Chapter 422
Finished
“If you do not care for mild–flavored food, head over to Clover’s place. Her dishes are bold and spicy- savory. You might enjoy them p>
“Right, right! Come over to my house whenever you have time, Ms. Kaelin. No need to tire yourself cooking p>
Lyra found herself surrounded by the enthusiastic villagers, utterly at a loss for words, unable to get a single word in edgewise.
They said they had seen her on public feeds. Those must have been the news–conference camera clips.
Weren’t these people aligned with the rebels?
Why would they show so much genuine concern for someone who belonged to Core Prime’s faction?
“Everyone, keep your voices down. Don’t overwhelm the Guide with all that noise p>
“Ms. Kaelin looks so young. How old is she again p>
“Twenty–two? Or maybe twenty–three p>
“No wonder. Look at that soft skin and delicate hands. Core Prime really does spoil its people p>
Lyra stared blankly down as an elderly woman beamed with delight, cupping her hands to inspect Lyra’s palms.
For a split second, Lyra pictured a kind–hearted grandmother meeting her chubby newborn granddaughter for the first time, brimming with unmasked fondness.
The whole scene felt oddly alien.
She stepped back slightly, uncomfortable, and typed awkwardly on her Star Brain.
“…Thank you. It’s nice to meet you all p>
Seeing she was shy around strangers, the villagers did not crowd in further. They just smiled warmly at
her.
“It’s nice to meet you too p>
“You’re too polite, Ms. Kaelin p>
“Won’t you stop by my house? I’ve got kids at home; you could hang out with them p>
“It’s nearly mealtime. Come eat with us; you can play afterward p>
“That works…
The woman everyone called Clover slipped an arm through Lyra’s, trying to steer her toward her cottage.
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Lyra’s heart jolted.
This level of warmth Teh completely foreign to her.
She pulled her arm free and waved both hands in refusal.
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Finished
“No, thank you for your kindness… I still geed to unpack and arrange my cottage. I’m not hungry. Please don’t go out of your way for me p>
She scrambled to come up with excuses.
What made it even more awkward was the memory of herself standing before countless cameras, delivering sharp condemnations against this very rebel faction.
Now these same people invited her into their homes without the lightest trace of resentment.
The whole situation struck her as deeply strange.
Clover tilted her head in confusion. “Unpack your cottage? We already cleaned everything up for you. Is something unsatisfactory p>
Lyra fell silent for a beat. She forced a thin smile.
“I want to rearrange all the furniture and belongings p>
“Tell me what you want moved p>
Clover let go of her, rolled up her sleeves, and headed/straight for the cottage.
Several other middle–aged women followed close behind her.
Their no–nonsense, ready–to–work attitude left Lyra scrambling for more lies, close to tearing her hair out.
In the end, she surrendered to their sincere, simple–hearted goodwill. Clover laughed and pulled her along for a meal at her home.
When the woman tried to press her to stay longer, Lyra thanked her profusely and hurried back to her
cottage.
Upon arriving, she spotted a pile of fresh fruits and vegetables sitting by her doorway.
A handwritten note rested on top.
“Ms. Kaelin, these are home–grown, sweet and refreshing. Please try some p>
Lyra ler out a helpless smile.
Their genuine kindness weighed heavily on her heart.
If the rebel leaders had treated her like this, she would have assumed they were plotting something.
But these were ordinary folk, plainly dressed, their skin marked by long hours of manual labor.
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Beyond her discomfort, she could not bring herself to raise any guard against them.
Finished
She carried the produce side piece by piece. Then she planted her hands on her hips and stared at the pile for a moment.
She washed one piece of fruit, sat by the window, and bit into it while gazing out over the settlement.
A midday breeze rolled in, carrying warm air mixed with the sharp scent of wild grass.
Lyra’s mind drifted back to school holidays in her childhood.
Back then, carefree, she would sit inside with a fan blowing, eating watermelon and laughing to herself at cartoons on television,
Every so often, shrill cicada chirps cut through the summer air. r
Times had changed.
Those sweltering summer days, piles of homework, her mother’s scolding reminders…
Youth came free of heavy worries. Now that happy, innocent period was gone forever.
Lost in her daydreams, she noticed an older herder passing by, driving livestock ahead of him.
“Good day, Ms. Kaelin p>
Lyra always treated kind elders with respect, save for those she despised.
She quickly stood and nodded in greeting.
“Hello p>
The man wore a hand–woven straw hat. His skin was tanned bronze from the sun, and a herding pole hung loosely over one shoulder.
“You look a little bored
He nodded his pole toward a distant direction.
“There is a small river over that way. Kids go there hunting for little trinkets all the time. Lots of wildflowers bloom on the opposite bank. You might like it p>
Lyra thought a walk would do her good.
Til keep that in mind. Thank you p>
The herder waved and trundled off with an honest, simple grin.
Lyra glanced up at the bright sunlight. She fetched a finer–woven straw hat hanging on her cottage wall, pulled the door shut, and wandered slowly toward the river.
Well–tended farm plots stretched out on both sides of the path.
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In one overgrown pasture, several large black cattle grazed.
Curious, Lyra squatted the field’s edge to watch them.
Finished
She never imagined she would find something so reminiscent of old–world farmland out among the stars.
The species were different, though.
These huge black cattle bore three thick, sharp horns on their heads, their expressions far less docile than ordinary cattle.
When they fixed wary stares on her, Lyra stood up and moved away.
Before she even reached the riverbank, she heard the high–pitched laughter of playing children.
Drawing closer, she spotted five or six youngsters splashing and playing along the water’s edge.
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.