"Wait for Big Sister. I'll go get changed."
Aleshia closed the curtains to the small cubicle in the changing room and Ella was left outside alone by herself.
"Okay!"
Ella smiled and waited for her Big Sister to change. After a few rustles of clothes later, Aleshia came out wearing her maid uniform.
"Big Sister is so beautiful!"
Ella praised her big sister with her mouth opened wide. The maid uniform perfectly fitted her big sister's beauty. It was like she was made to be a maid.
"Thank you, Ella."
Aleshia rubbed Ella's head before they both came out of the changing room together to head for Lawrend. They passed by many hallways and arrived inside the lounge.
Lawrend was sipping on wine as books were scattered on the large couch he was sitting on. Aleshia knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Lawrend watched as Aleshia came in together with Ella. They were both holding their hands together.
"What is your name, little girl?"
Lawrend was smiling as he asked Ella. This was the same little girl that he saw in Aleshia's pendant. She was just like her big sister. Their facial features are almost the same.
"Ella! Are you my Big Sister's Young Master?"
Ella responded jovially. She asked Lawrend in curiosity. Lawrend's smile became wider when he heard her question.
"Yes. Come here, do you want a piece of candy?"
Lawrend grabbed a piece of candy wrapped on his table and passed it to Ella.
"Yey! Thank you~! Ah, no!"
Ella was thanking Lawrend when Aleshia suddenly took it from her hands. Aleshia was immediately alerted by the candy Lawrend gave Ella. It could be a candy laced with poison.
"Stop giving weird things to my little sister."
There was anger in Aleshia's eyes. Lawrend jumped in fright when she suddenly got angry.
"What are you saying? That's just candy."
Lawrend tried to defend himself. It was obvious to him that she was thinking that the candy is poisoned.
"I don't believe you."
Aleshia's voice was cold as she replied. There was still no trust in her for Lawrend. Right now, she was feeling very uneasy as Ella was with her.
"What if I eat that candy? Will you trust me?"
Lawrend suggested. If she doesn't trust him for something like this then it would be hard for Ella to stay inside the mansion if she would just doubt anything and everything.
"Show me."
Aleshia threw the piece of candy back to Lawrend which he caught.
"Big Sister… why did you do that?"
There were tears forming in Ella's eyes as she looked up at Aleshia. It is very painful for little kids when stuff is taken from them by force.
"Oh, Ella. It's okay."
Aleshia wiped Ella's tears with her hands. She didn't know what to say to her little sister to explain things. She was still very young to understand these kinds of topics. It would only confuse her.
"Watch me eat this candy."
Lawrend caught Aleshia's attention before unwrapping the candy and throwing it inside his mouth. He licked and sucked on it inside his mouth and made sure it was very obvious from the outside so Aleshia would see that he was really consuming the piece of candy.
"Trust me yet?"
Lawrend asked as he continued dissolving the candy inside his mouth.
"... Give me another one."
Aleshia opened her palm and Lawrend grabbed another piece of candy on the table and threw it towards Aleshia. She caught it and unwrapped the piece of candy. She sniffed on the candy and a weird expression appeared on her face.
"Ginger?"
She smelled the smell of ginger in the piece of candy. It was an odd smell coming from a candy.
"It helps me concentrate when I'm studying."
Lawrend laid his head on the couch as he continued dissolving the candy in his mouth. Aleshia looked at him and the piece of candy reluctantly for a bit before throwing it inside her mouth.
"Ah, Big Sister!"
Ella thought that her big sister would be giving it to her but she just saw Aleshia throw it inside her mouth. Her face became downcast after seeing that.
"Give me another one."
Aleshia requested another one and Lawrend threw her another piece. She smelled the piece of candy first before she gave it to Ella.
"Yey!"
Ella exclaimed in joy. She placed the candy inside her mouth and the taste of the ginger and sweet sugar widened her eyes. It was a weird flavor for her at first but she soon became used to it.
"Delicious!"
Ella shouted in amazement.
"I'm glad you liked it."
Lawrend felt happy that she liked the candy. It was something that he had a candy maker make specifically for him. The ginger flavor was his idea after hearing that ginger can help with nausea. It was because he becomes nauseous after a long study session.
"What time are we leaving?"
Aleshia asked Lawrend. It was already late in the morning. Traveling far would take time so she was curious.
"Before noon. You can spend time with Ella for a while longer before we leave."
Lawrend replied casually. Their path was already predetermined by him a few days ago.
"I see. Thank you."
Aleshia bowed her head slightly.
"Leaving?"
Ella picked up on Aleshia and Lawrend's words and she immediately became nervous. Ever since she was small, she had always been with her big sister. She wouldn't be able to part with her.
"Yes, Ella. Big Sister and the Young Master would be leaving later. It will be towards a faraway place so you have to stay and behave here, okay?"
Aleshia crouched down and fondled Ella's cheeks. Tears slowly fell from Ella's eyes and she went forward to embrace her big sister.
"I want to come! Big Sister, I don't want to be separated from you…"
Ella sobbed as she embraced Aleshia. Aleshia's face became sour after hearing Ella's cries. It hit all of her soft spots. The thought of not going even passed through her mind, but she still remembered the purpose of this trip. It was to have the chance of healing her little sister's curse sooner rather than later. Who knows what would happen if it was postponed much further.
