Chapter 70 Cute Little Sister (Part 2)

Aillenne forced her mouth shut and counted from one to ten to control her feelings. It is nerve wracking actually.

'Just count like you usually do. Yes, that's right. I've gone through this situation in the orphanage. Let's keep things cool. This thing is easy as pie.'

She conditioned herself.

'It's alright. She's just a little girl who is spoiled by this character's parents. Fuuuu...' She breathed. '...inhale... exhale. Repeat.'

"Yes. My sister is right."

Aillenne finally said the words they wanted to hear, which made Adele's face brightened.

"Of course, I should be. I should have been the big sister, not you. Since you don't know a thing, follow me wherever I go. Now, just tag along."

They went to other different shops to buy hats, cute bags, shoals and even shoes but they just let Aillenne tag along like a third wheel. They really meant what they said. Tag along... like an obedient dog.

They walked around almost all the shops in their periphery and kept on buying things all for Adele. Well, that's expected. However, Aillenne was somehow anticipating to have some.

She forced herself not to dress well despite the growing business enterprise because the Marquisate might suspect something's amiss.

She's been thoroughly watched ever since she escaped a few months back and she doesn't want such thing to happen again. It hinders her activities.

'What am I thinking? Why do I expect that she'll give me something? What a ridiculous idea.'

The shopping continued even if her feet hurts since she's just wearing indoor slippers and her skin felt pricked by the stares the onlookers were giving.

The small old shoal can't hide her growing body and it can't cover her enough to combat the chilly weather.

'Brrr... so cold. When are we going to be finished?'

Since early in the morning, Aillenne was already exposed to the cold and her back and soles felt like freezing.

Adele and her maids seem to have expected the turn of events as they donned coats in long outdoor dress and they wear thick outdoor shoes.

The people around gave her peculiar stares, some of contempt and others pure malice.

'This time, I badly needed to go home. This character's reputation might plummet six feet down the ground. I'm the one to blame for that.'

She spun herself around to see rental carriages. She made a decision and that is to go home.

'I'll just pay when I arrive at the Marquisate.'

However, by instinct, Adele felt Aillenne's gaze towards the rental carriages and quickly grabbed her wrists and pulled her towards a new shop leaving Aillenne unable to do what she wanted.

"Sister. What are you looking at? You promised to go with me today."

"..."

'When?' Aillenne swallowed her question.

"Yes."

"Are you thinking of escaping from shopping with me? Do you not like to be with me?! My sister hates me!"

She began with her tantrums. Her eyes forcefully made tears and twisted her face to look more pitiful.

"She's a bad sister."

"How can she do that?"

"Even commoners do not do that to their sibling."

"She might be a different breed."

"She's beautiful but her attitude is despicable."

"Well, she's an aristocrat... but no one should make that pitiful young lady cry. That's just horrendous."

"Sister... hik! Sister--sister hates me! Waaahhh!!!"

Aillenne panicked and forced a smile in her face.

"Oh no! How can you say that? You're my cute little sister. How can I hate such a cute sister of mine?"

Aillenne said as she lightly grabbed Adele's shoulders. When she felt her sister flinched at the contact, she suddenly retracted her hands.

"You don't hate me?"

"Yes. I don't. So let's go now so we can shop and finish early."

"Okay."

Adele quickly erased her pitiful expression and spun around smiling slyly. They went around to buy again.

By the time it's already past 10 o' clock, Aillenne felt hungry and tired but nobody seem to mind.

"My lady, here's your favorite fruit drink." A maid came after an errand and brought a container with a drink. Five seconds after, the maid clumsily acted to be surprised seeing Aillenne by their side. "Oh my! I forgot about Lady Aillenne! I'm sorry, my lady."

The maid said not so sorry. She even smirked as if challenging the girl in front of her on what to say.

Basically, Aillenne's powerless right now. No money, no escorts, no maid at the same time she's wearing indoor clothes, which is a no-no. She was blessed with disadvantages today.

Aillenne just smiled and nodded in understanding.

"It's alright. My sister should come first."

"Yes? Ahh... right."

The maid bit her lips when the unexpected reaction came back.

"Are you sure you're alright sister?"

"Yes. So where are we going next?"

"I'm going to check on my dress to be worn in my birthday in the next three weeks. I'm excited to see it. But I know you'll be uncomfortable just like what you are a while ago. You kept on looking at the clothes I'm wearing, but you're not allowed of any of that. I know sister will be jealous of it, so we better find a new shop to look into."

Adele said again. The maids didn't hide their laughing expression this time and burst into a loud laughter gaining everybody's attention.

'Okay... it's alright... she's just a kid. I'm older than her, so I should be understanding...'

Aillenne still smiled despite her prickly words. She held herself strong even the strong grip her sister is giving her is enough to make her bones be crushed.

'I should be fine. Let's keep on holding on.'

"Hmmm... yes, thank you for the consideration." She said dryly.

"Alright. I'm going to the jewelry store. I'm going to buy my maids a gift."

"Oh my lady!"

"You don't have to, my lady."

"The lady is so generous."

"Well that's the lady for you. She's been loved by her parents that's why she grew up being benevolent and kind."

Her nanny even brought out a handkerchief to wipe off the tears, touched of the lady's words.

"The lady is indeed noble and fit for her role."

They shot a suggestive glance towards Aillenne.

'Alright. I got it. Should I smile and act happily?'

"Indeed. My cute little sister is the best. So generous, kind and lovable."

Adele laughed sweetly and patted her elder sister's small shoulder in a rough manner.

"That's why I love my sister. Let's get going."

They only went back to the Marquisate at three. The nanny made a fuss, but she can't do anything as it's already done. She laid her limp body in bed and quickly dozed off ignoring her rumbling stomach.

***

The days went on and Aillenne was only given a break from Adele's presence on the day that she went to the palace.

"My lady, the Marquisate is going to hold a birthday banquet for Lady Adele's birthday in two weeks time."

"Oh, really? Even if the empire is currently in turmoil?" The nanny nodded awkwardly.

"Well that's Winston's Marquisate for you."

Aillenne said as she finished three letters to be sent to Damien, Phillip and Derrick who's currently in the battlefield.

She once again gazed at the setting sun while thinking of the three, missing their presence.

"How I wish the battle will end quickly." She said and went on with her experiments.

'The company's revenue is smooth sailing. In no time, I'll be able to get a noble title and escape from this empire.'

She smiled bitterly as unusual feelings kept weighing down her chest.