Let's start over, Your Majesty.

Chapter 256 Extra: Gleanings from the Old Sea - Greta (3)

The aroma of the broth tantalized the noses of everyone present. After a long journey that lasted for months, they had finally arrived at a village where they could rest.

Today, Rean used his savings to order two large bowls of stewed meat soup and three large jugs of wheat wine at the village tavern to soothe his fatigue from months of hard work.

When the broth was served, the aroma made everyone eager to get started. Forks and knives clattered into the bowls, and everyone had a big chunk of meat in their hands, enjoying a rare taste of meat after months of culinary delight.

Although seasoned only with a touch of salt and aromatic herbs, the meat itself is incredibly delicious. Paired with wheat wine, the dopamine release from satisfying the appetite makes everyone fall in love with it.

"Holy Mother, this is the delicious taste of meat! Finally, I can experience the feeling of being alive again!"

Fanit swallowed a mouthful of meat and then cried out in pain.

"Don't exaggerate like that. Don't we always add ham slices to the soup in our meals?" Sotos said.

"Go to hell! You always slice the ham thinner than my life! Who's going to eat that little bit? You won't even let me put in more, and you even caught a bug and told me that's an extra treat, bullshit!" Fanit said angrily.

"Don't use that word when you're eating." Galicia frowned as she looked at him.

"Come on, Galicia, eat more meat, maybe you can grow taller."

"Are you asking for a beating?!"

The dinner table was filled with laughter and chatter, and Li En chuckled along.

Then he noticed that not far away, Greta was standing in a corner, staring longingly at the soup on the table, swallowing her saliva.

Rean didn't say anything, asked the shopkeeper for another set of cutlery, forked a large piece of meat, took a piece of bread, and came to Greta.

A hot, fragrant meat soup was placed in front of her, leaving the little one stunned.

“Are you stupid? Go ahead and catch it,” Rean said.

Grace then took the bowl, somewhat bewildered, and whispered a thank you.

She pursed her lips again and said, "Is there anything...is there for me to do?"

It was as if Rean had some ulterior motive in giving her meat.

Rean pointed to an empty table on the side and said, "Go sit over there and eat."

After saying that, he turned around and went back to the dining table.

A group of people were egging him on, urging Mayeris to play a piece on his harp. Unable to resist their nagging, Mayeris had no choice but to play along. Two other people even enthusiastically started dancing their hometown dance to the music.

While everyone was making a fuss, Sothos leaned closer and whispered to Rean, "If you keep going like this, you'll end up not being able to part with that child."

"Do you think I'm the kind of person who's indecisive?" Rean said, taking a sip of his tart cider.

"Not really, but you are indeed a bit too soft-hearted," Sothos sighed.

“You know what, Rean, this is exactly what I fear most. You should restrain your kindness. At least when we ourselves are not yet at peace, having her around is a burden.”

“I told you, I'm just taking her to the nearest town, that’s all,” Rean said.
“I bet you won’t,” Sothos said with a grin.

"Because you are a kind person at heart."

"Isn't being kind a good thing?" Rean retorted.

“I didn’t say it was bad. I became your brother precisely because I admire this about you. You know, in this world where people are quick to fight over the slightest conflict and everyone is a selfish person who only cares about their own interests, your virtue is more precious than a Manmisa diamond.”

Sothos patted him on the shoulder: "But I also hope you can be a more rational person, okay? Don't let sentimentality get in the way when it's crucial to make a choice." Rean sighed: "Alright, I know. After all this time, don't you know what kind of person I am?"

“Of course I know!” Sothos patted his shoulder hard.

"A sharp tongue but a soft heart, to be honest, I find it quite amusing sometimes that you say one thing and mean another, haha!"

Go eat your meat!

“Oh, right,” Sothos pointed to Greta, “we’ve arrived at the village, let’s take her to take a bath. A girl should at least be clean. If she’s always so dirty, she might catch a disease.” Sothos said.

Rean glanced at Grace, who was eating meat nonstop on the table, and clicked his tongue.

"Okay, got it."

After a hearty meal and drinks, two people were left to keep watch, while the rest of the tavern staff returned to their rooms. Many of them fell fast asleep as soon as they lay down, as it was a rare treat to sleep in a bed.

Grace stayed in the corridor, curled up in a ball, sleeping quietly, but she was soon woken up by someone patting her awake. When she opened her eyes, she saw it was Rean.

"Come here," Rean commanded.

Grace got up in a daze and followed Rean to the room downstairs.

There was a wooden tub in the room, filled with steaming hot water.

Rean pointed to the wooden tub: "Go take a bath, clean yourself up, and change your clothes."

He tossed Greta a set of clothes, not new, but the tavern owner's daughter's childhood clothes, which he bought for eight copper coins.

"Yes."

Grace whispered something, then turned her back, stealing a glance at him before beginning to undress, doing so very carefully the entire time.
"Not very old, but she has a strong sense of chastity," Rean thought to himself.

That makes sense. She was a servant in a wealthy household, and some families would make sure their maids were literate so they could do more work.

She was completely naked, her body thin as skin and bones, but at least she was better off than most refugees, as she had some flesh on her bones, suggesting that she used to be able to eat her fill regularly.

Rean noticed that her back, covered in mud, had blue welts, clearly from being whipped. It seemed she had suffered a lot in the past.

The girl was soaking in hot water and couldn't help but make a comfortable sound, but she quickly covered her mouth when she remembered that Rean was there.

Looking at her shy and hesitant demeanor, Rean shook his head.
"Hurry up and wash. After you're done, clean up the bathtub yourself and then go to bed."

“Yes, I understand,” Grace replied quickly.

Rean went out and closed the door.

He let out a long sigh of relief.

Am I kind?

Perhaps more often than not, he was simply trying to hold onto the last shred of his conscience.

Sothos's talk of being reluctant to part with someone is something he hasn't felt any real connection to. As for Greta, he's only doing it to satisfy his excessive sense of justice.

When we reach the next town, we'll send her to a convent. It'll be better for her to become a nun than to follow these mercenaries.

(End of this chapter)