Chapter 117
Chapter 117: Small Talk on the Path
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"Peylo."
After blinking and softly saying my own name, I saw Theresa's lips curve up again.
"Peylo..."
She murmured my name softly once more, as if savoring it, then said: "It's a beautiful name. Where are you from? Cheliers City, Winter City, or Erenburg?"
"Winter City."
"Oh... I haven't been there much."
As we turned past that towering bell tower, sunlight poured down. Finding it somewhat glaring, I squinted like a little cat, and Theresa, noticing this, thoughtfully raised her hand to shield me.
My heart warmed a little, and I gave her a sweet smile.
Sister Theresa must be the kind of woman who's very good at taking care of people.
Then I saw her smile back at me: "Are you getting used to living in the royal city?"
"Mm." I tilted my little head up and nodded lightly, "It's very beautiful here."
She laughed even more brightly.
"How does it compare to the wind, snow, and full moon of Winter City?"
I tilted my head and thought for a moment.
"They're both beautiful. Different moods, no comparison... but the meat is roasted much better here."
Due to regional differences, in Winter City they roast almost everything over high heat, using only salt and bay leaves for seasoning. The meat tends to be somewhat dry with a heavy flavor, mainly meant to go with drinks. But the royal city is different. People here know how to enjoy life better, and the chefs use various spices to enhance the flavor when roasting meat, making it much tastier.
"So that's why you're holding that huge lamb leg?"
"Hahaha—!"
At Theresa's words, Sarah and Sophia laughed loudly, showing me no mercy, and even Daisy couldn't help but giggle, secretly covering her mouth.
My face flushed, and not knowing how to defend myself, I could only lower my head and play ostrich.
Seeing my undisguised embarrassment, Sister Theresa quickly added: "Sorry, I didn't mean to laugh at you, I'm just a bit curious... um, how are you planning to finish it?"
"I can finish it..."
The words that came out were as thin as thread, so quiet I could barely hear them myself. I felt so embarrassed.
"Waste isn't a good habit." Theresa said gently.
"Mm."
I responded sheepishly, then suddenly remembered what Sophia had said this morning and looked up to ask: "Teacher Theresa, are you the director of Cataloma orphanage?"
Then I saw her freeze for a moment, looking somewhat surprised, before blinking at me.
"Yes. Not many people know that... who told you?"
"I told her." Sophia said quickly, "My father is Jerome Rodney Jasslyn. I heard him mention you..."
Theresa nodded in understanding: "Ah, you're Viscount Jerome's child... He oversees the northern district, which has improved quite a bit in recent years. Your father is a very good person."
"Thank you for the praise, teacher. Father is just fulfilling his duty, and I'll work hard to follow his example."
Having received Theresa's recognition, no matter how much Sophia tried to appear composed, the trace of pride in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Theresa laughed again: "Then do your best."
"I will." Sophia said firmly, then asked, "Teacher Theresa, do you really like children?"
"Yes." Theresa nodded with a light laugh, "The children are all so adorable, especially the orphanage children, every one of them is so sensible it breaks your heart... but sometimes they can be naughty too, and I always worry about them."
As she said this, her sapphire eyes sparkled with a touching luster.
"Teacher Theresa."
I called out to her, and Theresa turned her gaze to me.
"Why doesn't anyone know you're the orphanage director?"
After I asked this question, for the first time, a somewhat troubled expression appeared on Theresa's gentle face.
"Well..." She furrowed her brows, and her originally warm smile became somewhat helpless. After a while, she sighed softly: "How should I put it? It's not that no one knows, it's just that no one really cares... unfortunate children always lack attention, which is somewhat troubling."
Mm, about the same answer I expected.
I remember the carriage guard saying that Cataloma's location was near the church district, yet, few people went there. In other words, even though Cataloma has been continuously providing the church with fresh blood, the nobles of the royal city don't care, because there's no profit in it for them.
Even though this city still worships the divine, even though the peace and prosperity they now enjoy is because the church has protected this place with "Divine Relics" for hundreds of years.
"Teacher Theresa. Is there a little girl named Ellie in Kataloma?"
"Elle?" Theresa thought with furrowed brows, "Ah, there is a little girl named Elle, she came not long ago... I remember she seemed to have been sent from Winter City..."
"Mm. She's my friend."
Theresa looked at me with surprise.
"Friend? You two... you're also from Winter City..."
Suddenly, her eyes lit up: "So you're the princess living in the big castle that little Elle talked about?"
The princess living in the big castle? Uh... is that how Elle described me...
Switching the lamb leg to my other hand, I raised my hand to scratch my cheek: "Although it's not quite like that... I think she means me."
"Peylo, you have friends at the orphanage too?"
"She's a gentle child... hehe."
Having lived in the royal city since childhood, Sarah was already accustomed to the nobility's indifference toward the disadvantaged. Hearing this now, she looked at me somewhat incredulously. Even Daisy, who had been so nervous she'd been silent since earlier, spoke up. Only Sophia's focus was somewhat different.
"Princess in a big castle? Peylo, you..."
Before she could finish, Sarah interrupted: "How did you two meet?"
"Well..." I tilted my head and thought about it, but still felt I shouldn't mention the guguo grass here, "By chance."
"So it really is you." Theresa laughed happily, "I remember little Elle saying you told her you'd come to the royal city to find her... she's going to be so happy now."
"Mm." I nodded.
I'll go visit Cataloma on the next rest day, and have a private chat with Teacher Theresa then.
Carlos must have already told her the news, right? Maybe she's already started investigating secretly.
But she probably doesn't have experience dealing with heretics... perhaps I can help.
The walk was short, and soon Teacher Theresa escorted us to the entrance of the tower, then said goodbye and went to the academy's church. Back in the dormitory, I immediately sat down on a chair, opened the kraft paper, and started gnawing on the huge lamb leg. The meaty aroma filled the air, and after just two bites my mouth was full of grease, leaving Sarah dumbfounded.
"...Peylo, what about that little puppy you mentioned?"
"You actually believed that?" Sophia rolled her eyes, "Even a monkey would know that was a lie. The little puppy is her, isn't it?"
"No, of course I knew it was a lie... but you're really eating it all yourself, such a waste... does anyone have a knife? Cut me a piece!"
"Mm-mm!"
I immediately turned my body away, giving Sarah my back.
"Um, need a knife? I have one here."
Daisy said softly, rummaging through the cabinet by her bed for a while before producing a finely crafted dagger, which Sarah immediately snatched away.
"Do you want some?"
"No thanks, way too greasy." Sophia said with a frown, walking over to open the window, "...the whole room reeks of lamb, can't stand it."
Despite saying this, she walked over and sat down beside me, her expression serious as she spoke.
"Peylo, do you know who that Alex is?"