Single for Eternity
Chapter 70: Changing Town

Chapter 70: Changing Town

Tauriel quickly retreated to her chambers, her mind reeling from the unhinged scene she had just witnessed. ’He hasn’t changed at all... He is the same as before.’

Even though she repeated those words to herself, a small, nagging thought took root in the depths of her mind. Something about the scene had been off. An anomaly. A disturbance she couldn’t quite put into words.

Heaving a deep sigh, she shook her head as if trying to shake off the feeling. Her legs carried her faster toward her chamber, where she threw herself into her bed, tugging the sheets over her trembling frame.

...

The Next Morning.

Tauriel wandered through the town, seeking reprieve from the suffocating atmosphere of the castle. Something in the air felt wrong. The well-endowed maid was acting very differently from before. She was no longer muttering about killing Einar every single hour which was surprising on whole different level, nor was she fixated on one singular target, her eyes wandered around didn’t stay at a place.

In fact, it felt as if she no longer saw the rest of them at all.

She moved about the castle, eyes distant, expressions blank, treating everything and everyone as though they were mere specks of dust—no, even less than that. It was as if, for her, the rest of the world simply did not exist.

That eerie change had brought a strange tension to the castle. Conversations were stilted, the air heavy with a wordless pressure. Many of the maids had expressed frustration about being ignored, and some had even taken to avoiding her entirely.

Tauriel had decided she needed a break. The suffocating castle was no place for her today. She needed fresh air, even if she loathed the town that provided it.

The town was still undergoing construction as she wandered its streets. Dirt and mud houses had begun transforming into sturdier cobblestone ones. While most buildings were still primitive, there was undeniable progress. A few small merchandise shops had sprung up, selling daily necessities and trinkets to make life easier for workers.

It was an unusual yet effective method—many of the townspeople worked tirelessly, and not all had the same stamina. So, instead of overexerting themselves, they created ways to share labor and resources.

As Tauriel strolled beneath the sun’s intense rays, a light breeze provided some relief. She focused on her surroundings, taking it all in. Even though she despised this place, there was something... calming about it.

Yet, she couldn’t let herself forget.

This town—the same town that had taken her parents’ lives. A town filled with people who wore masks of innocence while hiding the blood on their hands.

A town filled with murderers. Two faced piece of ork shits in human skin with hunger for wealth as deep as a goblin.

She clenched her fists, forcing herself to push the thoughts away. She exhaled deeply and fixed a fragile smile onto her face, pressing forward.

As she observed the townsfolk, a growing discomfort settled in her gut. Something about their behavior seemed... off.

A young man with slit eyes was paving the road. A young woman walked toward him, requesting that he move aside as he blocked the path. He did not respond. His hands continued their rhythmic work, his focus unbroken.

The woman, growing impatient, repeated herself multiple times. Yet, he remained unresponsive. Frustrated, she finally lashed out—slapping him hard enough to leave a red imprint on his cheek and shoving him aside forcefully.

Despite the clear sting of pain, the young man did not react. He simply continued working for a few more moments before stopping altogether. Then, without a word, he turned and sat at the edge of the pavement, staring blankly ahead.

The young woman’s anger flared, but she did nothing more. She clicked her tongue in annoyance and walked away.

Tauriel felt her stomach churn. It wasn’t just the man. Many of the townsfolk were acting the same way—completely entranced by their work, utterly oblivious to the world around them. It wasn’t diligence or discipline.

It was unnatural.

Her pulse quickened. Something was very wrong.

’This isn’t normal. Something is happening in this town.’

A terrifying thought crept into her mind. ’Should I even investigate this?’

She hesitated but ultimately clenched her fists with renewed determination. ’I need to talk to Bess.’

...

With her mind made up, Tauriel turned back, her curiosity now mixed with unease.

Upon returning to the castle, she immediately sought out Bess, scouring room after room. After what felt like an eternity, she finally spotted her, engaged in conversation with the well-endowed maid.

Bess’s face was serious, her brows furrowed as she spoke. Meanwhile, the well-endowed maid seemed strangely detached, her eyes wandering, expression distant.

Tauriel huffed, catching her breath before calling out, "Bess!!"

Bess turned at the sound of her name, her eyes flickering with recognition. The well-endowed maid, however, merely shifted her gaze with a faint trace of annoyance.

"Bess... I—I need to talk to you," Tauriel said between deep breaths, brushing away beads of sweat.

Bess raised a hand to stop her. "Calm down, Tauriel. What’s wrong? Is it urgent?"

Tauriel inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. "Yes, somewhat. I need to discuss something... in private."

Her gaze flickered toward the well-endowed maid, subtly studying her. Even now, her posture was eerily still, her focus seemingly non-existent.

A small smile twitched onto the woman’s lips. "I suppose I should leave, then. You two can talk."

With that, she gave a small bow and walked away—her movements precise, steady, and devoid of any real humanity.

Bess scoffed, rolling her eyes as she watched her retreating figure. "Don’t you think she’s acting weird?" she muttered.

Tauriel didn’t hesitate. She nodded firmly, her fists clenching at her sides. She was hesitant to trust anyone, but if she didn’t speak now, she might regret it forever.

Thinking about such scenarios she turned her head toward Bess, her gaze locking onto hers with unwavering seriousness. "We need to talk... in private."