☽︎𒊹︎︎︎☾︎

"And where do you think you are going, young lady?"

Catherine heard her mother's voice say as she passed by a hallway. She retraced her steps and looked towards where her mother was and who she was talking to. Unsurprisingly, it appears that Àimèe was caught almost sneaking out. Again.

The girl on the door smiled sheepishly at her mother, then proceeded to laugh awkwardly, saying, "Oh, I'm just going to the, uh... Market! Yes, um, t-the market."

Catherine had to refrain herself from giggling at her sister's excuse.

This answer only made Odelia raise a brow. "Is that so? Well, then, what were you about to buy?"

Àimèe involuntary froze at the question, not knowing what to say. Luckily, Catherine decided to swoop in and save her sister. Again.

"Actually, Mother, Àimèe was going to accompany me to the market since I was craving Mrs. Couffaine's pastries. I hope you don't mind." Catherine lied.

Odelia looked physically relieved at this. It wasn't that she had favorites among the two, it was just that, if Àimèe was by herself, she would cause mayhem wherever she went, and Catherine, as always, was the one who usually succeeded in keeping Àimèe at bay.

Even though she was still a bit suspicious, Odelia nodded for them to go. The twins dared not to waste another second, in fear that their mother would change her mind. Odelia only watched in amusement as her daughters fled out of the Manor and to the stables to retrieve their horses.

As they walked, Àimèe said, "Thank you for saving me from Mother's wrath, Cath. How ever would I repay you?" She continued, not letting Catherine answer, "Oh, I know! I'll treat you some of Mrs. Couffaine's pastries! Since you already said we're going, might as well do it, correct?"

Catherine giggled and nodded in response, making a giant smile light up on Àimèe's face.

"Great, let's go!" Àimèe exclaimed, now dragging Cath to get to their horses faster.

Catherine sighed. Sometimes it felt as if she was the younger sister among the two of them.

☽︎𒊹︎︎︎☾︎

It was only two days until the festival now, and the whole town square and markets were buzzing with excitement. People from villages and towns far and wide came to the festival, most of them were merchants, selling their products.

Àimèe watched in awe as they walked together to the bakery, shocked at the amount of people and creatures even though there were still two days before the festivities actually started.

Catherine, on the other hand, had miraculously found a book and was now enjoying the story in it. The only reason that no one bumped into her as she was engrossed was that all she passed by and were yet to pass by through were staring at her.

They would glance, stare, move, look away, then stare again.

No, nothing was wrong with her, nor was anything unusual with her. They were simply enamored by her, as if there was an aura surrounding her that took the people's attention. After she had gotten quite the distance, the people went back to their own businesses.

Soon, the twins arrived in the bakery, which was full as well. At the sound of the little bell chiming at the top of the door, the people in the bakery did the same thing that the crowd outside had done to Catherine. She just had this innocence in her that lured people like a pirate to a siren.

As people were blatantly staring at Catherine, the twins were unaware of this. One of them had their nose stuck in a book, and the other had her attention solely on the pastries that were on display.

"Hello, what may get- oh! Lady Àimèe and Lady Catherine! Hello, darlings." Mrs. Couffaine said as she saw the two dames.

In respect to the elder witch, Catherine closed her book and set it aside to rest on her right hand. "Hello, Mrs. Couffaine. It's wonderful to see you again." She politely greeted back.

"Mrs. Couffaine, quick question, are those macaroons I see?" Àimèe said, skipping the pleasantries.

The middle-aged witch chuckled at Àimèe's eagerness. The Ginemoux twins were highly known in their town, which meant that everyone basically knew of them. They could always go any other shop that consisted of much more fancy food, but their favorite place to go was Mrs. Couffaine's.

As Àimèe and Mrs. Couffaine talked about the food, Catherine looked around for a table to sit at. Seeing that the inside was already full to the brim, she looked outside, and just to her luck, a couple had left the table.

She looked back at her younger sister, wondering whether she should interrupt for a moment and tell her where she was sitting, but decided against it instead.

She exited the bakery, the chime of the bell camouflaged by the loud chatter of the crowd in the streets. Catherine didn't waste any moment more and sat down in the vacant table, continuing to read her book.

☽︎𒊹︎︎︎☾︎

The brothers had just reached another village, but this one seemed to be having a preparation for something.

For three days, they had arrived to six different villages, this one being the seventh. Unfortunately for them, they didn't have that feeling that they were supposed to stay at the place, so they continued on.

After a quick glance to one another, they shrugged and entered the crowd of busy people everywhere. Unlike in the previous towns, they didn't attract much attention from this one. It was most likely because of what they look like. Whilst before they still had that clean, rich aura, now that aura was useless if they now look like common peasants with their dirty and dusty clothes.

"Hey, what do you say we stay here for the night, brother? I have a feeling that this is nlthe one." Frederick said, his eyes looking around the place.

Ericson only rolled his eyes in nonchalance as a response, but on the inside, he was actually agreeing with his older brother. He had the same gut feeling that something is going to happen, but he is still unsure whether it will be a good thing or not.

The siblings made their way through the crowd, occasionally using their air powers to move some poele that were in front of them away. Finally, they reached an inn. After paying for the rooms and refreshing up, they returned downstairs, on their way to find two things. A job, and food.

Which will they find? And is Àimèe going to notice her sisters absence soon?

☽︎𒊹︎︎︎☾︎

The picture is what my reference of the village/town is. You can just ignore Red Riding Hood and the people in general.

And yes, if you noticed, Mrs. Brown really is a witch.