IX

After her mother left, Lia decided to sleep. Sleepiness came when comfort came. The orange light that infiltrated the room began to disappear along with Lia's consciousness.

There was a creak of the door opening, but it didn't bother Lia at all. Her breathing even sounded normal and there would be no sign of her waking up, even if there were soldiers barging in.

"I have to do it now."

The voice sounded familiar, but she felt so sleepy. But the silence made her worry. Where did the woman who spoke earlier go? There was no sound of footsteps leaving. Lia had to pretend to be asleep, the woman who spoke wasn't alone.

Fear suddenly filled her mind, she was afraid that someone would try to kill her. After thinking that, Lia was startled and opened her eyes wide. She sat up and looked around. Everything looked different. The ceiling and walls were wooden. And the surrounding smell was a bit strange. There was straw scattered around, Lia moved backwards and there was a screeching behind her. Suddenly, Lia turned around and screamed. She rushed out with her body against the wall, she stepped slowly and tripped over her own feet. Her back hit the ground as she fell.

While feeding the horses, she saw a woman lying in front of a stable. She rushed over to the woman as soon as she heard Lia scream.

"Who are you?" The woman's wavy blonde hair was neatly tied up and draped over her right shoulder. She looked at Lia suspiciously.

"I," Lia held her body with her arms trying to sit up with all her might, "Au!" The wound on her back had not healed completely.

"You're hurt." The woman with pale skin and a gaunt face put down her basket and helped Lia. "You're okay."

Lia held her waist, trying to endure the pain by breathing normally, but it didn't help at all. Now she was afraid to stand up, it felt like just letting her lie there, but the woman beside her couldn't possibly let a stranger in the stables. Especially since Lia was a woman, there would be many men passing by here.

"Come with me." The woman pulled Lia's hand, but Lia was reluctant to stand up. "I want to help you."

Lia hesitated, but she had no choice. The woman nodded in an attempt to convince her. Lia finally stood up. They walked slowly, the woman leaving her basket behind. When they left the place, a dark blue light appeared in the sky. Just a few steps away, they came to a building. The stone structure looked messy, the chimney was billowing smoke.

The room looked dark, the woman released her grip and lit a candle on the table. Then she helped Lia sit on the bed.

"Let me see." She sat behind Lia, unzipping Lia's dress slowly. The color was still bluish. She looked at the wound, "I think I can."

Lia turned her head, hoping that this woman was not playing with her pain. 

The woman got up and started boiling some leaves. Added some roots to the iron pot. It was placed on the stove. The flames covered the pot, as the light in the room increased.

"I'm Shannon." The woman turned her head briefly as she watched her cooking.

"Lia," she replied briefly. Hoping the potion didn't give her a stomachache.

"You'd better rest." Because the potion Shannon prepared seemed to take a while.

Being in an unfamiliar place kept her awake, she couldn't just go to sleep before finding out the surrounding situation. So, she looked at the small window with three bars. Lia's not-so-thin body would probably have a hard time getting through it. 

The color of the sky was slowly getting darker and the air was getting colder. What made her curious was the building right in front of her. Lia shifted slowly, leaning toward the window and trying to look up at the building. She could not see the end of it.

"That building looks tall." Lia pointed outside as she turned her head.

Shannon was confused. Did the woman not know that at all? "Don't you work here?" The atmosphere became tense, especially when Lia shook her head in doubt. "Then what are you doing here?"

"I...," Lia looked the other way, trying to remember the first time she was in that place. Lia widened her eyes, "Why am I here?"

"Who are you?" Shannon looked at her suspiciously.

Lia tried to think. Did she move again like yesterday? But why? Then how could she get back home? God, she couldn't get out of this place with her back injured. Lia didn't want to be killed in this place or the middle of nowhere. 

Lia felt nervous, Shannon kept looking at her. "Me, I'm lost."

The female voice that spoke while Lia was lying down must be Berta's mother, she was sure. The old woman had probably heard Lia and Elisa's conversation. If she was there, her mother would definitely be in danger.

Shannon knew Lia was lying, there was no way someone would suddenly come to Arckeley and claim to be lost. There was no way into the palace grounds except from the main gate. And only working people and nobles were allowed in. She would hold Lia for a while until she got more information. If Shannon got important information, maybe she would be transferred out of this nauseating job.

Meanwhile, Lia looked back at the window, trying to think hard about how she could return home like yesterday. Maybe she should drown like last time. But there didn't seem to be any rivers or lakes around here.

"Is there--" Lia turned around to find Shannon not there. She hadn't even realized she was gone.

She grabbed her chest and there was the necklace, feeling slightly cold even though it had been inside her shirt. 

Shannon was outside looking confused, she walked back and forth and put her ear to the door. There was no sound. She wanted to go to the main building of the palace, but Lia could have escaped. She had to wait until Lia fell asleep. Her job of taking care of the royal horses made her have to live apart from the main building, which irritated her.

She came back in after being busy with her thoughts. Lia was startled by the sound of the door, while Shannon continued her work. The cooked potion had to be pulverized again. She mashed it together into a smooth porridge. The color was slightly brownish, the green from the leaves seemed to be lost in the pigment from the roots.

Shannon sat beside her and unzipped Lia's dress. She began to apply it to Lia's wounded back. Warmth filled the wound, and it felt good. Lia instantly felt safe and unsuspecting of Shannon, perhaps she was trying to help her.