173: Do You Need My Help?

Do You Need My Help?

Meanwhile, inside the Royal Palace of Othinia, the guest residence of the delegation from Megaris.1

Oriana was excited and nervous to seek out Martha. According to Erich, this woman was the only one who could answer her questions about her ability. 

Martha was no longer with the Queen of Megaris, leaving Seren in care of her lady-in-waiting. After asking around, she was led towards one of the guest rooms nearby. 

"Miss Martha? It's me, Orian." 

Oriana knocked on the door, and heard the familiar voice of the woman. "Come inside."

Upon entering the room, she watched the older woman closing the lid of a box which had small bottles in it. 

'Seems like that's medicine for Queen Seren,' Oriana concluded and watched the woman  keep that box on a dresser top. 

"You want to talk to me?" Martha asked as she moved to sit on the couch in the lounge area of the room. 

"Yes, Miss Martha," Oriana answered politely. 

"Have a seat."

Oriana sat on the chair opposite to Martha. 

The thin woman did not beat around the bush. "It must be an urgent matter for you to meet me in a rush."

"Before that, there is something Master Erich told me to give you." Oriana pulled out a sealed letter from her coat's inner pocket and handed it over to the woman in front of her. 

Martha removed the seal and read the letter. Once she finished, she quietly folded it back and put it aside. "You can tell me everything."

Oriana was not sure what Erich had written in that letter, but at least, this woman was ready to listen to her.

Before coming, Oriana had imagined the flow of conversation dozens of times. Yet, when the moment itself arrived, she still awkwardly cleared her throat. 

"Well, Miss Martha, please do not be shocked when you hear what I have to say."

"I won't."

"There is something different about me," Oriana started. "When I talked about it to Master Erich, he said only you can answer my questions…"

"Feel free to talk, Orian," Martha told her in a somewhat scolding manner. "Since you came to me with your master's recommendation, then there is no reason to doubt your words."

Oriana let out a shaky breath. It was easy to think she could talk, but difficult to put into practice. Her whole life, she had kept two secrets—her gender and her magic. Of those two, the secret of her magic had been her most guarded secret and one that had hurt her the most in her childhood.

Erich's words encouraged her once more.

'She can use magic just like you,' he said.

Oriana had come this far. She should not hesitate when the goal is right next to her.

"About a month ago," she started, "Master and I prepared a certain ancient concoction which includes the use of one banned herb….black nightshade…" 

Orana trailed off her words to test the woman's reaction, but Martha's expression did not change.

'Is she not aware what black nightshade is? How is she so calm? Does she not find it despicable that I admitted to breaking the law?'

"Continue," she heard Martha say.

"This medicine, the end result should be a vibrant green concoction. However, every time I prepared it, the liquid would turn black. In the past, I had always successfully created many concoctions…" Oriana continued to explain, including her display of magic in front of her master up until she reached the part of Erich's guess about black magic.

Oriana gulped nervously and said, "Trust me, Miss Martha, I don't even know what black magic is. All I want is to concoct my grandfather's medicine. I want to get rid of this issue. Master said you can use magic too. Do you perhaps know what the reason is and how to solve it?"

Martha observed her for a moment. "Come and sit beside me."

Oriana stood up and sat on the couch, next to Martha.

"Put your hands in mine."

Oriana did so, and the moment their skin touched, Martha flinched. There was a change in her gaze, and it was the first time Oriana saw a ripple of emotion in those eyes. 

"What happened?" Oriana asked anxiously. "Is something wrong with me?"

The older woman did not reply but closed her eyes with a furrowed brow, as if questioning her own discovery. 

Nothing visibly changed in their surroundings. The temperature did not drop, nor was there a sudden gust of wind, but somehow, Oriana felt a strange sensation, as if an invisible yet familiar force existed around them. 

It was hard to put into words, but the vague affinity she felt towards the woman holding her hand grew…stronger?

While Oriana was immersed in questions, Martha was equally puzzled, but to her, the emotion of shock was more dominant. 

'This child is…! Am I mistaken? How come I did not sense it when she has been right in front of me the whole time? No matter the rank, our kind can recognize each other's existence the moment one is near, yet this child, I did not identify her until I held her hand…'

Martha looked at the young woman in front of her in disbelief. 

"W-what happened?"

"Wait here," Martha said as she stood up. 

"But…"

Before Oriana could say another word, Martha stepped out of the room. Just as the door behind her closed, she was faced with a person who was leaning against the wall with arms crossed over his chest. He appeared to be waiting for her. 

"Lord Yorian?"

"I heard. Do you need my help?" the silver-haired elf asked.

"I was coming for you. I…I need you to check something. I am not sure…"

"Maybe you are not wrong either," the elf commented. The two of them entered the room and found Oriana jumping to her feet. . 

Oriana shuddered at the sight of the newcomer. 'What is this man doing here? Did Miss Martha bring him here to deal with me?'

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