsk tsk.”
“Oh, how unfair. Huh?”
The woman looked at the boy with a mix of disdain and amusement, then began rummaging through the kitchen.
The sound of dishes clattering made the boy jump up.
“Chicken soup? That smell… it is chicken!”
“Yes, you little one. Step back, it’s hot.”
The boy peeked around, sniffing eagerly. The kitchen smelled rich and savory.
The old woman’s cooking skill was unmatched. The boy hummed happily as he brought a chair forward.
He stood on the chair, reaching for dishes on the shelf. It barely came within reach.
“Put the cutlery back in place.”
The woman watched him struggle, then reached out and took a dish herself.
A brief silence fell between them. Soon, the boy spoke.
“Grandma, when will your granddaughter know everything? I’m really curious. But she’s already stepped into destiny, right? She came all the way to the Grand Duchy.”
“Destiny is inherited, but everything depends on choice. If she made different choices, she wouldn’t have come this far.”
The boy pondered, stroking his chin. The soup bubbled gently as he did.
Then, a playful thought crossed his mind. He tugged the corners of his lips and hummed a tune.
“Hmm.”
It was a song he had heard somewhere—maybe when secretly watching that woman. The melody lingered in his mind.
‘If destiny doesn’t come, maybe I’ll help a little.’
The boy stared at the old woman stirring the pot, thinking,
‘She doesn’t have much time left.’
She had lived far beyond a normal human lifespan. Without her abilities, she would not have survived this long.
Before returning to the void, he needed to guide her toward the destiny she desired.
“Grandma, your granddaughter likes money, right?”
“Don’t do anything reckless.”
“Of course not. I won’t interfere. I only observe everything and listen to their earnest prayers.”
Later…
“I’m simply glad to be welcomed so kindly.”
The clink of teacups broke the silence.
“I’ve wanted to meet you at least once. It’s rare for a mistress to take residence in the Grand Ducal Castle.”
Angela Lichten de Marne. Though high-born, she now served the Marne Castle in the Argos Kingdom.
Her full name was long and formal, but everyone called her Princess Angela. She was the younger sister of a former Grand Duke, now married into Argos and queen there.
She had fiery red hair like sunset and bright blue eyes, smiling often with a friendly and approachable air.
Psyche’s first impression: a woman who easily won people’s favor. Angela kept glancing at Psyche with gentle eyes.
“Technically, I’m still only a fiancée, not the mistress here.”
“Of course, it’s natural to feel uncertain. But I understand your engagement was sworn before the gods.”
Though their country valued religious freedom, and the gods were weaker than magic, the engagement still held weight.
“Don’t worry. The Grand Duke may be strict, but he keeps his promises.”
Her hand trembled slightly on her teacup, but she showed no other sign of emotion.
“I don’t know much about the Grand Duchy. I hope to learn from you, Your Majesty.”
Psyche smiled softly.
“I hope we become good friends while you stay. The Argos king is also curious about Miss Clement.”
“Hopefully, one day I can visit Argos.”
“Always welcome. By the way, isn’t it cold here? The kingdom has sudden showers often, but it’s warmer than here.”
Angela spoke cheerfully, as if they were old friends. Her smile was radiant. Psyche imagined if the Grand Duke also had such a smile.
‘But when I saw him at Nyx’s palace, his hair was silver.’
Family hair colors usually matched unless mixed with unique bloodlines.
“I’m very interested in your kingdom’s magic. If it could be applied here, it would make life easier for your people. What do you think?”
“Ah, so what they said about Clement becoming an excellent Grand Duchess was true.”
Angela now looked at Psyche with a gaze full of pride and affection, like looking at a cherished youngest daughter.
