CHAPTER 3

Valery left the palace with the mayor and her guards. The place looked different she noticed; the flowers were blooming. She wondered what the city was like now. Would she be able to see him now that she was personally entering the city?

Her heart really aches but she couldn’t help it. She closed her eyes to chase every thought away and let herself to reach the manor in a peaceful manner.

Her carriage was never stopped at the city gates; they knew how deadly it was. So, they passed smoothly and she opened the carriage window; the people couldn’t see her face since there was a curtain inside.

People were happy, they were busy with their daily life, some were moving away upon realizing whose carriage was passing by which made her smile. It’s been two months and they still remember.

The carriage finally came to a halt and the door was opened. She stood up and Nora helped her to get down the carriage. Whenever she was in public, she never showed her real face. She hated being looked upon.

She was in her thirties and yet she still looked the same as she was when her mother died. People were scared of her already and adding that to the list was something she wouldn’t want at all.

She took the stairs down the carriage and her feet touched the ground. She held her hands together and followed the mayor into his manor. He gave her his seat which she took happily and settled herself comfortably.

The maids brought some snacks and wine. Nora did the tasting; she couldn’t trust anyone except for Nora. Nora was a child she took after she became the mistress of the palace. She found her on the streets. She was a survivor, an intelligent girl and witty too.

Given proper education and direction, Valery knew that she will become the best. She personally trained her and gave her all she could and now Nora was the best at protecting her from the unseen danger that always lurks everywhere.

“I don’t have much time to wine and dine in your manor, Mayor. So, you better be quick before I change I mind,” Valery said sipping the cherry wine.

The mayor clapped his hands and the guards came in holding a huge box which looked heavy from the look of it. What would be hidden inside of that thing?

They put the box down and opened it. She waited anxiously to see what was so important she had to leave the mountain and enter the city for?

She finally saw it and she smiled. The old man was so good at currying favors. She stood up and walked towards the item that was hidden in the box. She circled it, admiring it and looked at the mayor who was now waiting for her reaction.

“I will forgive you this once for making me coming all this way,” she said looking at him and saw his face being drained of all the energy and she continued, “since you made an effort I will take you to the capital and whatever happens to you there will be on you.”

“Thank you very much Saintess,” he said his face happy all over again.

It felt good fooling the old man. She loved the gift. Someone had made a huge effort of carving a lotus flower using the finest and purest white jade. Who would say no to such a gift?

“Nora, had this gift return to the palace and come with me somewhere,” Valery instructed.

“I will do that,” Nora said and began to work.

She returned back to the seat she was on and took a bite of the snacks that was in her plate.

“These are delicious, you should reward whoever made them,” she said it meaningfully.

“I will do that. If you love them so much, I can gift you the cook,” the mayor said.

“I have enough cooks in my palace, I won’t be able to sleep if I take such a person from you,” she said standing up.

“If you say so then I should thank you,” he said.

“I will send a man to you; remember that we will be leaving in two days and in the morning.”

“I will be ready Saintess.”

“My job is done here, I will take my leave,” Valery said walking out.

The mayor sends her off up to the gate and she made him return inside.

“Are you getting onto the carriage, Mistress?” Nora asked.

“No, I will take a walk. Is he still there?”

“Yes, he is.”

“Good, make sure he doesn’t leave. I will personally drag him out of that place,” Valery said and began to walk.

Walking might be dangerous for a person like her but luckily the people knew who to mess around with.

They looked at her, made comments about her, some were whispering but she just threw everything away. She passed through a market place and it reminded her when she was still young. She would sneak out of the mountain and come to the city and shop all she wanted. She stopped at one stall and gazed at the jewelry being sold.

“Saintess, pick whatever you want. It’s on me,” the old man said and she looked at him.

How did he even know that it was her? Valery smiled and looked at the hairpins being sold and found one. It was a rose hairpin and she knew exactly who to give. She picked the hairpin and pulled Nora closer and put the hairpin on her head.

“Mistress, this..”

“Take it as a gift from me and pay this man,” she said and left.

She hated taking something without paying for it. She continued with her journey until she stopped right in front of the flower house where her person was hiding in.

She took a deep breath and walked inside. She was welcomed by the lady of the house.

“Saintess, I didn’t know you were coming,” she said.

“I know. Where is he?”

“He is in the room right now,” she replied.

“Good. Nora, go and get him,” Valery said and took a seat at one of the tables. These people had left their tables the second she entered the house.

“Bring me some wine,” she told the lady who immediately ordered her people.

The wine was on her table in seconds; she poured the wine in a cup and gulped it all down at once. She heard some noise and she knew that boy was refusing to come down.

She looked up and she met his gaze. He looked different from the last time she saw him. She felt so much pain in her chest but she couldn’t clutch it. With so many people watching, she couldn’t reveal her weakness at all. Not being able to continue, she stood up and looked at Nora.

“Take him back to the palace,” she said and left the flower house.

She wanted to be alone; with so many eyes on her she jumped and used her martial arts to fly away. She wanted to be alone and let this pain fade away.