Grete’s expression momentarily twisted noticeably. She didn’t know why, but the old woman’s overly ingratiating manner was discomforting.

Feeling as if everyone passing by was staring at her, Grete looked around nervously, trembling with sudden unease.

“I’m just trying to go there. A relative lives there.”

“A relative?”

The old woman’s mouth opened even wider. Grete trembled in fear, feeling as though that gaping black mouth would swallow her whole. A foul smell, typical of itinerant people, wafted from the old woman.

“Heh… A relative, you say you have a relative there?”

Grete wondered why the old woman said such a thing, but part of her didn’t want to know… She wanted to leave this place immediately and return to the territory of Count Balterminster! She had a strong premonition that something terrible awaited her otherwise.

The old woman said, “Alright, you can go then. But you’ll have to pay for the directions. You’re a girl from the territory of the Count, curious folk will subtly approach you, won’t they?”

Only then did Grete realize why the old woman had been eyeing her so closely. She hesitated, almost running away, then changed her mind. She searched her pocket and found a copper coin.

Snatching the money swiftly from Grete’s hand like a seagull snaring a chick, the old woman immediately returned to milling about amongst the people on the street.

As the old woman’s gaze withdrew, relief washed over Grete, and she found the strength to walk again. Avoiding eye contact with anyone, she headed towards where the old woman had pointed. She had to find the triangular sign… Her head was spinning from the stench wafting from the market.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Grete’s body swayed forward, tilting. People who had stepped aside expecting her to fall whistled in disappointment when she managed to regain her balance. Grete looked at her left shoe. The heel was half off.

“Just when I don’t need this to happen…”

She tried to reattach the heel somehow, but to no avail. With no other option, Grete dragged her left foot as she hurried along.

The detached heel followed her step, making a ridiculous noise. Click, click, click…

She passed alleys filled with dilapidated houses with worn-out doorknobs and pillars. The further she went, the older and more dilapidated the houses became.

Some looked like they were made of haphazardly piled wood, and the unknown plants by the roadside were not as fresh as those in Count Balterminster’s territory.

Some had brown spots on their leaves, some were bent, and some were half-burnt at the edges.

“Th-the triangular sign…”

Grete mumbled to herself. Oddly enough, that sign was standing in the middle of the road. Birds occasionally perched on it and then flew elsewhere. Grete checked the note one more time. Negrian 744th Street. The fifth house from the third alley.

She looked at the westward alleys. The entrance to the third alley from the sign was narrow and gloomy, as if one might never come out once entered.

However, Grete walked in. Her hatred and desires led her in. Her anxiety and fear were powerless in front of her overwhelming emotions.

Ariante held Meiana’s hand, humming a tune as they skipped across patches of tangled weeds. The leaves provided deep shade, and the earth smelled fragrant.

“Mushrooms!”

Letting go of Meiana’s hand, Ariante dashed off and squatted down under a tree stump, giggling. A few thin-stemmed, round-capped mushrooms stood atop the roots of a tree that were exposed from the ground.
“Can I eat this?”

“The princess doesn’t eat mushrooms, you know.”

Ariante pouted her lips.

“I don’t like the slimy texture. It has no taste.”

“So should I grill it for you next time? It’ll be delicious that way.”

“Then grill this!”

Meiana approached Ariante with a feigned serious expression. She stared down at the mysterious mushroom and spoke.

“But you see, Princess, you can’t just eat any mushroom, can you?”

“I know. There are poisonous ones. But this one doesn’t look like a poisonous mushroom.”

“What does a poisonous mushroom look like?”

As if saying, ‘Don’t you even know that?’ Ariante smugly lifted her tiny nose.

“Poisonous mushrooms can be red or black. And they have weird spots.”

Meiana opened her eyes wide and mockingly applauded.

“How do you know all this, Princess? You seem to know everything.”

“You’re the one who knows too little. One should naturally know about poisonous mushrooms.”

Having shown off quite a bit, Ariante seemed to lose interest in the mysterious mushroom. She began to hum an indistinct tune as she walked away.

A faint smile crossed Meiana’s lips as she followed. It was adorable how quickly children could forget what had interested them just moments before if their attention was redirected.

The winding forest path finally ended. When a space appeared that was large enough for a couple of kids to run around, Ariante suddenly started running, laughing loudly. Children run around aimlessly when they find a space to play… like puppies.