"Please forgive my rudeness. You seemed uncomfortable, so I invited you inside for now."
Tiuran let go of her arm and said.
Thalia looked around the dimly lit interior with a bewildered expression. Small household items were scattered here and there in the narrow space that appeared to be a kitchen. Shelves packed with earthenware and wooden dishes, a hearth emitting a faint light, an old but neatly arranged dining table, and a wooden staircase leading upstairs... It was clearly a house where someone actually lived.
She turned her gaze back to Tiuran.
"What are you doing in a place like this?"
“Oh, that’s..."
Tiuran dragged out her words as if embarrassed, then awkwardly added.
"I have come to deliver medicine at the request of an acquaintance."
Thalia narrowed her eyes.
“What medicine?”
"It is a somewhat sensitive type of medicine, so it is difficult to say..."
Tiuran, who had been dragging out her words ambiguously, blatantly changed the subject.
"Anyway, people don't seem to be dispersing. I think it would be best for you to wait here for a while until the commotion subsides."
Instead of answering, Thalia looked outside through the gap in the shutters. Dozens of people were surrounding the front of the building in layers. As passersby joined one by one, the crowd seemed to have actually grown larger.
She closed the shutters with a displeased expression. It was obvious that if she went out like this, she would be surrounded by people again.
"Does everyone have nothing better to do?"
"Everyone seems excited to be holding a festival after such a long time. And with Your Highness being so beautiful, it is no wonder there is quite a commotion."
Thalia, who had been blinking at the blunt compliment, awkwardly lowered her eyes.
Today she was wearing a white silk outer garment layered over a blue skirt embroidered with vine patterns. She had a long light blue cloth with the same pattern draped over her shoulders, and around her chest and waist, she was wearing a necklace with colorful gemstones given to her by the villagers, as well as a metal ornament dangling with bells.
Although it was an outfit commonly worn by wealthy women in the East when going out, her appearance—with her rare white skin, long flowing blonde hair, and even a flower in her hair—was certainly enough to attract attention. Moreover, having strolled through the streets with Khan, it was only natural that those excited by the festive atmosphere went wild, as if they had discovered a rare spectacle.
Thalia cleared her throat for no reason.
"You won't get anything out of flattering me."
"I merely stated the facts. It is the state where the whole city stirs whenever Your Highness steps out of the castle."
Tiuran, who had replied nonchalantly, glanced out the window and added.
"It seems everyone has been just watching from afar until now, but today they all seem to have mustered up the courage. It looks like this commotion is going to last quite a while."
Thalia noticed the subtle worry in her voice, and her expression clouded over. As she recalled the enthusiastic cheers the crowd had erupted just moments ago, a faint sense of unease rose in her heart.
It may have been a thoughtless remark made by those swept up in the festive fervor, but the Church might react sensitively. In the worst-case scenario, they might find fault with the claim that she incited Tiramer's ideology.
'Please. I just hope nothing troublesome happens.'
As she rubbed her throbbing head and let out a small sigh, Tiuran lowered the curtains on the window and spoke.
"First of all, I think it would be best to bring Khan inside. If you keep it outside, more onlookers will flock there."
Thalia immediately opened the front door. At the same time, Khan, who had been crouching on the threshold, suddenly lifted his head and wagged his tail. It seemed he had been guarding the entrance, unable to bring himself to break down the door to enter.
Thalia gently soothed Khan, who let out a faint sob as soon as he saw her, and led him into the building.
Because of its large size, it was not easy to get it through the narrow door, but after making it twist and turn, they were barely able to get it into the building.
Thalia looked toward Tiuran as she led the direwolf, which was filling the cramped space, into the relatively spacious dining room. She had placed a pot on the hearth and was brewing herbal tea.
"There is a patient with limited mobility on the second floor, so I will go check on their condition for a moment. Please rest here, Your Highness."
Tiuran poured the brewed liquid into a small cup and said
Thalia nodded nonchalantly. Tiuran poured a little herbal tea into a small wooden cup, handed it to her as well, and went up the wooden stairs.
Thalia sipped her tea while constantly looking out the window. The crowd was dispersing one by one. Just as she thought it was time to leave and was about to get up from her seat, the front door burst open, and two slender girls with tanned faces burst inside.
"Mother, I'm back...!"
She saw Khan and Thalia filling the kitchen, where she had been shouting cheerfully, and her eyes widened as if struck by lightning. Then, as if regaining her senses belatedly, she hurriedly bowed.
"Your, Your Highness Grand Duchess..."
The girl swallowed dry saliva and let out a trembling voice.
"Excuse me. Your Highness, what brings you to my house..."
"I followed Tiuran."
Thalia replied indifferently and gestured toward the narrow stairs with her chin.
"It's up there, so if you have something to say, go up."
"Ah... I see you are looking after your mother. She hasn't been able to move an inch from her bed since she hurt her back a week ago."
The girl, who had been rambling on about things not even asked about, looked back and forth between her and Khan and swallowed hard. To go up the stairs, she had to pass by Khan. Thalia let out a deep sigh at the sight of them merely glancing at each other, as if they lacked the courage to do so, and spoke curtly.
"We won't eat you, so don't worry about us and just do your work."
The two girls blinked at the same time. It seemed they would remain frozen like that, not moving an inch, as long as he was there.
Thalia let out a small tongue-out "Pfft" and soon rose from her seat to straighten her disheveled clothes. As she led Khan toward the front door, she saw Tiuran coming down the stairs just as he had finished his medical examination.
Thalia nodded her chin toward Tiuran.
"Is the consultation over?"
“Yes. It’s finished.”
"Then let's go back together. It seems to have quieted down a bit outside now, too."
Tiuran, who had been hesitating as if contemplating something, soon nodded.
Thalia immediately took Khan and left the building.
Before she knew it, the street had become noticeably deserted. It seemed the guards had called in the security forces to disperse the onlookers.
Thalia called over one of the soldiers lined up along the road and ordered him to have the wagon ready. Not long after, a large four-wheeled wagon stopped in front of the house.
As she pushed Khan inside and turned to hurry Tiuran, she saw Tiuran and the two girls standing at the front threshold, whispering amongst themselves.
Thalia narrowed her eyes. Tiuran, who had been muttering something close to the girl's ear, took a small, thumb-sized medicine bottle out of her pocket and held it out.
'...Come to think of it, you said you came to deliver a sensitive type of medicine.'
Are those two girls the clients?
Thalia observed them closely. Both girls had vibrant complexions, showing not a trace of illness. If they weren't sick, what on earth had they ordered?
Swept up in a sudden surge of intense curiosity, Thalia cautiously approached them from behind. Then, Tiuran's soft voice could be heard faintly.
"Do not use more than three drops at a time. Although it is a harmless medicine, taking large amounts can put a strain on the heart."
"Don't worry. I'll be careful."
"And you must use it when there are units, otherwise..."
"What on earth is that medicine?"
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