The Great Wish - Chapter 8.2

Chapter 8.2

“Should we head to the saloon now? The marketplace is still open for a little while longer, so there should be a lot to see.”

I’ve seen enough of the marketplace from the last outing. And there’s somewhere I need to go today.”

The back alleys of the capital where the poor lived. Sienna had been looking forward to going there ever since she left the Palace. However, the one who had first offered this opportunity to her had a strange look on his face.

“What is it? Lead the way.”

“Um…”

“Were you lying to me?”

Sienna’s golden eyes narrowed. Kuhn quickly shook his head.

“It’s just that it’s dangerous there.”

“That’s your only excuse?”

“It’s not an excuse. It’s a place where the public security of the Empire has no reach. Can’t you just be satisfied by knowing that a place like that exists?”

“I need to see it with my own eyes.”

Kuhn had expected this response from this stubborn woman. But he only asked just in case.

‘I wouldn’t take her at night, but since it’s still bright out, it should be fine.’

The alleyways reared its ugly head at night. But if he told this to the Princess, she’d definitely insist he take her at night.

‘I’m never going to tell her.’

“Don’t move on your own and stick to my side.”

At Kuhn’s request, Sienna merely stared at him. Kuhn thought he accidentally dented her pride.

“It’s not an order, but…”

“Is it that dangerous?”

“Probably…”

“Even though you’ll be with me?”

Sienna recalled how he had told her that he was at least as good as the captain of the knights back at the Palace. Although she’d never seen his skills for herself, she didn’t think he said it out of reckless bravado.

For a moment, Kuhn looked flustered. However, his expression soon changed into one of happiness.

“I can let you cross a barren desert without hurting a finger.”

“Enough with the big talk.”

Kuhn laughed as he turned around. Even though he was just called a big talker, all he could do was laugh.

‘Is he sick in the head?’

She wanted to know what was making him laugh like that.

The two of them went back west.

“I’m sure you know the history of the Empire’s capital better than I do.”

“Of course.”

The Empire’s capital was a planned city. Therefore, the residential districts and the commercial districts were clearly set apart, and the closer the resident was to the central Imperial Palace, the higher status the residents held.

“From what I’ve heard, this is where the displaced people live. The people who used to live on the land where the Palace now stands.”

“I’m sure that’s true. Because this land wasn’t a part of the Empire until the founding emperor established the Empire here.”

“The place where we’re going now is the remnant of the past civilization.”

The western area of the city was where the commoners lived. As they walked along the path, they passed by many similar buildings that were stuck close next to each other.

Kuhn led them down a large road before turning into an alleyway between two houses. Sienna could tell that her surroundings were gradually beginning to change. The number people who passed by them began to decrease, and now she didn’t see anyone else. It was quiet. However, it wasn’t a tranquil silence.

They continued to walk through the narrow path for a while. When they reached the end of the path, they turned around a corner. Sienna froze. A completely different scene unfolded before her. She saw an endless line of yellowish mud huts with gnarled roofs.

‘What is this?’

Sienna gazed at the shabby homes that looked as if they’d collapse at any moment. She couldn’t believe people lived here. They looked completely different from the usual architecture of the Empire. Once couldn’t even call it architecture.

‘Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?’

Kuhn watched silently as Sienna slowly looked around the slum. He didn’t rush her or explain anything to her.

“I want to walk further inside.”

Kuhn walked ahead and began to lead her in.

“You’re walking too fast.”

“We can’t walk too slowly here.”

She couldn’t examine anything closely if she walked at his speed. Sienna’s eyes rolled in her head as she glanced around at her surroundings. They occasionally came across the residents who were wearing shabby clothing. They were filthy, and their thin faces contained no life.

They looked completely different from the pedestrians of the western district. They openly stared at Sienna. A sharp wariness gleamed in their eyes. It was similar to the looks given by wild beasts.

It was a hostility that Sienna had never experienced before. It made her feel uncomfortable and tense.

‘If I show any weakness, I feel like they won’t hesitate to attack.’

She realized what Kuhn had meant when he said it was dangerous.

“I don’t think they feel very welcoming towards us.”

She heard Kuhn’s soft chuckle.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I expected you to tell me that their eyes were impertinent, but you said that it was unwelcoming instead. It sounded quite funny to me.”

Kuhn was speaking about how she had called him ‘impertinent’ many times before. Even if he wasn’t being sarcastic, it still sounded quite rude. Speaking sarcastically was common in society, but no one ever spoke to Sienna in this way before.

“…You need to go back and relearn your manners. Starting with your speech.”

As they continued to banter back and forth, Sienna felt the tension begin to melt away. Sienna thought Kuhn was leading them further into the slum, but she found herself on the outside once again.

“They probably think we’re people who have lost our way. If we go back in, there’s a higher chance that we’ll run into some trouble.”

“Is it dangerous?”

“It’s dangerous.”

“And what if I want to go back in?”

“Then we’ll go back.”

He answered without any hesitation.

“But you said that it was dangerous.”

“Only if I’m not with you.”

Sienna looked back at the the slum as the shadows grew long from the setting sun. She sighed.

“It’s fine. I know it’s not a place I can freely visit just to satisfy my curiosity.”

They turned around and began to make their way back to the city.

“I don’t know why people hid the existence of this place from me.”

“They didn’t hide it. They just pretended it didn’t exist.”

“Pretended it didn’t exist? Why? These people are also clearly subjects of the Empire.”

Kuhn briefly observed Sienna’s expression. She was being earnest, and there was no sign of hypocrisy on her face.

‘Subjects…’

Filthy morons, potential criminals… That is what most people thought when they saw the slum and its inhabitants.

Was it just a difference in the education received by a potential monarch? Or were the members of the imperial family truly different from the rest? Dian and the Princess. While these two siblings were very different, they both had the characteristics to be an excellent ruler.

What a pity. If Dian became the emperor, then the talents that Sienna had would waste away.

“No matter where you go on the continent, places like that exist. It’s just that the one in the Empire is bigger than most. And it’s only going to get bigger, not smaller.”

“Why?”

“It’s just like how the shadow grows darker as the light becomes brighter. And the shadows have to be gathered all in once place for easier management. That’s why everyone just leaves it alone even though they know about it.”

“…”

The two of them continue to walk westward in silence until they reached the main street. Kuhn didn’t bother Sienna and let her dwell in her thoughts.