"Here you go, dear." An old woman handed Lillian a wreath with the most beautiful assortment of leaves she had seen. But then again, every leaf was beautiful in that world.
"Thank you so much." Lillian beamed, taking the wreath in her hands. "But why are you giving them to me?"
"It is just thanks for the help you gave me yesterday. If you hadn't come and helped me I would have been in big trouble. You even made dinner for my family while I rested. This is such a small thing compared to what you did for me." The woman beamed at Lillian.
"I only did what I had to. After all, you were the one that fainted in front of me." Lillian laughed, holding the wreath close to her. "Still, thank you."
"I just wonder why I didn't pay attention to you all those months ago. I feel really bad."
"Don't feel bad. I was still grieving so I didn't want to associate with anyone." Lillian replied. "Oh, I have to get going now. Thank you for the wreath again!"
"It's no problem. If you ever need help then come and ask me, ok?" The grandmother waved as Lillian walked away.
"Sure! I'll remember that." Lillian waved back.
"Hey, Lillian. Got some time to spare?" A man called out to her from a cart full of hay.
It's so strange seeing coloured hay.
"Sure. What do you need me to do?" She ran to him, wreath in hand.
"I need to take this to the animals in the shed, can you help me push it there?"
"Sure." Lillian placed the wreath on top of the hay and grabbed the other handle and they began pushing.
She found out that this world only has chickens, cows and pigs. There was no other animal in sight. Which is great in some ways as they'll be able to sleep outside without worrying about mosquitoes and other insects.
But then, there are no dogs also and just that thought bums her out.
"Hey, that's a pretty one you got there." He said.
"I know right? Madam Lesh made it for me and you can't have it."
The man laughed, "I wouldn't think of taking it from you but she does make beautiful wreaths. Pity, she doesn't do them as a business anymore. You know that she was very well known for her skills with plants."
"Really? I just thought she like making these for fun."
"Yeah. It was for fun but that doesn't mean she isn't good at making them. People came from different kingdoms to buy them from her."
"Wow. But what happened now?"
"Oh right, you came only a few months ago so you wouldn't know." The old man looked at the castle in the distance. "The King became cursed. He was a loving and kind king, the Kingdom flourished under him. He loved conquering to a fault but he never had any ill-intentions, even treating the people he captured with respect but then, one day, he came back from the battlefield all alone."
"Alone, meaning?"
"You don't go to a battlefield alone, nor do you come back alone. He went off with a huge army, but he came back on foot. After that day, he was never the same." The man wiped his forehead with a cloth as he talked. "His advisors began taking control of the palace and the rules, eliminating each other."
"In that time, the Kingdom suffered greatly. The people were neglected and those with power rose and we haven't heard a word from the King since."
"Whoever dared to oppose the laws were taken out without mercy. So, it began our nightmare." He frowned at the memory. "We became cut off from other kingdoms. Those that managed to escape were the lucky ones. The rest of us have been stuck here ever since, trying to make ends meet in whatever way possible."
"Madam Lesh was one of those that rebelled but they were captured and after four years, they were finally released. When they were released, the horror in their eyes told a different tale and no one dared to say anything anymore."
"That sounds horrible," Lillian said, still pushing the cart.
"Well, no matter. You don't need to worry about that. Everything settled down already and we are getting our lives on track again. We have a family and friends, a bed to sleep in and food to eat, our animals are also healthy. Life is still good." The old man said, patting her back. The wrinkle in his face crinkling every time he smiled.
"Yeah." Lillian tried to match his smile but she couldn't. He was genuinely smiling, genuinely satisfied.
How do you get like that?
"You know the biggest surprise for me? It is the fact that Everett left his house to you. He is a stingy old man but maybe, in his final moments, he wanted to do something good. You were, kind of, his last chance at doing a good deed. Good thing you came along, Lillian."
"Yeah." Lillian looked away, the guilt of her lies are eating her up.
She had stumbled across that hut the day she first talked to the princess and saw a girl on the ground. She tried to wake her up but to no avail. The poor thing had starved to death and Lillian cried for her, cradling her frail thin body close, ignoring the smell.
She spotted a mount on the ground with a cross on it as she was going out to bury the girl and made another one for her. After offering her prayers, Lillian began cleaning up the house.
She went to the market place to see if she could get some work and familiarize herself with the people there so as not to cause too much suspicion. Every person she passes mistook her for that girl, calling her 'Everett's kindness' or 'proof of Everett's beating heart'.
Which makes her wonder who the old man was and what kind of character did he have to be remembered like this.
They hadn't seen her in a week so they were getting worried but seeing her now put them at ease. They knew her as the girl Everett gave his house to and held a soft spot for her.
At first, she denied it, but they were so adamant and she couldn't bring herself to say that the real girl is dead so she just accepted it.
The people greeted her every time she passed, giving her whatever they could. They were suffering already but to want to help her in any way they can and Lillian just kept getting stabbed with guilt.
That's why she is always helping where she could, for two selfish reasons- calming her guilt and so that she would be too tired to think at night and just fall asleep.
Arthur is such a liar.
"Here we are." The man's voice pulled her out of her memory and she stopped the cart.
They then spent the next few minutes bringing the hay to the cows. Lillian's fascination with the colourful everything shows clearly in her face, making the man chuckle.
"You have a very naive and innocent view of the world, Lillian. It will be incredible to be able to see the world through your eyes. How beautiful it will look." The man said as he passed her, carrying the rest of the hay.
Lillian frowned as she stood there, processing his words, and clutching the wreath in her hand.
If you knew … would you still say that I wonder?
"Thank you, Lillian. Now, why don't you come in? My hens have just laid their eggs and I think it's time for breakfast." The old man smiled, walking to his house.
"Oh no. It's ok." Lillian protested but her stomach betrayed her at that moment.
The old man laughed. "It's ok. Come on in. We'll make an omelette with broth, maybe some pieces of chicken. Oh and my pumpkin bread."
Lillian's mouth watered at the thought of eating, especially his pumpkin bread. But she stood her ground, she wasn't going to take more from these people.
"I'm sorry, Mister Garish. I need to go." Lillian started walking away before she could be tempted more.
"I have no one to eat with me since my wife died. The food always tastes so bland. If only there was someone to eat with me, then I can finally enjoy eating."
Lillian stopped mid-step and slowly turned around, her resolve wavering.
"Just for today?" He asked.
"F-fine." Lillian trudged to Mr Garish's house, her will breaking as they started cooking and eating.
"Ah~ Delicious. Food really does taste better with great company, don't you think so, Lillian?"
Lillian nodded her head, scarfing everything down. She couldn't hide her hunger any longer and he does make the best pumpkin bread.
"One day. One day I will make the best bread for you and it'll be your turn not to be able to say no. Just wait and watch." Lillian said, after swallowing everything.
"Really? Then I look forward to it. Maybe we can have some kind of party? Let's invite Madam Lesh too, ok?"
"Yes. We'll invite everyone. One day." Lillian declared determination in her eyes.
"It'll be just like the old days. I'm excited. I'll have to try out a new receipt for that day."
Lillian saw the expression on his face and her determination became stronger. "I promise, we will get to have that day. Just wait."
"Of course. I will, patiently. Now, quickly eat before it gets cold."
"Ok. Ok."
Just wait.