Sorceress.

ONCE Elizabeth had seen the Court lady [though Sigrid had her back towards her at first], a wave of excitement coursed through her body almost immediately.

She was beyond elated.

'Alas! The one person who thoroughly understands my language and the one whom I am most comfortable to allay my worries and curiosities to… my savior!' exclaimed Beth gleefully in her heart.

It was Oletha's information about having brought the maiden with her that had prompted Sigrid [the court lady] to lift herself up while making a U-turn in the process.

Sigrid smiled cheerfully at Elizabeth who reciprocated the courtesy, likewise.

"I'm glad you are finally here, fair maiden. I have been waiting for you!" said Sigrid in the brightest countenance to Elizabeth; a warm smile painted neatly across her face.

"Yes indeed! I'm here now but I must complain that I had to swim painfully through seven rivers and seven seas before I could eventually find you, kind lady.

My persistent panting is proof of how far I've journeyed to get here," reported Elizabeth.

"Hahaha, you've got a sense of humour I see." Sigrid's words as she kept on smiling.

However, Beth had not meant her words as a joke.

Although she may have gone overboard with her hyperbolic speech but she really did feel like she would faint any minute now from having to walk for so long and on an empty stomach.

'I'm starving. I guess it's possibly why I'm exceptionally weak and easily fatigued already.

Hm, first I must find out from this kind lady the reason for every ceremonial treatment I have received from the minute I'd woken up from sleep up until this point.' Elizabeth contemplated deep within her heart's resource.

Sigrid, being full of wisdom already understood the reason for the unbeatable storm raging violently in the maiden's mind.

She could tell from her visage and momentary silence that she[Elizabeth] was having a sea of questions floating in her mind and was perhaps thinking of the right approach to apply in order to begin her speech.

'I could help her out by speaking first but I would rather she took her time to deliberate on her statement and speak on her own.' Thought Sigrid whilst she went ahead to collect more herbs.

Finally, after what seemed like eons passed, Elizabeth was prepared to speak...

"I would like a word with you, lady Sigrid. Well that is if you don't mind me encroaching in your busy hour," said Elizabeth meekly.

Hearing Beth's words instantly caused the court lady, Sigrid to settle her gaze on the girl whom she had grown carelessly fond of, without any peculiar reasons of course.

Still wearing a smile that painted the beautiful rays of sunshine on her pale skin, Sigrid got ready her reply...

"You have my complete attention, Elizabeth. Surely, you can speak without restriction as well. I am all ears."

"Wow! Thank you so much. You are very kind indeed! However, I would like to express my immense gratitude to begin with. I want you to know how thankful I am to you for having to stick your neck out for me...

Had it been you had not searched out the jewellery—my necklace, then I doubt that I would be standing here... next to you. I'll never forget your kind deed in a hurry. At the very least, I owe you my life now," said Beth and then she did a slight bow.

But Sigrid was not impressed by such deep words...

"Isn't that too much? Saying that you owe me your life? I appreciate your gratitude but those words are rather heavy to mutter, Elizabeth. In any case, I did what I did as a result of my motherly instinct." Sigrid halted from speaking and examined Beth's countenance through her penetrating yet kindly stare.

"You know... Elizabeth-"

"Yes court lady."

"I can read through you right now-"

Elizabeth's irises widened at the sound of this.

"You can?" asked Elizabeth.

'Does this woman also have magical power as well? For her to say that she can read through me, Is she a sorceress of some sort?'

Sigrid continued.

"I can read through you enough to know at least, that you have more pressing matters you are itchy to discuss with me."

Sigrid then paced about the garden while Elizabeth moped about.

'Oh that was what she meant. I merely overthought then,' thought Beth as she scolded herself internally.

By now, Elizabeth wasn't in a hurry to speak as her attention had gotten swayed to the line of herbal plants she could see from where the court lady [Sigrid] was standing.