Chartine seemed deeply impressed that I had stepped in. All I had was 20 crocks. Still, it was a relief that things turned out like this with such a small amount. In the end, I did lose 50,000 crocks, so it was heartbreaking.
I looked out of the carriage. It was a completely different place from Cedric’s territory. In the distance, I could see the horizon over the ocean instead of land, and there were hardly any houses around. It looked quiet and peaceful. In a way, maybe it was a good thing I lost that 50,000 crocks.
‘It was Cedric’s money anyway.’
Now that I had finally broken free from him, taking that money would just mean I was still living off of him. It was better not to have it in the first place. Even if it was money my younger sibling had paid back.
I forced myself to think that way and tried to calm my mind. Before long, the carriage came to a slow stop. Chartine got out first and looked around.
I followed after, carrying my bag, and looked at the house right in front of us. The carriage had just pulled away, leaving a cloud of dust, but the house looked just the right size for two people to live in. There was even a straw hat hanging on the fence, showing that someone really lived there.
It reminded me of when I lived with my father and younger brother.
“This is our home. Come in for now. We can go to the temple tomorrow.”
I hesitated and looked around.
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to come? What if your family…”
“It’s fine! My son lives independently in the capital, and my husband only comes home on weekends because he works nearby building houses. I’m alone here during the weekdays.”
Chartine smiled brightly and took my hand. She was so kind that it was hard to refuse. Maybe she sensed my hesitation, because she gently pulled me inside. I followed her in without thinking. The inside of the house was cozy and neat. From the outside, it looked well cared for, and inside, the dishes and furniture were all clean and organized.
Chartine quickly took off her coat and set my bag to one side. Then she came over to me.
“Revril, you can use this room. It has a bathroom attached, so it’ll be more comfortable.”
“Thank you.”
When I entered the room she pointed to, I was surprised at how big it was. It felt too big for me to use alone, especially considering the size of the house. Embarrassed, I stepped back out. Chartine was in the kitchen, taking out some dishes.
When I approached, she turned around with a warm smile.
“Do you need anything?”
Her kind tone made me shake my head and speak up quickly.
“I think the room is too big. It might not be right for me to use it alone.”
“It’s okay. We haven’t used that room in a long time anyway. Probably not since our honeymoon.”
She added the last part like a joke. After that, I couldn’t say anything more. Chartine was clearly going out of her way to be thoughtful.
As I stood silently, Chartine smiled and gently led me back to the room.
“Revril, you must be tired from the journey. Get some rest. I’ll make food for you soon.”
“No, I’ll help too.”
I turned around quickly, but Chartine shook her head.
“You’re a guest in my house. I can’t ask you to work. Besides, I’m used to this kind of thing, so don’t worry.”
In the end, I was pushed back into the room by Chartine. It was smaller than the room I had at Cedric’s mansion, but among all the places I’d lived alone, this was the nicest.
I unpacked my bag and went into the bathroom. I filled the tub with water and soaked myself. The warm water felt comforting. I stayed in there for a long time. Cedric suddenly came to mind. I lowered my head and sank it under the water.
Chartine was an amazing cook. Her corn soup, especially, was the best I’d ever tasted. While I was eating, she started to chat with me.
“I didn’t always live here. My father donated nearly all his money to the temple here, so I ended up settling here too.”
I nodded and took another spoonful of soup. Smiling, Chartine served me more and continued.
“The temple here is small, but there’s actually a lot of work to do. I don’t have much else to do anyway, so I help out with the temple’s work.”
“Isn’t temple work hard?”
“It is hard doing it alone. As you can see, most people here are elderly, and they’re usually here to rest and recover. The village is pretty far from Kellabird and the roads aren’t good, so young people don’t come here much.”
As I listened quietly, Chartine smiled gently at me.
“That’s why I’m so happy someone like you is here. And you even know about herbs.”
“I don’t know much. Just a few I’ve learned before.”
“But still, that’s something. We’ve been really short on help.”
It was a relief that I could be of help. We talked for a while, and before we knew it, it was time for bed. Chartine quickly cleaned up and led me to my room. She carefully checked everything to make sure I’d be comfortable, then left the room.
I looked out the window for a moment. A small moon hung in the dark sky. I wondered if this was really the right path, but I didn’t let the thought grow. I lay down on the bed. It was comfortable, but I couldn’t fall asleep easily and kept tossing and turning.
The next day, Chartine took me to the temple. I had never properly visited one, so I was curious. Cedric never liked temples, strangely enough. When I was with him, I never got to go to one properly.
So it felt good, like I was finally free from everything about him. Chartine had said it was a small temple, but it looked grand and dignified. As I looked around in wonder, Chartine explained from beside me.
“This temple is small—only two priests work here. It may not seem like there’s much to do, but once you look closer, there’s plenty of work.”
Chartine even picked up some herbs that had fallen on the ground. Then she guided me behind the marble statue of the goddess.
“This way.”
I followed her and looked around carefully. For some reason, I felt calm and encouraged just being here. When she opened a small door, I was hit by the smell of herbs. Chartine stepped aside so I could come in.
“This is the herb room. We store the herbs the temple uses for burning and ceremonies.”
It was a small room, but big enough for one person. Smelling the herbs after so long brought back memories—some nostalgic, some unpleasant. But now, I had no debts to repay and I was far from Cedric, so the scent wasn’t so bad anymore.
Chartine began explaining busily.
“Your job, Revril, is really simple. Just sort the herbs by name and organize them.”
I checked the herbs and recognized many of them.
“The temple only uses specific herbs, so it’s rare to get any new ones. The only really busy time is during the big festival we host once in a while. The rest of the time, it’s pretty relaxed.”
She taught me how to organize the herbs. Since I already knew most of them, it wasn’t hard. Chartine, looking pleased, even taught me how to clean the herb room. After showing me the general layout, she left the room.
“I have other work to do. Today is the day we clean the temple’s storage room.”
“I’ll help too.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ve always done it alone, so I’m used to it. Good luck.”
I nodded and watched her leave in a hurry. After the door closed, it was quiet. Luckily, the herb room had a window. Back when I used to make scent sachets in a moldy room, I didn’t even have the luxury of a window. But now, seeing the clear sky and slow-moving clouds felt new and refreshing.
With a light heart, I looked at the sky for a while before starting my work. It was my first time, but it felt manageable. Maybe because it was simple and the herbs were familiar.
Just like Chartine said, the work was really easy. When herbs came in, I recorded them in a logbook and sorted them. It was so simple and straightforward that I didn’t have to think much. It reminded me of making sachets, and I liked that.
In the afternoon, Chartine knocked on the door. I had just finished organizing everything, so I stood up.
