Chapter 6

Sybil Park

"Mother, are you sure we're going to Twaechon?" Maze touched my clothes while looking at me.

“Yes, Maze. You said you want to learn embroidery. In Twaechon, you’ll learn a lot about embroidery.”

The servants of the palace came in here in the dining room to put the foods on the table. They also prepared our glasses and filled them with orange juice.

We started to eat as soon as everything was already prepared. Today, I just tasted a delicious ramen. I was eager to eat but my other two companions seemed even more eager to taste the food.

And because Maze and Cladius were eager, they immediately finished their meals and asked for another bowl of ramen, as if they hadn’t eaten for years. Their mouths are full of noodles but their smiles could still be seen.

 Ah! Water! Water! Water! ” Cladius shouted. I immediately glanced at him and saw his red face, his cheeks flushed, and he was begging for water. He seemed to be breathless.

A group of servants arrived carrying glasses of water and handed them to the general. The general drank a glass of water after another until he was satisfied. “Who prepared this ramen?!” Cladius shook his hand near his mouth.

The servants pointed at my daughter. "Maze?" The general looked at Maximaze. There was a hint of frustration in his voice. I . . . did not see that coming. Maze was the one who prepared the ramen?

“That’s my token of appreciation, General. They said ramen is to your liking so I gave you one of my favourite ramen.” Maze took a sip from her bowl. “Aren't generals brave? That's why I gave you spicy food, because generals are brave enough to encounter such heat and coldness. That’s what people said.”

“Y-y-you’re right. Generals can handle such heat and coldness.” He faked a cough. “It’s delicious. It’s utterly delicious, but it’s not that spicy enough to fit into my liking.'' I chuckled because of Cladius’ response to Maximaze.

“Is that so, General? Why don’t we add more spice to fit the meal into your liking?”

Cladius’ eyes widened. “What?! No, no, no. It’s completely fine. I’m on a diet.” He covered his face with his palm. "I guess I shouldn’t wonder why the ramen is spicy. Why are you so naïve, Maximaze?” He lowered his gaze.

The servants and I laughed after hearing what the general said, while Cladius was still lowering his gaze because of embarrassment.

I glanced at Maze, she had no other reactions and continued eating. She spoke, “General, I am grateful that you gave me the opportunity to study. I didn’t know the importance of studying when my eyes were still closed. So it was enough for me that we had a home, well-dressed, and food ready at our table, but when you taught me, General. It's like I want you to teach me every hour. It’s difficult but I am also enjoying it. I learned a lot. Hebeias vasha, General. ”

Cladius just smiled and drank the water.

TIME PASSED and we arrived at Twaechon after eating. Twaechon was the place of embroiderers here in Normous. This was one of the official buildings of the tailors.

Young ladies in Twaechon were receiving lessons about embroidery. After their graduation, they can choose whether they become one of Normous’ regular embroiderers or serve the nobles of high society.

"W-welcome, G-general," the guard stammered. He was shaking and could not look at us. There must be a problem going on here.

"Thank you very much, Sentinel," said the general. We were about to take a step but the guard blocked us.

"Is there a problem, sir?" After asking this question, he looked around as if he’s looking for something.

“Could you wait a bit longer? Y-you can’t still enter, General.” He lowered his gaze while still blocking the road.

“Hmm, something’s off,” said Leonardo, “perhaps you’re hiding something? Is that why you can’t let the general enter?” He chuckled.

The guard stammered, “i-it’s not like that.”

“Then why aren’t you letting him in?” Leonardo was having a smug face. “Tell me,” he muttered, “what’s happening inside?”

“N-nothing—”

Leonardo set the guard aside. “Then let us in.”

As soon as Leonardo did it, the guards let us in right away and I could see that it was against their will. I have a strong suspicion that there is trouble going on.

We went inside and saw them having a small gathering. It’s not a party, perhaps the head was announcing something.

“Hanneul is innocent. She is innocent. ” Noise welcomed us as we went a bit closer to them. I smell chaos, now I see why the guard won’t let us in.

“But, Madame Zhao!” a student shouted. “How could Hanneul be innocent when we have the evidence?! We are already slapping you the truth, Madame!”

Students whispered to one another. Their eyes flinched while looking at Hanneul. They were obviously judging her.

 “Are you saying the detectives made a mistake?! They are more skilled than you for your information!” There was a hint of frustration in the head’s voice. After all, she had a point. Detectives are known for examining a case and even if I don’t give an opinion, everyone already knows that they are smart.

"What's going on?" As soon as they heard the general’s voice, they immediately shifted their stare to look who’s behind them and realized that it was Cladius. "I didn't mean to disturb you." Cladius came over and said in a low voice, "Madame Zhao, what’s happening?”

Maze held onto my shirt and hid behind me.

“General, good morning. There was just a problem. A fight that is still not over,” said Madame Zhao.

She was wearing a dark brown hanbok with some accessories around her. Her hair was almost white and her skin was wrinkled. She looked old yet she’s still strong. I can feel it.

"It’s because there’s a lot of plastics here, right? How did we even end up here? There's Kenn in Gaia. What is this—a different dimension?” a girl uttered. She’s petite but she looked like she’s older than Maze.

I then glanced at Cladius. His eyes widened while staring at the girl and shook his head. He spoke, “then—”

"General!" someone shouted so I gazed at Cladius. He was holding an arrow and his hand was bleeding. Then he released the arrow he was handling.

In a flash, I heard the touch of an arrow past my head. Then I just heard someone shout. I glanced at ‘that’ someone and realized that it was Leonardo. He was bleeding but it seemed that he could endure it.

“Hurry up! Take him to the nearest doctor!” a eunuch came by and ordered his men.

"Don't. Let him bleed." I realized that Maze wasn’t behind me anymore. She gravely glared at Leonardo.

"But he's bleeding! Who do you think you are?!" the eunuch yelled at her.

“I just have an important question. I will ask him while he is enduring the pain.” I was dumbfounded. This unexplainable feeling . . . I felt this before. It’s like someone was controlling her. She isn’t Maximaze. She is but . . . argh. I can’t put it into words.

"Why do you plan to poison the general?" Maze asked bluntly. Almost everyone here was shocked at what she said.

Leonardo sighed. He was calm but as he gazed at Maze, he changed his aura. “W-what do you mean?

“You know what I mean. You intended to poison the general but you used young Nalopha leaves. You know yourself that those aren’t not deadly,” she said, “if I were you, I would make sure that he’ll die after he drinks the poison. I’m just curious . . . why did you use such a foolish idea.”

Leonardo keeled down, enduring the pain he had.

Maze lowered her gaze to look at him. “I know you have a reason why you used young Nalopha leaves. So tell us all why you planned to poison the general.”

He laughed. “Why did you say that the Nalopha leaves I used were young? How can you be sure? ”

“While I was studying, I thought of sneaking up and going to the garden. I want to play for a while. . . '' She sighed and lightly touched her cheek “. . . I saw a guard sneak in as well. I was wondering what he was doing so I followed him. I talked to him and learned that you planted some Nalopha leaves. After the incident happened last night, I checked the place again and saw that some leaves were gone.”

To be continued . . .