บท 4: Chapter (4): Bypass

"Please, no! I prefer doing it myself."

Elizabeth avoided Lisa from touching her body. Stretching her arms back hardly affordable to do it alone but either way, she did it.

"Oh, I didn't know this is going to disturb you."

Lisa smiled. Grabbing Luna's dress, she rubbed her eyes off Elizabeth, turning her path to the clothing basket. Ell followed her.

"Hmm, not actually I was disturbed. My mom used to tell us to do our stuff on our own so I would rather keep her words in my mind." She peeked at Luna.

Luna smirked. The little one was snapping at her. The girls now were naked, both were thin.

Lisa discovered some bruises on Elizabeth's arm and red traces on her back. It wasn't possible she gained them from her fight because Ryan was always careful not to cause her injuries even if he had to pay it with a poor failure.

They went inside the water and Lisa brought the soap, pretending that she did not see the injuries. Elizabeth was pride and she didn't want to smash it under her feet. Lisa had to inform their uncle. The girl was holding and handling pain when she fought Ryan but didn't show it at all.

"Let me wash you, Elizabeth."

She desired but the girl shook her head.

"Just give me the sponge and soap."

Lisa sighed and handed her the soap.

Luna was smart and read that face hastily. She gulped but said nothing. Their personal affairs were no one's business and besides, she despised her uncle discovering about these foolish things and would become furious. In no case, they wished for leaving their father.

Washing their body, the color of the water changed. Luna smiled and tossed a full fist of the foam into Elizabeth.

"Look what you did to this water, silly bunny!"

The little sister repaid that move without thinking twice and they began to laugh. Elizabeth dragged the foams on her chest, making two huge breasts there.

"Ok, Mr. James! I will see you on Saturday night at my tea party!"

They laughed, she was mimicking a General's woman.

"I will bring my sons, and you can bring your daughter."

Luna blinked as the woman always used to do toward their father.

"Yes, she doesn't like me. I make trouble."

"Who cares what she likes!" Luna answered.

Lisa chuckled. She wished that it wasn't the only time they were laughing from the bottom of their heart, the depths that were holding secrets.

"Fine, girls! Come out, let me pour water on you to get rid of foams."

After finishing the cleaning and drying up, they dressed up and walked outside.

"I will keep your dresses for the next time you come."

Lisa remarked.

Luna bobbed her head. The next time could be the next year if uncle Miguel wouldn't come to visit them.

They passed the corridor and walked down the stairs. Elizabeth tied her black hair up to her head. She took after their father while Luna was a reflection of their mother in a mirror, in manner and feature both.

"You are ready now." Their father put the cup of coffee down on the table and got to his feet slowly.

Elenore who was the eager one followed him.

"Sir, the sky is calm. They can move safely."

Margaret noted, looking outside.

"Yes, they took thirty minutes so the sky got tired of pouring too."

Elenore was smashing Elizabeth's nerve with her heels. She clenched her bag in her fist.

"Thank you uncle, I would read the book and take it back to you."

Luna noted, picking the book up from the table. It was her favorite story, the one that their mother loved the most.

"Keep it, Luna! It is not my book."

They all walked to the door. Ryan was standing in a dark corner, he didn't want them to leave this soon.

"Be safe, princesses."

Lisa waved a hand for them, her eyes grew teary. She erased them quickly. The girls waved back their hands while crossing the doorway, peeking at Ryan. They had the same emotions as him.

Steam was blowing out of the horses' mouths and noses. The sky ceased and they got to their carts. The girls went inside a separate one with the company of the butler. Luna drew the curtain away, cleaning the steam with her sleeve. Captain Black was riding ahead of them and two other guards were in the back.

The cart's interior design was knitted with red velvet textile with golden needlework margins. The seats were comfy but it didn't matter when the road was bumpy that made the cart scramble further.

Luna gazed back, their parent's cart was coming behind them. They turned to the left road. Shouldn't have they crossed through the forest which had a safer path rather than the mountain neck? The river must be roaring by now and the earth was shaky and unstable there.

Luna gazed at the butler who had a slim bony figure that his suit looked flappy on him. His black eyes were dim with no light. Yet, he was always loyal to their father. He was a serious man and his aura was blazing out, forcing others to keep the silence decreeing around.

But Elizabeth always was brave to question everyone. She didn't ask it from her uncle because he would simply skip it but this one did not care to scare the kids so he was the good option for asking questions.

"Charles, what is a cursed crow? And did you see it around us before?"

She asked without thinking once more. Luna's eyes averted to Charles who seemed not to be shocked at all.

"It means death!"

"What?" Luna felt the shiver in her heart. She saw the poor bird was roped by the leg and needles were inside its wings. It could also terrify their uncle.

"What witch can send such a stupid joke around us?" Elizabeth growled.

"A day before your mother came back from this mansion we saw the same crow."

She died afterward.

He didn't care if they were two young girls that might be heartbroken in such a day. The girls in an age just a bit older than them, who lived in the villages of the Greenwood were always forced to marry men. When they could tolerate this, so these courtiers were needed to grow up faster before being devoured by some wicked people.