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Chapter 83
I held the child’s hand and, with difficulty, walked into the front yard of the cabin. I broke off a branch and placed it in the child’s right hand. Then, covering the child’s hand with mine, I began writing Dvorcan letters in the dirt. A, B, V, G, D…
To my amazement, before the woman even returned with quill and ink, the child had already memorized the entire Dvorcan alphabet in order.
“Wow, you’re really a genius. Smarter than I was when I was little.”
The child seemed to understand the compliment and beamed, happily writing the alphabet over and over again in the dirt.
Before long, the child fetched the picture book The Sun and the Wind and began pointing at the letters we had learned that day.
I explained how certain combinations of letters formed words. Sun. Wind. Traveler. Contest. Cold. Warm. The child’s violet eyes shone brightly as she absorbed everything I taught her.
The woman came back with the quill. I held the pen together with the child and we began copying the picture book. The child became so absorbed in writing that she even forgot about meals.
Even if she could read lips, full communication was still difficult. And she would still struggle to express herself fully.
So I decided to teach her sign language as well.
When hungry: frown, bend both fingers, and press them to the stomach.
When happy: smile, spread index fingers and thumbs, place them in front of the chest and move them up and down.
To express warmth: brush both palms upward across the stomach.
The child was like a sponge, soaking up everything. Strange, wasn’t it? A foreigner from a neighboring land teaching a Dvorcan child her own language.
Bit by bit, I was able to communicate with her.
Within only a few days, the child had memorized the content of the picture book, could write it, and even sign it. Her memory was incredible.
At some point, I felt as though I had expanded her world.
Perhaps because she liked seeing the child happy, the woman went out and bought more used picture books.
From the fourth night onward, the child would crawl out of bed, read picture books with me, copy them down, and then fall asleep.
I held her small body gently and patted her.
For the first time, I didn’t feel lonely in the dark night. The nights spent with the child were sweet and happy. It felt like the very first vacation of my life.
Exactly one week later, the swelling in my leg subsided, and the dark bruises turned yellow.
Just as the woman had said, I could now walk on my own without support. The time to leave had come.
With my disappearance, the Yorca Palace must have been in an uproar. Before the Dvorcan soldiers came combing through this forest, I had to return. If I stayed longer, I’d only bring trouble upon these people.
…A week. Long if long, short if short.
For seven whole days, from the moment I woke until I closed my eyes at night, I was with the child. Every time I looked into her clear, crystal-like violet eyes, I thought—
How I wished I could stay in this peaceful cabin just a little longer.
[Red. Red.]
The child pointed at my hair and, with her right hand’s index finger extended, rubbed beneath her lips to the right. It was a sign I had only taught her yesterday, and she already remembered it.
[That’s right, big sister has red hair.]
I replied in sign.
But now, it was truly time to say goodbye. I donned the hunting clothes the woman had carefully washed for me and stood before the child. From beyond the fence came the neighing of a horse—the woman’s husband was making preparations.
[Big sister has to go now.]
I signed.
The child shook her head furiously and clung to my sleeve, tears welling before spilling over. Her crying made my eyes sting hotly.
But I didn’t want to show tears at the end. I didn’t want to be remembered that way. So I forced a smile, pretending to be strong.
To this deaf, mute child of the forest, I was the only guest, the only friend. Somehow, I too felt like I had, for the first time in my life, truly made a friend.
What could I give in return to my lifesaver? My title as a duke’s daughter meant nothing now—I had nothing to offer.
Ah—there was one thing.
“I don’t know when you’ll need this, but I hope you’ll know this sign.”
I stroked the child’s head and whispered.
“You’re such a lovable child. One day, everyone will love you.”
I knelt down to meet her eyes. With my left hand closed into a fist and held sideways, I placed my right palm atop it and slowly turned.
[I love you.]
I didn’t know her name, nor her family, but child—I would remember her as my lifesaver for life.
Because she had been the first to find me wandering lost in the woods. Because she liked me and followed me from the moment we met. Because she admired everything I did with genuine joy.
“I don’t yet know what love really is, but somehow, when I see you, I feel like I might. There are people you simply can’t help but love at first sight.”
I pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly.
Her tiny hands patted my back. She must have been imitating what I did whenever I put her to bed.
I barely managed to stand, holding back tears that threatened to burst.
Next came the woman’s turn.
“Thank you so much. You’ll be a precious memory to our girl.”
“And me too. Thank you for taking me in, for caring for me. I’m so grateful to you and your daughter.”
I replied haltingly in Dvorcan. At least my gratitude, I wanted to express properly.
After a moment of hesitation, I embraced the woman. She stiffened in surprise before reluctantly returning the hug.
Still, the child clung to my sleeve.
“Young lady, you have to let her go. She has to leave today.”
The woman scolded her daughter with feigned sternness after hugging me.
The child shook her head and sobbed harder, clutching my sleeve tighter. I forced myself not to look down at her and instead looked straight at the woman.
“I want to repay your kindness.”
The woman waved her hands firmly.
“No. The greatest repayment would be to forget us forever.”
Her final words were cold.
“Never come back. From your knowledge of our script, you must be someone important. This dangerous forest is no place for you.”
I didn’t reply. But I knew I wanted, somehow, to repay them.
The horse outside neighed loudly.
I carefully pried the child’s hand from my sleeve and kissed her forehead.
[Goodbye. Stay well.]
I signed. The child, tears streaming down her face, nodded and copied my hand movements.
Dragging my heavy legs, I mounted the waiting horse.
“My wife and I will escort you only to the forest’s edge. Beyond that, you’re on your own.”
The woman’s husband said. Riding behind him, I looked back dozens of times as we left the forest.
I can say with certainty—those were the most beautiful seven days of my life.
That child I met in the forest… is the Princess of Dvorca.
The more closely I examined her features, the clearer it became. The shimmering platinum hair, like spun honey-thread, came from King Madilov. Her delicately sculpted features must have been inherited from Nadia.
She even resembled the Grand Duke in her aura.
Now that I knew she was a princess, I had to treat her as such. Whether or not she herself knew she was a princess was another matter.
[Untie the ropes. Didn’t you hear?]
I gestured again to Vera.
“…Understood.”
Vera drew a dagger from her waist and sliced through the ropes binding the princess’s hands.
Blood returned to her pale hands.
I then approached the brown-haired woman who had shouted at me earlier.
I tilted her chin up gently. Though she had no distinctive features and I had only realized belatedly—it was indeed the same woman who had saved me alongside the child in the forest.
“Mmff! Mmmphh!”
The woman struggled violently, as if telling me to take my dirty hands off her. I obliged.
How had she ended up here? I asked Vera.
[How did you bring this woman? Were the two together?]
“She was sharing a room with that girl. When our people tried to take the girl, she woke up and screamed. So we gagged and bound her. She struggled so much that when we finally removed the gag, she begged us to take her wherever the girl went.”
[She begged you to take her along?]
“Yes. Judging from her appearance, I think she’s a maid, but I can’t be sure. The people of the manor seemed to use her as a sign-language interpreter, since the girl couldn’t speak.”
So this woman had also fled to Padon Island and was living there.
Even though Vera’s men must have looked like kidnappers, the woman insisted on being taken along with the princess.
Was it sheer determination to stay by the princess’s side, even at the risk of death? Or had she realized Vera’s group would not harm the princess?
Once again, I wondered. In the forest, the woman had called the princess “young lady.” What was their relationship? Would I get an answer this time?
At any rate, it was fortunate Vera had brought her along. At least the princess would not be alone here in Blansk.
“Oh, and here are the girl’s belongings. She insisted on keeping them, but there was nothing of value… Decide yourself whether to return them.”
Vera handed me an old cloth bag. It sagged into a square shape as if weighed down by books.
I pulled a pouch of gold coins from my robe sleeve and gave it to Vera. Though her wages were paid by my family, extra reward ensured her loyalty.
“Well, thank you. Call on me again anytime.”
With a short farewell, Vera slipped away silently.
I tugged the rope to summon the tavern staff and ordered food for the two women—something warm and filling.
The server brought borscht with red turnips and vegetables, along with steamed cod.
The smell of hot food calmed the struggling woman. I untied her bonds. To reassure her, I tasted a spoonful first before offering it to her. She must have understood it was safe.
Soon, Katarina arrived. I entrusted the two women to her and left the pawnshop.
I needed to calm my racing heart after such an unexpected reunion.
And then, there was the bag Vera had handed me…
I opened the worn, frayed bag. What made it so heavy? Reaching inside, I pulled out a thick leather-bound book.
Universal Sign Language Textbook
On its red cover, the letter “A” was embossed.
“You… still have this?”
In truth, I had broken my promise to that woman never to return to the forest. Carefully guiding my horse, I had once more risked my life to approach the cabin. I couldn’t knock, but I left the sign-language textbook engraved with my initial, along with several picture books. And all the gold coins I had brought from my homeland.
I dug further in the bag. This time, I pulled out a tattered paper book, so worn it was falling apart. The cover picture was faded, unreadable.
I turned a page and finally recognized the title.
The Sun and the Wind
More picture books followed: The Prince and the Pauper, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, Sleeping Beauty—all the ones I had left at the child’s door.
Why? Why did she still have these…?
My fingertips trembled. The child hadn’t forgotten me. In the chaos, why had she bothered to bring these along? Did she really cherish these worthless things so much?
Clutching the books to my chest, I bowed my head. Unbidden, tears fell onto the covers. I hastily wiped them away with my sleeve so they wouldn’t soak through.
“What are you doing standing there?”
From the stairs came a familiar voice and footsteps. I looked up and saw the Grand Duke—my husband, wrapped in a dark robe and hood.
As he approached, I hid the books behind my back.
[What are you hiding… are you crying?]
He made the sign for tears, brushing under both eyes with his fingers.
I shook my head. Stepping aside, I gestured for him to go inside.
[Why are you crying? Did something happen?]
Though my wig’s bangs should have hidden my eyes, somehow he knew. Such a meddlesome man.
Wiping my eyes with my sleeve, I pointed once more at the door.
I had completed his request. Now he should go and greet his sister.
