Foreigner Of Time [Book II]

54

At this thought, I took a deep breath, then looked up at the sky with my hands behind my back.

The air was sandy again today. 

There was a grainy look to the dim yellow sky.

I had forgotten to bring out my scarf, so I couldn't stay in this environment for long. 

Fortunately, there were stalls selling scarfs to be found everywhere on the streets in the province. 

It could count as a specialty of this city.

I came to a scarf stall. 

I dropped five copper coins, grabbed a random scarf, then wrapped it around my head, leaving only my eyes exposed.

In this province... spring was like this for twenty days in a month. 

It would only improve in the summer, where the rain was more 'abundant'.

I walked in a random direction with no destination.

As I walked... the figure of one person became clearer in my mind.  

Kristen!

Her appearance had given me a great 'shock' from the moment I first met her. 

I had done my own investigations regarding this; for a very long period of time after that, I made a series of observations on her.

Ultimately, through various details such as habitual gestures that were hard to hide, subtle expressions, and the way she looked at me... 

I overturned the speculation that she might be my ex girlfriend, Lily.

Even so, Kristen always had a very special feeling to me. But because she had the exact same face as Lily, I intentionally and unintentionally kept myself from investigating more about her in order to avoid suspicion. 

As a result, I had overlooked a lot of things.  

I recalled the 'clash' I had with Kristen when I went to fetch Jennie from the duke's estate. 

She wanted to force Jennie to stay by saying with certainty that 'the physician of the estate could treat Jennie's allergy'.

If Jennie hadn't been firm about leaving... no one could guarantee that Kristen wouldn't force the guest to leave by using her status as concubine.  

Suggesting to become sworn sisters with Jennie, which would protect her; agreeing readily for Jennie to stay in the pear garden, and taking care of her without any time for herself when she fell ill...

All of these things... 

Could it really be so easily explained by 'repayment of dues'?

If it was really about people who helped Kristen, Jackson should've been in first place.

But how did Kristen treat Jackson?

She left Winterfell secretly, without a single word. 

In such a social environment, she travelled alone to Fort Tryon a thousand miles away, becoming the new concubine of his older cousin instead!

If there was anything special about Jennie, it was probably that her aid towards Kristen was more pure. 

She wasn't seeking anything.  

But judging from Kristen's attitude towards Jackson, this was not a person who cared about past favors at all.

So why would she be so good towards Jennie?

Thinking through this, I broke out into a cold sweat.

I had missed far too many things just because Kristen had a face that made her unwilling to delve deeper.