Saving The Abandoned Empress

41 “Tomato Stew”

Eleanora’s POV ~

After bidding away from the emperor, i didn’t stayed a single second in the imperial palace.

‘I don’t want to bump into him.’

Am still not prepared to face Cathain yet. I get into my carriage and start to head towards the duchy.

As we passed through the forest connecting the outside of the imperial palace, buildings gradually appeared.

With my back leaning against the backseat of the carriage, I looked out the window at the exotic and different scenery.

As we headed towards Central Square, the number of buildings and people gradually increased. 𝙛𝚛𝙚ewe𝗯𝓃𝗼ѵ𝚎Ɩ.𝒄ｏ𝐦

‘Everything is exactly the same as the past... it’s just me who is changed...’

Suddenly i wanted to go out, walk alone. Maybe this could help me with my suffocating feeling.

.....

I took out the dark blue magic stone and changed my appearance with it.

Now once again, my silver hair is blonde and my eyes are now common light blue coloured.

“Stop the carriage.” I ordered the horseman.

“My Lady...? May i ask where you are going?” The horseman was slightly stunned seeing my fake appearence.

“Go ahead, I will come back on my own.”

“...Okey, Be safe. My lady.”

Hearing my answer the horseman hesitated for a moment before he politely nodded and headed to the duchy.

After being alone in the road, i felt very happy and clear in my mind.

I walked on the roads, bought street foods that i have never touched in my past lifetime.

Then i went to a small restaurant located a bit far from the square.

The interior was quite cozy in accordance with the wooden exterior. There were not many tables, and there were only a few people.

‘Phew, I think I’m going to live a little now.’

I felt like i was going to be sandwiched between the crowd of people i passed before coming here.

‘But somehow this doesn’t feel that bad.’

As I entered the restaurant, i felt someone’s gaze watching me; but i can’t find out who it is.

I stopped thinking about unnecessary things and looked at the menu, tapping the table with my fingernails.

Tomato stew, pork roast, chicken leg meat... Have I ever read a menu like this and chose something to eat...?

And eating with other people like this...

I always eat alone in my previous life, Whatever the chief used to cook, i had to eat it.

They always cooked according to Cathain and Jena’s preference; not mine.

A light smile came out from my mouth, without me realising it.

‘How pathetically i have lived, in my past...’

But then i was having a hard time to choose because i knew nothing about foods!

And moreover i don’t know how to order!

It’s my first time to visit a resturent like this and that too all alone.

“The tomato stew here is excellent.” I heard a boy who had light blue eyes and blonde hair like me; saying out loud.

The teenage boy raised his hands and a waiter came to him and took his order.

‘Is this how you order?’

I tried to copy him and raised my hands too.

Soon another waiter came to me and took my order too.

A few moments later, my dish was served at the same time along with that boy.

The tomato stew was really excellent.

Unlike the duchy and the imperial family meals, it tasted more like home made meal; full of warmth.

I felt a relaxing peace of mind here. There was still some tomato stew left on the plate. But i didn’t felt like eating anymore.

I called the waitress for bill the same way the boy did and left the resturent to roam around a little more.

I decided to take a walk along the quiet promenade behind the square.

It was a quiet and sparsely populated promenade, so it was enjoyable.

While walking on a bridge with a river flowing under the promenade, I stopped.

Holding onto the railing, I held out my head and looked down at the flowing water.

The water was so transparent that the ground was clearly visible.

I could even see the fish swimming from above.

“Lady, if you fall then you won’t die but you will be badly injured.”

I was stunned after hearing the voice that suddenly came from behind.

I almost tripped but thank god i was holding into the railing.

It’s the tomato stew boy from the resturent!

“I’m holding onto the railing.”

“I can’t even trust the strength of your grasp.”

“...”

He isn’t wrong as am still sick and my mana is still recovering.

I flashed my hands off the railing and took three steps away from the bridge. The boy let out a heavy sigh as if satisfied.

“Can i go now if you are satisfied?” I asked the boy and his lips curved up.

It wasn’t the usual gentleman’s smile, as his eyes were folded and his lips were smiling... no, that was a villain-like smile.

“Are you new here, lady?” The boy asked and i looked at him with wary eyes.

“What does that have to do with you, Mister?”

I said and he looked stunned. Maybe because i called him mister that we only use to address people at least ten or more older.

I didn’t wait for his answer. It’s not safe to stay with a stranger as am weak and sick now.

I walked back to the square and sat on a bench. But then i suddenly heard a child’s voice.

“I-I’m sorry!! Just once... Forgive me just once!!”

A desperate child’s voice echoed in my ears. The screams were so mournful that they could be heard clearly even through a wall of people. The eyes of the crowd were focused on one place.

Wondering what was going on, I approached the crowd. The owner of the voice sat down on the dirt floor.

Seeing that there was a lot of dirt all over her face and body, it looked like she had rolled all over the floor.

A man stood opposite the muddy little child. The man, who was wearing a colorful costume that couldn’t find harmony in the colors, had a deep frown and held a cane in one hand.

Rather than using it because of old age, it seemed to be a popular trend in noble society these days.

“Forgiveness? Forgiveness! How dare you talk about forgiveness in front of me! You almost scratched the carriage!”

There were whispers in small voices all around. 𝑓𝒓𝚎e𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯𝘰𝐯𝒆𝑙.c𝚘m

The girl kneeling in front of the arrogant nobleman trembled. It seemed that the girl almost got hit by the carriage.

“Gosh... Oh my gosh... Somehow, he got caught by such an aristocrat...”

“How could you run so fast in such a crowded place?”

‘But one has to slow down in crowded places. It’s even written in clear words in our imperial law.’

‘What should i do? I can’t use my mana powers that much, but it’s still enough to draw out a sword... but my identity would be exposed...’

‘I don’t know... help... should I?’

I didn’t know why the dark sides of the world were unfolding right before my eyes these days.

.....

It was a very annoying and tiring situation where I felt very bothered to step up.

But then my back bumped into something strong and hard.

I looked behind and my expression become irritated. It’s the tomato stew guy again!

“Do you know who that person is?”

I asked him in a low voice, and he shook his head without replying.

I put it off and fixed my gaze on those two again. The man’s cane was making a menacing noise above the child’s head.

The trembling little child crouched every time the cane passed over his head.

At the very pathetic sight, the people around them only shouted, “Oh gosh!”

I felt disgusted. Can’t they help them instead of just standing and watching?

I shook my head as i know i can’t ignore this and looked up at the tomato stew guy.

“If he swings that stick at me, you better block it well!”

I don’t know why, but i felt like he will save me; i can trust him. That’s right, I should prepare a backup before attacking.

The image of a child with a trembling body, being hit with a cane over his head was something I couldn’t bear.

“H-Huh? What are you trying to...”

Before he could finish his sentence, i walked towards the center of the crowd.

A noble hitting a person of lowly background because of a scratch.... I guess this situation is very common.

But i can’t just standby and watch like them.