Chapter 9:

N/A:

Sorry about the inconsistency of my updates. I usually update on Wattpad, and often forget about uploading the chapter onto Webnovel.

I'm around chapter 20, on Wattpad.

Chapter 18 hasn't been published, nor 19, nor 20, since they are all under editing (I do this as a hobby to, so please don't hurt me).

<3 You though.

Oh, just a spoiler, "the Pail is a pretty sheet of velvet."

Elizabeth's hands, reached for a simple, yet elegant, wooden hair pin, that laid casually on the surface, of a small cabinet.

As her hands clutched it's handle, her fingers swiftly tightened their grasp around it, while her arms adorned it, into her green, emerald-like hair, making it's, once dulled complexion brighten, as if her malnutrition had never hindered it's hue.

She then, impatiently hopped towards a wooden pail, that was casted aside on an abutting stool, and while she stood ontop of it, she fiercely gazed onto her reflection, admiring her handiwork; but alas, dissatisfaction began to twinkle in her brown eyes.

Yet, though she looked stunning, her pupils dilated in a diminutive discontentment, as if something didn't seem to fit.

Hm...

...Maybe, I have to go for a more...Elegant look today?

She straightened her hunched back, retreating her field of vision, exclusively on to the worn-down, wooden wall, and stared intensively, as her eyes zipped across it, while her mind amused itself, on what would befit her; of course, also what, hairstyle wouldn't flatter, her already beautiful face.

I mean, it doesn't really matter, after all, I'm only wearing a really plain, cotton, blue robe, that doesn't have any fancy embroidery, or patterns on it...

But...

Y'know, after thinking for a bit...

I think...I'll get rid of the big bun that I have on right now, and switch for a more elegant hairstyle.

Who knows if a handsome soldier passes by?

I can't be lazy on preserving my beauty.

[Insert snicker.]

Elizabeth raised one of her arms, and slowly pulled the hairpin out of the tight, large bun, that had lightly sat on her head, before waiting for it to, naturally fall onto her shoulders, and follow gravity's inevitable means; letting it become, "disheveled."

Her fingers firmly combed through her hair, as she smoothed out the small tangles, that had just formed, making her wish, even more so, for a conditioner; the state of her hair was becoming daunting, and could make anyone from her world frown with disgust.

But, she shortly brushed it off, as her thoughts rotated towards other, more energy-consumptive wonders; her hands carrying on effortlessly with their spadework, heedless to what she was thinking.

She breathed in taking the top-half of her hair, before gently pulling all of the strands, behind her head, straight in the middle, as she tied it into a small, horizontal, oval-like bun with her beloved wooden pin, once again.

Having completed the necessary steps, of her simple morning routine, she could finally attend to her chores that awaited her, and having known that, Elizabeth gracefully stepped outside of her small room, and onto the courtyard.

Ah...

Fresh air...

The beautiful birds are chirping...

The winds are blowing...

Nothing could get better than this-

.

.

.

Hm?

My foot just bumped into something...?

She felt the hard ground beneath her foot, crunching with a familiar sound, yet, near her toes, a squishy sensation appalled it.

Elizabeth hesitantly looked down, in a pure, but undecided curiosity, as she intuitively furrowed in eyebrows in interest; perhaps thinking, or wondering, of what exactly, her foot had touched upon.

Is it a rat?

Dead rats are pretty normal, every now-and-then.

I don't know why they die near our courtyard, but, that's beside the point; I hope it isn't a rat.

Ah, forget what I just said, it's not a rat.

.

.

.

Rats aren't this squishy...I think.

Not to mention, this is obviously the smell of someone I know.

...

This presence too...

.

.

.

"Mama?"

"MAMAAA..."

OF COURSE IT'S NEO YOU BLIND-ASS WOMAN.

...

How the hell did...

HOW THE HELL DID I MISTAKE MY BEAUTIFUL BABY FOR A RAT?

Elizabeth cognitively slapped her face, a few dozen times with an incredible force, feeling a harsh wave of shame, and disappointment rock her, as she falteringly swayed her way, down to the floor, taking her sitting son, back up into her snuggling arms.

I'm blind as hell...

While she, somehow, stabilized her son's posture, and weight in her embrace, she meekly searched through his eyes, demanding immediate eye contact with him, as a small grin flickered on her face, before ultimately turning tense.

I wonder why he was sitting on the floor though...Usually he's kinda.."Clean-obsessed,"

Aha.

He definitely didn't inherit that from me.

I'm lazy, and I can't really tell from dirty, to clean.

Sighs.

"Say, dear, why were you sitting on the floor?"Elizabeth finally asked, with a neutral tone, that didn't seem to hint any sort of fury, but nor any tenderness either.

Neo stared at her for a short moment, maybe confused, as she seemed to be scolding him, but of course, the way she had said it, thoroughly caused him to become bewildered; he wasn't sure whether to apologize, or honestly reply.

After all, he routinely sat on the dirt, pretty much every evening; when his mother was exceedingly kept at bay with mounds of work, meaning there wasn't a single time, where he had been reprimanded, more or less, even batted an eye for his actions.

But nonetheless, he appeared to grasp the situation briskly, and a glistening smile patently appeared on his face, while he looked up towards his now, stern-faced mother, with his eyes curved like crescents.

Huh...

How cheeky.

Just because you're smiling now, doesn't mean I won't scold you.

"I-..."

"Mommy, it was because Neo missed you...And because GranGran wouldn't let me inside the room, I stayed outside."

Yeah...Aha...

Shit.

WHY THE HELL WERE YOU BORN WITH A FACE THAT CUTE?

HUH?

HOW CAN I RESIST YOU IF YOU'RE GOING TO SMILE LIKE THAT?

.

.

.

Elizabeth stared at Neo, as her face wrinkled, to the brink of crying, clearly moved that her son had concerned her wellbeing, which seemed enough that he'd voluntarily sit on the floor, just to wait for her. —>Very dramatically.

Her eyes turned large, and started to glisten with small tears, before a small whimper came out of her trembling, large frown.

AWEEE...

Elizabeth wiped her tears, and her once, crying-like expression, turned bright, as it glowed into a motherly smile.

"Ahhh...What am I going to do with you? Hm?

You're being incredibly cheeky Neo."

"Hehe..."

"I-"

Elizabeth sighed, but wasn't sure why she had done so, because she was certainly, not disappointed, nor aggravated, but it was definite, that she was astonished by her son's behaviour. After all, his personality didn't seem to resemble her, at all, well, for a more accurate presentation, that's what she believes.

More or less, she was rather relieved that he had ever acted, or responded to someone, too maturely; the fact that he acted his age, was the explicit verification, for Elizabeth to understand that she hadn't done too many mistakes, on her part.

It was just apparent, that she hadn't understood how to communicate with him, but that's guaranteed to change in the future, nonetheless.

"Well, what do you want in your lunch box?"

"I could give you some rice, preserved bamboo shoots, with some smoked ham?"

"What's smoked ham?"

"It's pork."

"Oh."

Elizabeth chuckled, before she hastily replied;

"Then, shall we go, sir?"

Much like the cold, frosty wind, that blew continuously on the eastern mountains, she sped away nimbly, towards the other side of the courtyard; straight towards the kitchen.

◢✥◣

"I'LL COME AND PICK YOU UP LATER NEO, AND IN THE MEANWHILE, HAVE FUN."

"OH, ALSO, THANK YOU MR. YANG" I earnestly yelled towards my son's slowly fading silhouette, that disappeared into the fog, with my benefactor's waving shadow, and his daughter's walking one.

By a stroke of luck, Mr. Yang, a villager that resides in the small town, had coincidentally strolled by our property, and was so kind to offer to escort Neo, towards the village.

Ah, don't worry, he isn't a stranger, so our beautiful Neo isn't in any danger!

Oh, of course, if he ever decided to kidnap my son...

Well, I actually doubt he'll ever decide to, but...

If he does...?

Creepy laugh:

"He will never see the light of day...E.v.e.r. a.g.a.i.n."

So, I'm not too worried. :D

I stand for a while longer, gazing off into the distance, watching the long, stiff bamboo culms dance in the chilly breeze, while the small, thin leaves softly played an accompanying melody.

Seemingly, it almost portrayed a lively brothel; the scenery of the city beneath me, that shone with the clearest display of unnecessary wealth, and with the dancing poles of bamboo?

Yep, definitely a brothel, but that's besides the point; it was indefinitely, the most serene view I've seen, in a long time.

How I know it's a brothel?

.

.

.

Aha...That's a story for next time.

After my eyes were finally pleasurably soaked, with a delicate fulfillment, I returned my sights, back to the small house:

It was a relatively small courthouse, and in fact, one were to to judge of the, "trendiness", and the general structure of the house, it could not ever compare with those that dwelled in the city below; after all, it isn't covered in gold, nor built with superior materials, but regardless, it's not a disheartening sight.

In fact, the age that embellished with pride on it's numerous cracks, and walls, gave it a slight serene, and beguiling prospect, that the supplemental, could never hope to achieve, unless they were enlightened with the utmost, virtuous patience.

Which is, rather unlikely.

Nevertheless, I skipped back into the courtyard, and headed towards mother's bedroom; today was going to be a laborious day, and I couldn't afford to yield to laziness.

After all, I'm practically the only person, in the family who could do work, and because of that, I need to make sure that everything is spotless, lickety-split.

Sliding open the door, I'm speedily welcomed, by the harsh, yet warm smell of herbs, and my mother's sickly, laying figure, that was completely dyed with the smell of herbs, and the small streaks of daylight, that leaked through the tattered, paper window.

"Mother?"

She didn't respond, but instead, turned around to face me, while she curled a forced, tender smile with her thin, pale lips, seemingly trying to say something.

"It hurts?"

"No...It doesn't in the slightest honey."

"I don't buy it." I replied honestly, in a child-like tone, while I hesitantly stepped into the small, dark room, closing the door behind me.

"Mm...You should believe me more..."

"I don't like it when you lie about your wellbeing though."

"I can't help it."

"..."

"Mom..."

"Yes?"

"I don't think you're supposed to upright admit that."

"Why not?"

"I-"

"Forget it" I wittily replied, as my nostrils flared in submission to my mother's bluntness, while she, of course, cheerfully chuckled in the background.

"Ah...I'm going to get your medicine, so, I'll be right back."

"Alright the dear, mind how tired your are, we wouldn't want you to over-exhaust yourself."

I mumbled a, "mhm!", in response, with a tiddly, lighthearted smile, as I exited the room, and walked towards the kitchen.

Soon, I came out with a wooden small tray, which plateaued a small bowl, filled with a bitter-smelling scent; emitting noticeably from the brown liquid. Before I delivered it to my mother's room, and quickly ran out, to keep my productivity going.

For the next few hours, the sun went down, and slowed down it's rapid, yet slow flow of time, but despite that, Elizabeth's figure never did the same.

It ran one place to another, and in it's shadow, it was simply dark; no sign of fatigue, no disheveled hair, nothing. But, as one would take the time to see for their own, they could tell that her true self was far from what they'd assume; her huffs came out uncontrollably, while sweat bathed on her skin.

You could say, she seemed simply...

Unbreakable.

Her shadows reigned onto the small town below, and as the merchants crawled about, they caught on the sight, creating the very popular phrase, later used for Elizabeth's legacy; "One's Eliza Deter."

Who knew that the Cloud Dancer, a lady with unparalleled beauty and talents, started as a poor commoner?