Chapter 63 - First Morning In Ronmin
Chapter 63 – First Morning In Ronmin
"Rise and Shine~!"
"Ugh… goddamn it, Sally. Why the hell are you so loud early in the morning?" Cora grunted grumpily, opening one eye while sitting up. I was already sitting up as I woke up around the same time as Alice and Sally — even though I slept late. Maybe because I was still adjusting, that was why I was up early.
"My Garrett usually wakes me up with kisses and his morning wood," she added grumpily, but Alice shushed her.
"Cora, dearest language, please. There are children around." Alice shook her head lightly, scanning our faces while she was still lying on her side on the divan. "Today is Rinnie's first day. So while you were asleep, Sally, Rinnie, and I decided we will show her around."
Actually, it was just Alice and Sally who decided on that, and all I did was nod. But not that I was completely against it. I knew Hugo would be very busy today, and I wanted to know more about this empire. It would be good if they show me around so I could adjust quickly.
"Oh…!" Cora clapped as she recovered from her groggy state. "That's perfect! I have nothing to do today since that rascal is back. Father will let me take a day off since he will give Hugo his undivided attention. Heh."
"Sister, you look evil." Priscilla pointed out, but Cora's lips stretched broader. "Now that's scary."
"She had been working hard during brother Hugo's absence, so sister Cora deserves it," Teresa chimed in, making Cora nod in agreement.
Alice clapped to gain our attention. "Anyway, after breakfast, we will show our new sister around and enjoy some tea time later. We'll introduce you to our other sisters-in-law."
"Alright." I smiled and nodded. Alice looked excited for today and I looked at all of them, only to sense the same level of excitement. Their energy was contagious and I couldn't help but look forward to how today would turn out.
*****
After Alice briefed us on today's agenda, the princesses made the bed in coordination. It was surprising that they fixed the place where we slept, folded the sheets, and returned the furniture to their usual places without the servants' help. I took part in helping them, but unlike them, I was… inexperienced.
"Sister, don't you make your own bed?" Teresa raised a question as I hugged the pillow to put them back on the bed we didn't use. "You look like it's your first time doing chores."
"Uh… I usually just straighten out the sheets, which I learned to do when we're traveling," I explained awkwardly. I only did so because that was how I saw the servants in Everfell do to make my bed a bit more presentable.
"Aren't you princesses? I don't mean to offend, but the servants should do these things, yes?" I asked this time, gazing at Teresa across from me as we arranged the pillows.
"Yes, it's their job. But even if we're princesses in name, Father trained us to know these things for survival purposes," she explained in a knowing tone.
"His reason was, what if we didn't have servants anymore? How are we going to live if we cannot pay a single servant?" Cora joined in as she placed the folded sheets on the end of the bed.
"That's right. Life is unpredictable; one day, you're rich and the next day, you're poorer than a peasant." Sally, who took part in folding the sheet, jumped on the edge of the bed. "But sister, how come you seem you're not experienced in doing chores? Are you perhaps born rich?"
I pursed my lips as their curious eyes were fixed on me. How should I explain this?
"Uhm… I don't know what being rich means, but I used to have servants doing these chores for me." I cleared my throat, hoping to make myself sound less awkward."
"So, you're actually a rich lady?" Cora was awed as she also sat down at the end of the bed. "My gosh… did Hugo really abduct a noble lady?"
"But didn't she say they met in the middle of the woods?" Teresa carefully leaned on the pillow.
Sally gasped and covered her lips. "Don't tell me, you eloped with brother Hugo because your family doesn't like a rude person like him?"
"Uh… no." I shook my head lightly as I also sat down. "It's not like that. Just like what you said, Sally. One day, a person can have everything, but everything can change overnight. That's what happens to me. One moment, my life was perfect, the second… everything is gone."
They all frowned in worry, but I smiled. "Don't worry. It's fine now. I'm fine now since it already happened and… it's something I have no control over."
"I'm glad that brother Hugo took you here," Teresa muttered with a sigh.
"How about your family? Why didn't they take you with them?" Cora raised a brow, wanting to feed her curiosity.
"Cora, enough. Can't you see Rinnie is uncomfortable?" Alice walked towards us to stop Cora from asking, but I sported a smile.
"It's fine." I shook my head as I gazed down. "My family… they're dead. I'm the only one who survived… or at least, that is what I know."
"Ack!" Cora squealed and when I looked up, I saw Alice lower her fist while the former rubbed her head. "I'm sorry. I was insensitive."
"Sister Cora, how can you ask sister Rinnie that her family should've taken her to heaven as well?" Sally clicked her tongue while shaking her head.
"I don't think that's the point here, sister Sally." Priscilla, who was standing right next to Alice, commented.
"Anyway, forgive my sister if she opened up a wound in your heart." Alice offered me an apologetic smile, but I waved.
"Not at all. It's alright." I laughed heartily to liven up the mood. "I am grateful that even after such an incident, good things are still happening in my life. Hugo helped me that night and I am still alive and I got to meet you all."
"Sister…" Teresa called with teary eyes, pressing her lips until its side curved down. "… why are you so sweet?! Let me marry you instead!"
She jumped in my direction and wrapped her arms around my waist. I chuckled and stroked her hair, gazing up to see Alice and Cora smiling warmly.
"Enough with the subject! Let's all prepare to go out! Sisters, let's all doll up and go shopping to buy sister Rinnie some clothes!" Sally suggested and clapped. Her eyes glimmered with anticipation.
"Sounds like a good idea!" Alice nodded while rubbing her chin. "Let's just show her around the capital and do shopping. The palace can wait for later."
And that was how our plan for today changed from showing me around the palace to roam around the capital with them.