90 - The Secret Visitor

-- 7.00 PM

-- City Park

-- At the border of the Magnolia Kingdom

...

"Fruit! Buy fresh fruit! Winter is coming to an end and this is a very rare fruit! Please buy it!"

Parallel to the cherry blossom trees that were frozen in the snowfall, stopped an old lady merchant who was not selling well. It's none of my business, I myself escaped from the palace and stayed in this garden to relieve my sorrow.

As the gaze of the old lady in the red hood met mine, I turned my face away deliberately. I was very reluctant to talk to someone this morning. Not after all the abuse Frederick had heaped on me.

"Good morning, Your Honour." With a basket of very sweet-coloured peaches, more like apples grown in the dryness of winter, the saleswoman approached me.

I didn't expect her to greet me even though I had clearly ignored her. She even cleared the pile of snow on my lap after asking permission.

"It's very cold today, Your Honour," she said in a warm voice, in contrast to her cold hands. "You could hur