If I Don’t Get Married I’ll Die - Chapter 38

Lhasa was an old woman with a tan face and many wrinkles.

 

She looked over 90 years old but her hair, which curiously looked like a nineteen-year-old’s, was full and pitch-black.

 

Even though her back was bent, she was very tall like a Lonheimian, so from a distance I thought that a girl was coming to meet us.

 

Lhasa welcomed us.

 

It seemed that she also did not know that I was the imperial princess of Arental, but unlike Vihar, she welcomed me with an attitude that didn’t seem to care at all.

 

After seeing Lhasa’s hospitality, the Uttar chieftain and the people of the tribe became at ease and exchanged greetings with me.

 

“God sent me to you.”

 

Lhasa spoke politely to Kalius.

 

Kalius looked as though he knew what she meant.

 

“What did God want to tell me?”

 

“Let’s get inside and talk.”

 

A secretive tone.

 

Kalius turned to me.

 

“Stay at the chieftain’s dwelling with the others. I’ll be gone for a while.”

 

“Yes I’ll do that.”

 

Brentian tactfully approached me and led me to the chieftain’s house.

 

The mobile home of the Uttar people, called Kerr, looked just like a round cake when viewed from the top of the hill.

 

The house, which was made by layering animal skin on a wooden frame and fixing it with a rope, was wider and warmer than expected.

 

Even after nearly twenty people from our party entered, there was still space left, so the Uttar tribesmen came in together and sat in a circle around the hearth in the middle.

 

“To bring Her Highness the Imperial Princess in such a shabby place.”

 

Vanessa babbled from the side.

 

Rather than saying something out of concern for me, it seemed like she was saying it because she didn’t like it.

 

Vanessa was uncomfortable sitting on the floor without a chair, so she hunched her shoulders to minimize contact with the furniture stacked on the wall.

 

Vanessa’s attitude made the Uttar chieftain feel embarrassed.

 

“I apologize for bringing a precious person like you to such a shabby place. Please know that I wish to treat you well as our guests.”

 

I imitated his gentle smile, imagining what Kalius would have done.

 

“Not at all. I am grateful to you for being so welcoming despite my sudden visit.”

 

The people of the Uttar tribe whispered something in a nomadic language that I could not understand.

 

Seeing them glance at me, they must have found what I was saying strange.

 

The chieftain smiled brightly at my grateful words and offered us warm milk drinks—a mixture of butter and milk—which was said to be made from a mountain goat’s milk.

 

It was a unique milk drink with a rich, salty and savory butter flavor.

 

“What is this?”

 

Vanessa sniffed and frowned at the unfamiliar food.

 

Brentian whispered impatiently.

 

“To nomads, salt is more precious than gold. They’re giving us their best treatment, so please don’t be too much.”

 

At this point my face is burning.

 

Vanessa’s attitude was humiliating, and it infuriated me.

 

‘I can’t tolerate such loose behavior from the maids just because I’m trying to be careful of what Kavala would think.’

 

I know they are Kavala’s maids, but to others, they would think that they were mine.

 

Whether I liked it or not, the four maids, including Vanessa and Lamia, represented me.

 

I scolded Vanessa for being rude.

 

“Vanessa, you’re embarrassing me. Even animals know how to be grateful, so why are you only complaining?”

 

Vanessa looked stunned as I accused her of being less than an animal.

 

“No, what did I do…”

 

However, seeing that not only me but everyone else was staring at her sharply, she soon shut her mouth. She likely realized that no one here would stand by her side.

 

I took a sip of the steaming milk in my mouth.

 

“…..”

 

A great flavor spread in my mouth.

 

As soon as I drank the warm drink, my frozen body instantly warmed up.

 

“My head feels clear now! I’ve had a splitting headache since earlier.”

 

Lamia, who was by my side, whispered to me.

 

She quickly finished her cup, seemingly conveying that she liked its taste and asked the Uttar man next to her for a new one.

 

“Indeed.”

 

As Lamia said, after drinking the beverage, symptoms of my altitude sickness, which were a stuffy chest and a throbbing headache, improved a lot.

 

“Do you like the taste?”

 

At the chieftain’s question, I smiled brightly and nodded.

 

“It’s delicious! Can I have another glass?”

 

“As much as you like.”

 

The Uttar people relaxed and laughed when they saw that I liked it.

 

Seeing me and Lamia enjoying the milk, the other maids looked at each other then also sipped the drink quietly.

 

“Delicious……!”

 

“It’s nice.”

 

Vanessa sat sulking at the maids’ reactions, then stormed out.

 

The people who saw it burst into laughter.

 

Laughing together with an embarrassed face, I inwardly swallowed a sigh.

 

‘It’s crucial that the maids are trained.’

 

While Kalius was talking to Lhasa, I had a great time being treated with respect by the Uttar tribe.

 

I don’t know why, but somehow, it felt like I was back in my hometown even though I was in a strange place among strangers.

 

***

 

At that time, Kalius was sitting across from Lhasa with a roaring fire in between them.

 

“My King, the precious thing you have been looking for for so long is at hand.”

 

Her voice trembled with age, but her conviction came through clearly.

 

Kalius raised an eyebrow.

 

“Something precious that I’ve been looking for for a long time?”

 

Lhasa smiled brightly.

 

“God doesn’t tell me everything. He’s the only one who knows everything. But since you are a party to this prophecy, you will be able to understand for yourself what God is saying.”

 

Kalius wondered, though it had crossed his mind that Lhasa might be talking about the lost relic.

 

The holy relic his mother guarded must be with Kavala.

 

“Are you sure it’s close?”

 

“I am only delivering God’s voice.”

 

“I understand. I don’t doubt you. I’m just wondering because it’s different from what I thought.”

 

“Life is full of surprises that exceed expectations and plans.”

 

Lhasa smiled softly and continued, whether or not she could tell that Kalius’ mind had become complicated.

 

Her words that followed further deepened Kalius’ worries.

 

“Cultivate vigilance, my king. Doubt and doubt again. As the precious thing got closer, so did the enemy.”

 

“Is that so.”

 

“Your enemy has already thrown a dagger aimed at your throat. You must be able to distinguish who is the enemy and who is your ally.”

 

Lhasa’s prophecies were not intuitive, so he found it difficult to understand.

 

Lhasa gently advised the troubled Kalius.

 

“You need not fret. As long as you don’t forsake God, everything will become clear in time.”

 

She got up from her seat extinguishing the flame by covering it with sand.

 

“Shall we go back to the group? The chieftain has prepared dinner.”

 

“I am always indebted to you.”

 

Lhasa raised her black, wise-looking eyes and looked up at Kalius, who stood up with her.

 

“You are our King. No matter what happens to the world, we are your people, so those words aren’t right, they’re not right.”

 

After speaking sternly, she stepped out of the Kerr at a slow pace, holding on to her cane.

 

***

 

Kalius and Lhasa returned not long after they went away.

 

Lhasa, who entered the chieftain’s Kerr, raised her deep eyes and looked at our party one by one.

 

Then she hit Brentian on the shoulder with the cane in her hand.

 

“What’s the matter, Lhasa?”

 

Brentian, who was suddenly beaten while sitting, looked up at the old woman as if it was unfair.

 

Lhasa clicked her tongue.

 

“You think too much. Even with enough wisdom, if you have too many thoughts, you may chase after the wrong answer and miss the right one. Stop thinking and use that time to run one more errand for your master.”

 

Brentian, who is a close aide to Kalius, is a nobleman with considerable influence in Lonheim, but Lhasa was unstoppable.

 

She seemed to only be courteous towards Kalius.

 

Brentian grumbled, looking like he was used to Lhasa’s attitude.

 

“Lhasa always nags at me a lot. You’re only harsh on me.”

 

“Yes, because your skills are too precious to waste.”

 

It made me laugh involuntarily because they looked as friendly as the grandmother from the countryside and her grandson that I read in fairy tales.

 

Lhasa, who calmly walked past Brentian, saw me and approached me with a smile.

 

But she suddenly stopped, standing stall about a half a step or so away. She looked surprised.

 

“…..?”

 

Lhasa slowly approached me, who was puzzled, and whispered in a small voice.

 

“You’re the one who has been given a second chance by God.”