"Eliza, do you even have a conscience?" Matthew leapt down from the carriage and stormed straight up to her, unleashing his fury without restraint.


    "How could you kill so many shadow guards? They were our people! Do you have any idea what you''ve done? Father''s been sick with rage because of you!"


    I don''t know, and I don''t care," Eliza said tly, not even sparing him a full nce. "You really are heartless, Matthew snapped.


    Tm heartless?" Eliza gave a coldugh. "Then what does that make Sophie? A saint? Don''t forget, even you tried to poison her-you absolute scum."


    "I did it because I wanted to, Matthew shot back, his eyes burning. "And if it weren''t for you, Sophie would never have turned on me


    "Oh, you idiot," Eliza muttered.


    She turned to leave, but Matthew blocked her path: "Where do you think you''re going? Tell me-did you hide Sophie? Where is she? Bring her back to me,


    I told you already-I don''t know. And even if I did, I wouldn''t tell you," she snapped, her patience wearing thin. "If you''re so desperate to find her, go look for her younell. I''m not your answer"


    Matthew clenched his jaw so tight looked like his teeth might shatter. "Don''t think I won''ty a hand on you just because someone powerful''s backing you now?


    Before he could finish. Eliza pped him hard across the face. She raised her chin and stared him down, eyes glinting with defiance. "Toote. I alreadynd a hand on you. What now? You gonna hit me hack! Co on-try me."


    Matthew''s hand shot up, trembling with fury-but in the end, he let it fall


    Eliza sneered. So you ve finally learned your ce. About time, too. Because if you try anything stupid again, the whole Stonor family can rot in prison together"


    "You''re getting too full of yourself. Eliza Matthew hissed


    "Too bad. I like being full of myself


    With that, she shoved past him and headed downhill, leaving Matthew standing at the roadside, fists clenched so tightly his


    knuckles cracked


    "Idiot. Moron Brain-dead bunan," Eliza grumbled as she walked, her anger still simmering "You''re just as useless as that fool Caleb


    She kept cursing under her breath until the fire in her chest finally died down. Only then did she pick up her pare, making her way toward Haven City


    Before long, a slow-moving ox cart rumbled up the path.


    The driver wa


    viger from nearby, someone who oben ferried the nuns of Saint Grace Nunnery into town. He wased warmly from the front of the cart. "Headed to Haven City again? Hop in."


    didn''t refuse. She pulled out ams and handed them over. Thanks."


    11:06 Thu, 17 Apr


    "Ohe on now," the driver, Jackson Hunt, chic time."


    chuckled -


    You


    folks are always so polite. Its on the way-oneed to pay every


    Eliza smiled. "Mary''s strict. If I don''t pay. I''ll get scolded when I get back. So please-pust take it


    She wouldn''t actually be scolded, but it was only fair to give what was due


    Jacksonughed and finally epted the coins. "Well, can''t have you getting in trouble over this"


    Noticing how clean and neat Eliza looked, he instinctively wiped his hands on his thirt before taking the money. As the cart rolled on, they chatted now and then- Jackson being a man who loved a good talk


    "So what''re you heading into the city for today?" he asked. "If it''s along the way, I''ll drop you off"


    "I''m just going to pick up some supplies for nting medicinal herbs," Eliza replied.


    "Ah, now that''s a good trade," Jackson nodded. "Heard you can make decent money growing the right ones."


    He perked up, clearly delighted by the topic. There''s this old man in Vonalo Vige near us, real legend when ites to herbs. People''ve tried to hire him for crazy money just to help them grow stuff, but he won''t budge. Says he''s too old doesn''t want the fuss-just grows his own and sells a little here and there."


    Eliza''s curiosity was piqued. "What kind of herbs does he grow


    "Loads," Jackson said, then lowered his voice, as if sharing a great secret. They say he even grew ginseng


    "Seriously?" Eliza''s eyes widened. "That''s impressive."


    "Right? I''ve never seen it myself, but folks in Vonalo Vige swear it''s true," Jackson said earnestly. "I mean, think about it—why would all those rich folks go knocking on his door if he was just growingmon herbs: Makes sense, doesnt it?"


    Eliza had to admit, he had a point. She leaned forward with interest. "What''s his name? Where exactly does he live in Vonalo Vige?"


    She asked until she''d gotten every detail straight, then made a mental note to visit the old man once she got back.


    Later, when they arrived in Hasen City, Eliza first picked up some tools for cultivating herbs


    She strolled through alleys and markets, tucking each item away into her pocket farm as she went.


    Next, she headed to a library, hoping to find books on herbal cultivation.


    But to her disappointment, she scoured the entire ce without finding even a


    single volume on the subject.


    "Eliza. Long time no see."


    She


    If was I


    ing like


    ?


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