Early the following morning, Konstanza and I left the castle. Headed for the fabric market outside of town.

Orabella, Konstanza's grandmother and head maid of Regalis's castle, had her birthday coming up soon, and Konstanza, her thirteen years old granddaughter hoped to surprise her with a gift of good quality fabric.

"Will she like this?" Konstanza repeated for the tenth time that evening as we returned from the fabric market "I really want her to love it".

To reassure her thirteen years old mind for the millionth time, I repeated, "what we bought is one of the best fabric I've ever seen".

"So, stop overthinking" I added.

She stopped walking. Looked at me and grinned. Displaying her gap teeth "that's why I brought you along" she said "I knew you'd have good taste. Thank you".

"Welcome" I responded.

She giggled. And continued walked, "thanks too for the extra coins. I couldn't have purchased this -" she lifted the bag containing the fabric we bought "without you. Thanks a..."

"Yea. Yea. I've heard you. No need for more 'thank you' " I said. In order to complete the payment of the fabric, which was much more expensive than the amount Konstanza had saved for Orabella's birthday present, I pawned the gold hairpin I was wearing.

To be honest, pawning the hairpin, was something I happily did, after all, my luggage had arrived from the Capital, and the clothes and jewelry that filled it, fully befitted the role of the noble man's daughter, Randall hoped I play well.

I noticed a change in the weather. I looked up. Dark clouds. Rain was on its way "let's walk faster".

But before we could take five more steps, the rain came down. Pouring in torrents.

"Konstanza, hold my hand" I grabbed her left hand, while her other hand held the bag containing the fabric.

I led her to a roof shed, where we stood beneath it. Holding her closely, l wrapped my arms round her. 'Cause with the rain, came more of the Northern cold.

How anyone adjusted to living in a cold place all year round, was still a mystery to me.

Konstanza started shivering. I held her more tightly. Had it been me alone, I wouldn't have minded walking in the rain, till I reached the castle, but Konstanza was with me, and my healer mind told me, that though she was raised here in the North, her body was not one of those that've acclimatized to extreme cold, when it comes.

I looked around. We were still at the outskirts of town. Where could we find shelter?

I gazed opposite us. Noticing the lone house there for the first time. It was in a thatch-surrounded compound.

"Whose house is that?" I said to Konstanza.

She noticed the direction I was staring at.

"That?" Her voice quavered 'that is a place we must never consider going into" she answered.

I turned her around, so she could face me. I touched her forehead, she'd have fever if she doesn't find herself near a fireplace soon, to warm her body.

"We need to go there" I said, "this rain may not stop any time soon".

She shook her head vehemently "can't you see, Lady Xemein? The woman in there, has a lone house in the middle of nowhere".

What was her point? Weren't people allowed to live wherever they wanted?

"She's serving her punishment" Konstanza said.

I took in a deep breath, crouched to her height, "how do I explain to your grandma that I let us suffer in the rain while shelter was closeby?"

To avoid further argument, I speedily lifted her into my hands and sped towards the thatch-surrounded compound.

As we neared, the entrance to the lone hut opened, and a woman, carrying two jars stepped out.

As she placed her jars in the rain, to collect water, she noticed Konstanza and I entry her compound.

Surprise filled her eyes. Like, it was strange and completely unexpected to see someone on her property.

Then, she reacted "come in. Quickly" she said.

Without wasting another second of thought, I followed her order, and entered her hut.

To be candid, I wasn't scared. 'Cause this was a small town. So, I believed there was no need to feel fear. Everyone knew one another, unlike the Capital. And I had a feeling, Konstanza knew this lady, whose home we just stepped in, and that was one of the reasons she didn't want us to come here.

"You need to change your clothes" the lady said as she stepped in and closed the door.

The inside of the hut, was a lot bigger than it looked from outside. More so, it was neater in here and looked well taken care of, than how dilapitated the house had looked, when I watched it from the rain.

"Thanks for letting us in" I said.

"Don't mention" she replied, with a smile.

She walked into her room, and later returned, holding dry clothes for Konstanza and I.

She excused us, while we undressed, and returned to take our wet clothes. Hanging them close to her fireplace.

I noticed her face. She was a pretty woman. And though, I couldn't tell if she was one of those stunning women, that came along with distractingly beautiful curves, as she was wearing a big loose dress and a headband, but she was one of those women with lovely smiles, that Konstanza would normally feel comfortable with.

"I'm Ingrith" she said "are you hungry? I've food".

I beamed "I'm Xemein. This is Konstanza. And no, we're not..."

Konstanza's stomach rumbled. As I started to say that we didn't need to eat.

"Food and water for my sister, please" I said.

Ingrith nodded and left. A few seconds later, she came back with a bowl of hot rice for Konstanza.

"And your grandma, Konstanza, hope her health is still sound" Ingrith said.

Konstanza's eyes bulged with guilt, as she looked away from Ingrith, and nodded. A spoonful of food in her mouth.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"My lady" Ingrith said, "and you?"

I started to shake my head, to say I wasn't hungry, but Ingrith spoke up, "this rain could keep falling for hours. You need to eat something hot".

I looked at Konstanza, eating fast, and quickly, like she didn't eat this morning before we left the castle.

I nodded.

Minutes later, I was served a bowl of hot rice, and soup. Konstanza ate extra plates.

And as we remained there, I was tempted to ask Ingrith of her family, where they were, and why they didn't run back to her shelter, in spite of the rain, but chose to keep shut.

We finished eating and rested, with a thick cloth covering us. We must've slept off, 'cause by the time my eyes opened again, rain had stopped falling and everywhere seemed darker.

"Konstanza" I woke her gently.

I lifted the bag of the fabric. "It's time to leave".

As we walked to the door of Ingrith's hut, Ingrith followed us.

"Thank you" I said "let me repay..." My hand dug through the silk purse attached to my waist, but then found that the coins I had left, was too small in amount, to say thank you, "I'll definitely return to repay..."

Ingrith smiled, "I don't need your coins, my lady".

"But..." I started to say. I have to thank her, in some way, for helping out Konstanza and I. If she didn't need my coin, what could I give her in appreciation?

Without warning, Ingrith knelt down. Right in front of me.

I stepped back. In surprise.

"Help me, Lady Xemein".

Tears suddenly filled her eyes. She gripped my hands.

"Please, stand up" I said.

She just assisted Konstanza and I, and even if she had not, aiding her in any way possible, including giving her a lot more coins, if that was what she wanted, was really no big deal. "Please, stand up" I repeated.

Ingrith shook her head "save me" tears rained down her cheeks.

Konstanza moved, and stood a few feet behind Ingrith, so, Ingrith won't see her. And she muttered, moving her lips slowly, so I could understand what she was saying. "No" Konstanza mumbled, "let's leave. No one must see us here".

Leave? My stare lingered on Konstanza. How could she suggest we just leave, after Ingrith helped us?

"She's trouble" Konstanza's lips moved, "she's serving out her sentence from the law".

Oh! That was the reason she lived alone. No relative here. And no house nearby.

Konstanza moved, dragged me away from Ingrith as she whispered in my ears "Ingrith is being punished. She was found guilty of theft".

I turned back and looked at Ingrith, whose tear-filled eyes remained on me, from where she was still kneeling.

I faced Konstanza "what did she steal?" I asked.

Konstanza's shoulders dropped "a gold heirloom necklace".

Heirloom? In a small town like this? It doesn't make sense. I mean, everyone here pratically knew the symbol representing a particular family, so, why steal a necklace that would show clearly that you were not its owner, when you could steal another, that could not be easily identified.

"Who did she 'steal' from?" I asked.

Konstanza snorted "Lady Caterina. The Judge's wife".

I pondered. Stealing a heirloom? Though, heirlooms brought a lot of money when sold, but even, a six years old in a small town, knew that stealing one, was a bad idea.

Ingrith didn't appear to be dull. So, for the Judge's wife, whom I think would own a lot of jewelry, being a noble. Why would Ingrith take her heirloom instead of the other jewelries, no one would ever be able to identify?

Konstanza continued, "her punishment is to live here all alone. With no one, visting her. With the fields around her unable to produce food for her to eat. And she, being given only a small sack of grain every four months".

And this time, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. I blinked.

Given only a small sack of grain every four months. And we had just eaten out of that small sack of grain she had. Konstanza even asked for more. Instantly, I felt like the cruelest being alive.

With the way I often ate, the gods knew, I could finish a small sack of grain within three weeks, yet, Ingrith was to eat hers for four months.

A complete sixteen weeks!

How long has she lived like this?

Even hardened criminals in dungeons were fed much more regularly than this.

Ingrith said, "you're the bride of the Dark Lord".

My bride collar, which I despised, must be what gave my identity away. Also, I was with Konstanza, granddaughter of Regalis's head maid.

"I've heard whispers of your Gift from passers-by. Please aid me" Ingrith implored.

And my hands which Ingrith had moved to hold again, were pulled away from her by Konstanza.

"Don't get her into trouble. She can't help you" Konstanza said, "no one is even allowed to visit you, talk more of help you. We being here is enough trouble on its own".

Why does Konstanza not want me to help Ingrith? Was she scared of someone?

Then, Ingrith started bowing. Hitting her forehead continuously on the hard floor, "help me! Please help me!"

With the way, she was hitting her head on the hard flooring, I feared her skull could crack "please stop! Stop it!"

She persisted, battering her head "Save me! Help me!" The tears flowing down her cheeks, could almost compete with the heavy amount of rain that poured from the sky today.

I held her head, holding her back from striking it against the floor again. And that was when I noticed the blood at the centre of her forehead.

Did her plea for help cause this?

Instantly, I started to loosen her headband. Ingrith tried to stop me, but my hands were faster. The headband came undone. And Ingrith put her hand on her forehead to cover the injury there.

I frowned "put your hand away. I need to see the extent of your injury".

Ingrith shook her head.

The healer in me couldn't let it go. The slightest injury, and my Gifts awakened, wanting to heal. "You want me to help you? First, I must see your head wound" I said.

After seconds of obvious contemplation, Ingrith put her hand down slowly.

I gasped. What's this? What was I seeing?

Her forehead was 'decorated' with multiple brands (evidently from a hot metal). Each brand had words like, 'husband thief', 'temptress'.

"I didn't do it" Ingrith cried. "I've never seduced another woman's husband".

I paused. Wasn't her punishment supposed to be for theft?

I looked at Konstanza. My eyes clearly telling her to explain what was happening here?

I mean, on Ingrith's head, were clear signs that she's been repeatedly burned and branded with a red hot metal.

Some of the brands were fully healed, but it was the one at the centre of her forehead that still looked fresh, like it had been branded on Ingrith's forehead less than a week ago.

"Every four months, people from Ministry of Justice, as they come to drop the sack of grain, they rebrand her forehead, reminding everyone of her crime".

"I thought you said she stole?" I yelled. Enraged.

"My lady. Everyone knows Lady Ingrith didn't steal the heirloom, but, it's Lady Caterina, the Judge's wife. Her family is a strong ally of King Randall. No one dares offend her" Konstanza explained.

Paused and then continued, "Lady Caterina noticed that Judge Tyrion was starting to fancy Lady Ingrith and so, framed her for theft".

"The whole town knows the truth. Lady Ingrith served as Accounts Keeper for the town's cloth makers for years. Not one penny ever went missing! Yet, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, she's accused of stealing. Of course, she didn't do it!" Konstanza said.

I breathed in. This injustice makes me furious. Burning Ingrith's face to punish her, for what? For the fact that Lady Caterina's husband had straying eyes?

So then, should every beautiful woman his stare lingers on, also have to have their face burnt?

"Only the Prince, who doesn't know anything about this case at all, can save her" Konstanza sighed.

I stared at her. What a brilliant mind. King Randall obviously won't help. But Regalis could.

His seal could!

The Prince's seal!

"But we can't tell Him about this" Konstanza whispered "Else, the Prince would try to aid her. The last person who stood up against Lady Caterina's family, King Randall ordered that the head of the culprit be sent to him in the Capital. So, we have to protect the Prince" she concluded.

Konstanza. Ever protective of Regalis. She adored him the way many Gifted adored the Mother of Light.

But one thing she failed to notice about Regalis, was that he acted as he pleased. Without fear of anyone!

However, how could I help Ingrith without putting myself at risk? 'Cause for me to remain completely silent and impassive, after seeing this, would say a lot about me.

I hoped to rule Marjol someday, would a good leader stay silent now?

More tears flowed down Ingrith's cheeks.

I took her hand, about to console her, when I accidentally felt her pulse.

I stared into her eyes "Ingrith" I said "you're pregnant".

Tearfully, she nodded.

She was wearing a loose big dress, so it perfectly concealed her growing belly.

How come? I thought no one was to visit her.

A painful smile covered Ingrith's face "I fell in love, my lady. He used to take this route to the forest to hunt, that's how we met".

"And where is he now?"

Her smile left her face "gone. He fell while climbing a tree two months ago. He died instantly ".

Her gaze pierced something in me.

"I don't want my child to suffer this" Ingrith pointed to her forehead.

Her child to suffer this. What does she mean?

"Her child will also be branded every four months when she's born" Konstanza explained.

I clenched my fists. How could Randall forsake his impoverished citizens to protect the bullies? I gnashed my teeth.

For a woman's jealousy, the life of an unborn child was already at risk.

No wonder Ingrith was ready to break her head, just to stop me from leaving.

I took in deep breaths. Ingrith. Was I brave enough to willingly take on her burden?

And if I did aid her in any way, why do I fear that the life of one of my people in Marjol could pay for it?

I looked to the skies.

Help her or forsake her.

Which would it be?