The man looked familiar but could not rember where and when he had t him. Perhaps the glossy white hair was similar to that of the old man in the tiny house facing their window at the inn.
Was he that man? Impossible! He looked so young, while that man looked like a hermit.
"Hey, watch where you are going." Agilus snapped at him.
"It is you who bumped into . Shouldn’t you be the one apologizing?" Jethru exuded a dark and mighty aura that made Agilus retreat a few steps.
Jethru did not pay any more attention to the group of soldiers. His strides were long and steady as he followed the direction to the town hall, where he inquired if soone was selling a piece of property.
When he ca to Calma more than twenty years ago, he registered his na as Jethru ndel on the census list. His father’s last na in the capital was Bandorf, and his mother’s maiden na was ndel.
When he fled, he took his mother’s maiden na to hide his identity.
"Mister, you are very lucky. We are selling quite a few properties. You can co with to check them out." The officer who handled purchases of the land smiled politely at Jethru.
In Northem, commoners were allowed to purchase the land to build hos. rchants were allowed to own the land for their shops.
Calma was a poor town near the border of Zura and Centuria. No duke would dare accept a fiefdom in the bandit-infested town, so there were large areas of lots up for grabs. For as long as the person had money and was not a slave, then he could buy land for his hostead.
While Jetrhu was going around looking for a piece of land, Lara bought two more bolts of cloth so Reya could make one for Alpha, Oga, and Grandpa Samuel.
Since Jethru has decided to stay in town, Reya intends to drop her disguise as ’Roy’ and revert to being a woman, which is more convenient.
Lara was contemplating whether to return to Galeya’s Throne to retrieve the silver, dicine, oil she had extracted from palm, and fruit wine she had brewed and fernted last year.
They needed money, and she needed to think about how to generate inco to sustain their livelihood in the future.
"Miss Lara, if we could already move to town, then does that an we can go back to Savadra?" Reya sounded excited, her eyes bright and hopeful.
Lara stiffened. She had forgotten her identity as the general’s daughter. She liked her current life; it was carefree and not bound by any rules. It was perfect.
But it was not the sa for Reya and Sandoz. They both had their families in the capital.
"Let us ask, Master later. But let’s stay here a few more months. I like it in the mountains. There is no scheming. I hope it is the sa in this town." Reya added when she saw Lara hesitating.
"Miss, haven’t you recovered your mory yet?" Reya asked in a concerned tone. She noticed that her Miss was not excited about returning to the capital. She seed not to miss her mother and brothers when those people previously ant the world to her.
"I have glimpses, but it seems like a thick fog covers my mory."
"How about let us ask Grandpa? Maybe he has a dicine to help you recover your mory?"
"Hmm. Yes, let’s do that." Lara humd.
Reya busied herself making clothes while Lara called the three children to accompany her and look around town. She wanted to check how many shops were in town and what kind of rchandise they were selling.
Sandoz’s eyes lit up as they strolled through the lively streets. He had not explored a town in over two years, and though the mountains had beco a cherished refuge, the allure of a bustling town offered a refreshing change of pace—a chance to see, to learn, to experience the vibrant tapestry of life beyond their secluded ho.
Lara was already familiar with the market, but unlike the ti they were buying things in a hurry, this ti she was browsing, occasionally asking questions to the vendors.
Only a few sellers occupied stalls. Most peddlers, especially those from the villages, just placed the items they were selling on the ground.
Most placed their wares in the winnowing basket, while others laid large leaves on the ground and placed their items on them.
To gather more information, Lara bought a little of sothing from the peddlers. Those she found pitiful and needed urgent money, she bought more.
There was a family of four who were selling sweet potatoes and so vegetables. Their baby, less than a year old, was being cared for by a girl who was probably just four years old.
Lara was touched that she bought everything they sold so they could go ho and take care of the baby. The family were, of course, grateful.
They passed another peddler selling glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and wrapped in coconut leaves. Lara recognized the delicacy because it looked similar to modern-day glutinous rice.
"Did you cook this?" Lara asked the middle-aged woman politely.
"Yes, Sir. They were just cooked this morning at dawn, and they are still a bit warm because I wrapped them in cloth."
"Which village are you from?"
"I am from Village One."
Lara found out later that the villages in the town of Calma were nad by numbers. There were thirty villages in all, and the one where the Lenard siblings lived was Village 13.
Lara bought 16 pieces, so each of them could eat two pieces.
When the peddler saw that the children wanted to eat them already, she unwrapped the rice cakes before handing each one to the children.
It was about lunchti when they went back to their house. Since the house they rented was at the back of the inn, they naturally had to pass by the front of the inn.
Coincidentally, Agilus and the other soldiers were coming back from their errands.
Lara’s lips twitched.
"You!" Lara and Agilus said at the sa ti.
Lara placed her finger on her lips, a gesture to shut up. When Agilus clamped his mouth and waited for him to say sothing, Lara took Oga and Sandoz’s hand and led them past the soldiers into the alley without looking back.
Agilus: "..."
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