Chapter 44: Oops…

Under the care of Danila and the other servants, Finihiya enjoyed her dinner in the spacious dining hall.

Gradually, she seemed to have grown accustomed to eating her meals under the watchful eyes of the servants.

When she had just become the Saintess, the process of trying to get used to this had been quite uncomfortable.

Due to the civilized customs of her past era, deep down she always believed that staring at others was impolite—let alone watching them eat.

“Lady Finihiya, the hot water has been prepared for you.”

“Alright, thank you.”

After whispering this to Danila, she walked toward the bathroom.

Although she had just finished dinner not long ago and wanted to rest a little more, the time was by no means early.

If she delayed her bath any longer, her bedtime would be pushed too late, especially since her long hair wouldn’t dry easily.

She entered the bathroom.

Finihiya removed all her clothes, then picked up a wooden ladle and scooped a dipper of hot water from the tub, pouring it over her head.

The steam, soaking through and radiating from the hot water, gradually filled the entire bathroom.

After carefully washing every part of her body with water, she took a clean towel from the rack to wipe away the droplets lingering on her skin.

Standing before the bathroom mirror, Finihiya gazed at her reflection through the fogged glass.

Though it was midsummer, the steam lingering and spreading throughout the bathroom was so dense that the mirror was covered in a thin layer of mist.

Finihiya lifted her right hand.

Her small hand, softened and pinkish from the long soak in hot water, looked even more translucent—as enticing as a peach moistened by morning dew.

Her slender, soft fingers gently wiped the mirror, clearing most of the mist.

Through the faintly clear glass, Finihiya stared at herself, wiping her wet long hair with the towel, her finely arched brows furrowed in boredom as she glared at her own reflection.

After this rather strange stare, her thoughts suddenly recalled Danila’s earlier words.

(“Lady Finihiya, there is no need to apologize to me.”)

(“This is your freedom. Lady Darlian has also often reminded me not to overly restrict your freedom.”)

Just as she calmed her emotions, a strange yet pleasant sensation surged up in her chest again.

Her hand stopped drying her hair and moved to rest over her chest, which was gently rounded like an unripe fruit.

Her lowered eyes revealed a faint smile.

Whether in the distant past or now, ever since she could remember, she had always been bound by strict upbringing and rules.

Hearing someone say she didn’t need to worry, that it was her freedom, was something she had never experienced before.

Thump, thump, thump…

Her heart beat wildly with this subtle joy.

At this moment, the ornate yet uneven mirror seemed to reflect another face.

A cold, beautiful visage like a blue flame—ethereal and alluring.

Darlian…

“Damn it…” she whispered softly, then raised one side of her mouth in a bitter, helpless smile. “Gradually… I might come to think that staying here is better after all.”

“Sigh…”

From Finihiya’s cherry-like lips escaped a complex sigh, tinged with frustration yet mixed with delight.

***

The moonlight deepened with the night.

Cold white beams filtered through the curtained window into the dimly lit room, mingling with the faint glow of oil lamps that dotted the quiet bedroom.

Finihiya lay on a soft, comfortable bed, tucking the thin cool quilt over her petite body with her small hands.

Perhaps because they were by the sea, even in midsummer, the night air was refreshingly cool and pleasant.

Recalling the place she had lived in her former era—

The summer there had been torturous, with the entire city like a giant steamer.

She brushed these wandering thoughts from her mind, intending to rest early, but suddenly her thoughts turned to Maya and the children.

A faint, obscure emotion rose in her heart thinking of their plight.

Though she had given Maya some money, it would barely cover expenses for half a year given the number of children.

Until she was seven, she had also lived in a poor orphanage, so she could somewhat empathize with these children’s situation.

To be honest, if she were able, she wanted to help more children.

But that would require a large sum of money.

For someone like her, with little income, it was an almost impossible dream.

“Phew…”

With this thought, she sighed softly.

The cool night breeze gently blew, causing the palm leaves outside to rustle softly.

Cradling this chaotic, tangled feeling, weariness slowly crept into Finihiya’s slender limbs.

Before long, the darkened room was filled with the soft, even sound of breathing.

***

The next morning.

The once clear sky had been darkened by a sudden rain, now presenting a gloomy, dull hue.

It was hard to tell how many times it had rained today as the drizzles continued from the gray, hazy sky.

In the mansion’s kitchen—

Finihiya stood before the counter, wearing a pale white apron over her elegant dress, kneading dough vigorously with both small hands.

Beside her on the right lay a mound of chopped meat mixed with pork and vegetables.

“Keh…”

Gradually, fine beads of sweat appeared on Finihiya’s fair forehead, and the fatigue in her limbs caused her to furrow her brows slightly.

Kneading dough was indeed strenuous physical labor for her delicate body.

“Lady Finihiya, what are you planning to cook?”

Danila’s kind and gentle voice came from behind.

Finihiya lifted a hand, wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of it, then smiled faintly as she explained.

“Dumplings.”

“I heard you mention it before, but I still don’t really understand.”

“Hmm… it’s a bit troublesome to explain. I’ll make some for you to see later, and then you’ll understand.”

After more than an hour of busy work, having rested the dough four times, Finihiya finally prepared the dough suitable for dumpling wrappers.

She rolled it out, cut it, and then flattened the pieces, ending up with a stack of thin dumpling skins.

Holding a dumpling skin in the palm of her left hand, she used a small spoon to place some of the meat filling in the center, then folded and pinched the wrapper, sealing the filling inside.

Looking at the first dumpling she made, Finihiya’s nicely shaped cherry lips curled into a faint smile.

“So this is what a dumpling is?”

“Yes.”

She nodded gently.

“Lady Finihiya, shall I help you with the rest?”