Chapter 72
Riv admired the peaceful Southern countryside, but she suffered motion sickness often.
By the time they reached their destination, although she had recovered, Riv was very tired.
Aiden was worried about Riv.
“Madame Riv, please rest well when we arrive at the Sentino Villa.”
“I will.”
“I told them that a guest of the Duke is visiting the villa for sanatorium*.”
[*E/N: a sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illnesses, so essentially her cover story is that she’s seeking medical asylum.]
“Okay.”
“The townspeople are curious, and they might bother Madame Riv. You can just ignore them.”
Riv nodded her head.
She was used to ignoring curious glances.
Meanwhile, they passed through the Sentino Village.
The village was made up of small houses with red roofs, built side-by-side on a steep hill. Shepherds who saw the carriage waved amongst their flocks of sheep.
“When things get better, you can move to Elon City or another mansion.”
Lionel owned several mansions in the South.
The Sentino Villa was the most isolated of them all.
“I just want to rest.”
Riv only thought of a good rest, as Aiden had suggested.
The carriage passed through the ruins of the Sentino Castle, which had been attacked by pirates a hundred years ago.
“It would be nice to go for a walk later. On a fine day, you can see the distant sea.”
“Yes…”
His words were no longer able to be processed by Riv’s tired ears.
They finally reached the villa at the top of the hill. The housekeepers, who had been managing the villa for a long time, welcomed Riv.
The head of staff was Moldova, and his wife, Pascuda, was the chef.
“Welcome, Madame Olivia.”
The only thing the villa’s employees knew was Riv’s name.
“Olivia is too grand, please call me Riv.”
Riv stared at the friendly couple. They were a little startled by Riv’s tall stature, but didn’t say anything.
“We’re happy to serve a guest after such a long time.”
“We will serve you with respect.”
The villa, owned by the Duke, had been neglected for a long time, so the couple were happy to welcome any guests.
“Anna will be serving you.”
“Anna?”
It was a familiar name somehow.
Riv tilted her head.
“I am a new maid.”
Just then, the maid who came down from the upper floor caught Riv’s attention.
Riv stopped in surprise.
“A-Anna?”
It was a familiar name with a familiar face.
Anna stood at the foot of the stairs with a warm smile. She seemed to have grown a little since she last saw her.
The last time they saw each other was just before Riv left the palace.
Riv was not able to say goodbye properly, so she didn’t expect to see Anna again, let alone in the Duke’s territory.
“Madame Riv, do you know this maid?”
“Ah.”
At the villa manager’s words, Anna greeted her with a smile.
“At the recommendation of the Duke, I came to the South to work not long ago. I am delighted to meet the Madame.”
Anna seemed to have been told about their circumstances.
Riv was so flustered that she was at a loss for words.
Anna casually guided Riv.
“The Madame’s room is this way.”
Anna led Riv to a bedroom on the second floor.
Moldova carried Riv’s few belongings to her bedroom.
The bedroom was small but neat.
Anna spoke after a long silence.
“This mansion is on a hill, so it’s windy.”
“…..”
“You may wake up often to the sound of the wind.”
“Anna, I…”
“Speak comfortably, Riv.”
“Shouldn’t I speak formally?”
“I’m younger than you. So please be at ease.”
“The matter of me arriving.”
“We heard the news two days ago.”
Riv thought of Lionel.
“Anna, did Lionel send you here?”
“Yes.”
Anna pursed her lips as if she had something to say, but noticed Riv’s fatigue and changed the subject.
“Let’s talk about it later. You should rest first.”
Anna led Riv into her bedroom and brought a basin of water and a towel to wash her hands and feet.
“Wash your hands and feet and close your eyes for a moment. I’ll wake you up in the evening.”
Anna left the room so Riv could rest comfortably.
Riv dazedly thought of Lionel as she looked around the bedroom.
It was a simple Southern-style bedroom with only a bed, a wardrobe, chair and table.
Riv washed her hands and face with the water Anna had prepared, then changed into the spare clothes that had been laid out for her and took a nap.
Lionel did not appear in her dreams.
In fact, nothing did.
Everything was a dark nothingness.
Neither her death nor her resurrection appeared in her dreams either.
When Riv woke up, the room was dark. She had no idea how much time had passed.
If she had slept all night or if days had passed, she couldn’t tell.
As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, she examined the dimly lit room.
Her luggage had been organized, so it seemed as though Anna had been in her room while she slept.
‘Now what should I do?’
Riv was lost in thought for a moment. She had been distracted after Lionel asked her to go South without him.
No, she didn’t even have time to think properly.
“I might have been too hasty.”
What would have happened if she had stayed by Lionel’s side?
Would the King have used her? Or Marianne? Would Queen Selina have tried to kill her?
“Haa.”
Her head hurt again.
“……”
There was a brisk knock on her bedroom door. Riv, who had been concentrating on her thoughts, raised her head.
“Madame, are you awake?”
“Come in.”
“Dinner is ready. After you eat, I will prepare a bath for you, so you can wash up and get a good night’s sleep.”
“Okay.”
Riv went down to the first floor.
On the first floor were guest rooms, a living room, and a kitchen.
A meal for one was set out on the long dining table in the kitchen.
Grilled fish and stew, freshly baked bread, and salad with herbs.
“If there is anything else you would like, please let me know.”
Pascuda, the chef, was very friendly and accommodating.
Riv felt hungry at all the delicious smells and began to eat immediately.
When Riv ate her entire meal, the couple rejoiced. As soon as she was finished, Anna prepared Riv’s bath water.
“Take a bath and rest. You need to dry your hair before you go to sleep. I will help you.”
Riv was exhausted and finished bathing with Anna’s help.
Anna prepared hot tea and even dried Riv’s body.
The night wind that came in the meantime shook the villa.
Even when the shutters of the window were closed and the latch was fastened, the window creaked without restraint.
“Lionel…”
The night passed quickly.
***
The next day, Riv toured the villa.
The villa had a stable and a herb garden, but it was rather small.
Outside the villa, wilderness and rugged hills continued endlessly in all directions.
With nothing else to do, Riv stared blankly into the forest.
Moldova approached.
“Madame Riv? What are you looking at?”
“I don’t know.”
The tall grass that grew in the wilderness swayed in the wind. Riv fixed her gaze on the monotonous landscape.
“There is nothing here.”
“Nothing?”
Moldova nodded his head.
“Actually, this place was once called the land of wizards and witches. It seems that many witches and wizards appeared in the Sentoren bloodline, which was called Sentino at the time. They were called heretics with mystical powers.”
“But now?”
“There is none. Only the legend remains.”
“Why?”
“No one knows. At some point the wizards and witches went extinct. Even the Dukes forgot that they ever had such powers since they never came back.”
“Ah.”
Riv suddenly remembered the pendant necklace hanging from her neck.
If the Sentoren bloodline had a history of magic, it would also explain why the heirloom was a magic tool.
“What about the current Duke?”
“Excluding distant branches, the only direct line left is the young Duke, Lionel.”
“I see.”
Moldova laughed.
“Even if wizards and witches have disappeared from this land, it seems that remnants of their power still remain.”
“What?”
“Before the wizards and witches disappeared, they said they cast a spell on this land. It is said that if they hide in this land, no one will find them.”
Moldova seemed to think that Riv had come all the way here for that reason.
“I don’t know why you came here, but this place is safe.”
Riv thanked him for the information.
However, one question remained.
“Is there any magic here?”
“That’s what they say. Oh, when there was still magic in the Sentoren bloodline, there was a huge forest here. After their magic disappeared, it became a wild and untamed wilderness.”
“Ah.”
Riv seemed to understand.
Wizards and witches used the power of nature to gain power and circulate their remaining power into the natural world.
What if the cycle of magic was cut off?
The forest was desolate, since wizards and witches who had gained power from the forest were long gone.*
[*E/N: essentially they had the ability to interact with nature, much like Riv does! It was a give and take: the wizards helped the forest thrive, and the forest allowed them to take mana from it in exchange. The Sentoren wizards were most likely hunted for their abilities, and the cycle of give and take was broken.]
“I want to look around.”
Riv called for Anna, and the two walked along an overgrown path into the wilderness before returning to the villa.
Aiden had kindly bought her daily necessities.
“Did you get any letters from the Royal Capital?”
He shook his head.
“I think you will have to wait a little while longer.”