As they entered the room. Rosetta asked, "Yesterday, you looked so weak that you almost fainted. I hope today you are fine."
"Yes, I am. Thank you for the help yesterday."
They sat on the chair around the tea table. "Have you tried the supplent I gave you yesterday?"
"I happened to be busy so I forgot to take them. I will make sure to have one once I return to my lodgings."
A servant brought the sa pogranate tea from yesterday, serving it along with a number of desserts to enjoy with the tea. Once the servant left, Rosetta spoke, "Try this cake. I noticed yesterday that you seem to like sweets."
"You are attentive to details, Lady Rosetta."
"I happen to enjoy sweets as well. Please do not mind it." She then changed the subject. "I really admire your skills, Oriana. At such a young age, you have extensive knowledge already. Once you finish your apprenticeship, you will surely be a renowned physician. It breaks my heart that a capable woman such as you is only working as an attendant."
"There are...circumstances..."
"I apologize! I know you don’t want to talk about it. You don’t have to share them..."
Oriana rely smiled. "It’s not that I can’t share. I...I have a family to look after and I am the sole earner. You must know, Lady Rosetta, that being a woman, there are so many restrictions placed on us. Unless you have an extraordinary background, won are expected to marry a man and raise a family with him. To keep a happy household is our supposed greatest worth..."
Rosetta nodded in understanding.
"I must say you are a brave young lady. If you ever need any help, you can seek for ."
"I am sure after we leave Othinia and go our separate ways, I will never get to see you again."
Rosetta observed the distress of the young woman sitting in front of her, quietly sipping her tea.
"Have you always struggled to earn money?"
"Yes, Lady Rosetta."
Rosetta then made a simple inquiry about Oriana’s life before working in the palace, about being a herbalist and her ans of earning as a man. Though her tone was colored with sympathy, Rosetta’s eyes narrowed a little in confusion.
’Such mundane concerns? Human matters like that shouldn’t trouble her, less so given the friendship of her master with those people from garis. She attacked those sent to the temple with divine power. This young witch shouldn’t be as ignorant as she claims to be.’
In the end, the noble lady could not help but ask, "Are you not aware of who you truly are?"
Oriana had a blank look on her. "What do you an, Lady Rosetta?"
The woman bit her lip in hesitation. She slowly put down the teacup on the table, before she squared a gaze at the young woman sitting in front of her. "Before I say anything, just know that although we are from different kingdoms, I do not differentiate people by class or citizenship. I, Rosetta Kezia, view people by their character and actions. These words I will say, they co with no ill intention. I do not want you to misunderstand..."
"Lady Rosetta," Oriana said as she also put down the cup in her hands, "please say what’s on your mind."
"Then, did you know? When I checked your pulse, I got to know more than just one secret about you."
The expression on Oriana’s face visibly changed. "What do you an?"
"...That you are not an ordinary human."
Oriana’s eyes widened. She had certain doubts after Drayce pointed out the suspicious points of yesterday’s eting, but to think it was truly related to her being a witch!
"H-How? Are you a witch too?!"
Rosetta rely smiled. "You being a witch, can’t you sense If I am a witch? Any witch can always identify one of their kind."
"No, I don’t."
"Just know that I have this strange ability to see through people... and I am never wrong about it."
"So you know I am a witch?"
"That’s not all."
"Ah, yes, I am one of the rare witches with a darkness attribute..."
Rosetta raised a questioning brow. "That’s not all."
Oriana tilted her head, a little puzzled. "Is there sothing else aside from being a Black Witch?"
"Certainly not an ordinary Black Witch but..." Rosetta deliberately paused to know her reaction but there was no change.
"But?" Oriana asked, her gaze curious to know more about herself.
Rosetta brushed it off with a light chuckle and said, "But the one with a kindest heart? Am I wrong?"
Oriana didn’t know what to say. She felt like Rosetta was trying to say sothing but changed it last minute.
The noble lady glossed over that topic as she picked up her teacup once more. "As you said, we might not et once we leave Othinia, but I have a way for us to communicate despite the distance."
"You an exchanging letters?"
Rosetta gave her a gaze that seed to be saying, ’How adorable.’
"Sothing more special. I hope you can use this rely to chat with , as a fellow lover of herbs and a good friend, not only when you desperately seek help. It is best when you don’t ask for help—that ans you are living a good life, and such a simple, carefree life is what you deserve."
Hearing those words, Oriana’s heart felt bitter.
Because that was exactly what she yearned for.
Rosetta stood up and went to one of her drawer chests. She pulled out a small item from within.
When she handed it to Oriana, she found it to be a necklace.
"Lady Rosetta, this...?"
Oriana accepted the delicate pendant necklace made of a tal she could not na. Its chain was so thin and delicate, at first she thought they were made of golden threads. Hanging from the middle was a pendant crafted from a glossy obsidian-like material, its smooth surface reflected minimal light. With its jagged edges and subtle curves, the pendant gave the impression of an organic form, as if shaped by nature itself.
It looked like an ancient relic from a bygone era.
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