Heroine On Strike

After hearing Maylin yelling from afar, Ella was able to relieve herself of all her nervousness and lay down comfortably on her bed.
Afterward, she said, “My true home.
My home where people who care about me are waiting for me.”

It felt weird.
Somehow, Ella was brought here.
She stayed because she wished to keep Luciella’s parents as her own.
Still, this world was still foreign to her.
After a bit of time had passed, it began to feel like home to her.
But today, she heard why she was dragged into this world and even heard the way to go back.

As soon as she heard that she could go back, what came to her mind was Luciella’s parents, Evan, and people at the estate.
The people of this world would descend into the worst path if she gave up and returned.
She couldn’t leave them behind.
Unlike them, who didn’t know what awaited them, Ella was given a chance to stop it.
She couldn’t ignore that chance.

“I’ll save everyone and live happily ever after with them.
I will.”

Ella clenched her two fists in order to make that promise to herself.
The sound of Maylin busily running around worrying sounded so kind to her.
Was it because she now chose to stay here, instead of acting like she was brought here against her will? That sound made her shed tears.
As she felt the tear falling, Ella made a bright smile.

***

Maylin, who said she would bring milk first, got a tray full of food in that short amount of time.
Ella’s wellbeing was more important than the party tomorrow, so she didn’t hesitate to make Chef Kooke cook a special dish.

“Kooke will bring the pie that you complimented last time.
Please have some milk first,” said Maylin.

“Thank you, Maylin.”

“And you should fill yourself up with the soup first to ease your empty stomach.”

“Yeah,” replied Ella.

She sipped on the soup per Maylin’s advice and smiled happily.
Maylin made a kind smile while looking at Ella, who seemed more relaxed, and took out a small envelope from her pocket that she just remembered.

“My, I had forgotten about this.
Milady, Master told me to give this to you,” said Maylin.

“My father?” replied Ella.

“Yes,” answered Maylin.

Ella was puzzled as she was handed the envelope.
It wasn’t her father’s envelope nor had his seal, so she could tell that it was definitely not from her father.

‘What is it?’

The writing that read “to Ella” on the envelope had a different style than her father’s.
Ella opened the envelope with suspicion rising inside and found a piece of high-quality paper.
The front was sealed with a bright red seal that symbolized the crown prince.

‘Cladis?’ she wondered.

Dear Ella,

My heart is heavy for leaving you behind.
I can’t just leave while leaving you with such a heavy burden on your shoulders, so I am leaving this message.
I have something to tell you.

First, I know you’ll succeed, but please don’t try to solve everything on your own.
It looks as if you are trying to take every burden by yourself.
Don’t hold back and don’t do it alone.

Don’t forget that the burden isn’t only on your shoulders.
Please wait just a little bit until I can bear that burden with you.
I’ll leave all my foolishness behind when I come back.
I’ll become your faithful support when I come back.

Wishing that my support can at least be of a little help to you,

Cladis.

Ella looked down at the letter with a dazed look at the unexpected message.

Don’t try to do it all alone.
Trust. Ella read through the letter and smiled.
She didn’t think she would hear such words from Cladis.
He must have been worried about the drought and the plague, but those unexpected words of comfort had taken place in her heart.
The sudden burden she got after talking with Didi had lifted a bit.

To Ella, who thought she should take all the burden by herself just because she was special, that she was a guest, this was the most needed word of comfort.
One of the binds that weighed heavily on her had lifted.