Revisiting Galle Village
THE NEXT DAY, I gathered up the Galle Gold Leaf that I’d grown and set off for Galle Village once more.
Sirius, Mirach, and Miaplacidus joined me as my bodyguards, while Lukbar—who had taken the day off—tagged along. Since Lukbar wasn’t a member of the royal guard, he wasn’t permitted to officially join us; however, he really wanted to come too, so he made time in his schedule to tag along.
Miaplacidus hadn’t joined us on our last trip to Galle Village since he was being punished for his role in a personal quarrel, but he was coming this time because he’d also expressed a desire to join us. “I don’t know where my one true love might be,” he’d announced brightly. “I’d love to travel to different places and meet different people.”
I truly hoped he’d find someone special soon, but…
“Even if he finds his future wife in Galle Village, it might be difficult for him to make her like him back…” I mused coolly, watching Miaplacidus excitedly make his way into the village, his sword tucked at his waist.
Miaplacidus reminded me of how I was during my last visit. Coming to Galle Village empty-handed and expecting to win someone’s affection was a clear sign of not understanding the nature of the villagers. That’s why this time, I was perfectly ready.
Not only did I have the Galle Gold Leaf—something the villagers wanted more than anything—but I’d brought along some Galle Red Leaf I’d cultivated as well. Yup. I was more than prepared for those souvenir-loving villagers.
And it seemed as though my efforts paid off. When I removed the cloth that hung over the basket and exposed the Galle Red Leaf and Galle Gold Leaf inside, a roar went up from the villagers who had gathered around.
“What?! Could that be…?!”
“No way! I haven’t seen it in almost twenty years, but that has to be Galle Gold Leaf!!”
The villagers crowded around me, trying to peek inside my basket with unrestrained curiosity. Thrilled to see their interest in the medicinal herbs I’d grown, I carefully handed the leaves one by one to the villagers, telling them they were souvenirs.
But it didn’t take long until I realized they only wanted the gold ones. When I offered them Galle Gold Leaf, the villagers eagerly reached for it, but as soon as I offered the red ones, they pulled their hands back. I didn’t get it. Galle Red Leaf was also a wonderful herb for treating injuries…
However, both the red and gold varieties I was handing out were still unprocessed. They didn’t have any medicinal effects in their current state, so I couldn’t honestly promote it as “an excellent medicinal herb” at this stage. In any case, when it came to the Galle herbs, I was sure the villagers were far more knowledgeable than me.
Before I knew it, villagers who had heard the rumor that I was distributing Galle Gold Leaf began to pour out from all directions, entirely surrounding me. After taking out about ten leaves for Mirach’s family, I handed the basket and its remaining contents over to Miaplacidus.
“Miaplacidus, we’re going to Mirach’s house. Would you mind handing out these leaves in the meantime?”
“Leave it to me! Distributing these leaves might be the key to my destiny! If I do, then you, Princ—I mean, Lady Seraphi would be my own personal cupid!”
Miaplacidus was still getting used to calling me “Lady Seraphi” to protect my identity like Sirius wanted. It was hard for him to lie because he was so honest and upstanding. He had so many good qualities, so I truly hoped he could find his special someone soon.
Leaving him to the task at hand, the rest of us headed for Mirach’s house.