Jenkin was peeled the onion while her employer called her out from the kitchen. He said that there is a costumer want to meet her in person.
Jenkin, who now works as cook at the small restaurant, wondered why. Is it something wrong with the food? She thought to herself. But, it impossible since I always follow the recipe.
She rubbed her hand to the kitchen's towel twice. Just to make sure that she is clean enough to met the costumer.
Her employer pointed at someone on the corner of the room. The costumer's figure look like a middle aged man. She can't see his face clearly because he wear a black long coat with hood. He stirred the soup without showing any interest.
"Is there anything wrong with the soup, Sir?" She asked.
But the man didn't answer.
"If you dont have anything to say, I will go back to the kitchen, Sir."
"Are you Adeline Jenkin?"
"Yes. That what's written on my birth certificate,"
The mysterious man slowly open his hood. Jenkin gasped when she saw a very familiar man.
"Tell me, Miss Jenkin," His baritone voice sound very intimidating. Jenkin not sure if he angry or annoyed, "What did you do to my daughter?"
Jenkin shivered in fear. She doesn't expect that Cecilia told him about yesterday event.
"If you think that my daughter is complaining to me, you are wrong. She only said that you aren't forgave her mistake. Care to fill me in about the detail?"
"I, I, I think..,"
"No. Dont think, Miss. Just answer my question because I hate to repeat myself,"
But Jenkin's lips is sealed.
"As her father, I know that her mistake is unforgivable and I don't have any intention to defend her."
Jenkin bit her lower lip and keep staring at the floor.
"However, I spent almost my whole life in the battlefield. Killed countless people and never regret it. Because we, Lancia's, aren't that merciful,"
"I, I, u, understand,"
"I'm teribbly sorry about what happened to your sister. But, you can't blame my daughter for something she doesn't know and make her felt guilty for the rest of her life,"
Jenkin trembled because of fear. Her eyes bllured from the tears.
Unexpectedly, Duke Lancia's put a handkerchief to her hand. His big hand squeezed her, "Don't cry, Miss. People will spread the rumor that Duke Lancia make a woman cry. You don't want that happen, right?"
Jenkin's head nodded quickly and used that handkerchief to wiped her tears. Even she know that Armano is using a sarcastic tone, but she can't help but nodded.
"Good. And, I want you to let my daughter live freely. If you want to hate someone, then hate me as much as you want. I know maybe my daughter already offered you something like money or anything. That's why I will give you something you can't refuse. A recomendation letter to be a scholar at Empire's Academy,"
"A, academy?!" Jenkin's eyes widen.
That's what everyone dream! Just being a part-time teacher at that elite academy means you can life in prosperity for the rest of your life. Let alone to be a scholar!
Not only that, it means you can access to the secret library that only few knows. Jenkin's who have a great willingnes to learn, gulped.
This is a lifetime offer.
"Choose wisely, Miss. But, it's up to you if you want to stuck in this place forever. When you agree with this offer, send a heartwarming letter to my daughter," Duke Lancia slowly rised from his chairs and put a gold coin to the table, "This is for the soups,"
But Jenkin still froze to her place even after Duke left that place.
Her heart beating so fast and she can't breath. If his daughter is a witch, then Duke Lancia himself is a satan!
***
"But, are you sure about this, Miss? I heard South Island is.. tough," Mary said to Cecilia while they are in the carriage after buy so many books to the store.
"The hardest the challenge I got, the better. I want to prove something to everyone who hated me," Cecilia said while she closed her second books about the reseach of wasteland with disappoinment.
When she was in the middle school, she already learned about the geography and biology.
But, the books she was holding now, maybe just reached half of her past knowledge. She need more information, but from where?
Mary's brows were narrowed, "Why did you--Ouch!"
The carriage suddenly stopped and Mary's head was hit the window behind her.
"What happened, Theo?" Cecilia asked her personal bodyguard when he opened the door.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Miss," He said it while slightly bent his body, "But, an unknown man was jumped to the carriage. He looks like unconcious,"
"What!"Mary dramatically cried.
"Let's bring that man to the nearest hospital!"
"But, Young Miss, he is an unknown man. What if it just a trick to hurt you?"
"Then you have to protect me! Remember, our self defence class aren't started yet,"
Theo sighed because he knows that he cant win againts her, "As you wish, Miss."
Mary took a seat beside Cecilia while Theo was held that man inside the carriage.
"He is bleeding! Mary, do you have bandage?" Cecilia asked when she saw a blood dripped in his head.
"I'm sorry, Miss." Knowing that, Cecilia used her scarf to bandaged the unknown man.
Theo's eyes widens, "Miss!"
"You can't do that!" Mary said with the pale face. The scarf's price must be more expensive than her annual salary!
But, Cecilia is misunderstand her reaction. "Don't worry, Mary. I know how to bandage the wound. I just hope that we have something to clean it before it got infected,"
"Miss, that's not what I mean...,"
"How long we can reach the hospital? Can you tell the coachman to move faster?"
Theo shook his head, "Don't worry, Miss. The hospital is in the corner of that street. With our speed now, we can reach it in five minutes."
Cecilia exhaled her breath and watched that unknown man carefully. Fortunately, he still breathe faintly. She remembered the black cloud's warning. Don't kill yourself or anybody else.
'Please, don't die. You have to survive so I don't have to came back to that fiery river,' she said to herself.