"Don't worry, I'll tell her your last words. Apart from that, where do you want your body to be buried?"
Grace, who seemed like an older sister with a mature and playful temperament, had wavy brown hair that matched her eyes of the same color, giving her an almost surreal glow.
"Grace, you're not funny. From now on I'll like Ali more." Sofía put on a sad face and threw herself into Alicia's arms.
"Behave yourselves. We'll soon arrive at the local noble's mansion. Act like the noble ladies you are."
Both of them fell silent. Sofía put on an offended expression while Grace continued smiling playfully.
Once at the mansion, the local noble arranged his best room for them. The girls prepared to sleep, and Sofía started a conversation:
"What do you think Cousin André is like? Do you think he's handsome?" she said, looking toward Alicia, who was combing her hair on the edge of the bed.
Feeling her gaze, Alicia answered after a short pause:
"I don't know. I never met him."
It should be mentioned that in this world marriage between close relatives is completely normal, so Alicia added:
"Besides, Sofía, André is only eleven years old."
"So what? The legal age for marriage is fourteen. If I like him, I can wait another three years. I'm tired of receiving courtship from those hypocritical nobles of Green City."
"And why are you so sure that he'll want you?" Grace said with a sarcastic tone.
"Hmph! Do you think I'm like you, all boring, that no one would want to be with you?" Sofía snorted coldly.
"Hehehe, it's just that I don't bother with those nobility balls, which are only full of hypocrites with bad intentions toward our family," Grace replied and continued adding: "Besides, there won't be any of those noble balls in the viscounty."
"Mmmmm, why did the studies end so quickly? Now we'll have to go back to that place full of uncultured peasants."
"Don't speak that way about our territory. Even if there's nothing fun, you just have to create it yourself," Alicia added from the side.
"Yes! Why didn't I think of that? Ali, you're a genius." Sofía threw herself on her, hugging her and kissing her on the face.
"Alright, behave," Alicia said, at which Sofía let her go and looked at her. Then she said:
"Ali, why do I see a look of worry on your face?"
"Are you worried that he won't recognize us and will treat us badly? I don't think that's possible. Even if it is like that, Grandmother Lucrecia is there, and she won't let us suffer," Sofía said with a self-satisfied expression.
"Are you worried about André?" Grace asked with some concern as well.
"Yes. You know that my cousin's death was extremely strange," Alicia looked at Grace and said what was on her mind.
Sofía, from the side, was surprised by the development of the conversation and also became worried:
"Do you mean that those nobles will try to harm André?"
"Yes. You know that André is only eleven years old. Those unscrupulous people will try to take advantage of him; they might even harm him," Alicia seriously answered Sofía's question.
Grace also added with a little concern:
"I think Grandmother will be able to take care of him. As long as nothing happens to him, when we arrive we'll settle accounts with those types."
"Yes, yes, don't worry. I'm sure he'll be fine and will soon have our help," Sofía said, trying to smile to hide her concern.
"I hope so," Alicia said with hope and then changed the subject: "Alright, it's time to sleep. If you go to bed late you'll get wrinkles."
After talking for a moment, they all went to bed.
Early in the morning they left in a hurry under the persuasion of the local noble for them to stay for a better reception, which Alicia politely refused.
A week passed quickly and the group was approaching the viscounty.
While they were taking a break for lunch in a small town of the County of Blair, everyone was fascinated by the porcelain tableware with which the town's noble served them lunch.
"It's incredible. I've never seen such beautiful patterns on tableware. And look how smooth the surface is. This should be art, not being used to serve at the table."
"Hooo, it seems my Solomons don't know about porcelain. I thought I would be the most informed, since it's from the Solomon Viscounty that I bought them."
All the girls were surprised by this statement. How was it possible that they had such a marvel in the viscounty and had not found out about it? Then Alicia could not help but ask without seeming too surprised:
"Baron Jack, I believe this must have been worth a fortune."
At her exclamation, Baron Jack answered with a smile:
"The truth is it's not as expensive as it seems. A set of porcelain tableware costs five hundred gold coins. Now, in the region, anyone who doesn't have porcelain tableware will be despised. So I made an effort and finally got them. I think it was worth it."
"Yes, I don't think even in Green City there was such luxurious tableware," Sofía said, causing a stir in Baron Jack, who then puffed out his chest with pride.
Lunch ended without further incident and then they continued their journey.
Already in the carriage, Sofía was the first to speak, a little excited:
"Wow, what beautiful porcelain that was! I wanted to take it home."
Grace replied:
"Didn't you hear Baron Jack? He said he bought that tableware in our territory. I think there must be a lot in the mansion."
"True. I wonder who the creator of this beautiful work of art is. I hope to meet him."
"I also hope that," Alicia sighed and looked into the distance.
---