A Good Mother

As the cold night descended upon us, my nerves remained on edge. Our journey took us deeper into the forest, concealing our path from prying eyes. The air was thick with eerie noises, amplifying the sense of unease that gripped me. 

Separated from Liam and Ludwig, who were in the other carriage, I sat alone, my thoughts racing as we traveled onward. When our convoy came to a sudden stop, Ludwig emerged from his carriage, prompting me to follow suit.

An air of tension hung heavy among us, a silent understanding passing between knights and passengers alike. Despite the lack of verbal communication, each individual moved with purpose, as if guided by an unspoken directive from Ludwig.

As the knights ignited branches with their powers, a flurry of activity ensued. One of them vanished momentarily, only to return with a wild boar in tow. Liam sprang into action, summoning water from a nearby lake to cleanse the animal, while the other knights collaborated to prepare the feast.

Eager to assist, I approached the group, but they averted their eyes and shielded the bloody carcass from my view.

"What can I do to help?" I inquired, feeling a pang of discomfort at being sidelined. I understood that they had resorted to hunting for sustenance after our provisions had been shared with the needy children, but I was determined to contribute in any way I could. 

"We appreciate your willingness to help, My Lady," one of the knights responded, avoiding direct eye contact. "But it's best for you to focus on something else."

I furrowed my brow, sensing their discomfort and reluctance to engage with me.

"I insist," I asserted, my tone determined. "I'm more than capable of roasting meat, despite being a woman. I've grown up accustomed to this sort of work, having never lived a life of luxury."

Despite my efforts to lighten the mood with a smile, the knights remained steadfast in their stance.

"Don't trouble yourself," Liam interjected, his tone sour as he floated nearby, adjusting his scarf. "They're uneasy with your presence. Pushing further might only exacerbate the situation."

I didn't fully grasp Liam's statement, but I decided not to press the matter further. Perhaps they truly felt uncomfortable because they recognized that I was different from them.

I distracted myself by observing the forest surroundings. It appeared to be a typical woodland, for which I was grateful. Since coming under Ludwig's protection, I rarely encountered the bizarre creatures that had startled me on my first day in this world.

Lily had previously warned me about the frightening creatures that inhabited Primotheus Capital, the place where I was first discovered. It served as a home to various creatures, unlike Fortunalia, where I mostly encountered Faes along with a Witch.

I pondered how Alexa managed to endure living in a place where she was undoubtedly the odd one out.

Recollections of Leaf's tale surfaced in my mind, reminding me that Lady Alexa was ostracized because of her status as a witch. She had no friends and few people to converse with, much like myself.

In Quailsham, witches were often associated with chaos, as many practiced black sorcery and propagated malevolence. Their souls were said to be drawn to dark magic like magnets, especially when fueled by anger and resentment. It was no wonder they were deemed the most susceptible to its influence.

In Quailsham, witches were strikingly beautiful, a far cry from the tales in our world. Their distinctive feature was often their hair, which came in a spectrum of unusual colors.

Leaf once mentioned that she had never encountered a witch with typical hair colors like black, red, brown, or blond. Instead, their hair hues leaned towards more unconventional shades such as pink, blue, violet, and occasionally even rainbow-colored strands.

"Here…" 

I nearly leaped to my feet when Ludwig handed me an apple. He stood before me, the apple freshly obtained, likely explaining his brief absence.

"Are we still far?" I inquired softly.

Ludwig nodded in response. "We still need to ride a ship and cross the sea."

My jaw dropped at the news. "That far?"

Ludwig responded with a mischievous smile, as if daring me to regret my decision to accompany them.

Once the meal was finished, we ate in silence before resuming our journey. We needed to hurry to reach Percival and avoid detection by the Ministers due to our sudden absence.

They said that Percival's cohort were renowned trackers and hunters, even paid assassins. They spared no species or kingdom. No one knew their exact numbers or identities, as only the front-line hunters were ever seen.

I wrapped myself tighter in the scarf they had given me as the surroundings grew colder. Despite my thick clothing, my feet began to shiver. I knew it would only get colder as night fell near the border, but I hadn't anticipated feeling this chilled. My body grew numb, even my breath affected by the cold.

I reached around, searching for the candle in hopes of feeling even a flicker of warmth, but it eluded my grasp. The carriage came to an abrupt halt, and the door swung open suddenly. Despite the absence of a visible flame, I felt a wave of heat wash over me.

Ludwig cursed in the thick silence as he lit the candle beneath me and then enveloped me in his arms without hesitation. I didn't think to push him away or feel embarrassed. Instead, I gratefully accepted the shelter of his warmth. In that moment, silence enveloped us, neither of us speaking nor moving.

As my cheeks reddened against the soft rustle of his shirt, I whispered between us, my voice stammering from the diminishing coldness, "I'm sorry. I gave the food to the children without your permission."

I wanted to attribute my low voice to the cold, but I couldn't deceive myself. Why was Ludwig so close? Oh yes, to provide me with warmth, being a Fire Fae.

Although I might not feel dizzy from his power anymore, my heart still thumped with shame and embarrassment that lingered in my system.

"No doubt you'll be a good mother," Ludwig whispered near my numb ears, "you care for the children well."

My eyes widened in surprise. "W-what?" I asked, unable to comprehend his words.

"Don't worry about it," Ludwig assured me in a soft voice. "And don't bother. I've already sent a courier to the people in my castle to immediately help those children."