228: I Found Her

I Found Her

It pulled the woman back to her senses, and now, she had to explain her discovery to her. "I was just shocked to know that you are a woman."

Oriana pulled her hands back and tried to sit up.  "You—"

"Apologies. I am sure you must have your reasons to disguise yourself. Your secret is safe with me. I won't tell anyone about it."

"How did you know?"

Rosetta let out an awkward laugh. "Among the odd things I study, I have also taken a special interest in the art of massage, along with it the study of nerves and pulses. From your pulse, I discovered that you are on your monthly cycle so…"

Oriana could only helplessly confirm the noble lady's guess.

"You can rest assured. I will carry your secret to my grave, Orian…" she stopped, "Orian ought to be a false name, I believe?"

Though hesitated, she answered, "You can call me Oriana."

"Oriana," she repeated, "Lovely name you have."

Rosetta walked towards a drawer chest and pulled out one tiny porcelain container which she brought to Oriana. 

"Since you are likely feeling weak due to blood loss, I have something for you that will help you to regain strength."

Oriana recognized the smell of the herbs from within the small pills within it. "This—this supplement is expensive! I can't take it!"

"You can accept it as an apology for how Sir Paul treated you earlier, as well as my admiration for coming to treat a patient despite you yourself not being well."

"Still, I cannot…"

"Please do not refuse. Will it not be for everyone's best interest that a skilled physician such as you can regain your strength faster? Many people are in need of your services, just like today. Isn't that a valid reason to accept it?"

Oriana could not say 'no' to such pure-hearted intentions.  "Thank you, Lady Rosetta."

Just then, a servant entered the room, bringing a tray of aromatic tea and pastries. 

"Shall we enjoy tea now? I had them prepare the highest quality tea native to Thevailes. I am not sure if you have tasted pomegranate tea?"

"I have never tasted it, my lady."

"Oh, then I am sure you'll like it. It is the crowd favorite of many young ladies, especially if you add honey to it…"

As the pair enjoyed the fragrant tea, Oriana spoke, "Thank you for treating me so well."

"I guess we both have quite a few things to thank each other." The gentle smile on Rosetta's lips widened. 

While tasting the prepared pastries, the noble lady's gaze would observe the younger woman once in a while. It made Oriana somewhat feel shy.

"Lady Rosetta…?"

"Oh, apologies. It was rude to stare," Rosetta said. "Only, I cannot control my curiosity. I would like to know more about you, Oriana. Like, why do you have to live like a man? Perhaps you have a concern I can help you with?"

"That…" 

Oriana looked hesitant, only to hear Rosetta say in an apologetic tone, "Do not worry. I am not forcing you and you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to. I was just really happy today, so I keep forgetting my manners. It is rare to find a like-minded fellow, rarer even to find someone who makes me feel…not alone."

At that, the black-haired beauty blankly stared at the cup of tea in front of her.

"As you may have noticed, many of my interests do not align with what most ladies are primarily educated for. Meeting you is a liberating and rewarding experience in itself. You are a friend I had longed to have since childhood. It may sound silly, but I hope we can keep meeting each other for the next few days, just talking about herbs and random things like this."

"Thank you for seeing me in such a light, Lady Rosetta," was all Oriana said, neither accepting nor declining her offer.

Once they finished the tea, they returned to the patient's room within the servant quarters. Oriana checked on the sleeping woman. 

"She looks a little better now. I think medicine is working on her. I will suggest she rest for the rest of the day and I will check on her once again tomorrow," Oriana informed those within the room. She explained to the other servant how often to drink the medicines she left behind. 

Once everything was done, Oriana bowed to Rosetta. "I will take my leave then. It was a pleasure meeting you, Lady Rosetta."

"Thank you for your services, Physician Orian," Rosetta replied respectfully. She then gestured for a servant to give Oriana a pouch of gold as payment. This time, since she was working on her own capacity as a healer, Oriana did not refuse compensation.

When Oriana walked out of the mansion, she suddenly realized she did not know how much time had passed. 

'Oh, no! Miss Martha!'

As she hurried to the gate, she found the older woman waiting for her outside, her expression anxious. Martha looked like a mother waiting for her child, and Oriana could not help but chuckle at the silly thought. 

The moment Oriana passed through the gate, she hurried towards her.

"Miss Martha, I apolo—" 

"Are you alright?"

"I am, Miss Martha. Fortunately, that servant's life is no longer in danger now."

After studying her from head to toe, Martha gave out a sigh of relief. "Let's go back."

While the two women strolled in the direction of the guest mansion of Megaris, a pair of gray eyes was intently watching them. 

"Her companion is a White Witch," Rosetta spoke with interest. 

"That woman serves the Queen of Megaris," the man standing next to her, knight Paul, said. 

"Is that so?"

"Were you able to verify what you needed, my lady?"

"Is that a question I need to answer?"

"Deepest apologies. I forgot my place."

The knight merely bowed before leaving the room. 

Rosetta's gaze remained stuck on Oriana till she disappeared from her sight. 

Inside her room, she picked up a small incense burner that emitted a formless, odorless smoke. She moved her fingers and put out the essence burning with magic. 

'She could withstand this essence and not lose her consciousness. That was the first indicator that she is not an ordinary child.'

Just then, there was a knock on the door and a certain girl entered the room. It was Olivia, the young servant who was supposed to be working in the kitchen.

"I await your instructions."

"Give only half an amount of that herb to Lily from now on. We don't want her to be in too much pain now, but she is not allowed to recover for a few days."

"I obey your command, Lady Rosetta."

Once the servant left, the black-haired beauty leisurely sat in her chair. 

'Setting this trap to call her here did not go to waste. I found a gift I never expected.' 

A wicked smile appeared on her lips, as a flash of darkness swallowed the gray in her eyes.

'I finally found you, Your Eminence, our new Queen.'1

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