Chapter 83

Chapter 56 The Road

The cold city was bustling in the morning. Crowds of people bustled through the streets and alleys, each busy with their own affairs.

I stood in the midst of the crowd, bewildered, as if I could still hear the caws of the ravens above my head.

Just then, someone walked past me. I hurriedly called out to them.

“Um… Hello.”

“Oh, noble lady, hello. Is there anything I can assist you with?”

“Do you know where Powell Street is?”

“Powell Street? Hmm… I haven’t heard of it. Does this street exist in the cold city?”

“It should… be there.”

“…Sorry, I’ve never heard of that street…”

“Oh, thank you.”

Tap tap tap tap.

I ran over in my little boots to the two chatting old ladies across the street and tugged at their sleeves.

“Hello…”

“Oh my, what a pretty little girl! Where did you come from… Oh my goodness, black hair!”

“Um… Do you know, Powell Street?”

“Powell Street? I haven’t heard of it… Are you from the Lord’s household?”

“…Yes. Could you please tell me…”

“Wow, such beautiful hair! What’s your name, dear? Can we chat? Let me tell you, my boy is quite handsome!”

“Um, sorry for bothering you.”

“Are you living in Santel Castle? Do you have hundreds of servants to attend to your every need… Oh, don’t go, I’ll introduce you to my son—”

I escaped to the street side again.

“Uncle…”

“Oh! Noble and beautiful lady, allow me to offer you my highest praise.”

“…No need for formalities. Could you tell me where Powell Street is…”

“Powell Street? I’ve never heard of it. I’m sorry, I can’t help you… But do you need a knight? One who can take on ten.”

“…No, thank you.”

“Don’t refuse so quickly. I think you’re not aware of my capabilities.”

“Really, no need…”

“…Is that so? It’s a shame. Being able to protect such a beautiful lady like yourself would be a great honor… I live on Michael Street, not far from Santel Castle, in the smallest house. I hope you can bestow upon me this honor~”

“…Goodbye.”

…

Clang—

I kicked the lamppost beside me.

I had already cursed Edward a hundred and eighty times in my heart.

I had asked twenty people. Yes, exactly twenty.

None of them knew where that damned street was.

I had been wandering around the city for a long time, so long that I didn’t even know where I was anymore. The sun was already high, and there was little time left until our meeting.

I even began to suspect he had deliberately misled me, giving me a non-existent address just for fun.

Or maybe he was just stupid.

Could it possibly be me who was stupid?

Just as I was at a loss, a clear child’s voice came from behind: “Oh? Is it a noble sister!”

I turned around and saw little Elie standing there, looking surprised.

“Elie! How did you end up here?”

“I came to buy some things… Sister, what are you doing?”

“I’m… Oh right. Do you know where Powell Street is?”

Originally, I didn’t expect much and asked casually, but to my surprise, Elie immediately replied, “Powell Street? I know it.”

My heart leaped with joy.

“You know it!”

“Mm… Why are you so happy, Sister?”

“I asked many people, but no one knew…”

Elie laughed, her little mouth pouting, and she showed two dimples, looking cute and adorable.

“That’s natural, Sister. Everyone here is wealthy, Powell Street is in a distant slum, no one would know such a place. You asked the right person!”

“…”

I gently rubbed my forehead, keeping my face expressionless while cursing Edward for the hundred and eighty-first time in my heart.

“So, how do I get there?”

“Mm—, it’s quite far. Shall I take you there?”

“Elie, aren’t you busy?”

“I have nothing to do. Helping you is enough!”

After a moment’s thought, I nodded.

“Then, thank you.”

Elie smiled at me again and took my hand, leading me forward.

“Sister, why are you going to Powell Street? It’s very dirty, not like somewhere you’d usually go…”

“I’m… looking for someone.”

“Looking for someone?”

Elie tilted her head, her small face full of confusion.

“Mm.” I responded, not wanting to continue this topic, and asked her instead, “Elie, what are you buying here?”

Hearing this, Elie lowered her head slightly, smiling shyly.

“I want to make myself a beautiful dress…”

“A dress?”

“Mm. There’s a tailor shop on the other street that’s very famous for its craftsmanship, but it’s a bit expensive…”

A bit expensive?

I tilted my head, then unfastened the purse at my waist.

The purse was given to me by the Lady, made of silver-white silk with a crescent moon embroidered on it, very delicate.

I took out two Warren gold coins and handed them to Elie.

“Is this enough?”

Elie was startled and waved her hands frantically.

“No! Sister, I have money. The Dean gave it to me, and I’ve already paid, so I just need to pick up the dress in a few days.”

I turned my head to the other side.

“Then, let’s buy something tasty?”

“Sister…”

Seeing Elie trying to decline, I opened her tiny hand and placed the coin in her palm.

“This,

“It’s for you. It’s for everyone to buy snacks.”

There was a hint of bargaining in her words.

Eli, being young, didn’t quite understand the ways of the world. Her little head couldn’t come up with a proper reason right away. She probably felt that accepting it would be inappropriate, and returning it seemed impolite as well, so she just held it tightly in her hand, looking utterly bewildered.

I found it somewhat amusing, so I added, “Don’t secretly spend it.”

She immediately became serious, “I won’t!”

In the end, she still accepted it.

After a while, a smile reappeared on her face.

“Sister, you’re really nice. You’re different from any noble I’ve met before. Those people have their noses stuck up in the sky! Nobody treats us like human beings… but you, Sister, are truly noble.”

I slightly shook my head.

“I’m not noble.”

“Lying… Sister has black hair and black eyes… how wonderful~ to still be willing to talk to someone like me.”

Eli raised her head, the longing in her eyes tugged at one’s heartstrings.

How old could she be? Not twelve yet? Yet she already understood her own insignificance.

Fate is always unfair.

“… Eli, why were you… there?”

“Hmm? Sister means the orphanage?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm—, actually, I did have a family. They lived far away. My parents treated me very well. Unfortunately, bandits came to our village later, they stole food and even killed people. They all died, but they didn’t kill me… maybe because I was too young, they thought I would die anyway if left alone. Later, nuns from the church saved me… or was it monks? Anyway, quite a few of them. I was very young then, and I can hardly remember it now.”

After she finished speaking, she waited for a while but didn’t hear my response. Perhaps sensing something odd, she lifted her head to look at my face.

“… Sister, don’t be sad! I’m living well now! Really… Oh, by the way, I have some good news to tell you!”

Looking at her flustered but unusually earnest little face, I relaxed into a smile.

It was her own matter, yet she was comforting me instead. Truly…

“What, good news?”

“Do you know why I made new clothes?”

“Why?”

“Because I’m going to the royal city!” As she said this, Eli’s eyes were full of longing, and she excitedly clenched her fists and waved them twice, “Do you remember Mr. Charles?”

“I do.”

The one who was full of contemptuous remarks, leaving a deep impression.

“He’s coming next month, and this time, both Lucas and I were chosen! We’re going to Cataloma!”

The little girl suddenly walked ahead, hopping along the edge of the path, looking very adorable.

Cataloma, I remembered it was a place set up by the church to nurture talents. In other words…

“Eli, congratulations.”

“Giggles! I’ve already planned it out. Once I get there, I’ll definitely practice diligently with Sister Teresa and become a holy nun in the future!”

“Eli, want to be a nun?”

“Mm-hmm!”

The little girl turned to face me, stepping back with her hands behind her back.

“In fact… don’t laugh at me when I say this… I want to be a holy maiden… I want to pray to the gods, so that every child like me in the world can have enough to eat. This is my dream… hehe.”

She scratched her cheek with her finger, her smile pure and innocent.

“Eli, amazing.”

“Hehe.”

Hearing my praise, Eli lowered her head rather embarrassedly.

Snow had just cleared, and the sun was shining brightly.

Two figures, big and small, moved in front of each other, passing through countless alleys, from prosperity to decay.

The air was filled with a faint stench of decay. The shabby houses were patched up, some even lacked windows. The elderly woman sitting at the door had cloudy eyes, like withered branches.

…I had never been here before, and I didn’t know that even the cold city had such places.

Rather, such places were everywhere.

“Sister, what are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.”

“Oh, by the way, Sister, I still don’t know your name.”

Hearing Eliya’s question, I pondered for a moment and gave her a slight smile, “Pei Yiluo.”

“Huh?”

Perhaps my voice was too soft. I looked at her face again and repeated.

“My name is Pei Yiluo. Pei Yiluo Guiniwei, the Winter Moon.”

“Ahh…”

Eli’s emotions were stirred, and she clenched her fists tightly.

“Sister, you really are from the Winter Moon clan, how impressive! This is the first time I’ve spoken to someone from the royal family!”

“Winter Moon. Nothing, impressive.”

“Really impressive!”

The little girl wanted to show her admiration for the Winter Moon clan but didn’t know how. She danced around for a while, but her expression suddenly turned nervous.

“Pei Yiluo Sister, can I consider you a friend?”

I laughed and reached out to touch her head.

“We are friends.”

“Hehe.”

We passed through another old street.

“Sister, I feel so happy.”

“Why?”

“Well, because… the gods said… the gods said something… Oh, right, they close one door but open a window. That’s what it means! Sister, look, now I can go to Cataloma and meet you. I think fate seems to be especially kind to me.”

A breeze blew past, lifting her long hair.

“Eli, you must be happy. Keep working hard.”

“Mm, my goal is to become the Holy Maiden… Sister, we’re here.” She pointed to a dilapidated alley ahead, “This is Powell Street.”

I frowned, the stench of decay could be smelled from afar.

Taking a deep breath.

“Thank you. Eli, go back home.”

”