Rena looked at Athissa with fear in her eyes, but she was brave.
She took the cup and gulped it all, feeling the bitter taste on her tongue.
“Yeah, it’s horrible,” Rena said while coughing as she nearly choked on the medicine.
At the same time, Harl arrived with a warm cup of milk in hand.
When he saw Rena coughing, concern flickered across his face.
“What happened?” He asked.
“I gave her medicine.
You should make her drink it twice a day,” Athissa explained and gestured to Harl to give the milk to his wife.
The warm milk soothed the bitterness.
“That’s better,” Rena whispered before closing her eyes.
Harl smiled and patted Rena’s head.
A smile formed on his lips.
“Give her clean water and don’t let her eat anything heavy,” Athissa instructed.
Har nodded.
“Soft food.
Small amount.
If the pain worsens or she starts becoming confused, find a healer immediately.”
Harl’s seriousness turned sad.
“She’ll be alright, right?”
Athissa looked at Rena.
“From what you’ve told me, she should improve, but you still need to watch her carefully.”
Harl nodded repeatedly.
“Thank you… How much do we owe for the milk and medicine?” Harl asked hesitatingly.
Athissa looked at him.
“You don’t.”
Harl froze.
“You just tried to rob me because you were desperate.”
Harl’s face turned red.
“That doesn’t make what I did right.”
“Yes, but your wife shouldn’t suffer because of your mistake.”
“Yes, I won’t do it again,” Harl said sadly.
“Of course.
If something bad happened to you, what would happen to your wife?”
Athissa’s question made Harl realize the possible consequences of his actions.
Harl dropped to his knees as tears swelled in his eyes.
“I won’t do it again.
I swear!” He yelled.
Athissa sighed.
She went, grabbed her basket, and placed one gold coin beside the milk bottles.
Then she handed it to Harl.
“Work hard to provide and most importantly, don’t make your wife suffer,” Athissa said firmly.
“Yes, I will.
Thank you so much,” Harl hugged the basket as if his life depended on it.
“I should go,” Athissa said.
Harl immediately opened the door for her.
“Thank you again, Miss Athissa.”
Athissa waved her hand dismissively.
***
Athissa walked back toward the hotel with her newly bought milk.
The morning had slowly turned into noon, and the streets were considerably busier.
“I spent too much money today,” Athissa whispered, pouting.
As she was getting closer to the hotel.
She saw Mary standing nervously at the entrance.
The moment Mary saw Athissa—
“ATHISSA!”
Athissa jumped.
“What!?”
Mary rushed toward her as Athissa instinctively stepped back.
“Why are you running like that?” Athissa said.
Mary grabbed her shoulder.
“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?”
Athissa’s eyes widened at Mary’s sudden outburst.
“The market?
Look, I bought milk.”
“WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU EVERYWHERE!”
Athissa frowned in confusion.
“Why?
It’s not like I’m running away.”
Mary stared at her in disbelief.
“It’s noon!
Lunchtime,” Mary explained and pointed toward the sky where the sun was blazing hot.
“Oh,” Athissa looked away.
She had clearly forgotten about their schedule.
“Have you eaten lunch?”
“Yes,” Mary nodded.
At the same time, Roger, their coachman, arrived with a dark expression.
“Welcome back,” he said.
Athissa smiled forcefully.
Then she handed the milk basket to Mary.
“Let’s go?” Athissa said.
Mary nodded, and they both hopped into the carriage.
However, Athissa had only eaten a single piece of bread since early morning and hadn’t eaten lunch yet.
She grabbed a bottle of milk and drank it fast.
“That’s tasty,” Athissa complimented as she tasted how fresh it was.
On the other hand, Mary looked at her with squinting eyes.
“What?” Athissa asked.
“You went to the market without me.
What if something happened to you?” Mary crossed her arms.
“Nothing happened to me and I’m not a child.
If I remember correctly, I am older than you,” Athissa raised a brow, teasing.
“Still!” Mary wanted to argue, but she knew Athissa was right.
“Here, drink this,” Athissa handed Mary a bottle of milk.
Mary hesitated, but took it.
“I hope my stomach can handle this,” Mary whispered before drinking them.
“Well… you can always poop in the bush if you can’t handle it,” Athissa chuckled as Mary’s face reddened.
“NO!” Mary pouted and finished the remaining milk.
The carriage slowly pulled away from the hotel.
Athissa leaned against the cushioned seat while holding her half-empty bottle of milk.
Across from her, Mary was pouting.
“You’re really not worried about anything, are you?” Mary uttered.
“I worry about plenty of things.”
“Like what?”
Athissa thought for a second.
“Money.”
Mary shook her head.
“That’s not what I meant.”
Athissa just grinned.
The carriage continued down the road, leaving the busy streets behind them.
At first, the journey was peaceful.
Outside, the town gradually disappeared behind them, replaced by wide fields, tall trees, and winding roads.
Athissa eventually placed the remaining bottles of milk inside her ring’s space whenever Mary wasn’t looking.
Mary, meanwhile, had opened one of her books.
“You brought books for the journey?” Athissa asked.
“Of course.
It will be my entertainment for the next few hours.”
“That’s amazing how you’re not nauseous while reading in the carriage,” Athissa complimented, since she couldn’t do that without her head spinning.
For the next few hours, the two women talked, argued about nonsense, ate bread, and occasionally looked outside the window.
The sun slowly moved across the sky and the road became quieter.
Too quiet.
That was when Athissa noticed something.
“What was that?” Athissa whispered, looking outside the window.
“What?” Mary looked up.
“Do you hear that?”
Mary listened, but she heard nothing aside from the sound of carriage wheels, and the horses continued walking.
“Athissa…”
Before Athissa could answer—
The carriage suddenly stopped, and both women nearly fell forward.
“Roger?” Athissa called.
No answer.
The horses whinnied nervously outside.
Mary immediately grabbed Athissa’s arm.
“Why did we stop?”
Athissa looked toward the carriage door.
“Maybe the horses are tired?”
Mary gave Athissa a look.
“We should see what’s going on outside.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea—”
Before Athissa could finish her words.
BANG!
Something slammed against the side of the carriage.