Chapter 10 - Are You A Witch Too?
Looking at the peaceful river in front of me and the vast land teeming with greenery, I found myself mesmerized as usual by the beauty of nature. I inhaled deeply to enjoy the fresh air, fully relishing this rare taste of freedom.
"After so long... It feels great," I commented as I held my skirt and skipped my way towards the river, feeling excited like a kid who just got his favorite toy.
For someone like me, nothing but freedom could truly make me happy. It was more precious than any power or wealth in the world.
Martha followed quietly behind me, simply letting me do what I wish.
I made my way to the large boulders lining the side of the river and found a good spot to sit. As the rocks were surrounded by shallow water, I could dip my feet and play unhindered without getting my clothes wet. The calmly flowing water reached just above my ankles, and the cold against my warm skin felt wonderful.
As I was happy and smiling, as usual, one of my curses showed its effect.
The plants nearby that originally looked like ordinary shrubs, devoid of the beauty of flower blossoms, suddenly had buds grow on them that bloomed into colorful flowers. The entire place was transformed into a flower garden, and it was a dazzling view.
I looked at Martha. "Aren't they so pretty?"
"That's why my lady should smile often," Martha commented as she admired the view as well.
"Then you should bring me out often, too," I laughed, smiling brightly as the happy kid inside me was ready to come out.
Martha didn't reply, but there was a tinge of worry on her face, and I could understand why.
"Are you worried about what others will think when they see flowers blooming inside the capital?"
Martha looked at me. "It's a good thing to see so many flowers after so long."
As usual, Martha avoided answering me, but I knew what was in her mind.
"They will think this witch is happy after almost ruining the engagement ceremony of her sister, and these flowers in full blossom prove that."
"My lady should not be concerned with what others think," Martha commented.
I smiled. "I am not as long as I can be free like this."
Martha was a lady who never smiled and only thought about how to do her job perfectly. However, through her actions, I knew she cared for me. Seeing her constantly worry for me never failed to bring warmth to my heart.
"Won't you join me here, Martha?" I asked.
Martha sat on the rock beside me calmly.
"Today, can you honestly answer a question of mine?" I spoke.
"Only if I can answer it," she replied.
I took a deep breath.
"Are you a witch too?"
I had asked her this question before, but she never gave me a clear answer, not even once. Well, I would never stop asking again and again until she tells me the truth.
"Why does my lady think so?" she countered.
Her response was a pleasant surprise.
'Did she really say something instead of flat-out ignoring my question straight away? I didn't hear her wrong, right?'
Though surprised, I kept myself calm. I needed to grab this opportunity to make her talk more.
"You know magic spells," I replied.
"So any person who knows magic is supposed to be a witch?" she asked back.
Her words made me look at her face.
Although she was my nanny, Martha could not be considered old, probably just around the same age as my birth mother. Though she was a servant, there was something about her that distinguished her from normal servants of the royal family. Perhaps it was her temperament, coupled with her looks.
Grey shade of hair tied in a long braid, a pair of light brown eyes, a long face with fair skin, sharp and pointy nose, as well as a tall, slender body. Although my sense of beauty might be different from the people of my kingdom, I believed that Martha could be considered above average if not pretty by normal standards. If she were to wear luxurious clothes, no one would think she was a mere servant.
"You are old but still pretty. You are not ugly, so…."
"Who said witches are ugly?" Martha asked.
"Do I even need to ask anyone? If not that, then why would I have to cover my face?"
Martha opened her mouth to say something, but I stopped her. "I know! I know! You will say it's to protect me, but I can't stop thinking I need to hide my face because I am ugly."
"You are even prettier than your mother," Martha mumbled under her breath, but she was no longer looking at me. Instead, she stared at the river ahead, looking lost in thought. This was the first time I had seen such an expression on her face.
Moreover, she mentioned something about my mother, something other than the two things I knew about my mother. First, that she was a witch, and second, that she was the one to put this veil on my face.
'Could it be the beautiful view that reminded Martha something? A memory of my mother? Do I need to continue this to fish out more information from her?'
I couldn't help but make plans in my mind for the next time we sneak out again.
"If she was a witch, how can she be pretty?" I asked after I realized both of us had fallen in silence.
This time, Martha didn't reply, which didn't come as a surprise to me.
I had reached the phase where I could only ask questions and leave them for Martha to decide whether she wished to answer or not.
"So you personally know my mother," I concluded, not minding how she ignored my previous question.
Again, there was no reply.
"Were you friends, or did you serve under her, too?"
"How did you two meet?"
"Most importantly, is my mother alive?"
"How did she and my father meet?"
One after another, questions I hid deeply poured out of my mouth. However, Martha remained silent throughout. Before I could ask more, she stood up, and she stepped away from the waters onto the dry part of the riverbank. "We should leave, or I won't be able to take my lady to the market."
"She is my mother, but I know nothing about her. Can't you at least tell me something more about her?" I insisted, but I did get up from the rock and followed her.
'This old woman walks really fast,' I sighed, trying to catch up with her.
"She was pretty. Knowing this much is enough for today," Marth replied as she led me out of the river towards the city proper.
'This heartless woman. Just wait and watch what I'll do today,' I frowned inside, glaring at her back. 'If you think you can control me just because you know some magic tricks, then you are wrong.'