A Helping Hand

Katarina's POV

Without hesitation, the woman offered her arm, guiding me with care and compassion. 

"You shouldn't walk around alone you know," she said with concern. "There are so many crazy people going around these days looking for who to beat up and maltreat. You should be very careful about that."

"I'll do that next time."

We walked in silence for a while before she asked me what had happened to which I explained to her.

"What a donkey," she chuckled. "He's lucky it wasn't me. I would have made sure his dick never saw the dawn of the morning."

I laughed at that. 

As we walked together, she shared snippets of her own life, weaving her story with words of encouragement and wisdom. 

She spoke of her own dating trials, the hardships she had faced, and the lessons she had learned along the way.

"At the end of the day I did regret going around and sleeping with so many men in the village just so I could find love and fulfill their needs as I was desperate for love but did anyone love me? No. That is why I always tell young girls to never, ever, satisfy a man you aren't sure of. 

"And when you finally find the right one, never give up on him, even if he doesn't have the latest chariot or isn't a monster of some sort," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "The right kind of man will see beyond your external circumstances and cherish you for the beautiful soul that you are and you would do the same for him."

Her words touched me in ways I couldn't fully express. It was as if the universe had sent her to me, a guiding light in the midst of darkness. I found peace in her presence, a newfound belief that love was indeed possible, even for someone like me.

As we reached the palace gates, I turned to the woman with gratitude and sadness in my voice. "Thank you for your kindness," I said, my voice filled with emotion. "If I might ask… did you find someone who you love?"

I saw her eyes twinkle. "I did." But the twinkle only lasted a few seconds. "Although sometimes I can't help but see that he wants to have children and I can't do that for him."

In my quest for the prince's illness, I had come across the knowledge of how to cure barrenness. 

I gave the knowledge to her as she gasped at my words.

"How do you know all of this?"

I shrugged. "I learned from the best. And thank you so much for the advice." 

The woman smiled warmly, her eyes shining with understanding. "You are most welcome, my dear," she replied, her voice filled with genuine care. "Remember that love knows no boundaries, and the right person will come into your life when the time is right. Until then, focus on loving yourself and embracing the beauty within."

With those parting words, she bid me farewell, disappearing into the night. 

I stood by the palace gates, a sense of gratitude coursing through my veins. I knew that I couldn't let Thomas's hurtful words define me or my worth. I had been reminded of my own strength and the endless possibilities that awaited me.

Entering the palace, I sought solace in the familiar surroundings. 

The halls, the intricate details of the artwork, all brought me back to the reality of my new home. I knew that I wasn't alone in my struggles, that there were others who had faced similar challenges in matters of the heart.

Heading to my room, I allowed myself a moment of vulnerability. I let the tears fall, my emotions pouring out as I grappled with the disappointment of yet a failed attempt at finding love as well as failing at finding a cure for the prince. I was failing at everything.

With a sigh, I tossed the cane away while falling in bed. Was this going to be my new life forever?

But as the tears subsided, a quiet determination settled within me. I refused to let this setback hold me back.

I was going to do what I wanted to do to get out of here.

I slept that night with a smile on my face at the adventure I had that day, and woke up the next morning with an even bigger smile on the adventure which would await me.

A knock on my door had me going into character as I grabbed my cane and got to the door to open it only to find the prince sweating and staring at me with his hand on his chest.

I was so alarmed that I dropped my cane and helped him into the room before shutting the door.

"We need to talk," he said as he sat on the bed. "How's that cure going?"

I didn't know what to say but all I could do was keep stalling him.

"It's going great. I need more time."

"I don't have more time, Jane," he sighed. "I'm dying."

"I'm sorry about that," I apologized. "But there is nothing I can do. If it was up to me I would get you a cure right now. But it's not. It's taking me more time to make more research and know what my father was teaching me when I was blind. Now I have my sight, it's hard to think back and know what he was talking about."

"How much time do you need?"

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

Now he was getting visibly angry.

"Prince kirigan, it's hard getting knowledge about illnesses as a blind girl. I have to walk around like a blind girl and getting into libraries is a very risky thing. It's not like you have books for blind people."

He laughed. "It's impossible for blind people to read. How will they read without eyes?"

If only he could get into the future to see the braille books.