Confused and merely fluttering her lips, Leticia was looked down upon by Mano, who smiled faintly.
“Is the word ‘mother’ unfamiliar to you? It’s okay, baby. It’s my wish, so you don’t have to force yourself.”
“…”
“It’s more important to me that you’re happy.”
Then, with a gentle smile, she extended a slender hand, holding a bundle. Her bronze hair, loosely braided to one side, slipped smoothly down.
“Baby, do you want to see this? It’s a present for you.”
“For me… a present?”
“Yes. Let’s open it together later. You’ll like it.”
Mano murmured. Leticia felt awkward.
‘I can’t accept a present meant for Lord Julios…’
Yet, she didn’t want to disappoint Mano, who seemed so pleased. Quickly, Leticia smiled.
“I’m really happy. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Yes, me too.”
“Then, shall we open it after our outing?”
“Sure. Let’s do that.”
“First, let me put shoes on you.”
Leticia put her own shoes on Mano. As she remembered, Mano’s feet fit perfectly into her shoes, and she couldn’t help but smile slightly. Mano, feeling pleased, dangled her feet.
“Let’s go now, baby.”
“Just a moment.”
Leticia turned briefly to look back at her room, where the window was open. She thought of the ink bottle on the table.
‘I should leave a note for Dietrian. So he won’t worry.’
If Leticia and Mano suddenly disappeared, it would cause a commotion in Heden. Black ink captured her intentions as she penned her thoughts.
‘I’m going out for a short outing with Madam Mano. We won’t go far. Just a quick stop by the market next to Heden Square. If you decide to send guards, please make sure they don’t get noticed by Madam Mano.’
In truth, she didn’t need much protection. The Heden market wasn’t dangerous, and she was confident she could protect Mano with the power of the elixir.
Nonetheless, she entrusted the note to the wind once she had finished writing. A breeze gently folded the paper, carrying it away fluttering.
“Shall we go now?”
“Yes.”
Hand in hand, they began walking side by side.
* * *
In Leticia’s memory, Heden was a city of ash.
Heden, a border city, was entirely different from the glamorous imperial capital or the bustling Rozantine.
Constantly battling monsters, every aspect of the city was specialized for survival.
Buildings, mostly in grayscale and rectangular, minimized decoration, and there weren’t even statues on the streets.
Maybe because she hadn’t had the leisure of mind back then, Heden had seemed very bleak.
But this time was different.
Entering Heden Square holding Mano’s hand, Leticia was inwardly surprised.
‘Was Heden’s atmosphere always this nice?’
Though the scenery was simple, the expressions of people walking the streets weren’t monotone.
Faces filled with laughter and leisure were hard to believe for a border city.
People recognizing Mano greeted them with warm smiles.
A portly woman selling flowers by the square cheerfully recognized Mano.
“Madam Mano, what brings you out without your guards?”
In Heden Square, Mano was a well-known figure.
It was in the middle of this square that Julia had discovered Mano in a wagon a few days prior.
“Yes, I’m out for an outing.”
“Ha-ha, it is indeed a fine day for an outing.”
“Did you come with our baby? Isn’t our baby pretty?”
“Well, yes, but…”
The merchant tilted her head, puzzled.
Caught off guard by the sudden shift, Leticia felt a mix of relief and embarrassment.
“I thought only knights had come down from the castle, but it seems I was mistaken.”
Clearly, Leticia was not a knight.
“Are you from the castle then?”
The merchant’s curious gaze turned towards Leticia, who bit the inside of her cheek.
She couldn’t bring herself to reveal her identity.
Surely, this merchant must believe Leticia, the Saint’s daughter, to be a murderer.
While the Second Knight Order had been informed by Banessa, ordinary citizens likely hadn’t received the news yet.
‘If they knew who I am, they would surely hate me.’
There was a way to reveal her past, but it wouldn’t be easily believed.
It was a natural reaction.
How could years of believed truths be overturned in an instant?
Even if Dietrian supported her, the situation wouldn’t change much.
‘The delegation believed in me too easily.’
Knowing logically to expect negative reactions, she still felt hurt.
Imagining the cheerful merchant turning on her after discovering her identity made her heart ache in anticipation.
‘I don’t want to reveal it now…’
Someday she might have to, but for now, she wanted to avoid it.
Having Mano by her side made her more inclined to protect the pleasantness of their outing.
Then, the merchant carefully asked,
“But why are you wearing a scarf suitable for the desert? Are you not from the castle, but from the empire instead?”
Leticia, frozen for a moment, finally nodded.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
She had been figured out.
Now she would be disliked. But she resolved not to be too hurt when,
“Ah, so you’re the maid who accompanied the Saint’s daughter. Of course, that woman wouldn’t have returned quietly with the knights.”
The merchant looked at Leticia sympathetically.
“You must have had a hard time. Serving that wicked woman for nearly a month…”
“No!”
It was then. Mano, with fierce eyes, vigorously shook the merchant’s arm.
“Don’t say that! My baby is so kind!”
“What, what?”
“Don’t talk badly about her!”
The merchant blinked in confusion. Mano quickly extended her foot.
“Look at this. She even put shoes on me. So don’t say mean things about my baby!”
The merchant’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Wait, isn’t this a boot for the desert? Why are you wearing this, Madam Mano?”
“My baby gave it to me. As a present, so I wouldn’t hurt my feet.”
Mano boasted.
The merchant’s gaze involuntarily drifted to the hem of Leticia’s dress.
Seeing Leticia standing on the stone floor in just socks, the merchant exclaimed in shock.
“My goodness, did you walk here from your lodgings barefoot?”
“Not exactly barefoot…”
“It’s practically the same. Those socks aren’t thick. Please, sit down here. You might hurt your feet walking like that.”
Leticia found herself sitting on a chair, led by the merchant.
“Just wait, I’ll bring you some new shoes right away.”
“It’s okay. We planned to go to the shoe store with Madam Mano.”
“Oh, but that’s quite far. And the ground is full of stones.”
The merchant spoke sternly, then smiled warmly, holding Leticia’s hand.
“How can someone be so kind-hearted?”
“Our baby, isn’t she pretty?”
“Yes, indeed. The lady seems like an angel.”
Faced with such a kind gaze, Leticia finally couldn’t hold back and spoke up.
“I’m not a maid.”
“Pardon?”
Leticia moistened her lips.
“I did return from the empire with His Highness, but I’m not his maid.”
“What?”
“I am, that is to say.”
“Baby, the shoes!”
At that moment, Mano raised his voice again. The merchant quickly stood up.
“Oh my, where are my manners.”
Then she seated Mano next to Leticia.
“Madam Mano, please wait here. Don’t go anywhere.”
“Okay.”
“If you’re not the maid…”
The merchant looked puzzled but then smiled gently.
“Are you a knight, perhaps? Either way, Madam Mano. Make sure to hold onto the angel’s hand tightly. You understand?”
“Yes!”
The merchant left. A passerby asked what was happening.
With much excitement, the merchant pointed towards Leticia and Mano.
Surprise filled the passerby’s eyes, who then smiled warmly at Leticia.
Seeing the goodwill in their eyes, Leticia quickly said to Mano,
“Madam Mano, I’ll be right back. I think I should tell them who I am.”
Right now, they thought well of her because they didn’t know who she was, but if they found out the truth later, they might think she had lied to them.
That could cause trouble for Dietrian.
“No, baby. Don’t.”
But Mano tightly held onto Leticia’s hand, then soothingly said,
“Don’t go. Stay with me.”
“But.”
“Be nice, okay?”
Mano’s slender hand cradled her cheek gently.
Leticia swallowed, Mano’s gaze upon her mirrored the depth she’d seen in portraits.
“Be good, baby. Stay with mama, okay?”
Leticia’s face twisted as if about to cry, ultimately unable to hold back her words.
“Madam Mano, the truth is…”
“Yes?”
“I returned from the future.”
Leticia whispered so softly it was almost inaudible.
“You might not remember, Madam Mano… but because of me, that person died. Every day, I prayed. Prayed for a chance. And then, I really got it. A chance to save that person.”
Tears pooled in Leticia’s eyes.
“I thought it didn’t matter if everyone hated me, as long as I could save that person. But it wasn’t like that. That person believed in my past. Because of that, others cared for me too. I was so happy. It was a feeling I’d never experienced before. It felt like a miracle… I don’t want to cause harm to the person who showed me that miracle.”
Leticia spoke earnestly.
“So, I’ll be right back.”
Mano, quietly observing her, finally spoke, still holding tightly to her hand.
“Stay, baby. I have something to say to you too.”
“What is it?”
Mano brushed her hair behind her ear.
“I had a dream too.”
“A dream?”
“Yes.”
Mano smiled warmly as if pleased by the memory.
“It was a dream where baby was very happy. It made me happy.”
“Really?”
“Baby had her own babies and lived happily, in that dream.”
“…”
“We lived happily ever after, for a very long time, with that guy.”
Leticia blinked in confusion, understanding it was meant for Julios. Yet, the sentiment felt oddly personal.
‘Why… does it feel like Madam Mano is speaking directly to me?’
Then, Mano smiled and said,
“Baby, I have a gift for you. I want to show it to you now.”
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