Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 50
Roel’s face turned pale at the merchant’s words, and she quickly nodded, deeply engraving his warnings in her mind.
“I won’t go near there!”
“Good. I’m telling you this because you look naive. Don’t be fooled by offers of high pay; those guys trick women into debt so they can’t escape.”
Life in the capital seemed not to be entirely safe. It was not safe anywhere for a woman alone, after all.
Roel resolved not to let her guard down even after reaching the capital, and she rubbed her chest in anxiety.
Every time she felt anxious, thoughts of Kyden surfaced. Roel forcibly pushed away his lingering image from her mind.
“I can’t go back anyway.”
* * *
After arriving at Mountain Goat Village, Roel entered a diner located in a quiet alley and ordered the cheapest food available to fill her stomach. While soothing her hunger, she organized her plans in her head.
The merchant had mentioned that it would take two days to reach the capital from Mountain Goat Village. It was too far to walk, and he suggested that she could use the help of traders, but she would have to pay for a ride.
Sitting in the diner, warming up and easing her fatigue, Roel noticed the displeased look of the diner owner and discreetly got up from her seat. She had occupied the spot too long just for ordering a cheap meal.
Fortunately, perhaps because she had caught a ride and rested at the diner, the swelling in her ankle had somewhat subsided. A few days of rest might allow her to recover fully.
She asked passersby for directions and headed towards a marketplace where traders often gathered. It was late, and the area was quiet.
Near the traders’ guild, empty boxes and unsold, rotten produce littered the ground. The workers had gone home, and only a few lights were on in the otherwise empty guilds.
Roel walked aimlessly towards one of the lit guild buildings.
Inside, a woman sorting through paperwork with a bored expression caught her sight.
“Hello.”
“…?”
“Is there a trading group going to the capital tomorrow? I’d like to join if there’s room.”
“There’s no space available.”
The conversation was cut short by the woman, who turned her head away as if telling her not to continue talking. Disappointed, Roel left the shop.
Unwilling to give up, she entered another guild where the lights were still on. However, the next guild also did not welcome her. After being rejected three times and ignored twice, only one lit guild remained.
‘If it’s hard to go to the capital, I should at least try to find work here.’
Mountain Goat Village wasn’t a small place; by walking around, she might find a job. Roel tried to muster some energy as she considered other options.
“Hello.”
“Who are you?”
A woman, appearing about Roel’s age and buried in paperwork, looked up.
“I’d like to join a trading group going to the capital. I only need one spot. I can pay and I’m willing to do odd jobs.”
Roel clasped her hands together and pleaded earnestly. The woman scanned Roel from head to toe, furrowing her brow. She sighed softly and muttered to herself.
“Another runaway…”
Perhaps touched by Roel’s earnestness, the woman pointed to a corner seat.
“Just sit there for a moment. I’ll finish this up and check for you.”
Roel’s face lit up at the first sign of a positive response. She limped to the designated spot and sat down. Seeing Roel limp, the woman frowned again.
“Oh dear…”
The expression on her face was distraught. Roel, nervous, rubbed her cold, stiff palms as she waited for the woman to finish her work.
After some time, the woman sat in front of Roel and offered her a cup of warm tea.
“It’s quite cold, isn’t it? Have some tea.”
“Oh, thank you so much.”
Roel bowed repeatedly, touched by the kindness. The woman flinched at the excessive gratitude.
“…Hmm. My name is Hermi. So, you want to join a caravan to the capital?”
“Hello, I’m Roel. I need to go to the capital, but I don’t have much money…”
“Why do you want to go to the capital?”
“Well, I’m looking for a job.”
There is also a way to get to the capital by renting a horse or wagon, but it is expensive. Even if Roel spent all her money, it would be impossible to find a means of transportation to the capital.
In the end, she had no choice but to join the caravan to the capital, but in exchange for the low price, she had to help.
“I’ve taken a look at the seats, and there’s only one left. But if you limp like that, I don’t think it’ll be easy to get on the caravan.”
“Oh, it’s just a minor sprain. It’ll heal quickly if I rest a bit.”
“Hmm.”
“And I’m good at cooking. I can take care of preparing meals. If you just let me ride in the wagon, I’ll also pay.”
Hermi seemed to ponder for a moment as she tilted her head. It was generally not advisable to include someone of unclear status in the trading group, but she felt a tug of sympathy for Roel’s situation.
She won’t steal, right? Hermi scanned Roel. Her delicate, pretty features and the wan, sad expression evoked a sense of pity.
She’s in no shape to cause trouble. And she’s offering to pay and handle meal preparation, so it might work out if Hermi could just explain the situation well to the caravan. Hermi nodded decisively.
“Alright, be here by 4 a.m. tomorrow. It’s a long trip to the capital, so we start early. If you’re late, we’ll leave without you.”
“Thank you so much, truly.”
Roel bowed excessively again. Hermi looked at her with concern and offered some advice as someone who had run away before.
“Don’t act so naive, or you’re setting yourself up to be taken advantage of.”
