Chapter 2 : Harlow's Evening

' It's not that bad.'

Casia thought to herself as she weaved another flower crown. They'd think of something, they always do. Not the first time taxes were raised and she prayed each time it did, that it'd be the last.

' Praying or wishful thinking.'

The door creaked softly as her younger sister entered the room with something tucked away in her chubby hands.

" If you come here with another 'gift', I'll smack you."

She warned her as she brushed a dark strand behind her ear. The girl had already given up trying to sneak her way to the older girl and casually walked over to her work desk. At least she calls it a work desk. With a basket of flowers and twigs on one side, petals already scattered around the space, a pair of scissors and a mountain of ribbon of cloth piled on the other. Her desk was more of a pile of rubbish and weeds than an actual work space.

" Whatcha doing?"

The short girl sang as she leaned over the desk, her locks of hair obscuring her sister's view of her work. Casia groaned and nudged her away with her elbow, her brow furrowed as she attempted to focus on her weaving. Harlow huffed, her lips curling into a pout as her older sister continued to ignore her. She tossed whatever she held in those stubby little hands of hers, the object landing over her sister's head. Casia shouted as the gathered seeds littered the floor and work space. Her hands frantically trying to remove the sticky seeds out of her dark, straight hair.

" You little-- Argh!"

Harlow shrieked as she dashed through the door, her elder sister hot on her heels.

" Get back here!"

Leaping down the stairs, Harlow huffed as she stuck the landing just right and scrambled to get away as Casia landed right behind her. Barely dodging her outstretched arm, Harlow yelped as she ran down the hall before taking a sharp left. She gave a little whine as her sister gained on her with a cunning smile. The doorway was so close, she could make it. As Harlow leaped into the room, Casia's steps skidded to a halt just before she could get any further.

" Casia!"

She groaned internally as her body sagged slightly against the doorway, trying to keep herself from breathing too deeply to hide her adrenaline rush from the run from the figure before her. Of course the nanny is here, she's always in the kitchen.

" Is this how a proper young lady behaves?"

Shifting uncomfortably with her head held low, Casia shot a glance at the little girl hiding behind the nanny's deep green dress. Harlow peaked from her place with wide eyes, feigning innocence as she smiled innocently. Of course the nanny had to start working when this brat was born. Already doting on her from day one and putting the brat first before the others.

" No..."

Casia mutters in defeat as Harlow mischievously sticks her tongue out and smiled. Of course Ms Jones was around at this hour.

" Look at your hair. I can't tell if you're a girl or a bird feeder. Go wash up and clean your room. It's like a jungle with all those leaves lying around."

With a low huff, the dark haired girl quickly made her way back to her room. Taking extra care upon the shaky wooden stairs, she almost regrets leaping off of it earlier. It was already shaking like a leaf in the wind when she was younger, now it feels like it's getting closer to simply collapsing each time she walks over them. Her younger sister had the misfortune of tripping down the old rotten flight of stairs several times before. Her other family members being occasional victims to its existence.

Out of all the stairs in the house, she resented this one the most. Not only were they unstable but the design was downright atrocious. The thread depth was inconsistent on certain steps, either being too wide or too narrow, the rise hight was so steep it was like each step was a hike up a hill, and the very length of the stairs were so short, she wasn't even sure if it was for saving space or to make them exercise.

She hissed with annoyance as one of the seeds stuck to her sleeve just as she brushed her hair behind her ear. Soon she was dressed in her night gown, brushing her hair in front of her mirror. Considering how it was handed down to her by her sister, the condition was still rather good despite the chips on its corners.

" She gets away with everything..."

The young girl mutters while brushing away. She's been reprimanded far more often now ever since her fifteenth birthday. Something about getting closer to marrigable age, or rather being a grown woman. Now the sun had long set and she couldn't sell a single flower crown. She'll have to save them for another time then.

Creek...

She glances at the door to see her little sister's chubby soft fingers opening it by a crack.

" Are you still mad?"

Her sister asked innocently, only to receive a huff and turned away. With a small smile and a sweet giggle, she approached her older sibling anyway held out a fist. Casia almost jumped out of her chair when she opened it but paused as she caught the little sweet in her hand. Harlow gestured her to take it and with much reluctance, she takes the sweet from her chubby hands. After thoroughly inspecting the sweet, she popped it into her mouth, the chocolate melting upon contact with hints of sweet caramel filling at its center.

" Still mad?"

Harlow leaned in with her smile and big eyes, speaking in a small voice as if she were still twelve years old.

" No."

Casia sighs.

" Of course not, you can't stay mad at me. I'm everyone's favorite!"

Harlow sang proudly with a dramatic wave of her hand to emphasize just how much she is favored. Casia rolled her eyes but slipped a small smile.

" See? You're smiling!"

" Yes, I know."

Casia smiled back a little wider as they sat together.

" You still owe me a whole day's worth of selling flowers."