JGMH | Chapter 9

“Lev, I came straight after class today!”

“Be careful, you’ll trip yourself!”

Levis stopped the princess who was charging forward with unbridled energy. Yesterday, and now today. The princess had come seeking her two days in a row. Surely, someone—Rosander, perhaps—would come to stop her at some point, but there was no sign of him.

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“Is it alright for you to come here every day like this?”

Eisentein smiled as if the answer were obvious.

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“It’s fine. Rosander’s not around.”

“He’s not?”

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Levis responded reflexively, then bit her lip in surprise. She had spoken without thinking, relieved at his absence.

Eisentein spread a yellow cloth across the ground by the lake, ensuring her dress wouldn’t get dirty—a precaution she had begun taking since the day before.

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“You look surprised. Even though Ross lives in the royal forest, he does go out occasionally.”

“Does he now?”

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Levis took the cookie Eisentein took out from her basket and bit into it. The crumbly texture that disappeared in her mouth felt unfamiliar, but the sweet and nutty flavor grew on her.

“Yes. Soon, it’ll be the anniversary of Ross’s wife’s passing.”

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“Oh…”

So, he had a wife. The realization hit Levis mid-bite, catching in her throat. But then her mind lingered on the word anniversary. She struggled to mask the tightness in her chest, brushing the cookie crumbs from the corner of Eisentein’s mouth.

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Eisentein giggled at the gentle touch, her bright laughter washing over Levis like sunlight piercing through clouds. For a moment, Levis chose to set aside the weight of her thoughts.

“Would you like to see the water spirit?”

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After the queen’s departure that time, the spirit had hidden in silence, timidly apologizing for its inability to help. But the hope of one day walking to the sea with her restored legs was enough for Levis to forgive its small failings.

The water spirit emerged from the surface of the lake as a rounded, glistening orb, landing softly in Levis’s palm.

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“The water spirit?”

Eisentein marveled at the tiny, animated drop of water dancing in Levis’s hand.

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“It’s adorable.”

“It must be excited by the compliment.”

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The spirit, which couldn’t understand Eisentein’s words, twirled about in an enthusiastic display. Suddenly, it dove back into the lake with a plop.

“Huh?”

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“There might be someone else nearby.”

Hardly had Levis finished speaking when a voice called out in the distance.

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“Penny! Penny!”

Sure enough, the spirit had vanished in an instant, ever the wary creature. Eisentein, recognizing the voice’s owner, quickly began packing her belongings into the basket.

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“Oh… This won’t do. One of Mother’s maids might be headed this way. I’ll have to leave for today!”

Eisentein hurried off, likely trying to avoid the queen learning of her visits to the lake. Levis watched her go, a twinge of regret curling in her chest.

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Once Eisentein had left, the water spirit whispered in Levis’s ear.

[Is that child hers?]

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“…Yes.”

Levis stroked the spirit’s smooth surface gently.

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[She doesn’t resemble her mother. The queen felt like she was wrapped in black serpents from head to toe.]

“Black serpents?”

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Levis recalled the sea serpents that had invaded Larme Island. Could they, too, have been the queen’s doing?

She wondered if she should be thankful she hadn’t yet attempted to break the queen’s curse.

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The thought of the queen discovering the state of her body and seeking her out again sent a shiver down her spine. Levis felt a sudden, urgent need to leave the royal castle.

Nearby, voices echoed from not far off.

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“What’s going on? By the way, could you help me tie my hair again?”

Mary had spotted Penny by the lake, scrubbing dishes with a basket of water at her feet. Hurrying over, Mary pointed to the side pocket of Penny’s apron, which held the hair tie.

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“You know that person, don’t you? That…”

Mary paused, fumbling for the name.

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“Oh, that knight?”

Penny, rinsing the last dish, chimed in knowingly. Mary nodded, fishing the hair tie from the pocket as she removed Penny’s bonnet.

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“Yes, that’s it… that Rosander guy.”

Mary began redoing Penny’s braid.

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“You think he’s nice, don’t you think so? What was your impression when you saw him?”

Penny, who often gossiped with the maids about their admiration for Rosander Wayne, smirked mischievously, assuming Mary had finally taken an interest in men.

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“Oh… He seemed a bit stern.”

Rosander Wayne, the princess’s bodyguard, lacked the elegance typical of knights, instead exuding the sharp edge of a finely honed blade.

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Hoping to avoid sparking one of Penny’s lengthy tangents, Mary answered curtly, avoiding too much agreement in hopes of steering the conversation back to her original purpose.

“He does look serious, but his gaze is captivating! Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him around much lately. I wonder why?”

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“Well—”

“You know, the other day… What was it again? Oh, yes! I misunderstood some instructions the head maid gave about where to place the brewery barrels. I was panicking about what to do when he came over and asked if I needed help, then brought people to sort it out!”

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Mary’s attempt to speak was cut off by Penny’s excited interruption. Satisfied with her freshly tied hair, Penny twirled in place, oblivious to Mary’s growing impatience.

“So, as I was saying—”

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“I still wonder if I answered him properly back then. I was so flustered… And considering he’s lost his wife, I’d feel awful if I was rude.”

Penny drifted into a dreamy monologue, polishing plates at a leisurely pace while Mary silently fumed, glaring at the dishware in frustration.

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“That man left you with a request.”

“Huh?”

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“That’s why I came here! Why do you always talk about whatever comes to mind instead of listening?”

Mary’s sharp tone finally drew Penny back to the topic at hand. Grinning sheepishly, she asked,

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“Sorry, I’ve been so caught up with my fallout with Dan lately that I can’t seem to see past him. Honestly, if a man with a body like that proposed to me, even if it’s a second marriage, I think I’d say yes on the spot.”

Mary’s patience had reached its limit; she could no longer endure the ridiculous extent of Penny’s wild imagination. Fixing her with a fierce glare, Mary made Penny flinch and promptly steer the conversation back to the main point Mary had been waiting for.

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“So, what did he ask me to do?”

“He said to feed the mermaid.”

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“What? Why me?”

“You’ve been drawing attention lately. I guess your name stuck in his mind.”

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“Really?”

Though Mary’s meaning was closer to “you’ve caused enough trouble that everyone knows who you are,” Penny seemed delighted by the idea of being noticed by another man.

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In truth, Rosander had first asked Mary, but she’d been too busy with preparations for the upcoming banquet to accept. 

Perhaps the man had simply been in a hurry, seeking anyone who might fulfill his request, and when she refused, Penny had been the first person to come to his mind.

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Mary had considered saying no outright, knowing Penny’s temperament all too well, but the man had looked as frantic as she felt cornered. Against her better judgment, she’d agreed without thinking it through. She decided, however, to keep to herself the part where Rosander had said, “The freckled girl with the blue eyes,” when describing Penny.

If Penny caught wind of that, she’d undoubtedly lose her temper, focusing on anything but the actual task. 

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She might even start arguing that her skin wasn’t freckled and harass Mary about it for over a month. Mary wasn’t about to deal with that kind of headache over a message she’d merely passed along.

“He said there were plenty of butchered animals in the barn, and he asked you to throw them into the lake.”

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“What?”

“Exactly what you heard. Feed that mermaid.”

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The faint flush on Penny’s rosy cheeks drained away. Seeing her colleague dumbstruck, Mary reiterated the request.

“Mary… I can’t do it. Even if it’s a knight’s request, I can’t—no, I won’t do that…”

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“Well, then, there’s nothing to be done. Her Majesty didn’t press the matter further. You can just pretend you didn’t hear it. Or take someone else with you.”

 

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***

 

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“So you’re saying it’s none of your business, is it? Fine. Forget it.”

Her patience had run dry. A single coin’s worth—she might as well consider it lost. She didn’t have the energy to get angry at Mandy, who sat mute as a fish, lips pressed together. After all, this was the fifth rejection she’d faced.

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But perhaps the gods of fate hadn’t abandoned her completely. Just ahead, Dan came into view. She couldn’t simply ignore her assigned task, yet the thought of approaching the lake alone left her trembling. Pride be damned; she’d have to ask for his help.

“What’s the matter, Penny?”

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“Why so cold, Dan…?”

Dan’s voice was clipped, calling her name with an air of indifference. He’d been busy hauling timber, but ignoring Penny outright wasn’t an option—not with their fellow workers watching, all vaguely aware of the history between them.

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She stood right in the path of the workers, her presence a nuisance to their rhythm. Yet Penny was no less desperate than Dan was busy.

“Don’t you remember? We’re done. You were the one who called it off.”

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Hoping to wrap up the conversation quickly, Dan dropped the stack of wood with a heavy thud and backed Penny into a corner. His expression was sharp, demanding answers with a frustrated glare. Penny, however, decided to make the most of this moment alone.

“I was wrong… I shouldn’t have said that.”

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“And you think you can just slide back like nothing happened?”

Dan’s memory wasn’t so short. The last time they made up, what had happened? Not long after their reconciliation, Penny had flirted openly with the cart driver. Meanwhile, she’d blown up at him for a mere exchange of pleasantries with Angie, ending the day in a storm of tears. He had no interest in reliving that exhausting cycle.

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“No, really this time—I’ll be good to you. I promise.”

“What?”

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Her voice wavered, just shy of tears, and Dan froze. What could be so important that she was pleading this hard? Part of him was curious, but another part—more primal—lit up at the thought of one last fling. If this led there, why not?

“Since the nanny thing, I’m on thin ice. One more slip-up and I’m out. Please?”

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“Alright, I’ll help. What is it?”

He gave in. Requests always came with strings attached, and Penny understood that as well. Too well, in fact. Her knack for making things transactional was what often got her in trouble.

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“Feeding the mermaids.”

She blurted it out before he could change his mind. With Dan beside her, the lake seemed far less daunting. If anything happens, his sturdy frame could shield her if it came to it, couldn’t it?

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“Wasn’t that Rosander Wayne’s job?”

“They told me I’ve got to do it while he’s away.”

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Dan’s hesitation melted under the weight of Penny’s enigmatic smile. Scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, he didn’t notice as she flung her arms around him, pulling him close.

Looking into her wide, pleading eyes was too much. Instead, his gaze wandered—down to the soft curve of skin peeking from her low neckline.

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“They’re bringing it food, so it won’t come after me too, right?”

He jokes, grinning faintly. No man would dare appear cowardly before a woman he wanted to impress. Penny clung to his arm like ivy, practically dragging him toward the barn.

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