"Oh, hello Emmelyn. This is my old friend," said Grandma Isabelle when she saw Emmelyn enter through the door. "You can call her Grandma Thessalis."
Emmelyn went out all day to find news about her other relatives. From her murky expression, Isabelle Sovie could deduce that Emmelyn didn't get good news. So, she didn't ask Emmelyn what happened with her search.
"Oh, hello, nice to meet you, Grandma Thessalis. My name is Emmelyn Rosehill." Emmelyn nodded her head slightly to the old woman sitting next to Isabelle.
The woman she called Grandma Thessalis wore a black robe and her face looked really pale, in contrast to her all-black outfit. Her bony fingers clutched tightly to a small pouch on her lap.
Emmelyn wondered what was so valuable in the pouch that she held it so tightly like it contained golds.
There was also a wooden cane by the side of her chair. So, Emmelyn assumed that Thessalis needed the cane to help her walk. This made her wonder if the woman was disabled.
Nothing really stood out about her except for her pale face and white cane. To Emmelyn, she was just like many other old women she had met in her life.
She didn't notice how Thessalis's eyes glint with happiness when she noticed Emmelyn for the first time. Maybe, if Emmelyn was not grieving for her family, she would have paid more attention.
When she saw Emmelyn came, Thessalis immediately noticed how the beautiful girl was surrounded by a really dark aura. Thessalis could see that Emmelyn was marked by the famous Leoralei's curse.
She had heard from Isabelle earlier that they had a niece staying with them after going on adventures in Atlantea. Was this the girl? Ah.. it must be her, she thought.
So, this girl must have encountered the Leoraleis somehow and pissed them off. Thessalis wondered what Emmelyn did to deserve such a horrible curse.
"Thessalis, this is my niece's youngest daughter. You might remember the late queen of Wintermere," said Isabelle Sovie to her guest. "You've met her twice."
Thessalis narrowed her eyes and looked at Emmelyn again. "Ahh.. no wonder I feel like I've seen her somewhere. You look just as beautiful as your mother."
"Thank you." Emmelyn smiled bitterly and sighed.
Meanwhile, Isabelle Sovie lowered her head. She must be reminded of her own daughter. She didn't say anything but Thessalis could read her mind. It seemed like Isabelle's and her husband's past came to haunt them after 25 years.
"I am sorry about your family," Thessalis told Emmelyn in a gentle voice. She looked sincere and empathetic when she spoke. "I hope someday you will find peace."
Emmelyn forced a smile when she heard Thessalis's words.
It was quite a strange remark to say to someone who was grieving, she thought. However, Emmelyn didn't put too much thought into it. She was too busy to think of a plan for revenge.
She bit her lip when she responded, "I don't think I will ever find peace."
"You need to unleash your anger and make people who are guilty pay the price for their sins. An eye for an eye," Thessalis continued. "I know I found my peace that way."
Emmelyn stared at the woman in the black robe with great interest. She didn't realize how Grandma Isabelle suddenly became uncomfortable and looked away.
"I am just one person," Emmelyn muttered almost inaudibly, "How am I going to get my revenge against a big empire?"
"Don't underestimate yourself," said Thessalis philosophically. "To kill a snake, you only need to cut its head and the rest of the body will die with it."
Emmelyn went silent when she heard the old woman. Thessalis's words made sense to her. It's true. She didn't have to fight the army if she could kill the king.
And as if in passing, Thessalis touched Emmelyn's beautiful hair and said in admiration, "You are a really beautiful woman. No, actually, you are beautiful and smart. I am sure you have conquered so many hearts in your life."
She let her words sink in and then took her leave.
"Honey, Isabelle, thank you for having me today. I am happy to see you well and healthy. Please pass my regards to Elroy," Thessalis rose from her chair. "I will see you in a few months."
"Thank you for coming, Thessalis," said Isabelle Sovie with a smile. "Take care and I will see you later."
After Thessalis left, Isabelle asked Emmelyn what she found when she went out to get information on her remaining relatives.
"Nobody survives," Emmelyn replied flatly. She had gotten used to receiving bad news after bad news that she was almost numb to it by now. She had gone to the south to look for her cousin's family and found that they, too, were killed in the war.
Her other family on the border with Asguay were dead too. So, were her in-laws. Those who didn't die in battles took their own lives for fear of being held captive and then enslaved or sexually assaulted.
Emmelyn had lost count of how many family members she lost after Draec conquered Wintermere. So, the Sovies here were truly the last remaining relatives she had.
However, Grandpa Elroy and Grandma Isabelle here were already really old. It was only a matter of time until they too would die and left her all alone in the world.
"Oh.. I am sorry to hear that," said Grandma Isabelle with a hoarse voice. She tried not to cry in front of Emmelyn since she didn't want to make her sadder than she already was.
"Grandma... I think I will go to Draec soon," said Emmelyn suddenly. She looked at the old woman with determination in her eyes. "I will get my revenge."
Isabelle Sovie's heart skipped a beat when she heard Emmelyn mention Draec.
Her memory wandered to her beautiful home in the capital of Draec that she had to leave in a hurry, twenty-five years ago.
She missed her home. Even though she and her husband had settled down in Wintermere for a long time, deep inside she still longed for her family home in Draec. That was where they buried their one and only daughter.
For 25 years, they could only miss her from afar and didn't dare to visit her grave.
Now that she heard Emmelyn mentioned Draec, her longing returned with a vengeance.