The guards who were protecting the priestess's residence approached us.
"Anis, you're here?"
"I brought the people who will be visiting the priestess's residence. Have you heard the news?"
"Yes, we received instructions from above. However"
The guard glanced behind Anis.
"I understand that not many are allowed to enter, right?"
"Only Sihyeon and Speranza will be visiting her mother. The others will wait here."
"Hmm alright."
The guard's expression briefly showed discomfort when hearing that Kaneff and Lia would wait here. However, he quickly hid his emotions and nodded.
The guard moved past Anis and approached me.
"Do you have any weapons or items that could be considered threatening?"
"No, I don't have anything like that."
"May I see what you're holding?"
"Oh, this? It's nothing"
I took out the contents of the bag I was holding one by one.
They were gifts I had prepared since I couldn't go empty-handed when visiting Speranza's grandmother.
"This is strawberry jam' made from strawberries grown in our territory. This is a homemade rice cake set,' and this is a bath product set'"
I had chosen the best strawberry jam made recently in the Cardis Estate, the rice cake set recommended by my mother, and the bath products which had received good reactions as gifts for the farm family members.
The guard's face hardened upon seeing the numerous gifts.
"I'm sorry, but you cannot take these items with you."
"Huh? But these aren't dangerous at all?"
"We cannot allow items we cannot properly identify into the priestess's residence."
"No, but"
I was about to argue but decided against it upon seeing the guard's determined gaze. It seemed like it would only complicate matters if I caused a scene here.
"We will keep the items you brought and return them to you when you leave."
"Sigh"
Reluctantly, I handed over the bag of gifts to the guard.
They were carefully chosen gifts
Anis comforted me by saying there would be another opportunity later.
"We'll be back. Take care, boss, Lia."
"We'll be waiting. Take care, Speranza."
Lia encouraged us with a gentle voice, while Kaneff shook his head with an annoyed expression, seemingly urging us to hurry back.
"I will guide you to where the priestess is."
The guard who took the gifts led the way. I followed him, holding Speranza's hand.
I couldn't see her face in the darkness, but I could feel Speranza's tension from her trembling hand. I gripped her small hand tightly, hoping to give her some strength.
As we were about to reach the building beyond the high walls
I heard Terzan's whisper in my ear. It was the shadow tribe's special skill of conveying their voice from a distance.
-Sihyeon, Sihyeon!
"?!"
-The barrier spread out in the forest is also around that building. If we go in like this, I won't be able to hide anymore.
Terzan, who had been hiding and protecting us, spoke urgently. After a brief moment of consideration, I shook my head left and right so Terzan could see.
Though this moment might still be too overwhelming for Speranza, I encouraged her to muster a little more courage so she wouldn't have any regrets.
Speranza stopped trying to hide and stepped forward again. Slowly, she lifted her head and met her grandmother's eyes.
The elderly woman's eyes trembled once more as she looked at her granddaughter.
"Grandma"
"Yes my child."
Speranza hesitated for a moment, then spoke with difficulty.
"I've wanted to see you."
"Ah"
At those words, tears streamed down the old woman's face. She nodded, trying to control her emotions.
"Sniff! I've wanted to see you too, my child."
She opened her arms wide towards Speranza.
"Can I just hold you once?"
""
Speranza slowly approached her grandmother. I lifted her up slightly so she could be embraced.
The elderly woman hugged Speranza as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
At first, Speranza was uneasy in her grandmother's embrace.
But as she found comfort in her arms, she suddenly burst into quiet sobs.
"Sniff sniff!"
"I'm sorry, my child. Because of me because of me"
"Wha wahhh!"
"Sniff, sniff!"
As Speranza's crying grew louder, the elderly woman's trembling grew as well. She held Speranza tightly, repeatedly apologizing.
I silently watched Speranza cry.
In those cries were sadness, resentment, loneliness It seemed as if all the deeply buried emotions in their hearts were contained in those sobs.
Listening to the two of them cry, Anis and the other women attending to them also had teary eyes.
The sound of crying in the room subsided only after a considerable amount of time had passed.
"Sniffle sniffle."
After shedding a lot of tears, Speranza sniffled with the area around her eyes stained bright red.
The old woman, who received a handkerchief from someone nearby, gently wiped Speranza's face.
At first, her face didn't seem to have any vitality, but perhaps because of her intense emotions, a rosy glow appeared on her face, making her look much more lively.
After examining Speranza in her arms for a while, the old woman finally looked at me and opened her mouth.
"I apologize for showing such a scene in front of an important guest."
I replied with a slight smile.
"No, it's alright."
"Though it's quite late, let me introduce myself. I am Mirna,' who represents the Erul Tribe and serves the guardian deity. And"
She smiled brightly and looked down at Speranza in her arms.