"Stop the carriage!" Susanna's voice rang out, commanding and urgent.
The maid, her face etched with concern, turned to Susanna. "What is it, milady? Did something happen?"
"I said stop the carriage," Susanna repeated, her tone sharp and unwavering. As the carriage came to a standstill, a strange, almost inaudible voice seemed to whisper in her mind, urging her forward.
Without a moment's hesitation, Susanna threw open the carriage door and gracefully stepped out onto the dusty roadside, ignoring her maid's shouts for her to stop. Her eyes were immediately drawn to a young woman walking with purpose along the rough path.
The woman's slender frame was slightly squatted under the weight of a large basket of freshly picked herbs slung over her shoulder. She wore a tattered and weathered set of patched men's clothing that hung loosely on her delicate frame, accentuating her fragility.
"Emilia!" Susanna called out, her voice carrying a note of desperation.
The young woman, taken aback, halted but did not turn around. Her shoulders tensed, and her pace remained steady, as though she had not heard. Susanna quickened her step, closing the distance between them until she stood directly in front of Emilia, blocking her path.
"I was calling you Emilia!" Susanna said, raising a brow, her tone firm but laced with an undercurrent of urgency.
Emilia's face went ashen, her eyes widening in shock. "You must have mistaken me for someone else. I am just a vendor," she stammered, her gaze darting away nervously.
As much as Emilia tried to evade the situation, Susanna remained steadfast in her confidence that she had correctly identified the person in question. Every detail of the novel's storyline came rushing back to Susanna with unwavering clarity.
Emilia's character had been mistaken for a man and subsequently employed as a servant by the duke. Her compassion for the duke through her endless help and generosity had captivated his interest, but when her true identity and capabilities were uncovered, the royal family swiftly brought her to the Azalea Sanatorium to start cultivating her powers.
Susanna felt an urgent need to take quick action to ensure that the protagonist wouldn't be seen by the duke again. Or she would be the one who suffered!
"I know it's you, so there's no need to hide," Susanna said gently, her eyes softening. "You look pale. Are you unwell?"
"I'm perfectly fine. I need to sell these herbs, or I—" Emilia's voice faltered as she spoke.
Susanna cut her off, her resolve clear. "I will buy them from you. How much for everything?"
Emilia blinked, clearly taken aback by the offer. "What?"
Susanna signalled to her maid, who approached with a pouch of money. "How much for the entire basket?"
Emilia's disbelief was palpable. "You want to buy them all? That would be three silver coins and fifty-nine bronze coins."
Susanna handed over the money with a smile, while the coachman took the basket from Emilia's hands. "Shall we have a friendly conversation now?" she asked warmly.
Emilia, her hands trembling in shock, nodded slowly as she stood in the presence of the elegant woman. She couldn't fathom how this woman had uncovered her true identity, but a feeling deep within her told her that this encounter was unlike any other she had experienced.
Her life had been a series of trials marked by the selfishness of her stepfather, the arrogance of her stepsister, and the fragility of her mother. However, as she looked at the mysterious woman before her, Emilia felt a sense of warmth, gentleness, and an unspoken invitation emanating from her.
As they settled into the carriage, Emilia fidgeted nervously, her clothes still smeared with mud and dust from her journey. Susanna, seated comfortably, watched Emilia with a thoughtful expression.
"Sit down," Susanna said, her tone kind yet firm.
Emilia hesitated before sitting opposite Susanna, while the maid waited outside the carriage. Susanna took in Emilia's appearance, noting how much weaker she seemed compared to the confident, capable healer described in the novel.
"Do you have any special powers?" Susanna asked directly, her gaze steady.
Emilia's eyes widened in alarm, her heart racing. She shook her head rapidly, her hands waving defensively. "N-No, I don't," she stammered, clearly frightened.
Seeing Emilia's distress, Susanna's expression softened. "I won't do anything to harm you. I want to help you. There's no need to be so afraid."
"If my stepfather finds out, I'll be doomed," Emilia confessed, her voice trembling as she recalled the harsh treatment she endured. "He always demands money from me and threatens to marry me off to one of his friends."
Susanna furrowed her brows, trying to piece together the identity of Emilia's tormentor. It was clear that the stepfather was a significant figure in Emilia's life.
"What will he do if he finds out?" Susanna asked gently.
"He'll sell me to the highest bidder," Emilia said her voice barely a whisper.
Susanna's heart ached at the thought. The kingdom's obsession with power made it a commodity, leading some to exploit those with abilities for profit, particularly if they came from humble origins.
"I don't know what you want to do, but I need to leave," Emilia said anxiously, fearing that Susanna might be after her powers to sell them to others.
"We will take you home. Emilia, please listen to me," Susanna said, her voice soothing as Emilia's eyes welled up with tears. "Tell me, what is it that you truly want?"
Emilia raised her eyes slowly, meeting Susanna's warm brown gaze. The gentle tone of Susanna's voice was reminiscent of her mother's comforting embrace, calming her fears.
"Do you want to go to the Azalea Sanatorium?" Susanna asked.
Emilia's eyes widened in astonishment as she beheld the magnificent sight of the Azalea Sanatorium. For individuals with extraordinary healing abilities like her own, it was a cherished and sought-after destination.
The mere thought of being admitted there filled her with hope and excitement, as it meant that she would finally be acknowledged and protected as a promising talent. Additionally, it would serve as a refuge, shielding her from her menacing stepfather, who would be rendered powerless to harm her under the safeguard of the royal family.
"Can you really get me there?" Emilia asked, her voice laced with hope and scepticism.
"Of course, I can," Susanna assured her confidently.
Inside, Susanna felt a surge of determination. 'I will do everything in my power to keep you safe from the duke's sight!' she thought with a sense of relief and resolve.
Emilia's eyes sparkled with a mixture of hope and hesitation. However, as thoughts of her sick mother resurfaced, her expression grew sombre.
"I cannot," she said, her voice filled with regret.
Susanna's smile cracked.