Chapter 010
Freya pulled the cloak tightly over her head, hid the scissors in her chest, and resumed walking along the path.
‘How will I survive?’
Freya knew that if she didn’t work, she would starve.
‘Should I go back to begging?’
She had only ever learned to steal, and that was the first thing that came to mind. But she quickly shook her head. In an unfamiliar district, if she acted recklessly, she’d likely be beaten to a pulp.
‘If I could find work as a maid, that would be better.’
Through years of begging on the streets, Freya had learned there were different classes of people: the lords who couldn’t be looked at and insects like her.
A maid, however, seemed to occupy a middle ground.
She wore relatively neat clothes and walked beside her mistress, carrying her bag, in a scene that seemed utterly splendid.
‘That’s completely different from me, a beggar in tattered clothes.’
She felt jealous but quickly abandoned the idea.
“How could I get a job like that?”
She had no known lineage and only the skill of begging.
She walked for two whole days, thinking about her future.
Finally, the last piece of bread she had saved ran out.
The rain helped quench her thirst, but her stomach clung to her spine.
She tried chewing tree bark, but it was no use. She nearly collapsed from exhaustion, each step heavier than the last.
“What’s this? Is it real?”
After a long distance, she spotted food spread out on the grass.
She couldn’t believe her eyes and rubbed them with her hands.
A large man was leaning against a tree, fast asleep, with meat and bread in front of him. The smell of the food drew her irresistibly. His head was covered by a hat that swayed rhythmically with his snores.
‘It won’t be bad if I just take a small piece.’
In her normal state, she wouldn’t have dared, but she was so hungry she could no longer think clearly. She approached cautiously, walking on her tiptoes. The sharp scent of liquor wafted from him.
‘Just a small piece… just…’
She bent down and picked up a small piece of bread, but it made a rustling sound. The hat fell from the man’s face and hit the ground.
‘Oh…!’
She reached for the bread again, only for a small stone to strike the back of her hand.
“What kind of rat is this?”
Her body trembled at his gruff voice. In her panic, the scissors fell from her chest to the ground. She froze in place.
“Strange, you still have some conscience.”
The man sat up, and Freya couldn’t guess his age. His face was covered with a thick beard, and his body was darkened by the sun.
“I’m sorry… I was so hungry.”
She spoke trembling, bowing her head.
She expected his hand to strike her cheek or back at any moment.
Her tension grew as she braced for a blow, but he only lifted a jug of wine and drank.
“You look honest in your thinness.”
Her muscles stiffened, awaiting punishment.
“Why aren’t you hitting me?”
She cautiously raised her head and asked, and the man chuckled.
“Beating children is for lowlifes. Besides, if I hit you now, you wouldn’t survive.”
“…”
He was the strangest man she had ever met. She stole from him, yet he wasn’t angry.
‘Children shouldn’t be beaten?’
But the orphanage was filled with beatings daily. Whether she made a mistake or not, punishment was always present. No one had ever shown remorse for hitting children.
‘I feel dizzy…’
Exhausted, she sat on the ground without strength. Her eyes remained fixed on the food, but her hands couldn’t move.
“Is this because you’re hungry enough to faint? Here, I have enough food.”
Instead of hitting her, he offered her food. She looked at him warily; she wasn’t used to strangers’ kindness.
‘How wonderful, the smell of meat…’
She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling her stomach twist with hunger.
“So, you want me to feed you myself?”
The man approached with wide strides and tossed a piece of meat and bread into her lap.
“Eat, before you become food for the crows.”
“Thank you.”
Freya, heedless of shame, devoured the food greedily.
She nearly choked and pounded her chest with her fist repeatedly.
“Take some of this.”
He tossed her the wine jug.
She sipped cautiously, finding it bitter yet sweet.
“Small, but you know the taste of life.”
The man laughed as he watched her taste the drink. She couldn’t laugh.
‘The world is spinning…’
Her limbs slackened, and she collapsed onto the grass.
In her dream, she saw her dearest loved ones facing danger one after another.
The castle was ablaze, and she wanted to save them but couldn’t.
“Lus! Lottie! It’s dangerous!”
She screamed as she woke, finding herself in a rough cart swaying on the road.
‘A cart? Why am I here?’
She was lying on a pile of hay and gripped the wood to sit up.
Her head spun, and vomit surged from her mouth.
“Oh… ugh… ugh…”
“Haha! The little mouse is awake, then.”
The voice from the driver’s seat sounded familiar.
‘It’s the man who fed me last night.’
She put her hands on her head. She remembered nothing after the wine.
‘Did he…?’
She anxiously felt her clothes, and the man laughed mockingly.
“You think you’re a real woman? How ridiculous.”
He let out a scornful laugh.
“Thank you.”
She mumbled, feeling indebted to him.
He fed her and then carried her on his cart.
He scratched his ear with his finger and spoke as if to himself, “I’ve stained my hands with blood too much; I’m no longer fit for the mercy of the goddess Diana. Let’s call this a favor before I die.”
Freya stumbled off the cart. The loud noises around her were overwhelming. The man explained, “I’m a soldier. This place is near a battlefield. You’ll always find something to do here as a servant or a boy running errands.”
“Oh…”
She realized she had no shelter and was lost. Unable to find words, she clung to her tattered clothes.
“Then we part here.”
He turned his back after a brief hesitation.
A strange thought crossed Freya’s mind: to live by his side and serve him. He was odd but kind. But she quickly dismissed the idea.
‘He’s done enough for me.’
He didn’t look back again. She couldn’t build illusions. She bowed deeply, whispering in her heart, ‘May Diana’s blessings protect you…’
Then she turned and went on her way.
Before her was an unfamiliar land, filled with an unknown scent.
Her heart trembled slightly, but she clenched her fist.
“I’ll prove I can do this alone.”
She whispered with a serious face.
Recalling his words about being near a battlefield, she moved forward.
Small stalls lined the sides of the road. The scene was new to her, and she felt shy.
“Clothes as good as new for sale!”
“Look, it’s the sword Commander Tarik used in Vassa!”
Despite the small space, the alleys buzzed with noise. She reached for the few coins Lottie had given her.
‘I’d better buy pants.’
In a world full of men, it would be easier to disguise herself as a boy. Noticing some stares inspecting her, she chose a vendor who seemed kind and asked shyly, “I want pants.”
She spoke in a faint voice. She finally managed to buy pants, put them on, and felt more at ease moving through the crowd.
“I should’ve at least asked for his name.”
The bearded man appeared in her mind, but regret was useless now.
She walked hesitantly in her new pants, her short hair feeling strange.
Soon, soldiers’ tents appeared before her, with unfamiliar banners fluttering above. Horses and carts came and went.
Her face paled.
“It’ll be okay…”
She whispered, trying to steady herself.
She saw men repairing weapons, others drinking wine, and some bleeding from wounds.
‘Can I succeed here?’
Her anxiety grew. But when someone shouted for water, a small boy rushed to bring it for a few coins. She nodded.
She was skilled at reading the atmosphere, and this work suited her.
“At least I won’t starve.”
It was an acceptable new beginning.
And indeed, before sunset, she had earned a few coins.
But the real difficulties began when night fell.
