Chapter 10

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Translated by: Miss Lassie

“Ms. Judith, how about spending your summer vacation at the Curtis mansion in Waltz?”

After Mr. Larson’s visit, Judith returned to her room and contemplated her sponsor’s offer all day.

Waltz, the capital of Baja, was the heart of the Federal State. It was the largest city on the Northern continent and one of the top five cities in the world. Dotted by skyscrapers, surrounded by a beautiful coast, and lit by neon signs at night, it was a city that never slept. Waltz represented freedom, wealth, and ambition. They called it the city of dreams.

“A quiet country life is good, but you should at least experience life in a big city as a young college student. In Waltz, you can see the Great Hall and the Commonwealth landmarks such as the Foyson Library called the Forest of Knowledge, the Tollthread Tower, and West Broadway. You can even shop at High-End Street, known as the center of fashion, or visit the panoramic views of the sea stretching from the east to the west. There’s also nothing like the vast national treasures of the Waltz State Grand Park. If you stay at the Curtis Mansion, you’ll have the opportunity to get a glimpse of the life of the nobility.”

As a secretary working for a prestigious family, he was very good at convincing people.

After trying to impress her with fascinating stories about Waltz, Mr. Larson lowered his voice to a sound that Rachel and the children eavesdropping outside the door couldn’t hear.

“The Master is also well aware of Ms. Judith’s concerns. We know that the post-war negotiations are still underway, so it would be a somewhat burdensome proposal for Ms. Judith, who came from Kilgeny, to travel to Waltz. But you don’t have to worry about it. From the moment you step into Waltz, the guards hired by the Curtis family will protect you and ensure you don’t get into any dangers. You also don’t have to worry about people finding out your identity.”

Judith thought that Mr. Larson anticipated all her questions and had prepared answers for them. Did one have to be highly skilled at persuasion to become a secretary?

“This is the reply from your sponsor, Ms. Judith.”

He handed her a large, flat box wrapped in luxurious blue satin and left, saying he would meet her in front of the Waltz Central Station if she informed him of her expected date and time of arrival by letter in advance.

Mr. Larson didn’t even consider the possibility that she would refuse the offer. After the visit, all that was left was Rachel, who was very happy with the donation the secretary delivered to the nursery, the twinkly-eyed children, and Judith, who was still in shock.

She quickly attempted to flee the room, knowing that a barrage of questions would be coming her way.

“Are you going, Jude? You must go! Your sponsor is a Curtis. Damn, that’s so cool!”

“Get out of my way, Millie!”

Judith slammed the door and drowned out Millian’s annoying voice behind. Her heart was pounding hard in her chest.

‘Breathe and think calmly.’

Judith stumbled and collapsed on the bed when she realized she was still holding the box Mr. Larson had given her.

The secretary said this was her sponsor’s reply, but she wasn’t sure if it was his response to the last letter she sent to him. Somehow, it didn’t look like a letter at all.

Judith unwrapped the box and opened it with trembling hands. the thing inside it was something she had never expected.

“A gun…?”

It was a silver pistol with the barrel embossed with elaborate designs of tulips and leaves. The trigger was stylishly curved like a vine, and thick padding covered the gun’s hilt to prevent it from slipping off the hand.

At first, it looked like a fancy ornament, but Judith checked the cylinder and saw that the six chambers only contained five bullets.

“Why did he send this to me all of a sudden?”

Judith embarrassingly recalled asking her sponsor for a pistol a long time ago. He didn’t send it at that time, probably because he thought it was an inappropriate gift for a young girl.

“Is he telling me to prepare myself for any danger?”

Judith fumbled with the box, checking if there was anything else when something stiff caught her hand under the soft fabric. She completely peeled off the satin wrapping, revealing a small card.

She opened the card, wondering if it contained instructions about the gun but was taken aback by what she saw that she almost dropped the pistol.

It was a handwritten message on a card half a palm-size containing only a single line.

I look forward to spending the summer with you, Ms. Judith Krauser.

Judith stared blankly at the words written on the card with her mouth agape for a moment, then she sprang to her feet and rushed towards her desk. She opened the safe inside the drawer, carefully fumbled through the small, expensive items her sponsor had given her and pulled out a thin envelope.

She hastily opened the letter inside the envelope, revealing neatly handwritten words that she had read a thousand times.

Dear Ms. Wortherford,

I want to introduce the child that I’m sponsoring in your care.

“This handwriting…”

As if printed, the strokes were straight, the spacing was neat, and the letters were slightly thicker. Judith’s heart began to pound hard when she confirmed that the two handwritings were the same.

Judith Krauser.

It was the first time in five years that she saw her name spelled out again, and it felt familiar yet unfamiliar to her at the same time. Her first name no longer had the same pronunciation even though its spelling remained the same. She also acquired a new surname since ‘Krauser’ was too difficult to pronounce using the official language.

It was the second letter she had seen from her sponsor. Why was he using her real name now?

‘If there ever comes a day when you and I would meet, I want you to call me by my real name. Now you’re the only person in the world who knows that Judith Wortherford was once Judith Krauser.’

“Ah…”

Judith groaned and pressed the small card to her face, feeling the cool texture of the paper against her warm cheeks as she recalled the request she made a long time ago.

“How can I not go after everything you’ve done for me?”

Her heart began to beat rapidly. At that moment, her concerns about visiting a big city, fear of the dangers lurking, and the risk of exposing her identity have all faded away. Despite her initial hesitation, Judith had made her decision.

‘Let’s go to Waltz.’

The image of the city, which she had seen through black and white pictures on newspaper articles, fleeted briefly over her closed eyes. Judith couldn’t stop herself from smiling as she hugged her pillow tightly.

‘I’m going to Waltz!’

There was a secret that she had always wanted to but could never tell him despite her attempts, and it was the fact that she liked him.

The gentle spring breeze rustled the leaves on the trees, and Judith tucked her hair behind her ear, sweeping some stray locks away. The season in which the sun’s rays become more intense had come. It was early morning, yet the Wortherford Orphanage bustled with energy on the day Judith was about to leave.

A simple luggage was loaded into the trunk. Judith made her way to the opened car door with Millian following behind her.

Of course, she also snuck in some useless junk in her bag when Millian wasn’t looking, like some matches and scented candles to calm the mind and body.

“Are you sure you’ll be fine traveling alone, Jude?”

“Of course. How old do you think I am?”

“Don’t wander around recklessly. If possible, it would be better to ask them to have a car pick you up once you arrive there. Air pollution is rife in the big city, so don’t walk too long.”

Millian followed and nagged her all the way to the car. When she said she was visiting Waltz, he was more enthusiastic than anyone else. But now, he seemed very worried about sending her off.

“If anything happens, please get in touch with me. I’ll come to you right away.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Don’t worry too much, Millie.”

Before Millian’s ridiculous worries reached their peak, Judith hugged her friend tightly and quickly got into the waiting car.

It would take fifteen hours traveling by car and another ten hours by train to get to Waltz from Kinsley. Gregory would be accompanying her halfway until Tyson, where she would board the train to Waltz.

Judith leaned out of the window as Rachel approached the car, and she kissed her cheek.

“I’ll be back soon, Director.”

“Take care of yourself and don’t get into trouble. Tell your sponsor that I will never forget his kindness.”

“Of course.”

Rachel took a step back after stroking Judith’s hair one last time, and the Wortherford children all rushed to her side as the car drove away.

“Have a safe trip, Jude!”

“I’ll buy presents for everyone!”

Judith waved vigorously through the window and did not stop until the Wortherford Nursery, surrounded by poplar trees, gradually became smaller and fell out of sight.

It was the start of her summer vacation, and Judith left Kinsley for the first time since she arrived in the Federal State of Baja.

02 Waltz, A Strange and Dangerous City

Rogeric Curtis, CEO of General Curtis

At the age of twenty-four, he inherited the management rights of General Curtis from his father, Harry Curtis. He acquired New Way Craft, an aircraft manufacturer that suffered significant losses from the war, and earnestly entered the military industry with enormous capital gains.

He is a talented person who made the name ‘Curtis’ known to the world with his brilliant mind and incredible business acumen at only twenty-nine.

On the train to Waltz, Judith searched the daily newspapers for the latest articles about the Curtis family. One piece of information stood out, and it was about him taking a break this summer at his home in Waltz after staying in the eastern factory of General Curtis for a while.

Speculative reports have also circulated that Rogeric planned a meeting with Waltz investors to privatize his airline business project and start the negotiations next year.

Judith took a long look at the front page of the daily newspaper. It was a photograph of a man talking with engineers under a vast military aircraft framework.

Since it was a black and white photo, it was somewhat difficult to tell the color of his hair accurately. Judging from the brightness, was it light brown or dark blond? She wasn’t sure.

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Miss Lassie’s Corner

We’ve now reached the second part of the novel! I am so excited for what Judith will see and experience in Waltz. I can’t wait to meet the ML candidates too.