Journey of the painter

It was a cool windy day.

As I walked through the dusty road, a series of trees alongside the road came into my view. But unlike the usual trees, its leaves were displayed in blue color. It certainly made me wonder how did that happen.

As I entered the road covered in blue-leafed trees, the wind felt less and less windy. It seems that each branch and leaf of the trees prevented the wind to went through.

As I continued gazing around—appreciating the beauty of the scenery, a silhouette crossed in my view. It was a girl, standing on a stool in front of one of the trees. For a moment, I wondered what she was about to do.

She wore blonde colored hair perfectly paired with her light blue eyes. Judging by its looks, her blue frilly dress looks terrifyingly expensive. She even had a pair of high-quality leather boots. She had ribbons on her hair, on her chest, and on the side of her skirt.

The wind blew hard, making her skirt fluttered in the air as she pulled a rope that was hanging on the trees and attempted to wear it on her neck.

...suicide!?

I had my grip loosened on my suitcase and hastily run towards the girl.

"Wait!... Stop right there..."

"...?"

The girl looked at me confused as I halted and gasped in front of her. Looking down at me from atop of the stool, she furrowed her brows and looked away in a distance. "W-what do you want from me? If you're asking for the direction of the nearest town, just follow the road and you will arrive there in no time. B-but... If you're asking for money, I... I'm afraid I don't have even a single copper," she said with a soft voice. Unexpectedly, from her looks, she's too talkative. She looked like a doll, actually.

"No, I'm sorry. It seems like I made a mistake and thought you would hang yourself in the tree. This road has breathtaking scenery, it's such a waste if there's a dead body hanging on one of the trees, right?"

At this point, I sounded like I cared for the scenery more than someone tried to kill herself. Well, anyway I just tried to humor her.

"No, you're not mistaken. I tried to hang myself in these trees."

"...!" I paused before I spoke again. "Eh, what do you me—"

"Lady Anastasia!? Oh gosh, I knew you were here again. The Lord is looking for you, you must start to prepare for your debut tomorrow. Oh gosh!"

Just before I finished my words, a maid, in her early 30s, came running towards the girl just like I did earlier, but it seemed she had a different reason from mine. She had drops of sweat falling on the side of her forehead. Her hair that certainly used to be neat and presentable was now looked horrible. The hem of her maid uniform was also in horrible shape, the same goes for her boots.

...Lady, huh... I knew she some kind of noble...

Instead of answering, the girl stretched her hands towards the maid, and without asking any question, the maid reached it. She supported the girl to get off her from the stool and without paying attention to me, they lost in my sight.

That was the weirdest thing that happened to me this morning.

*

After I arrived in the town, I first tried to look for an inn while waiting for the one who sent me here to this town.... Didn't I say?... I was a traveling painter, my job is to be sent to god-knows-where and painted the god-knows-who that hired me.

"... But supposedly, I should be going straight to my god-knows-employer's manor and started my work but they said that they will just send someone to pick me up." I sighed. "And I am obliged to live in their house until the work finish. This work is too hard for me... Chloe."

Sighed.

Without much things to do, I decided to settle the inn finding for later and just wandered around the city. Large buildings with red roofs filled in my view. On its edges, hang a piece of colorful fabric. Beneath it was various stalls selling various useful and useless things...especially, the door opener gloves. Just a pair of white gloves used to open doors; wear them and open the door by yourself...charaaan!!!

"...But it's unexpectedly selling well than I expected. Maybe I would try to sell one in the future."

"Oh, Little Miss!" Suddenly a man called me.

...Little Miss? Excuse me...? He kind of pisses me off, hence, I left him hanging his hand in the air as though trying to reach me.

"Wait!... Beautiful Young Miss!"

"Yes!?" I answered immediately. It wasn't as though I answered him because he called me beautiful, I just thought it was such a rude thing to ignore people.

He stood in his small wooden stall. Judging by his frame, he's in his late 40's with a well-built body.

Apple vendor, huh... It wasn't suited for his look.

"You're a traveler, right?" he asked, looking at the luggage in my hand.

"Yes, I am..."

"No wonder why you look strange to me."

"Huh..." I would just assume that he said strange in a good way.

"Want to buy some apples, Beautiful Young Miss?"

Beautiful Young Miss...? For some reason, it sounds like music to my ears.

"No, thank you. Anyway, this place sure is lively. Is this place always like this?"

Indeed this place was a market but unlike the other market I had visited before, this place was rather like a festival. There were even strange things hanging on the edge of the stalls.

"Right timing, Beautiful Young Miss. The Young Lady will celebrate her eighteenth birthday tomorrow night, and so the whole town," he said, crossing his arms. "For your question, it's not always lively in this place. To be honest, this market was silent as dead when there's no occasion. It sure is like a deserted place, ha ha hah." The man, as he reminisced the image of this place on its regular days.

"...Young Lady?"

Suddenly the happenings this morning flashed in my memory.

"Mister, is this Young Lady of yours has blonde colored hair?"

"Oh, that was the rumor said."

"Rumor?"

"Yes!... Nobody has seen the face of the Young Lady, that's why we praised her like a diety. There's always a festival whenever her birthday came around like this. Certainly a blessing!"

"Huh..."

It seemed the girl from earlier and the Young Lady is the same person. No wonder why she wants to hang herself.

"Anyway, Beautiful Young Miss, aren't you going to buy this fresh apple? They say this apple can cure any illness, especially, dental illness." He took the apple from the box and showed it to me. "See, they say the witch had blessed this apple so it's absolutely effective!"

"Excuse me?" I looked at him with a suspicious look, but his grin didn't fade on his face.

"How many would you like, Beautiful Young Miss? I'm sure it's tastes good, Beautiful Young Miss. Be sure to come back again, Beautiful Young Miss."

Somehow, the 'Beautiful young miss' struck back at me. I forgot that whatever he says, he's still a businessman.

"Okay okay, I'll buy three apples," I said, shaking my hands to him. "Ummm. Can I ask another question?"

"You're already asking a question, Beautiful Young Miss." his hands picking the apples.

"Y-yeah I know... Anyway, Do you know anything about the Rosslet household?"

It's better to find some knowledge about my employer before I started my work.

"What are you talking about, Beautiful Young Lady? We're already talking about their daughter, have you gone senile?"

I flinched. Senile, huh... I didn't even know that we were talking about them, in the first place!

"Ri-right..." It seemed like he already completed his mission to make me buy some apples hence, he stopped talking amicably to me.

"Here, you go!" He handed me a shopping bag with five apples. "It's my treat since it was a long time since I witnessed a beautiful young lady in person."

"Uhhh... Thanks, I guess." I'll be sure not to take his words seriously.

*

Finally, I managed to find a cheap inn near the town's fountain. When I say cheap —I mean super cheap and of course, the inside of my room looked and felt super cheap.

That's a 30 copper inn for you.

The bed was so stiff and the smell was rather bad but it was bearable— maybe for a few hours.

"Well... I just need to wait for my employer and head to their minor. I think you could call it 'The suffering before the paradise' or should I just call it a prize after staying in a hellish inn"

Well, the latter one sounds better. It's not as if it'd take a few hours or so... I'm sure they will be here in a minute.

With that, I plopped down onto the stiff creaky bed. However, I immediately regret doing that as the fog of dust immediately flew around the room.

Okay...I'm out. Without a second thought, I left the room, the creaky hallway, and the inn. Complaining how bad it was in every step I took. Goodbye, zero-star inn... Let's not meet again!

Fortunately, I didn't take my stuff out of my luggage. Of course from the start, I never had the urge to open it and displayed it in the closet that was full of wood-eating bugs. It may be sounded rude but it was the truth. Well, they should have thanked me since I wasn't bad enough to burn down the whole inn. As if someone like me could do that.

I sat down on the bench by the fountain, lamenting. I opened my purse and saw nothing but a few coins. Approximately one silver and five coppers left. The way as I go, I wouldn't last for two or three weeks...sigh... It depends whether I'd eat three times a day or two times...worse—one meal a day.

Sigh...

Speaking of money, my employer said that they would pay fifty silvers for two paintings. Can I ask them to increase their pay? Hmmm... Okay! I will say that the ink I used in their painting came from the other country and increase their payments.

Someone should praise me for how genius I am...

I took a piece of paper from my luggage and started writing false receipts.

"First, the color black ink... Maybe I'll increase its price twice the original price... Then the other one... I will say, it came from the famous witch and increase its price tenfold! And I should add, the ink would never be faded even in ten years!"

"Excuse me..."

Just as I was scheming... I mean, planning what to do on my job, a man in a black suit called my attention.

"You are Miss Stella, no?" he asked.

"Y-yeah? Who might you be?"

"Oh, excuse me. It's quite rude to ask your name without giving mine." He took his black hat off his head and placed it on his chest. "I am Rubio. I'm here to accompany you to the Lord's manor," he announced, slightly inclining his body to me.

"Oh, shall we go now?"

I stood up from the bench and dusted off my dress. Somehow, I felt like I did too many things in a short time.

"Nope, not yet."

I tilted my head, looking dubious to him.

"There's one place we should go first..." He looked at me from head to toes. It made me feel irritated.

"Oum... Excuse me?"

"Yeah... There is one place we must go first," he repeated but this time he sounded like we must go there no matter what.

I gulped, feeling restless to his gaze. But part of me felt annoyed.

"Now then, shall we go, Miss Painter?"

To summarize what happened next, I reluctantly went with him. I thought there was a carriage waiting for us but we ended up walking to the distance dress store. So he was assessing my outer look earlier? Do I look like a peasant in his eyes? Not to brag but before I became a painter I was once a daughter of two rich nobles living in a mansion, you know?

After we bought a dress that suits his passing marks— he just asked me my size and pick one without asking me if I like it—we left the store with shopping bags in my hand. I hadn't thought that we would also buy perfumes and a pair of sandals. Now, where in the world I place it after I finished my job. It's impossible to take it with me since the only thing I had was this luggage and I don't want to carry anymore else.

"You seems quite troubled, Miss Painter, is there a problem?"

"Do I seem quite troubled to you? Of course not, I just thinking why don't you help me carry these bags aha aha aha, just kidding."

"Isn't it quite rude to say that to the one who bought it for you?"

"I don't remember asking any of this."

"Well, it's necessary...so you should be thankful."

"Necessary?"

"Didn't I mention earlier? The lord's daughter—in other words, your employer's daughter will hold her debut tomorrow night, so you need to look pleasant as if you're life is in the line."

The lord's daughter?

Hearing that, thoughts suddenly crossed my mind: It just means that the girl from the blue trees lane and my employer had those connections. For some reason, I felt like anything I'd found out next wouldn't surprise me anymore.

"Well anyway, you can just throw it somewhere after you use it..." he paused, his glanced fell from my head to toes and continued, "Since it seems like you are the type of person who didn't bring anything other than her work tools and some personal clothes."

"Hey, that's rude!" If I'd say, my stuff was just fine as they were.

"Is that? Hmmm... I suppose you're right nevertheless, I was just telling the truth." He turned his back, leaving me struggling carrying the massive amount of shopping bags. "Please be hasty, you're keeping the Lord waiting."

"Urgh, seriously?" I groaned.

*

"Lord Rosslet," said Rubio and showed a brooch to the guard.

"Oh, butler Rubio, you know you don't have to show your brooch over and over again, since we all already know your face," the guard said, scratching his chin. "Oh, and who might be this lady behind you? I doubt she's your lover." He gave us a funny look. Should I gouge his eyes? No, let me gouge his eyes.

And for you butler Rubio.

If they know your face, why show your identification over and over? That way it looks like your mocking the guards!

"You don't have the rights to say anything, your only job is to confirm the identification of every person who will enter the Lord's manor, you lowly gate guard."

Oh, he's really mocking him. I should tell this to the Lord after I meet him. Lord, one of your butler bullying the other employees! He's abusing his position!

"Sharp tongue as always. As I expected from the Lord's butler."

Hey, have you gone mad? Why do you sound like praising him?

"Oh, young lady." I looked at him at his call. "You must be the painter."

"Oum, yes, why?"

"No, it's nothing. I hope you get along with our young lady well...since you know...your ages are close to each other." He smiled at me.

Oh right, I almost forgot. It had been 3 years since I embarked on my journey as a painter so I'm a bonafide lady, right now. Wow, it felt nostalgic! To think a cute young lady as I was would grow up into a beautiful lady like I am right now. Anyway, it made my heart flutter!

"Miss, what's wrong? Your face suddenly turned red, you know. Had you had an illness?!"

"My my, Mister guard, why can't you understand a beautiful lady's heart."

Drowned by delusion, I held my cheeks and swayed side to side.

"Beaut!? Haha, you're weird, Miss painter."

"Wwhua!" I got back to my senses and fixed my demeanor. Don't get carried away, myself.

*sighed.

I looked at butler Rubio as he sighed. If I were to describe his expression, right now, he looked utterly disgusted by some reason.

"Anyway, Miss!" The guard called up again. "You're a noble, right?" With his question, I recoiled. "Hahaha, and you thought I won't figure that out, you can hide the fact that you're a painter but you can't hide the color of your eyes and hair! Especially the way you like to get compliments. Anyway, it's not like I have something to say."

It wasn't like I was trying to hide my nobility, you know. But starting from now on, I should hide the fact that I love compliments.

"Ehem, are you finished?" groaned butler Rubio, looking at us as though he was waiting for something.

"As I expected from the Lord's butler, sharp tongue but considerate! Anyway, Miss, I wish you have the good luck to tame our young lady."

The guard beamed from ear to ear as we departed. He was waving his hand aggressively, I started to get worried he might tear his hand off.

*

Under the bright blue sky, a huge house, no, a mansion, could be seen. Having a large fountain in its front and a white pavilion that surely made from jaw-dropping priced marbles, it would take no experts to say it was the Lord's mansion, even a kid could tell.

The green grass danced along with the wave of the wind, not only the grass but even the blue-leafed trees' leaves fluttered as it detached from its branch and started its journey in the air. I want to take one.

Standing outside the mansion, I could hear the busy footstep inside. And obviously, a huge amount of maids were busy, walking to and fro as butler Rubio led me inside.

"Wow."

I was amazed how the maids gave their best for their young lady and couldn't hide my amusement.

"Please don't stand there, Miss painter. You're in the way," reprimanded butler Rubio and pulled me to the side by my shoulder. "Follow me."

"Fi-fine." since I'm starting to get dizzy because of the maids.

Then we made our way to the right side of the mansion. Avoiding getting bumped by busy maids and preventing myself to get in their way (not that I plan to), we finally arrived at the room where butler Rubio said I was supposed to stay. He said it to me while skillfully avoiding each maid earlier. I couldn't help but be impressed by him.

If he's not a butler, he could be the best delivery boy on this continent. Of course, I can only say this after I got bumped by tons of delivery boys, and scolded me for not looking at my surrounding. Haaa... How obnoxious, as if it's my fault!

After I entered the room, butler Rubio told me to wait for the Lord. And I would say it in advance, the first thing that crossed my mind when I entered the room wasn't 'what decoration could fit in my luggage and take it away with me.' That was just my second thought. I, by no means, a greedy person.

Actually, a certain person called me a saint a few days ago. So if ever I took a single decoration here away with me and sell it in god knows where, it was just an act of a saint—which means for the bright future of the world.

"Now then..."

Now I finished unpacking my stuff and storing them in the prepared closet. I had nothing left to do, again.

"What, should I do?..."

I opened the window by the bed and let the cool breeze entered the room. A forest of blue-leafed trees stretched before my eyes. I really do wonder how come they can grow such trees like this.

I tried to inspect the area around it if there were any mechanisms they use to grow it, but there were none.

Did a witch give them the seed?

A moment after, I'd grown tired gazing at it then started looking around the room instead.

Apart from the golden candle holder, a few golden animal decorations resting atop the fireplace, and the shiny curtains...

"Nothing could fit inside my luggage, huh..."

I sighed. And here I was, hoping I could take extra payment. *sighed.

I wasn't disappointed, I promised.

I peered upward and started thinking about how could I dismantle the golden chandelier.

Maybe I could reach it if I use my luggage bag as a stool...oh, and I could use my scraper to loosen its screws. Just like what the smart people say, 'desperate times calls for desperate measure,' I thought, then it came to me that I had no need for a lot of money.

This is...a tough one... My pride as a painter was at stake here. At this point, I was starting to think like a thief and not like a painter myself.

"..."

"Is there something wrong with the chandelier, Miss painter?"

"whua!"

Just when I was about to finish my calculation, butler Rubio asked, constantly looking between me and the chandelier.

oh, shoot!

"I knocked a few many times but no one answered, hence I let myself in since I thought you knocked yourself somewhere and lost your consciousness."

How in the world I could knock my head when the ceiling is too high!?

"No, it's..."

No excuse came out of my tongue, I just gave him a dismissive hand.

He clutched his fist and landed it on his palm. "I see...Is this how a painter collects their imaginations for their painting? By looking above?" asked butler Rubio, showing me a curious expression.

"Yes!...its...aahh...most painters do this thing...like me," I said as I averted my gaze.

whuaaaa...I'm barely safe...

I heaved a sigh of relief. Then, turned to look at him giving his blank smile. No, was it a grin?

How come he's not buying his own excuse!? How terrifying man...

"Haaa... The Lord told me that he will meet you later since it seems like the upcoming celebration makes him busier than he expected. You may try to look around the mansion...no, you should try it since it's quite dangerous to let you stay inside this room for a little longer, you know." his eyes darted to the golden animals, curtain, the chandelier, and back to me.

"Gueuh!"

"Did you say anything, Miss Painter?" asked butler Rubio, as he turned his back and tended to walk.

"I did not!"

"Well then, that's good. Oh, I forgot I have something I need to do. There's an indoor garden in the back, I suppose you could manage yourself to get there. If not, ask the maids," he said and vanished into my eyes.

*sighed

"Guess, I don't have any choice, huh..." I just hope he won't bother to check this room every time, or else I'll lose not only any choice but any chance that I could have, as well.

After a moment of contemplating, I decided to take butler Rubio's advice and headed to the indoor garden.

Of course, I needed some direction so just as the butler said, I asked the distance maid to accompany me. She didn't hesitate to help me, apparently that butler had already told the maids to help me if I needed something beforehand.

And it was a coincidence that the maid who was accompanying me was the head maid.

I asked if it was fine for her to accompany me when they were busy but she just answered with, "It's fine if it's mean I could skip some work for a second." then blinked at me.

I wondered what would be the future of this mansion was if all the maids here were like her.

"sighed..." But somehow, I felt relieved that she wasn't the strict head maid type like the ones I'd met before.

But it seemed like I spoke too soon.

She had a huge mouth though. When I said huge mouth, what I meant was she spoke too much that my ears couldn't follow her words anymore. Or rather, I'd lost my interest in listening to her since all she does is blabbering about how great his son is. She even told me that her son doesn't have any lover, right now, so I am free to make a move.

"I mean seriously, you're saying this stuff to the person you've just met?" I almost uttered those words, fortunately, I was a girl who was blessed with a lot of patience.

I was just tired of listening to her.

I sighed and pay my attention to the area instead. Compared to the area earlier, this corridor didn't have a lot of busy maids, in fact, you could count the maids here in your one hand. 3 or 4?... Excluding the huge mouth head maid.

They all had a cleaning tool in their hands but they didn't do anything but chatter.

Butler Rubio look 3 maids of yours were skipping work and just gossiping about something, I complained but since that butler wasn't here I just kept it to myself.

"..."

I was lost for words when my eyes peered around the walls.

From the very top to the very bottom, all walls were covered in frames with a picture of a lady. Most of them were of average size but the one that caught my attention was the gigantic painting settled right in the middle of the wall where it was surrounded by the smaller ones.

As I said, it was a painting of a single lady. She was calmly sitting on a leathered bench with a purple shawl wrapped around her. Her blonde hair was as bright as the morning sky, decorated with blue ribbon on the side. As for her eyes, they could be compared to the pale sapphire. The lady wore an obviously expensive frilly blue dress, with ribbons, as well.

Hmmm, somehow I feel like I saw this girl before...

"The lord must be cherished his daughter so much, huh..."

I mumbled as I analyzed the paintings with the same lady painted on them.

"...what? You must be joking, Miss painter."

"..." I didn't answer her.

You're going to spout about your son's achievements again if ever I continued to talk to you...

"Anyway, it's still a beautiful painting..." I mused as I examined it closely.

"What? Did you say something, Miss painter?"

"No, it's nothing."

Too persistent.

"Is that so? I thought you were talking about the paintings. They were all created by a single painter years ago...if my memory serves correct, 20 or 25 years ago, the time when I was new here. I heard they cast magic upon those painting to prevent them from discoloring or something... I don't know, I'm just a mere maid at that time."

20 years?!...

"Hey, when you say 20 years—"

"Oh, we're already here, Miss painter. Well then, I should bid my goodbye and go back to work, or else I'd get lectured by butler Rubio again. Not that I don't want to get yelled at by a handsome youngster again, but still," she said and went back to the hallway, skipping.

"..."

"Well, that was weird."

At least, now I know why she was enthusiastically talking about her son. Apparently, she had a thing for youngsters, hopefully, that didn't go for her son, as well.

"Oh well."

I shifted my glance from her weird skipping to the door in front of me and held its knob.

Now then, let's see what their indoor garden looks like. There must be a ton of valuable decorations here or else, I might as well burn this place.

"Just kidding."

*

The sun rays passed through the glass pane and met my eyes, I squinted. There was no roof and only the huge glass protecting the garden from the rain and withered leaves fallen from the distance blue-leaved trees.

So they turn into purple when they withered, huh...

The interior of the garden was rather spacious, one could say that its size was more of a house than a normal garden. There was a rectangular vase lining up on each side. I was too tired to count how many they were but none of them have empty vases. Some of them were residents by roses of different colors but most of them were inhabited by weird blue-leaved flowers, though its flowers had different colors than its leaves.

The flooring was made of a series of red bricks. And as I continued weaving my way to the center I saw a fountain made with white marble and benches leaning against the side of the fountain. I looked closer and noticed that there was no water emitting from the center of the fountain. Apparently, it was out of service for a long time ago.

"Well, then...excuse me kya!"

As I was about to seat on one of the benches, I stumbled into a girl. It seemed like she entered the garden a few hours before me since she had an empty cup of tea in her hand.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't notice you." I let out a troubled laugh.

"..."

"Ummm, by any chance, did I offend you?" I bowed my head several times while saying, "Sorry." to her. I learned it a while ago, everything would smooth out if you lower your head. Of course, as a noble such deed as this was taboo since we had names and pride on our shoulders, but what could I do? it was too troublesome to argue with other people.

"..."

She tore off her eyes from me and instead looked at the flowers.

Eh, perhaps she didn't hear me. Wait, this girl...

I glanced at her from side to side and peered at every angle. I might look like a lecherous fat noble by the way I analyzed her features but I assure you, I wasn't. Oh, I think I know her.

"Perhaps, you're the lady of this mansion? What's your name again? Aahhh eeehhh," I greeted, though there was no part of that sounded like a greeting. Personally, it was still a greeting.

"I know I heard it earlier..." I pierced my index finger to my temple and massage it circularly.

"Oh," I exclaimed. I can't remember...

She sighed and stood up from the bench. She held the sides of her skirt, slightly lifted it, and bowed at me, giving her curtsy.

"Anastasi Sia of the house of Rosslet. Pleased to be your acquaintance."

Her introduction was too heavy for me. I suddenly remembered the time I was in my home and not doing anything except noble works. You know...greeting other nobles—younger and older than me, having a tea party with them, boasting about our wealth, etc.

Likewise, I gave my curtsy.

"Oh, oum. Stellari... " Just then I hesitated and remember that my family was still on the hunt for me. "'Miss painter' should suffice." Since I don't have a plan to stay here longer than I intended to...especially when there's a people like butler Rubio who was constantly suspicious of my presence.

"I see. Miss painter..." she muttered as though she lost for words.

I tilted my head and looked at her in confusion. Probably just my imagination, I thought as I brushed off the ideas that suddenly crossed in my mind.

I sat down on the bench next to her and gave her a furtive glance.

A daughter of the large town's lord. Living in a huge mansion surrounded by greenery and weird blue-leaved trees. She must be loved by his father since she had a hundred of her portraits hanging on the hallway, as though the very hallway was made solely for her. Then, why did she attempt to hang herself in the middle of the road? Certainly, it wasn't for tree advertising, it would be a rather flashy(?) way to promote blue-leaved trees as a suicidal spot.

She must be dealing with something heavy...

Regardless, if I were here, I would simple drawn myself into this mansion's luxury and forgot all my problems. Not that I was trying to infer this to her. Of course not.

"Umm..."

"Yes, what can I do for you?" I immediately answered.

No one knows what would happen if I got too close to this lady. Perhaps, the Lord would provide me with my daily necessities if I became his daughter's friend. Benefits come first.

"You were just staring at me too intently. To be blunt, you make me uncomfortable."

"Oh, am I? This is just normal for me, though. Don't mind me." I let out a bashful laugh.

"But I do mind it. Please stop it or else I'll have the guards escort you outside our estate."

"Oh, okay..." I guess, too much friendliness would hurt me.

"Thank you for understanding."

I tore off my gaze on her and instead looked at the surrounding. My nose tickled as it picked up the scent of flowers and dirt. Though there was no water flowing from the fountain, I could still feel the humidity in the air.

"But it would be perfect if this fountain is still working..." I mumbled in disappointment.

If someone would offer me to live inside this garden, probably I'd accept it. Of course, only if they provided my needs. I crossed my arms and nodded.

"It was working up until a month ago..."

I was startled as I heard a small voice beside me. Lady Anastasia stood up from the bench, took a breath, and left me alone in the garden.

Up until a month ago, huh...

I wondered what had happened a month ago but thinking about it, why would I bother racking my brain for the thing that happened in the past?

"...Right," I mused.

Well then, time to search for valuable decoration in this garden...

I stood up from the bench only to be halted by a young maid. Urgh, what a nuisance. Just when I was about to look for extra income.

"Oh, she already left?" She looked at the bench that was previously occupied by Lady Anastasi (Know what Anastasi should suffice or sia it was a lot shorter than the latter one.)

She was pushing a mini cart containing trays, cups, and teapots. I supposed she was here to refill Sia's tea. Her hair was braided and tied to the back, obviously, it was to prevent her brown long hair to get in the way. And then her gaze fell on me.

"Oya? Who might you be?"

"I'm...erm, The lord summoned me here to paint the young lady. Feel free to call me Miss painter."

"Oh, you are the rumored painter, huh..."

"Rumor?" I haven't heard anything about that, though.

"Forget it, I knew it wasn't you the moment I saw you. You know, rumors could be exaggerated sometime, huhuhu," she giggled weirdly. Now it felt like most people in this mansion were weird.

Rumors, huh... After hearing this, something tickled inside me. Oh well, it wasn't like I want to hear it...I promised it wasn't like that, but hearing a part of it wouldn't hurt, right? It was about me, after all. I had a right to hear it.

"Oum, what're these rumors say?"

"Oh, that's...one time you burn an inn because you found a single bug and then..."

"..."

"You scooped up lots of money from your employer and..."

"Huh..."

"The day after you left their estate, lots of expensive decorations were gone missing, and then...you often found..."

"Okay, stop."

"But there's a lot more..."

I walked hastily towards her and grabbed both of her shoulders. "Listen...as you said, rumors could be exaggerated sometimes. People spreading these rumors are the worse, but you know what's worse than these people?"

"People who got easily flustered when they receive a compliment?" she answered with an innocent face. Seriously, what's wrong with the maids here?

"That's wrong. It is the people who believe and got control by these rumors."

"Oh, I see. Now I understand what you are talking about."

"You should not believe those rumors... Oh, thinking about it, is it also the reason why Sia's acted like that?"

Is there someone spreading rumors against her that made her want to die?

"Rumors about Lady Anastasia? Oh, I think there is one but it only circulates within this mansion. I don't know if it's true, though."

Oy oy, butler Rubio, one of your maids is about to tell me a rumor about your young lady, are you really the butler of this mansion or just another decoration?

"You see, Miss Painter..."

And then, the maid told me the story that took place several years ago.

*

Once, there was a beautiful lady living in this town. Her flowing hair was as bright as the sun and her eyes were mostly similar to a mineral called "Lazulite". She often witnessed wearing her favorite purple shawl and a blue frilly dress containing lovely ribbons.

Even as a commoner, the lady had a certain beauty that made a lot of men crawl just to get her heart. But among these men, the person who took her heart and received her love was the successor of the Roslet family—who was now, the lord of this town.

After they married, they lived in this mansion. The Lord cherished his wife the most. He gave her everything she wanted and everything she needed. He even bought seeds of blue leaved trees from a merchant—even it caused him a lot of money—because the color of these blue leaved trees was completely similar to the color of her wife's eyes.

—I see, so that's why there's a lot of blue-leaved trees in this town.

—I'm not done yet, Miss Painter.

—Ow, why did you hit me?!

—Punishment... Anyway...

They lived happily and even received news about the lady's pregnancy. The Lord was overjoyed about his news and even threw a party in his manor. However, that's where all the problems started. His wife and his daughter died. His wife didn't survive in laboring and perished along with the infant inside her.

—Wait, how come she didn't survive? Oww!

—Okay, I don't want to tell anymore.

—No, please. I'll be quiet, I promise. Please continue.

—Siiiggghhh, then.

Days and nights, the Lord spent his time doing nothing but crying and drinking alcohol. That was where the economy of this town fell and a lot of people suffered in famine.

Most of the maids at that time decided to leave this manor and work in the neighboring towns hence, the Lord was left alone, and his depression got even worse.

One day, the tears stopped and the only thing left was an empty vessel. He decided to end his suffering by hanging himself on one of the blue-leaved trees that he and his wife grew. But while he was standing on a stool with the rope around his neck, a little girl approached him.

She wore ragged clothing that exceed the size of her body. Her skin was pale and her body was rather thin as though she hadn't eaten anything this last few days. The Lord froze. Not because he was touched by a filthy child but because he saw the appearance of the girl. Flowing hair as bright as the sun, and a pair of pale blue eyes.

Then the tears started to flow again and, a light suddenly formed inside his dead eyes. And then he hugged the child and took her to the mansion. Little did anyone know, the Lord planned to raise her like his wife.

He always told her to dress like his wife thus, the only thing she wore was a blue frilly dress with ribbons and a purple shawl. The Lord also told her to like the likes of his wife and acted like how his wife acted when she was alive.

And then when the right time came, the Lord would marry that girl and live like his dead wife.

*

"So, what's you're thoughts about it, Miss Painter?" the maid asked me with her hands on her back.

"What do I think about it... It's a great story if you ask me and a tragic one."

"Right? That's when we came into this solution."

"Solution?"

"Tomorrow, while the people are busy. We will sneak Lady Anastasia out of the mansion and let her live free outside this prison! Great idea, right?" She raised his thumb to me.

I was left dumbfounded. I hadn't expected to hear that thing from her. What's happening inside this mansion? Wait should I use this opportunity to gain more fortune from the Lord? I just need to leak a little information to him and...

Wait, letting Sia live free alone outside the town? You're just tossing her aside!

"Oh, you said 'we' then that means you have another accomplice, right?"I asked, hoping for more information.

"...Right, he's busy right now. But I know you already met them a while ago."

"Did I?"

"Yes, since they are the butler and the gatekeeper of this mansion. Oh, and the butler is the one who brought up the plan to escape Lady Anastasia from this place."

"What the..."

So, you are the mastermind behind all of this, butler Rubio!

*

The following day, I decided to leave the mansion for the meantime and strolled around the town. Though I already saw much of this town yesterday, it wouldn't hurt anyone if I looked for the place that I hadn't seen before.

Fortunately, I got to see the Lord yesterday night. Looking at him, no one would think that he had a plan to marry the girl he'd taken to his mansion. According to the rumors, of course.

After talking to him, sipping tea from time to time, I went back to the room they provides for me and took some rest. Since this night would be a very busy night.

I agreed to help Sia escape from the mansion. At first, I was a bit reluctant... No, scratched that. Considering there was a huge probability that the lord would compensate me if I leaked some information—not to mention, the risk of helping them—it surely gave me a tough time to decide. But of course, the kindness inside my heart overwhelmed my desires, and I ended up taking part in their plan. It was all because of my kindness and not the money that the maid offered to me in exchange for my participation.

"Well then..."

I looked around and noticed that there were a lot fewer residents in this area. The roofs faded their colors and were now covered in ivy, some of them were already fell apart and some were scarcely hanging onto their life. The wall had sprouted by grass from each crack and it wouldn't take long for them to completely become rubble.

I wondered why in the world there was a part like this in this town.

"Well at least if things go west, we could use this place as an escape area," I mused as this idea appeared in my mind.

I turned my back and glanced over my shoulder at the place one more time. Now, it gets me curious.

I sighed and gradually left the area to find some information, and I found the one who could provide me some on a small stall in the town's bazaar-like location.

"Oh, if it isn't the beautiful young miss!"

I heard the same voice as yesterday. It came from a muscular man in his late 40s. His voice was as though he was trying to make me buy apples again.

"Good day, Mister apple vendor."

"You're here to buy some apples again? Right timing, they delivered these golden apples earlier. Oh, and..." He left his stall and stood next to me. "Don't let anyone know this but, this apple can make you look younger and can give you healthier skin!"

I pursed my lips and looked at him with dead fish eyes. I'm sure this is one of his marketing strategies.

"You sure?" I asked, furrowing my brows.

"Probably." He just grinned and went back inside his stall.

"As I expected." I let out a sigh and picked up the golden apple he was talking about.

It was color gold as its name stated but... I lightly scratched the surface and saw the secret inside. See... I looked at him disappointedly.

"That golden apple was delivered and made by a witch so there's no doubt that it had some amazing effects!" Seems like that effect made you think like a rat.

"A witch, huh..."

"Why beautiful young miss? You haven't met a witch before? Well, there are only a few witches in the world so I guess you haven't. That's too bad, beautiful young miss." Once again he flashed his white pearls to me. What are you bragging about there?

In actually, I had met a witch before. An annoying, troublesome, and wearisome one. Still, I respect her.

"What are you grinning about there, beautiful young miss? That's gross." Wanna get your face cleaved in half?

"Anyway, I've been meaning to ask this—"

"Sorry, I already have a wife and a daughter, beautiful young miss. I'm afraid I need to turn down your confession."

"..."

Yeah, this town is hopeless.

I shrugged it off and went back to my original intention. "Well, while exploring the town, I ran into a ruin earlier."

"Ruin?" He had had his hand on her chin in contemplation and then, "Ah, you're talking about 'That' alley, right?"

"That alley?" I knew it was too dumb but I had no idea why I repeated his words.

"It has no name or rather they simply erase its name. That's why we called it 'That' alley." He explained.

"I see. So, I just want to ask how come there's a place like that in this town. I mean, based on the ivy creeping over the broken walls and roofs, I assume it is there for a long time ago."

"That of course, the Lord leave it like that. He announced not to touch or even go to that place. That's a prohibited place, you know."

"Sorry, I don't know."

"Don't forget to use your brain sometimes, beautiful young miss." How in the world I'd know this? I'm not even a resident of this town, you dork!

"So, what happened in that place?"

"Famine, young miss. I know it takes place years ago when Lady Roslet died. Do I need to tell you about this?"

"No, that much is enough." Since I already heard the rest yesterday.

"Then since you're already here, why don't you buy some of this golden apple. 10 silver each."

"That's too much!"

"It came from a witch and it is covered in gold, what too much about it? Plus its amazing effect, It is a reasonable price!" Guess, it greatly affects his way of thinking.

"Sorry, I don't have that much money. I'm going to head home for now." I also need to prepare for the escaping plan this evening.

I turned my heel and tended to leave, but just then I heard his next offer.

"How about I tell you something interesting? Would you buy some of these apples?"

I looked at him over my shoulder, brows furrowed.

"...what is it?"

I'm sure it is just one of his marketing strategies but guess I will just run away if it is just unusable information.

"Have you heard about the legend of the blue-leaved trees?"

*

The night had come and the whole town was going wild. No, really, they were all gone insane as they drink their booze, shouting, singing, and dancing like a madman. Evidently, if someone tried to sneak into their home, they wouldn't notice it. Why...you ask? Since they were all busy celebrating the birthday of Sia outside their houses, putting some tents, tables, etc.

Honestly, I was pretty impressed by how they managed to trouble themself just for one night of celebration.

That night, I had met up with butler Rubio with the maid and proceeded with our plan.

Fortunately, a lot of guests who traveled from distant towns attended in the part hence, a lot of maids and guards were located at the main hall.

Since butler Rubio had to accompany the Lord until the party ended, we(?) decided to let him do the 'Keep the lord busy plan', and the rest of the plan, which was abducting ah erm...letting Sia escape from the town plan fell to me and the maid.

To be honest, this was the hardest part of the plan since we would be dealing with a lot of guards.

I sighed as I entered Sia's room. As I expected the maid was already there and it seemed she already told Sia our(?) plan. She seemed good with it though. Maybe. Anyway.

Since most of the maids were busy attending to every guest at the party, we smoothly paved our way out of the mansion. As for the gate, we didn't have any problem since that guard was also part of the plan.

"Good luck to the three of you!" the guard waved his hands to us as we walked away from the Lord's manor.

Somehow, I felt like there was no thrill in our escape Sia plan.

I walked quietly next to her while the maid was on the other side, humming.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I whispered to Sia who was calmly walking.

"..."

I supposed that was a yes.

Just then I heard a loud voice from the mansion. It seemed like there was an ordeal that happened inside, I thought as I watched a large portion of guards stream from the manor's gate.

"Give back the lady!"

"Where are you taking her!"

"Stopped right there."

Oh, it seemed like they were yelling in our direction.

"Oh..."

Then, I realized they were coming after us. I supposed became too careless since we got out of the mansion without any problem.

"Run!"

Grabbing Sia's hand, I started to run as though there was no tomorrow.

After a few left and right turns, we lost the guards. For the second time, I felt like there was no excitement in this plan. Not that I help because of that reason, I was just kind enough to help this poor lady of that mansion.

At the end of the road where I first saw the blue-leaved trees, butler Rubio was standing there with a bouquet in his arm.

Just then I realized: Waaaa, this wasn't an escape plan but an eloping plan. I felt like I got scammed by this butler. Where is the butler Rubio that I know? Where's that sharp tongue butler!?

This was the first time I felt this disappointed in my entire life. Okay, not the first time but still...

I watched the butler and the young lady of the Roslet Family hug each other with a dead fish eye. Who would think this was how the story end? For a second a felt a disgust sprout inside my spine.

"So what are you going to do now?" I cut in before the thought of kissing entered their minds.

"Oh, I forgot you're there, Miss painter," said butler Rubio with his head turned to me. Why don't you pull your arms away from Sia first?

"Oh yes, I'm here, you blind butler."

"Bad mouthed as always," he shrugged and gestured to look at his right.

There were four sacks lying on the road.

"So, what's that?"

"Take one and open it, that's my payment for your help."

"Oh, payment! Why didn't you say earlier? Ohohoho," I laughed, hand to my mouth as I approached the sack.

"What in the world?"

I don't know if I would be happy or I would be disappointed at the things I saw. Inside the sack, there were tons of golden decorations, evidently from the Roslet mansion.

Oh, that's why he was cautious that I will take the decorations... Seriously, where's the dignified butler I'd met yesterday?

"You look unsatisfied. You don't want it?"

"No, I will take it."

"That's good to hear."

Just then, thoughts came into my mind.

"Oh, right. Sia why did you try to hang yourself when I first saw you?"

Her gaze darted around before it stopped to me. "Because...it would be romantic?"

"..."

"How about you, miss painter? What are you going to do now?" asked butler Rubio, still his hands around Sia's waist.

"Oh, me? Don't mind me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, thanks for your concern."

"I'm not concerned, though."

"...anyway, I need to go back. I forgot to pack my things so..."

The three looked at each other in unison. They seemed confused about how would I enter the minor after things that just happened. Ultimately, they sighed and embarked on their journey, leaving me alone with the blue-leaved trees.

"Now, then..."

*

The ordeal seemed to calm down outside as I entered the Lord's office. It was the same place where we talked yesterday. The room was rather cold and the only source of light was the glow of the moon streaming through the window. After I settled my luggage down at my side, I plopped on the couch, cupping my knees with my hands.

On the table in front of me, there was a cup of tea. It was still hot hence I dutifully brought the cup to my lips and took a sip of it.

"Are you sure about this, Mister Roslet?"

I glanced at the man who was standing at the window, looking at the guards surrounding the mansion.

"Sure about what, Miss Painter?"

"You let them get away. To be honest, it was too easy. I worried they might notice that it was all intentional," I said and brought the cup down to the table.

"Was my plan too shallow for you?"

"Sort of. Anyway, it felt like I didn't do any painter job even though I'm a painter myself."

He lightly laughed, then back to his usual serious tone.

"Hey Miss Painter, have you already heard about the legend of blue-leaved trees?"

"Yes," I answered.

"And your thoughts about it?" He looked at me over his shoulder.

Just like what I commented after I heard the rumors about Sia.

"It was a great story...and a tragic one."

*

A long time ago there was a little girl blaming herself for the death of her mother. Every day she watched her father cry and wail, there were also times that the said father tried to kill himself.

As she grew up, she noticed she was starting to look like her mother hence she decided, to atone her sin(that she believe she did, even though not) she would live like her mother and tried to cure her father's heart.

At first, everything was going well. Her father was under the illusion that her wife's death was nothing but a nightmare. The girl was very happy to see her father's eyes glowed again, that was until her father had begun to get obsessed with her.

The girl couldn't sleep at night because of the pair of eyes watching her from the dark side of her room. She just shrugged it since she thought her father was just alone or rather, afraid of losing her wife twice.

One day as she was taking a nice bath, her father suddenly entered the room, trying to assault her. Even though the girl pretended to be her deceased mother, that wasn't mean it was fine to do such things as his father wanted. As she struggled from his father's grip, she lost her footing then, accidentally hit her head on the side of the tub, leading her to her death.

His father froze, looking at the body of the girl that he thought his wife. As the blood gushed out from the girl's head, his father realized that he'd killed his daughter.

That same day the girl was buried at the back of their house, letting no one know about her tragedy.

She only wanted to see her father's smile once again but who would think this would happen in the end.

Years had passed a mysterious plant sprouted at the place where her body was buried. That plant had a peculiar appearance to the other trees in its surrounding.

*

"And that was it. But still, I couldn't comprehend what's happening inside your town."

"This town was originally full of secret, Miss Painter."

Instead of secret, it felt like there was a ton of rumors and legend inside this town that made the truth buried.

"Do you wanna know what is the truth, Miss Painter?"

He turned to face me. I could scarcely see his face because of the shadow covering his front. I contemplated for a second and ultimately shook my head.

"No, it feels like I will lose my path if ever I heard the truth."

Curiosity kills the cat, after all.

"Is that so? What a shame."

"What are you going to do now, Mister Roslet?"

I couldn't see his face clearly, but I saw the outline of his mouth smiled.

"That's a secret."

*

Months later and I was inside an inn, secluding myself inside the room. My back hurt from sitting for hours and my arms were rather tired, painting on the canvas in front of me. Next to me was an opened newspaper, lying on the table. Its content told about a certain Lord that was imprisoned by the King's soldiers. His hand was tied in heavy metals and he wore ragged clothing. No one would notice that he was the Lord who employed me a few months ago.

I stood from the stool and stepped back slowly, looking at the whole view of my painting.

It still feels something is missing...

"Oh, right."

I brought myself close to the painting and changed the certain woman's frown into a smile. After I finished, I threw my paintbrush into a distance and let myself fall to the floor. Just now, all I wanted is good sleep.

Deep inside my heart, something was still missing. But I still didn't want to learn what was the thing.

Resting on a canvas a family of three could be seen. It was a portrait of the former Lord, his daughter, and his wife resting in the middle of the forest of blue-leaved trees.

Exhausted, a sharp light passed through the window and met my eyes. I stood up and dusted off my clothes.

"Now then, let's go to another job."