"Please."
Queen Sara—or rather, the former Queen Sara of ancient Roran, now the Village Chief of Roran Village—served Lin Qing and the others desert milk tea.
She had long dark-red hair simply tied behind her head, and traces of the elegance she had possessed as a queen could still be seen in her every word and gesture.
However, after Roran's downfall, years of wind and sun had left her skin somewhat rougher, with quite a few white strands appearing in her hair. She also coughed from time to time as she spoke, as though she was in poor health.
Lin Qing and the others picked up their teacups and exchanged looks.
The fragrance of tea curled through the air, rich with the scent of milk. After their journey, they had long been thirsty and wanted something to soothe their throats.
But when they thought of the girl who had died so miserably in the explosion, the milk tea in their hands felt like scalding lava, impossible to swallow.
Rasa's view had been that countless people died in the Land of Wind every day. Though the girl was pitiful, misfortune was the backdrop of fate. He had suggested that they head straight to Warsaw City and avoid further complications.
But both Lin Qing and Elder Chiyo had objected.
Lin Qing's view was, "If we didn't know them, then so be it. But since we crossed paths, and that child and her people died because Akatsuki wanted to deal with us... taking some time to notify their family is something we ought to do."
"At the very least, the living should know why and how their loved ones died."
Elder Chiyo's reason was much simpler.
"I want to see an old acquaintance."
That old acquaintance was naturally Queen Sara.
Lin Qing drained