The somber gray sky, buildings and houses filled with roses that seemed to fall apart each time the wind blows and skinny children that could be seen playing at the side of the poverty-stricken city's streets.
What I'm witnessing now is like the scene I saw in Calla's memories, only the past looked much worse. The duke must have truly worked hard to help his people for ten years.
"How did the city survive even when there's no one to spin perithia?" While looking outside the carriage window, I asked Anette the one thing I was most curious about.
"O-oh, th-that... the West has been helping the East for almost ten years now. But the aether from their carnation flowers could only help us Eastern people to at least continue living."
"Hmm, so it strictly needs to come from roses."
"Yes, young lady. Just like how the capital, the South, only gets aether from sunflowers, then the Southeast gets them from columbines, lilacs for the Southwest and yarrows for the Northwest."
I noticed that the far North and Northeast were not mentioned, but then again they were still resisting to be part of the empire.
I wonder where they take their aether.
The carriage stopped before I could even reply to Anette.
"We've arrived, young lady."
The moment we got off the carriage, two guards that were standing in front of the mansion's gate approached us. The both of them looked at me from head to toe. I can't blame them at all. I must really look very suspicious with all these bandages.
"State your business."
"How dare you speak so rudely? You are standing before the young lady of house Rosa!" Anette pointed at the house crest, which was a gold rose painted on the carriage, to show proof. "She has been invited over by the countess, were you not made aware?"
The guards look at me appallingly - in a weird, hard stare that seemed as though they were looking down on me, though their faces were covered in helmets, I could still feel the dagger-like eyes they wore as they looked at me, there's no question, they hate me.
"Oh, please forgive us." They made a slight bow that was totally not sincere. "Then allow us to escort the both of you to the mansion."
We started heading to the mansion that was only a few walks from the gates. A chilly wind passes through me as it carries rose petals from the withering roses that filled the mansion. If I didn't wear bandages, I might have fainted since five minutes ago. However, that doesn't change the fact that I've been feeling stuffy with all these bandages.
These guards said that they'd escort us yet they were walking way too ahead of us. I couldn't quite make out what they were talking about, but their glances lead me to believe that they were talking about me.
"Wait here." The guards left us standing in front of the door and went inside.
"Ugh! What terrible manners! My young lady shouldn't be treated like this. It was a bad idea coming here after all!" Anette was not able to resist the urge to stomp her feet and cross her arms due to the gaurds' mistreatment.
"Calm down, I'm fine. Don't let it get to you." I don't really mind, considering the situation of the East, these kinds of reactions from the people were only natural.
"Calla, dear. You've arrived." We turned to the woman who just came out of the door to greet us. The countess with her usual fitted gown and tight updo was smiling so brightly.
Third-Person POV
Calla made a bow of curtsy to greet the countess. Lady Elizabeth paused for a moment as she realized Calla's rather quirky get-up. But she smiled again as if it didn't happen.
"So that's how it is." She whispered to herself and smiled faintly.
"Pardon?" Calla thought she heard the countess say something.
"Oh, I am just glad that you have improved your etiquette. Please, follow me inside." Lady Elizabeth just smiled at her gently then proceeded to gesture Calla and her personal maid to enter the mansion.
'She didn't point out my odd appearance.' Calla thought. Though, she decided to ask the questions later over a cup of tea.
The countess' mansion was a tiny bit smaller than Calla's, but unexpectedly, it had the same dull vibe as her home. While following the countess to who-knows-where, Calla passed by some maids and servants who threw her curious looks. She only shrugged it off, as she has already gotten used to it.
While Calla was busy avoiding roses that were placed randomly, the countess stopped walking to say something she forgot to mention earlier.
"Oh, the personal maid can wait for the young lady in the living room." She was indirectly saying that she wanted to have a private talk with Calla. "Please help yourself and make yourself comfortable there. My maids have already been informed about my special guests."
The young lady and the maid looked at each other and nodded at the same time, though Calla meant for Anette not to worry about her.
"It is my honor to experience such hospitality." Anette bowed to the countess before turning back.
Lady Elizabeth brought Calla to her personal office, which surprisingly didn't look like one at all. Compared to the gloomy ambience of the mansion's hallways, faint sunlight was able to shine through the glass windows that made the room radiate color.
Calla noticed that tea was already served on the wooden table at the center of the room. The both of them took seats across each other without breaking the rather eerie atmosphere. Calla felt it was awkward and only stared at the already-filled teacup.
"I hope you'll like this flavor. Tea has become quite a luxury to the East, you see. How ironic, we were the top producers of this product a long time ago." Lady Elizabeth chuckled slightly as she took a graceful sip of tea.
Calla's gaze was stuck on her hands that were now clasping her teacup. For some reason, she couldn't raise her eyes to look at Lady Elizabeth.
"What is the matter, Calla? Do you not like this particular flavor? Could it be that the aroma is not to your liking? Forgive me but this was the best one I could find."
Despite the lady's concerns, Calla still kept her head down. She's been bottling up her feelings ever since she arrived- no, ever since she agreed to come here. And the moment she met the countess earlier, loads of questions began to pop up. This time, she couldn't take it anymore. Now was the time to ask Lady Elizabeth.
"Why..." she muttered.
"Are you feeling unwell, Calla?"
"Why... why aren't you asking me?" she asked in a low voice.
"...About what?"
'Ugh! Seriously? How long are you gonna keep up the act?' Calla finally lost all patience and slammed the table with both of her hands. To hell with friendship. Clattering teawares echoed in the stillness of the mood.
"You know full well what I mean." This time, she locked eyes with the countess.
"Why aren't you even asking me why I look like this?" Calla couldn't resist but to raise her voice.
The countess only wore a blank expression.
"Earlier, when you saw me, I did not even notice the slightest bit of shock on your face. I'm all wrapped up and have been wearing a suspicious cloak. Really, why did you call me here? We don't even have things to talk about! What could a grown woman ever want to discuss with a thirteen-year-old? You've known...you've always known that going outside will harm my body, yet you've indirectly suggested that I meet my death. For what? What do you want from me? Do you also blame me for the East's problems?"
Calla realized that she was already standing due to the spur of the moment. She never expected that she would blurt out like that to the countess. Embarassment dawned upon her as she slowly went back to sitting.
"I...I apologize. My behavior...j-just now, I-" now she was back to looking at her teacup.
The countess sighed and spoke before Calla could continue to look for reasons.
"So you've been wanting to cut through the chase. It is my fault. I only wanted to take it slowly. I did not want it to seem like 'it' is the only thing I wanted to talk about. Believe me, I also want to be friends with you, Calla."
Calla looked back at the countess with wide eyes.
"What do you mean? So you actually had something to tell me all along."
"That is correct. I will now get to the point. Young lady Calla of house Rosa, please provide aether for the Eastern region." Lady Elizabeth replied flat out.
The words took some time to sync into Calla's brain. The thought of spinning the perithia into aether for the people never crossed into her mind. Maybe because she was still not fully used to how this world turned about.
"H-huh? How could I? I can't possibly...I mean-"
"The reason why I wanted you to go out was because the time has come for you to see what your homeland has become. It is about time you take action as one of the descendants of our goddess Khloris."
The truth is, Calla, or Mai rather, has always thought she couldn't do such a thing. As Mai who was came from another world, she always believed that she and Calla were different. Naturally, she will never be able to do things that Calla was supposed to do. After all, she is not the real Calla.
"But why?... The West is there to help, right?" She was ashamed for feeling so cowardly. But it was the truth, there was nothing she can do.
"The aether they give us barely keep our people from dying. Must I inform you of the financial state of your household? At this rate, a normal baron in the West is slightly richer than the duke who governs the East."
"I...I don't care about the money."
"I am not talking about money." The countess' tone became more serious as she stood up and started walking towards the huge glass window behind her office table.
"Come here and take a look at this, Calla." Lady Elizabeth ordered without taking her eyes off from the view outside. As Calla was also curious, she followed the countess and stood beside her.
She looked at the direction where the countess was looking. Since the countess' mansion was located on a hill that overlooked the East, she was able to take a good look at the city. The more she observed, the more her chest tightened because of the view. Heartbreaking, miserable, tragic.
"Do you see this? Your father will soon run out of ways to help the people."