IWETR 7

Chapter: 7

Seeing Seria’s fists, which were far from threatening, Elena couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

Fortunately, it seemed Seria hadn’t heard it.

Elena patted Seria’s shoulder and helped her sit back down before continuing.

“Don’t worry. Nothing like that will happen. Lord Theodore only gave a light warning because your identity mustn’t be revealed.”

“But…!”

How could a threat possibly count as a “light warning”?

As expected, Theodore was the worst kind of person. Watching someone casually wield another’s weakness was infuriating.

Seria’s expression darkened.

“That’s how deals usually work. You give someone a weakness while gaining their trust.”

“That doesn’t mean Theodore Belbat’s actions are justified,” Seria said firmly.

“Haha, of course. Someone as righteous and upright as you would think that way,” Elena said, her smile faint but her words sharp.

Had she made a mistake?

Seria hesitated for a moment and looked at Elena with wide eyes.

Elena met her gaze, still wearing that gentle smile.

“Hmm… now we need to rinse your hair. Can you manage that?”

“Ah, yes.”

The medicine Elena had applied to her hair had dried and stiffened. It felt a bit uncomfortable, but moving wasn’t a problem.

Seria followed Elena down the stairs.

When she first entered the castle, she hadn’t noticed, but its layout was quite peculiar.

Rooms connected unexpectedly, doors led to corridors she hadn’t anticipated—it was almost like a maze.

In a way, it seemed less like a castle and more like a fortress designed to hide someone.

Seria stayed close behind Elena as she led the way.

After walking for some time, Elena stopped in front of a door at the very end of a hallway.

Opening it revealed a fairly large kitchen.

Though half of it had crumbled over the years, the hearth area remained relatively intact.

A large iron cauldron above the hearth steamed and boiled vigorously.

“The place isn’t great, but… I needed warm water.”

“That’s fine! Don’t worry about it.”

“Thank you for understanding, Your Highness.”

“You don’t have to call me ‘Your Highness.’ That’s not me anymore… Just call me Seria.”

Seria said with a bitter expression.

Every time Elena called her “Your Highness,” it hurt her chest. It reminded her of all the faces of those who had once addressed her that way.

Elena observed Seria’s complicated expression silently, then nodded and skillfully began washing Seria’s hair.

After applying another layer of medicine to the damp hair and wrapping it in a towel, Elena smiled faintly, as if finished.

“You’ll just need to wait a little now.”

“Thank you, truly.”

Golden hair was a symbol and a source of pride for the people of Ajenta.

Especially for Seria.

Yet she had chosen to abandon her name and hide her hair. Once she gave up her pride for her life, she believed there was no turning back.

Or so she had thought.

“You’re excited, aren’t you? I can tell just by looking at you. Haha.”

“Yes…”

Seria’s heart began to pound.

“Brother! Why is only my hair this bright? I don’t like it!”

Years ago, young Seria had once barged into a class where Serion was studying.

Unable to send her away, Serion let her sit on his lap.

“Why don’t you like it?”

“Everyone else—Mother, Father, Brother, Master Hamel—they all have the same hair! And they keep staring at me every time I walk by!”

“Uh-huh.”

Both Serion and Hamel turned away, trying to stifle their laughter at Seria’s unfair indignation.

“Ahem… now that the princess is here, shall we have a special lesson? Have you studied the founding of the kingdom?”

Hamel closed his book on royal studies. With Serion’s attention completely on Seria, continuing the lesson was impossible.

“Yes, I have.”

“Then you should also know why all the people of Ajenta have golden hair.”

“Because the founder shared the god’s power with everyone. ‘Those who received the god’s power had their hair dyed golden.’ Ajenta Chronicle, Volume 1, Page 36.”

“Memorizing the page too—how clever of you!”

Seria beamed and looked at Serion proudly.

As if her tantrum had never happened, Serion poked her cheek lightly.

“But my hair isn’t golden. That’s weird!”

“Seria, you’re a little more special.”

“Special?”

Hamel came closer to explain, as Serion gestured for him to do so.

“The kingdom’s founder had bright golden hair—exactly like your platinum hair. Something to be very proud of.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Moreover, royals born with platinum hair are said to potentially wield the founder’s ‘power.’”

Seria exhaled lightly. She wanted to unwrap the towel and check immediately.

She couldn’t believe that her hair could return to its original color after just a few applications.

She was both excited and doubtful.

Seria instinctively touched her hair and quickly withdrew her hand.

“Seria, and everyone else too… the Ajenta people really love their hair, don’t they?”

Elena murmured softly as she tidied the bottles.

“That’s usually the case. Some Ajenta people never cut their hair their entire lives.”

Seria nodded slowly, then paused.

“Everyone else…?”

Murmuring softly, she asked Elena hastily:

“Elena, have you met other Ajenta people besides me?”

“Yes. Not many in the capital, but some live there. Some of my customers are Ajenta people too.”

Until now, Seria had thought most of the Ajenta were sent north or to the southern region, ‘Planto.’ She hadn’t imagined any living in the capital.

Perhaps tracking them could help find Serion’s whereabouts.

“Shall we see if we can find any?”

Elena put all the bottles away in a trunk and untied the towel around Seria’s hair.

She handed Seria a mirror.

Seria took a deep breath and looked at her reflection.

Her golden hair shimmered faintly in the moonlight.

“Ah…”

Her hands trembled slightly as she held the mirror. She thought she’d never see this again, thought she’d have to hide forever—her hair, her true name, everything.

Tears welled up, and she hastily set the mirror down, covering her face with both hands.

The flood of emotions, built from regret and guilt, had collapsed all at once.

When Seria wiped her tears quickly, Elena stood back, pretending not to notice.

“I’m glad you like it. I’ll tidy it a bit more for you.”

Elena, thrilled by handling such light-colored hair for the first time, styled Seria’s hair elaborately.

Seria ended up with a colorful hairstyle she’d only had as a child. She fiddled with a braid adorned with floral decorations.

“Quite time-consuming.”

Theodore, waiting in front of the kitchen, spoke.

“How is it, Lord Theodore? We even had hair accessories in the bag, so I added them too.”

Elena said proudly, and Theodore stared at Seria.

Though his gaze held no malice, Seria frowned instinctively.

“It suits you. Just need a better expression.”

“Shut up.”

Unbothered, Theodore took a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Elena.

“Withdraw it from the account under my name at Carbon Bank.”

“Including travel expenses, right?”

“Do as you see fit.”

Elena grabbed the check and prepared the trunk she’d set aside.

Seria, seeing Elena ready to leave, quickly grabbed her sleeve.

“You’re leaving like this?”

“My part here is done. I have other matters to attend to.”

“I thought you’d stay with me…”

Seria had assumed Elena, in a similar situation, would stay by her side.

Elena smiled gently, glancing at Theodore.

“I wish I could stay with you, but Theodore has tasks for me. Plus, I closed the shop a while ago, so I need to go. Don’t worry—I’ll still help you from afar. We’ll meet again.”

As Seria’s grip loosened, Elena walked away gracefully.

Only Theodore and Seria remained in the castle.

Seria watched Elena’s retreating figure and sighed softly.

“Shall we go?”

Theodore gestured for her to follow and began walking.