Chapter 57
Clearly, those were the words spoken by an old woman in the village where they stayed before going to the Haltonea Forest.
Hearing the voice, Shaterian turned her head to the side. An old woman sat there with her wares spread out in front of her.
A glimmering purple crystal ball sat prominently on the table, suggesting that she was a fortune-teller.
The fortune-teller, clad in a deeply hooded black robe, spoke again without preamble.
“But the road ahead is still long. Tsk, tsk. The energy doesn’t feel good.”
The fortune-teller shook her head as she spoke. Shaterian let out a small laugh. It was obvious this was the kind of pattern where they’d say the energy was bad and suggest buying a talisman or having one’s fortune read.
“Miss, be careful of the one near you. His energy is bad.”
“The only one near me is the guy next to me, though?”
“That guy isn’t human, is he?”
“…What?!”
Before she could stop herself, Shaterian let out an exclamation. Startled, she glanced at Eched, wondering if his non-human nature was that obvious. But no matter how much she looked, Eched appeared perfectly human.
‘What is this? My trust level just shot up.’
“And what else?”
Shaterian leaned forward with sparkling eyes. It had been a long time since she’d had her fortune told, and she was thoroughly entertained.
“The two of you are soulmates, destined by the main god. You’re bound together as eternal companions.”
Oh, my goodness.
Shaterian shivered in shock, goosebumps rising on her skin.
This was so accurate it was eerie. She began to entertain the reasonable suspicion that the Goddess herself might have possessed the fortune-teller.
The fortune-teller, having said her piece, shook an empty jar in front of her.
Shaterian pulled out some gold coins, showing her gratitude, and was about to leave when the fortune-teller spoke again, almost as an afterthought, to their retreating backs.
“Don’t get separated for no reason. You might die if you do.”
The ominous words made Shaterian turn back to look at her, but the fortune-teller simply shrugged and tapped her bent back. It seemed pointless to ask for clarification; she wouldn’t answer anyway.
With an uneasy feeling lingering, Shaterian and Eched had no choice but to leave.
* * *
The streets were bustling, likely due to the Water Festival.
There was a performance scheduled at the central square today to celebrate the festival.
“Don’t get lost.”
Eched, noticing Shaterian looking around curiously, warned her as he looped her arm through his.
“That fortune-teller was amazing, wasn’t she?”
Clinging to Eched’s arm, Shaterian chattered on about the fortune-teller they had just met.
“She probably guessed we were from the capital based on how we look, thinking we’d traveled from far away.”
“Even so, she knew you weren’t human.”
“Most people… don’t see me as human.”
Well, that was true.
“But, but! She said we’re soulmates, eternal companions!”
“That’s also something people often say to newlyweds.”
Now that he mentioned it, it did make sense. Thinking it over carefully, all the pieces fit together.
“Then what about the last thing she said…?”
“Just some plausible warning she picked up somewhere.”
“Well, it’s not like we have any reason to be separated and die.”
Tsk. What a waste of my precious gold coins.
“Well, at least it was a bit of fun.”
Deciding to think positively about what was already done, Shaterian moved on.
The Astrea Imperial Territory was the perfect place to spend the rest of their vacation. It was lively enough and had everything they needed, rivaling the capital in convenience.
It was so well-equipped that it felt like a second capital.
While admiring the colorful, beautiful lanterns, Shaterian accidentally bumped into someone.
“Oh dear. I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?”
“Oh, I’m fine… Oh…”
She looked up and was momentarily at a loss for words.
Red hair and red eyes. The man with the gentle demeanor was someone she knew very well.
“Masetike.”
“Shaterian?”
The man’s face lit up with surprise when he recognized her. Then, a warm smile spread across his face.
“What are you doing here?”
“What about you? What brings you all the way here?”
Before she knew it, he had pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around him as well, still dumbfounded.
She had never imagined she would run into Masetike here. In her shock, she had forgotten about Eched, who was standing next to her.
It was Eched’s hand that separated the two of them.
Only then did Masetike notice Eched, his eyes widening.
“Um… Why is the Knight Commander here…?”
Masetike looked back and forth between Shaterian and Eched. Shaterian gave him an awkward smile.
“Did something happen at the Imperial Palace? Is that why you’re investigating together?”
He seemed to be trying to piece things together, his expression growing serious.
It made sense for him to think that, given that the two of them, who were known to be at odds, were working together in such a far-off place.
“No, it’s not that…”
It was only natural that he didn’t know anything, considering how far removed this place was from the capital’s rumors. Feeling a bit sheepish, Shaterian scratched the back of her neck.
“We got married and came here for our honeymoon.”
“Oh, I see. That’s why…”
“Yes.”
“Ah… Uh… What, what did you say…?”
“We got married. Eched and I.”
It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? That’s okay. In fact, no one believes it right away.
Understanding his disbelief, Shaterian raised her hand to show him the rings she and Eched wore.
On her left ring finger, the green wedding ring Eched had given her gleamed beautifully.
Ignoring Eched’s somewhat smug expression, Shaterian avoided Masetike’s gaze, which was filled with the question, ‘How did this happen?’
“There doesn’t have to be a special reason to get married. We just grew fond of each other.”
Even if it was a love-hate relationship, feelings were feelings, so it wasn’t entirely wrong.
“Anyway, congratulations. Congratulations, Commander. Ah, instead of just saying that, how about I buy you a drink to celebrate this reunion? Would that be okay?”
His voice was busy alternating between asking her and Eched. The festive atmosphere of the festival and the joy of reuniting with Masetike made it hard to turn him down.
Reading her unspoken request, Eched nodded his approval.
“Sure.”
Masetike led them to a decent tavern he knew nearby.
Once inside, they found a secluded table and sat down.
There were so many things Shaterian wanted to ask.
Why was he in the Astrea Imperial Territory? How had he been? Why had he suddenly quit his job?
“You don’t have to stare at me like that. I’ll tell you everything.”
Masetike chuckled deeply, as if he could read her mind.
He had always been like that. It was why she had jokingly called him someone who had lived three lifetimes.
“Cough…”
Feeling embarrassed for showing her impatience, Shaterian shifted uncomfortably in her seat and took a sip of water.
“You still like salad without dressing, don’t you?”
He pushed a plate of salad toward her, one the server had just brought.
“Your memory is still sharp. But don’t set up weird flags like that. I’m rejecting it.”
“You always say strange things. This is how I made my living, you know.”
Masetike’s excellent memory had indeed been a great help in his counseling work.
“How have you been?”
She asked while passing some salad over to Eched.
“I’ve just been traveling here and there. That’s how I ended up here. I’ve been staying here for about a year now.”
“You’ve been here for quite a while. Why did you suddenly quit the Grievance Counseling Office?”
It was a casual question. But for a brief moment, a shadow of sadness crossed his face, which was usually full of laughter.
He habitually fiddled with the pendant necklace around his neck.
“I got tired. Honestly, listening to other people’s stories all day isn’t an easy job.”
It was a perfectly reasonable answer, and Shaterian couldn’t help but empathize with his reason for quitting.
Everyone in the Imperial Palace knew that Masetike, being an elite counselor, had far more clients than most, making his workload significantly heavier.
‘Of course. No amount of money can compensate for that kind of stress.’
Even though the Grievance Counseling Office paid better than other departments, the stress must have been overwhelming.
“Enough with the depressing stuff! Let’s drink!”
She grabbed a glass filled with alcohol, only for Eched’s hand to stop her.
A silent battle of wills ensued. She tried to pull the glass away with all her strength, but there was no way she could overpower Eched.
“I’m meeting an old friend after so long…”
She tried to sound as pitiful as possible.
“Who knows when I’ll see him again…”
Eched’s grip began to loosen slightly.
“Oh, by the way, I’m planning to return to the capital soon.”
“What?”
The strength returned to Eched’s hand in an instant, and the glass was taken from her.
“Oh, come on…”
Glaring at Masetike for adding unnecessary information, which cost her the glass, she saw him avoid her gaze and take a sip from his own glass.
He wasn’t even drinking himself…
Shaterian looked longingly at the glass that had been set aside. It was a waste of money to order something they wouldn’t drink.
“Money must be overflowing, huh.”
“It is.”
“…Ugh, you’re so annoying!”
Frustrated, she resorted to chewing on some vegetables.
“Marriage hasn’t changed you at all…”
Masetike burst into laughter. She glared at him, scolding him not to laugh.
And yet, things had changed. Shaterian glanced at her left hand, which Eched was holding.
Like a child clutching a lifeline, he always reached for her hand whenever they were close. Though it could be annoying, she didn’t dislike it and let it be.
“By the way, who’s the head of the Counseling Office now?”
“I am.”
“What?”
“Don’t laugh. I know it doesn’t suit me.”
Being forced into the position because of her status as a noble lady wasn’t something she was particularly happy about.
Even though it had been a long time since she last saw Masetike, there was no awkwardness between them.
It was a chance encounter, but she was glad to have met him.
She had always felt a lingering regret about losing touch with him after he quit so suddenly, and she was relieved to hear how he had been.
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