Chapter 1 – Home and Reunion (1)
-To Sister Mason
She received a letter saying to come back to her hometown. Now that she thinks her sister is living with us again, she’s relieved.
The world is vastly different from when her sister left, but our village is still the same. People work on the Gordons’ farm, get up early in the morning to plow the fields and look after the livestock.
No, it might be a little awkward. Isabella Lang Becky, a snub-nosed dog, has become a pretty young lady, and her baby boy, Jimmy Lang Rupert, has become a troublemaker in the town.
But the city has really changed a lot. The tailor shop where I work is also getting more customers day by day. Have you ever had such a good income? When I get a vacation later, I will definitely go see her sister. She still has a long way to go though.
Isabella will help you with the job. She liked it very much when Isabella said her sister was coming, but she said she would make sure to convince her father. After unpacking and resting for a few days, she goes to visit Uncle Gordon.
Let the guest her sister said stay in my room. After all, I eat and sleep at the tailor’s shop when I’m not on vacation, and all my important stuff is there. Miss Siana really, I don’t know what to say. I hope that one day you will definitely recover from the wounds in your heart.
Anyway, I hope my sister gets to her hometown as soon as possible so she can rest in peace. When she arrives in her hometown, she be sure to send me a letter. Enough then. May her sister’s journey be safe!
With love, Lucy-
Mason opened the letter from Lucia once again. It was brown paper that she had received a month ago, no matter how many times she had re-read it, and already had a lot of creases.
She folded the letter and carefully placed it in the pile of stringed letters, then she put it back in the little box. In the meantime, it was her own treasure house that collected all her letters sent by her Lucia.
She clicked and lifted her head as she put the locked box in a large bag. The blue sky, vegetation, and dense mountains and forests harmonize beautifully. A few women bent down to plow the fields, tending the sheep in the vegetation that the shepherd had fenced off in the distance.
Probably the people who work for Mr. Gordon, the richest man in our hometown.
A slight breeze blew, and the air mingled with the peculiar smell of soil and livestock flowed in. Mason takes a deep breath. It was home to her exactly as she remembered it, although she did not miss this smell.
“… Ugh. It smells.”
However, the hooded woman next to her smells her and complains.
“Even the cart is uncomfortable, it rattles and creaks.”
She had her hood pulled all the way over her head, but she couldn’t hide her voice. Even when she was pouring out her complaints, her voice was as beautiful as that of a lark.
Mason sighed.
“I’m sorry, Siana. Still, such a kind-hearted person drives me. Would it have been harder if she had walked?”
Cianna said as she sat on her knees, glaring at her Mason.
“Who comforted you to take you home? Did I ever ask to live in a corner like this?”
Her words offended her Mason, but she soon relented. Siana’s actions didn’t last for a day or two. It’s just that she didn’t learn when she was young how to deal with her anger that came from being confused.
Because she was a former saint.
Mason apologized again.
“…Siana. I’m sorry. But that’s the only way I’ve come up with.”
“Hmph, that’s exactly how people from rural areas like you think. To run away from home.”
Siana’s words were forced. If Mason hadn’t taken her Sianna with her in the first place, who would have guessed the words of her beautiful maiden, though she was a foolish one, who had been raised in her Order since she was a child.
Without Mason, she would have collapsed long ago, but Mason endures nonetheless.
Mason, who knew better than anyone else that her anger and complaints were the result of her insecurities and fears, could only sympathize with her.
But unexpectedly, the pinjan came from Uncle Reggie, who was pulling her cart.
“Girl, since I wanted to hear from you earlier…”
He held the reins with one hand and pointed at Mason.
“If it wasn’t for Mason, the young lady wouldn’t have been able to ride this cart! Even though I’m grateful, I sold my hat… Do you know what a wonderful kid he is?”
Hearing his accusations, Shiana said nothing and turned her head towards her landscape. Siana has always been like that. The way she cuts off the conversation when she gets uncomfortable or upset.
Seeing this, Reggie murmured dissatisfiedly.
“Eh… Tzu-jw. It’s been a long time since I felt good about Mason Bonnie. Why did she bring such a young lady?”
So they went up the hill again in silence. Mason thought about her for a moment. Maybe bringing Cyana was the wrong choice?
She closed her eyes and prayed silently to a god who no longer existed. I hope that Sianna can overcome her turbulent times and find her happy life here.
After a while, a familiar view of her came into view. Small houses, fields, and the large Mr. Gordon’s house in the distance. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of her hometown she hadn’t seen in a long time.
The mule stopped in front of Uncle Reggie’s house. Unlike Reggie’s house at the beginning of the village, Mason’s house had to go a little deeper. Mason greeted Uncle Reggie.
“Uncle Reggie. Thank you We will walk home from here.”
Reggie was startled as she tried to pack her things.
“No, what are you talking about? I’m going to take you home, wait a minute until I get something out huh?”
“No. He only drove me this far-“
“Eh! I’m giving you a ride! Can’t you just sit quietly? You’re just hanging out!”
As he got off the wagon and entered the house, he insisted on trust.
“Wait a minute! Do not think of going first!”
Maiden sat in the cart and watched the village closely. She had some changes, but most of them were the same as she remembered them. Old, faded houses with creaky wooden doors, earth-colored brick houses and warehouses. And the people who come and go.
Passers-by glanced at the cart. He must have been curious because two virgins rode Reggie’s cart to a place where strangers rarely come. She recognized some of the people she came and went, but no one seemed to recognize her yet.
“…It looks like a beggar.”
Shiana murmured softly. So low that only Mason could hear it. Mason ignored her complaints. Soon, Uncle Reggie returned with something, and the cart started moving again.
On the way, under the eyes of the villagers, the sound of footsteps running quickly caught up with the cart. Looking to the side, there were two boys running at the speed of the cart. The eyes of the boys, who looked no more than thirteen, flashed with playfulness and interest.
“Uncle Reggie! Who are these women?”
“Why is that woman wearing her cloak over her head? Is she guilty?”
“What? Such cheeky…”
Sensing her Shiana was about to throw a tantrum at her, Mason hastily stopped her. Uncle Reggie chuckled and cautioned the little ones.
“Hey guys! Don’t be mean to say such things! And this older sister was originally a woman!”
One boy with red hair and freckles, the other with black curly hair, they shouted back at Reggie’s words.
“Lie! I’ve never seen one before!”
“Uh? Come to think of it… I think she looks like Lucia noona?”
Only then did Mason realize that they were Jimmy and Rupert, as written in Lucia’s letter.
Apparently she had her newborn babies piled on the riverwalk until she left her village. A smile was drawn on her lips.
“Are you Jimmy and Rupert?”
“What! They know our names!”
“Sister! Sister! Are you Lucia’s older sister by any chance?”
“Yonseoks! You guys keep bothering me, I’m going to tell my parents that you’re goofing around!”
Then Jimmy and Rupert screamed and ran away. Mason burst into laughter involuntarily. It was a pleasant smile that she hadn’t seen in a long time. Uncle Reggie also asked with a smile.
“Did you grow up a lot? Thanks to them, the village is noisy every day.”
“I’ve seen them piled up in the river in the past, and they’ve grown up like that before I knew it.”
“As for my in-laws, I was really surprised when I first heard that you were that Mason.”
Soon the cart arrived at Mason’s house shortly after. She lived in a small two-story brick house where she and Lucia grew up. A low fence, a front gate, and even a faded wooden door that was once red.
It was a house I wanted to come to so much, but it felt awkward and unfamiliar somewhere.
‘Maybe it’s because the house is old after a lot of time.’
With Mr. Reggie’s help, we were able to unpack quickly. Finally, after putting Cianna’s belongings in Lucia’s room, he stopped by her house and handed the box to Mason.
“Mister, what is this?”
Then, Reggie laughed awkwardly and evaded it.
“Ah, that… Well, if we knew you were coming, we would have prepared something. Since only Lucia Hanti mentioned it, we have the chin to prepare. No big deal.”
Upon opening the box, there was jam made from the berries harvested last year. As much sugar goes into it, it’s definitely a precious thing. Seeing her hesitation, Reggie laughed and pushed Mason into her house.
“Take it. Nice to see you after a long time. Then how am I?”
“…Thank you, Reggie.”
Reggie slapped her hand and rode away in her cart, and she watched his cart for a moment until it was out of sight, then shut the door.
After she brought jam to the kitchen, she went up to this floor in search of Sianna. Lucia’s room, which would now be Siana’s room, was almost empty except for a suitcase and a bed.
“Siana, can I come in for a moment?”
Surprisingly, the door opened smoothly. She took off her cloak and appeared in only a single layer of a curved white robe. Compared to the past, her gray hair, which had been shortened, did not have the same mysteriousness as before, but she was still beautiful enough to charm many people.
“…Why.”
“Siana, I’m going to the city for a bit tomorrow. Is there anything you want to eat?”
Although the financial situation was not good, I still wanted to give Siana a good start, as she had to adapt to a new environment from now on.
Of course, whether or not Sianna had any intention of understanding her mind was a completely different matter.
“City? Where did we pass today? Do you call a corner like that a city?”
She felt tired of Shiana, who was trying to pick a fight with someone who was completely irrelevant.
Mason took care of her mind by washing her face dry.
“…Siana. Please. I have no desire to fight you.”
“Can I buy anything I want to eat? We’re beggars anyway. I can tell by looking around the house. Not as good as my old bathroom-“
Wait, very briefly, fear crossed Shiana’s expression in her, but Mason didn’t read.
Because she had to give her whole concentration to listen to her blasphemy and not get angry.
“Ah, I don’t need anything anyway, so either go tomorrow or not!”
Ciana shuts the door in Mason’s face. Mason continued to stand in front of her door for a long time. Her house, Mason, was a place where her few memories with her parents were kept, and it was the same place she was determined to raise Lucia without fail in her own childhood.
Her mind was not easily calmed down.
While I was getting angry, I suddenly heard a knock on the door. It’s time for the sun to set on the horizon, but a visitor is coming. Mason hastily cleared her expression and went downstairs.
The person behind the door must have been in quite a hurry, and when she didn’t come down right away, she knocked on her door again.
“Yes, wait a minute-!”
Mason hurriedly opened the door.
There stood a woman with a beautiful appearance.
Her ebony-black, moderately curly, shoulder-length hair was blown to one side by the wind. Her enchanting purple eyes fixed on Mason. Her half-parted pale pink lips caught her breath. Her dress underneath her was wet with sweat, as if she had just jumped in.
Mason, still puzzled, watched the woman’s pupils widen. Her purple eyes flashed with amazement.
“…Who…?”
“Sister!”
The woman who suddenly rushes into Mason’s arms and puts her arms around her neck and hugs her. She smelled of the wind outside and a faint smell of sweat. The woman abruptly broke the embrace, and with a universal smile and delight on her face, she said:
“Long time no see! Don’t you remember me?”
In an instant, sadness spread across the woman’s face. Mason hastily searches through her memories. Thirteen years ago, this young woman was very young… Young…
“…Uh?”
Mason’s reaction brightens the woman’s expression again. Her face with the corners of her eyes curling pleasantly. Looking at it now, she is the cute eye smile she often saw in her childhood.
“…Isabella?”
Is mason boy or girl?