Subliminal Wayfarer

“Come this way, Grace. How often have you been to the East Side?”

“Not much, only occasionally.”

At Grace’s words, Selena showed a surprised smile.

“Young folks usually don’t like this side, do they?”

“I like it. There are many old shops.”

“Oh, we share the same taste then. I also like things that have stood the test of time.”

The East Side gave off a relatively older atmosphere compared to Central Park or the West Side.

Central Park, frequented mainly by the middle and upper classes and the bourgeoisie, was full of new innovations and bustling with life.

The West Side was a wealthy area.

It was lined with opera houses and expensive teahouses and was the gathering place for garden parties and social clubs.

The East Side, being the oldest neighborhood, was the least developed.

That’s why it was quieter.

It was frequented by commoners and lower-ranking nobles, and regular elderly noblewomen would often visit shops that seemed very ancient.

Decades ago, the East Side was as bustling as Central Park.

It was the older visitors, coming in search of memories from that time, who kept the East Side alive.

However, Grace’s reason for visiting this side was not such a nostalgic one.

‘Our orphanage is just beyond that crossroad.’

Grace was concerned about the orphanage she hadn’t visited in a while.

The orphanage that Grace was supporting couldn’t take in many children, but her help at least ensured that each child had three meals a day and proper education.

Next to the orphanage, a primary school was built so that children nearby could also learn to read and write.

Grace often brought old books to fill the bookshelves and sometimes taught the children herself.

The preserved food that Grace developed was also something she discovered while looking after the orphanage.

The first day she came to the orphanage, the children were gathered around in a circle, eating grass they had picked nearby.

One child offered Grace some grass, saying,

 

“The stem of this grass becomes sweeter the more you chew it, Miss. It’s surprisingly edible! If you crush it well and mix it with flour and bake it, it’s also filling.”

 

That grass was called konea, a very common weed in the Zeronium Kingdom.

Its rough leaf shape was unsightly and it grew everywhere, which was why it was one of the despised weeds.

But when Grace tried it, it wasn’t bad at all.

Moreover, the fruit of konea was round and hard, and when split open, it was found to be filled inside.

It was tasteless and hard to eat raw, but when slightly peeled and steamed, it was quite edible.

Grace experimented with this plant, which was abundant everywhere, by steaming, drying, and grinding it for over a year.

And by mixing it with other simple ingredients to create different flavors, she finally developed a preserved food that could be eaten even after a long time.

After repeatedly steaming it, it would be dried and crushed into powder. From there, when hot water was added, it quickly formed a soup-like substance.

Served with dried bread or milk, it became a fairly edible dish.

Two winters ago, which was particularly harsh, the orphanage relied on this preserved food Grace had made to get through the winter.

The following fall, Kelly, the director of the orphanage, wanted to share some with another orphanage director she was close with, and Grace gladly made it for them as well.

That orphanage director then introduced Grace to another orphanage.

Then, the preserved food was introduced as well to nursing homes for the abandoned elderly and a small community where disabled people lived together.

That fall, Grace and the orphanage children worked hard to make the dried food and sold it for a low price.

Still, they collected a decent amount of money, which was used to repair the orphanage and support the children.

The story of the preserved food finally reached the orphanage sponsored by Her Highness Freesia, the king’s daughter.

Was it because she was impressed by the preserved food?

The princess asked the king to invite Grace to the palace and inquired in detail about how the preserved food was made.

With a somewhat nervous face, Grace explained without omission.

About the children who had nothing to eat and resorted to eating grass, the roots of the grass they preferred, and the nearly a year of research that went into it.

 

“You are truly remarkable, Grace O’Ellin.”

 

The princess was greatly impressed by the story Grace told.

She did not skimp on her praise either.

If used properly, this preserved food could be of tremendous help not only during droughts but also in times of war or during rainy seasons.

Moreover, when it was discovered that the processed konea had excellent detoxifying effects, it caused a stir in the academic world.

Such a seemingly useless weed turned out to be a beneficial plant that could help countless people!

For her contributions, Grace was recognized with an independent noble title and a modest reward.

It was a very rare and honorable occurrence in the long history of Zeronium. As a matter of fact, such a title had been given to only four individuals throughout the kingdom’s seven hundred and fifty years.

That was last year.

After that incident, Norman’s harassment became worse, while Kafrenn O’Ellin was pleased that Grace could now marry into a better family with a larger dowry.

“What’s wrong, Grace? You look upset.”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Just remembering some unpleasant memories.”

Selena, walking alongside Grace under an umbrella, glanced at her and then smiled broadly.

The two, walking down the faded, color-drained streets, looked excessively vibrant.

“Grace.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know why I like old things?”

“No, I don’t really know.”

What could this be about?

Grace asked cautiously for the reason.

Selena took a deep breath of the unique parchment smell from the street of old bookstores and said,

“It’s about the past.”

“The past?”

“New and old have different colors. Even if made of the same materials and in the same way, objects that have endured time possess a unique color.”

Selena, who had moved closer, took Grace’s arm in hers.

Unaccustomed to such intimate contact, Grace stiffened involuntarily.

Selena glanced at her and patted Grace’s arm, where she had linked arms, as if to soothe her.

Gently, very gently. Softly.

“That worn color is evidence of overcoming and enduring the past. Because there was a past, it now has its own color that nobody else can imitate. Even if a similar new one comes out, it’s just an imitation in the end. Nothing can overcome time. It’s similar to effort.”

What did the Elder Madam want to say?

As close as Grace could feel her body temperature, she listened even more intently to her voice, tense with the proximity.

“I think humans are similar. Ah, of course, humans and objects are different. But because they are different, I think humans are more remarkable.”

Selena recalled her own past.

“There’s no creature as fragile as human beings. Humans take their own lives out of depression, become ugly from hunger, and turn into monsters because of love.”

Remembering herself, powerless after losing her beloved Felix.

Those past days when she no longer wanted to live or smile.

When it ended, she thought even her own life was over.

Those dark and painful days.

“For humans to stand up from their past, I think it takes tremendous courage and patience. Just like how your past has built you up to who you are now, Grace.”

Fortunately, she had a family she loved as much as Felix.

Lovely children who knock on the door daily, coming to wake her up.

Pitiful sons waiting for their mother, trapped in her room with sorrow.

She came out, and now, she spends each day grateful to be alive.

Because she’s alive, she had the privilege of watching her stone-like reticent son awkwardly fidgeting in front of this beautiful lady.

Selena stroked Grace’s cheek.

The warmth touching her cheek, and her flinching at the unfamiliarity, evoked sorrow in Selena.

“I don’t know what kind of times you went through, but I’m proud of and fond of that version of you from the past.”

She was a brave lady who did not run away even knowing that her fiancé could become angry and unmanageable, as he was rumored.

It seemed like she had been suppressed a lot, which was saddening, but even so, there was an elegance about her that didn’t look pitiful at all.

Regardless of Lucas’s choice, Selena liked Grace from the first sight.

“Because of your past, you’ve become this beautiful, kind, and lovely Grace now.”

Maybe that’s why, but Selena wanted to comfort her.

She wanted to cheer her on and pat her on the shoulder.

‘Perhaps meddling, perhaps foolish.’

It didn’t matter what it was called.

She just wanted to do it because she wanted to.

‘…Look at this, just by hearing a few words, you’re making such an expression. It really tugs at my heart.’

Selena patted the younger woman’s shoulder again, looking into the clear violet eyes staring back at her.

Beyond those strong-looking purple eyes, she could see something wavering.

“Let’s go. I can’t remember the last time I walked arm in arm with someone. How thrilling! With this fluttering heart, now I’m craving to eat the famous pound cake from that shop. I hope its taste hasn’t changed.”

“…I’ll buy it for you,” Grace shyly offered.

“Oh my, really? Can I also have a slice of lemon pie?”

“I was worried you’d only want one piece. Of course. Please have as much as you like.”

The two entered the oldest shop on the street, walking side by side.