Preparations for departure

Iris woke up early as usual.

She looked at Lety sleeping beside her.

She gently kissed her forehead, then got up quietly.

Lety had insisted the night before on sleeping next to Iris despite having her own bed.

In truth… Iris found it cute.

It was natural for Lety to act like that, since she was only seven years old… very small.

Iris entered the bathroom.

She filled the bathtub with hot water and dried flowers.

She was especially excited, as it was her first time using a bathtub with scented flowers.

She stayed in the steam longer than usual, then came out.

Lety was rubbing her eyes and yawning: “Good morning… big sister.”

Iris smiled and replied: “Good morning, Lety. Did you sleep well?”

Lety quickly stood up and hugged her: “Yes, I slept well… thanks to you—”

Then she suddenly raised her eyes and froze in shock.

She was seeing Iris clearly for the first time.

She had always hidden her features under bangs and heavy makeup.

But now…

She was shockingly beautiful.

Lety’s eyes widened: “Waaow… if I were you, big sister, I would hide at home all the time!”

Iris smiled shyly and explained why she hid her face, in a way suited to the child’s understanding.

Since they would travel together, there was no need for secrets between them anymore.

After eating breakfast at the hotel, they headed to the village.

It took some time, but they finally arrived after a tiring day.

Iris collected her belongings and the money she had saved.

She had planned to open a sweets shop in the capital, but luck had not been on her side.

It was good that she had kept the money.

While packing, Lety ran toward her holding an old picture.

She asked excitedly: “Big sister! Big sister, is this you with your family?”

Iris’s eyes widened slightly, as if she had returned to a distant memory.

Then she smiled bitterly and said: “Please give it to me, I will put it with my things.”

Lety handed her the picture quietly and wandered around the room.

Iris held the photo, tears gathering in her eyes.

“Mother… Father… I am sorry I am leaving this place… our place… please take care of yourselves there.”

After finishing packing, Iris realized that Lety had nothing suitable.

So she divided the money into two parts: one for travel and food, and one for buying clothes and necessities for Lety.

“Hah… I need to find a job quickly there…” she muttered softly.

“Why don’t we work as maids in the inner palace?”

Iris looked at Lety silently, waiting for an explanation.

Lety continued excitedly: “The pay there is very good! I once worked in a noble house as a cleaning maid, and the pay was good… so imagine the Emperor’s palace!”

Iris sighed silently, remembering what Lety had gone through with escape and human traffickers.

Then she smiled gently and held her hand: “Alright… let’s first buy you clothes, and leave the future to the future.”

She pulled her toward the center of the village.

Fortunately…

There was an annual festival that day.

“Come on, let’s enjoy ourselves… let this be the last page of our life here, and let’s begin a new one in the Empire of Kalsir.”

Iris smiled brightly.

If she was going to leave… at least she should take some beautiful memories with her.

…

Lety and Iris tried all kinds of sweets within their budget.

They laughed a lot and played as they hadn’t done in a long time, as if the whole world had stopped for them.

After that, they went to shops to buy what Lety needed.

Because of the festival, the streets were crowded and the shops full of visitors and new attractive goods.

Iris carefully chose clothes with Lety.

She was cautious, so she bought two sizes: one fitting Lety perfectly, and another slightly larger as a backup.

Although Lety tried to convince her otherwise, Iris insisted.

After a long exhausting day of walking and playing, they returned home.

At first, Iris had thought of selling her house due to lack of money…

But in the end, she changed her mind.

While they were walking back…

They caught sight of a scene in one of the alleys that suddenly made the air feel heavy.

A terrifying scene.

…