Garden Of Poison-Chapter 210: Differing thoughts

Music Recommendation: 72 Degrees and Sunny - Thomas Newman

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One week passed in the Storm Kingdom, and during this time, Emily recovered her health, and her mood had significantly improved, though it had not completely returned to the tranquil state she once enjoyed. She explored the kingdom’s towns alongside Julius, but they were never alone, as they were chaperoned by her maid Julia and Westley, whom Julia found to be unnerving.

"You are becoming quite adept at playing the sheet of music without my help, Lady Emily. I am confident that soon enough, you will be able to play much more complicated pieces," Julius said as they strolled along a town street.

Emily waved her hand dismissively and said, "I’ve only managed to learn two pages."

"You do not have to be modest with me, Lady Emily. You are far more talented than most women could ever hope to be," Julius complimented her.

Contrary to being modest, the truth was that Emily was wholly dedicated to her piano practice. While she had indeed learned a lot from Julius, when it came to the piece she was working on... the fact remained that she eagerly returned to the piano every chance she got, often needing to be reminded that she needed to sleep rather than spend all her waking hours in the castle’s piano room.

The weather was decent enough for a leisurely stroll in town, allowing them to avoid the muddy patches that marred certain parts of the road. As Emily’s eyes scanned through the passing crowd, she suddenly caught sight of a brawl erupting in one of the alleys they were about to pass along their way.

"Those men are at it again," Emily heard Julius comment beside her. "The men from Deathfall are always causing trouble and don’t know how to behave themselves."

Emily’s eyebrows furrowed, and she asked, "Is Deathfall located nearby?"

Julius nodded before replying, "Yes, this town, South Warren, has the misfortune of being connected to Deathfall, which is situated right on its outskirts. I am surprised you have heard of it; it has quite the negative reputation, doesn’t it?" He let out a soft huff, his face wearing a frown.

Emily didn’t nod or offer a response right away, given that she had quite a bit of fun during her time there. She then said, "Surely it isn’t as bad as people believe it is." Her gaze returned to the three men engaged in a fight, with one of them drawing a knife to attack. She watched as one of the men was stabbed and started to bleed. "Shouldn’t we intervene? Someone is going to get seriously hurt," she said, her tone tinged with worry.

"If we get involved, Lady Emily, it would only escalate the situation," Julius cautioned, shaking his head. "Perhaps we can alert the officials, but I’m afraid it won’t be of much help. These people are roughnecks and lack proper decorum. Deathfall is a rather filthy place and not something you should concern yourself with."

"You are one of the king’s officials, though," Emily pointed out, referring to Julius’s role in recruiting men who worked at the base. "I believe it is just a matter of differing points of view," she murmured.

Julius’s eyes returned to the young and beautiful woman beside him. He smiled at her as if she were a child, someone seemingly unaware of the harsh realities of the world, and stated, "I have lived here for a long time, which is why I can assure you that these incidents won’t stop. When one brawl ends, there’s always another that erupts elsewhere. It is simply their way of life. There was once a time when two officials ventured into their territory, and their bodies were all that returned. Lifeless."

Emily recalled how Janelle had mentioned the town being unwelcoming to people of a higher status, but maybe there was a valid reason for it. She asked him, "And what happens when the people from that side of town enter this side?"

"Nothing much. They are typically forced to go back. I mean, if you observe closely, they don’t belong here." Julius’s response left Emily feeling disheartened, as his words echoed the sentiments of many other men who flocked around her in the past due to her higher status. "How about we continue our stroll?" he politely proposed, and she nodded in agreement.

As they continued to walk, Julius noticed that Emily had gone quiet. Growing nervous that he might have upset her, he attempted to clarify his words, saying, "I would have shown you firsthand what I meant, but the people there are uncouth and uncivilised. I don’t believe it would be to your liking."

Emily pursed her lips and questioned, "You once experienced a difficult life too, didn’t you, Julius? I just find it surprising that you find it hard to empathise and help someone who is dying right before your eyes. If I were on that side of town and dying, would you not help me?"

"Of course I would, milady. You are a lady, and they..." Julius looked as though Emily had not fully grasped the point he had been trying to convey until now. He paused his steps, and she did as well. "There are people who get kidnapped and dragged into it when they get involved. It’s a mess. I will report what we witnessed to the officials to put your mind at ease."

Emily nodded and said, "I would appreciate that, Julius. I will be here, looking at the shops."

She watched as Julius left her side, crossed the street, and made his way towards where the officials were stationed. Emily heard her maid ask her curiously,

"Princess Emily, are you evaluating Mr. Ardolf’s fighting skills?"

"No," Emily replied, her gaze fixed on the figure disappearing into the distance. She was evaluating his integrity. She turned to Westley and inquired, "Is the town truly as bad as people claim it to be?"

For a brief moment, Emily believed Westley might remain silent and would simply continue to stare at her. But then he replied, "Both sides have dirt on them. Neither one is clean. A lady stepping in there would lead to violence in many forms." His warning was subtle.

"It did look scary," Julia murmured, as if she were recalling the recent scene with the stabbing and the injuries they had witnessed.

"And... what is the King’s opinion on the matter?" Emily asked Raylen’s trusted servant, who stared back at her with his pale, gaunt face.

"He believes in preserving the heritage of the Storm Kingdom, maintaining a balance between the rich and those of the lower class. Diversity of life," Westley answered in a monotone voice, as if he were tired of his life. Then, with a touch of pride, he added, "Hell has a lot of residents from Storm Kingdom."

The servant was as good as his master, Emily thought to herself. As she glanced around, she decided to enter one of the nearby shops that sold pins and brooches. While still standing before the window of the shop, she suddenly heard a male voice say,

"If it interests you, I can buy the entire shop for you."

Emily’s eyes rose and shifted to the side, where they landed on Marshall Travis, who wore a smug expression. Her expression immediately turned guarded, the sight of him leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

Not wanting to waste her breath on the man, Emily was about to walk around him and leave when he blocked her path, prompting Westley, who stood at a distance, to become alert. A glare quickly formed on the princess’s face, and she calmly stated,

"It seems that a slap wasn’t enough to bring you to your senses."

Marshall’s eyes narrowed, and he said in a low voice, "If it’s from you, I would be more than happy to take many more just so I can tell people how desperate you are to find a man. And it seems you are quite determined to find reasons to touch me."

"I don’t believe you know the difference between a woman’s loving touch and the one used to remind you of your place," Emily responded, glaring at the man responsible for tarnishing her reputation within the kingdom. Even though she had been introduced as Raylen’s relative, people regarded her as if she had a disability and was someone they should consider only as a last resort. "I wouldn’t be too surprised if that is all you’ve ever known, considering your churlish behaviour and your lack of respect for women."

Marshall appeared offended for a split second, but then he chuckled, as if he couldn’t wait to continue dragging the woman’s reputation through the mud until she begged for his attention. Suddenly, he raised his voice, startling not only her but also everyone else in the vicinity as he exclaimed,

"Of course, I will marry you, Lady Emily! I mean, I must take responsibility for what we did. It would be strange to have the baby out of wedlock."

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