"The sun's shining extra bright today, Aris—” a girl with light brown hair pointed. “—look!"  

She laughed that carefree laugh as if nothing was wrong with the world. Her skin had become darker from days in the sun gardening and picking flowers. Her blue eyes matched the shade of the sunny sky, not a cloud in sight. 

"Yes. Yes, it is," replied her sister, a black-haired lady, with a forced smile on her face. She was paler, more composed than her sibling who was eight years her junior. Aris could've been mistaken for a fairytale character, if not for her sky-blue eyes and reluctance to smile. "Watch your mouth, Silla."

The child, who was Silla to those who 'knew' her, nodded meekly and resumed picking the wildflowers. Having the energetic eleven-year-old call her ‘Aris’ was a luxury they could not afford. Today was one of the many days they would head to a variety of shops for errands. Aris stayed a few steps behind her sister as she watched her skip along the dirt paths. Suddenly, she turned around and beamed at her.

"Can I go into the candy shop today?" Sae asked, almost jumping up and down.

Her older sister pulled out her bag of coins. "One item," she replied, handing her sister one coin.

As Aris watched her only family member walk into the shop alone, being as happy as can be, she began to tune out all outside sounds to listen to the whispers and gossip of the townspeople; a talent she's learned to master for information.

"Those cabbage prices are ridiculous!" Cried a new widow. "How am I supposed to fend for my family in times like these?

"Oh, I'm sure the king will help us. The famine has reached many towns already and people are dying! He ain’t gonna let us down now," her friend reassured.

Oh, sure he will, Aris thought sardonically.

"Yes, I'm sure you're right. His Majesty must be in a good mood since the Crown Prince's engagement went smoothly. I’ve heard he’s completely smitten with her," the widow smiled.

"Oh right. She’s a noble, ain’t she? A count’s daug-"

The bell from the candy store diverted her attention. Sae skipped happily to her sister's side, a purple lollipop in her hand. "Is it time to go to the bakery?"

Aris only nodded her head and pushed herself off of the wall she was leaning on. Pigeons flew out of her way as she walked to the bakery, the familiar sign of a baguette hanging from the windowsill. This store had a bell, too. The ring signaled the old lady working behind the counter that someone was there to buy her homemade delicacies. 

"Good morning, Ara. Silla." She smiled widely. "Same as usual?"

"Good morning, Grammy!" Sae replied, pulling her lollipop out of her mouth. "Look what I got today!"

Grammy was not Sae or Aris' real grandmother, of course. Every child had called her Grammy as she was known for taking care of them— also for giving birth to six children and being a grandmother fifteen times over. She pinched Sae's cheeks and let her grab her usual orders. Then she walked over to Aris, sighing as she looked out the window. 

"Did y'all hear?" She said in her aging, southern accent. Word has it that she had moved her and her children to the village almost fifty miles from her hometown when her husband had died alone. She fended for herself and raised six healthy and successful children. Though of course, it was all just hearsay. Grammy had neither confirmed nor denied those rumors.

"Hear about what?" Aris replied, not looking away from the window.

"Why, the passing of Pastor Measle. It's a darn shame, dearie. I say he was a good man," Grammy explained, a solemn expression on.

Aris had not bothered to respond. They sat in silence until Sae returned with a bag of bread in one hand, two jars of jams in the other, and a lollipop still in her mouth. Aris got up and handed the needed coins to Grammy and gently ushered the child towards the door.

Sae was walking alongside her sister as she swung the bag of bread wildly to the beat of her skipping. 

"Don't do that." Aris scolded, not looking at her. The child stopped immediately. 

Aris opened the door first and let her sister walk in, away from the harsh stare of the sun. Sae walked over to the group of children sitting around in a circle, intensely transfixed on the words of a story the librarian was saying. Aris put down a stack of books she had been carrying in her satchel on the counter nearest to the entrance when a flurry of red popped up from behind it. The red mess was named Julie Moore, daughter of Mr. Josiah Moore, the town locksmith, and Mrs. Yuhi Moore who had passed a year prior.

"Did you hear?" She whisper-yelled.

Aris kept her face neutral.

"Pastor Measle was found dead in the church this morning! Can you believe it?" Julie exclaimed, her eyes wide.

In a way, Aris considered Julie a friend. She was a gossip which was useful for information. Sometimes she would invite Julie over to her home to talk about the latest news when she didn't feel like finding out in person. Other times, she just wanted someone to talk to. Aris felt a tug on her skirt. She looked down to find her own blue eyes staring back at her but these pairs were filled with tears. Her expression softened as she knelt down to wipe the tears away. 

"What's wrong?" She asked gently.

"Hari took my lollipop.... and called me an orphan..." Sae sniffled out.

Aris frowned and wiped away some of her tears. Then she marched over to the child and pulled him close so that she could whisper in his ear. 

"When you get home, ask your mother why she’d been visiting the deceased pastor’s home late at night for the past few weeks." 

Straightening her top as she stood up, she pulled Sae's hand and waved a quick goodbye to Julie, walking out of the library with a slight hardness to her steps. Aris didn't realize they had walked to the town square until she saw a group of people praying in front of the town church. In the center were the ones crying most loudly, the late pastor's wife and sons.

She doesn't even know, Aris mused silently.

She turned towards Sae and saw her staring at the church. "What happened to Pastor Weasel?" Sae asked. Aris silently chuckled but didn't correct her.

"Nothing you need to fuss about," Aris started. "Can I trust you to still be here when I return from the doctor's?"

Saw nodded vigorously as she got up to play with the pigeons. Aris enjoyed this pleasant moment for a little while longer before heading off. The doctor's shop was a wooden building like the others but it did not have a bell. The young doctor was known to be eccentric to say the least, who got startled easily by people who appeared out of nowhere. Aris once suggested that a bell would cure this problem but he distractedly replied, "who's the doctor here?" In fact, it was neither one of them. Over a drunken display during dinner once, he had confided in Aris that he was not a real doctor, as he never had a formal medical education. She went to the back of the shop and knocked on the door that was already wide open. Sounds of shuffling and paper falling were heard.

"At least say something so I know you're alive," Aris remarked, crossing her arms.

A head popped out from the mountain of books. He walked around the books to step closer to Aris. ‘Doctor’ Lincoln Ashton was a man of many words and almost all of those many words...

He screamed as he threw himself at her. He wrapped his arms around Aris and pulled her in for a hug. "I've missed you!"

.....would get him killed.

Aris swiftly kicked him in the shins and while he was doubled over, she elbowed— somewhat lightly— him in his spine. He fell on the floor with a thump so the girl stepped over his body to grab the nearest medical book titled Mythical Creatures and Medicine from its stack. 

"It would do you some good to read some books on etiquette,” Aris mused, flipping through the pages. “Throwing yourself at an unmarried woman. People will talk." 

"As you've ever cared what people say," Lincoln said, wincing. He grabbed onto the door handle to help himself up but the door swung open wider and he fell once again.

"Careful or you'll break your glasses."

"Wouldn't be the first time. If only I could still see without them," He groaned.

"Well, you're already not a very good doctor. Being a blind doctor is even worse," Aris replied, putting the book down. "Make sure to have my medicine the next time I come."

"How do you know I don't have it for you now?" He asked.

"Because the room doesn’t smell like rosemary like it should if you had made it. I just came by to see if you were alive. And you are,” she explained, putting down the book, a small but genuine smile on her face. “So until next time, Mister Ashton." 

Aris got close enough to the town square to wave Sae over as they headed home. They had to walk up a small hill to get back to their small house, located away from the populous. It was better that way. No prying eyes and it made their secret easier to bear. It was that time in the afternoon when the sun prepared itself to set and the temperature became just a tad bit cooler but it made all the difference. Sae had gone to her room after their trip to rest and take off the shoes on her swelling feet. Aris opened the window of her bedroom to let the fresh air in, rays of orange, yellow and pink blotting the sky. She undid her braid that had become messy and brushed it out, only to tie it up again. As her hair got tangled around her fingers, another pair of hands helped her untangle it.

"You should really use a brush."

Without turning around, she brought her head forward and flung it back into the stranger's face.