Ella's mouth hung open in shock. She felt creeped out by Dr. Addilon's actions and very insecure at that moment.
"I—I'm fine, Mama. I'm just hungry and crave sweets at night," Ella stated. It was valid to some extent.
"I see. I don't want you to starve even though we don't have much money now," Eleanor smiled softly and caressed Ella's face. "Don't starve yourself, okay? But don't get fat as well."
Ella rolled her eyes. "Yeah, of course."
"That's good. I'll be in my room. Have a good night's rest, my dear," Eleanor kissed Ella's forehead before leaving in the dark hallway.
Ella immediately closed her room, locking it. She felt anxious and even locked and unlocked it several times to ensure it was safe for her to sleep.
"That doctor is mad!" Ella exclaimed, combing her hair backward from stress. "This will make old faster."
Ella calmed herself for a few seconds before slipping into the blanket and trying to sleep, but no matter what she did, sleep didn't visit her. She only kept tossing in her bed until the sun shone brightly in the sky.
"Ugh!" Ella slipped out of her room, feeling like an undead. She wanted a cup of hot chocolate at that moment to ease the headache forming.
Ella barely had time to shut the door quietly when she nearly tripped over something warm and very much alive.
"Anna!?" Ella gasped.
Anna looked up from the floor, her chin resting on her knees, dark circles beneath her eyes, but a familiar spark was still there.
"Good morning," Anna stated cheerfully, as if sitting on the cold stone floor outside someone's room was the most natural thing in the world. "I was waiting for you."
"Oh, the floor?" Ella raised a brow.
"I didn't want to knock," Anna shrugged. "You looked like you needed sleep. Also, Madam Eleanor would interrogate me if she saw me loitering."
Ella smiled despite being sleepless herself. "You could have at least taken a chair."
"And miss the dramatic effect? Never," Anna replied playfully. She rose to her feet and dusted off her skirt.
"Oh, really? Then what do you have in mind right now?" Ella asked, crossing her arms with a smirk on her lips.
"Hmm, I was thinking. Maybe we could go out. Around the manor ground on horseback," Anna replied with hopeful, twinkling eyes. "If I stay longer in my room. I might go crazy."
Ella hesitated. "Do you really want that kind of activity?" She asked.
"Of course! I always liked riding horses, but sometimes father would forbid me from doing so… when he was still alive," Anna's cheerful face suddenly disappeared and was replaced by grief.
Ella placed her hand on Anna's head, ruffling her hair. "Well, you have all the freedom to ride a horse now. So don't be sad. I'll be with you, but please, after breakfast. I am starving!" She exclaimed, rubbing her stomach.
"After breakfast, okay! If I try to ride on an empty stomach too, I might actually faint!" Anna rubbed her belly, and the two of them laughed together.
"Deal," Ella shook her head, and both of them went to the dining room.
———
The stables were alive with quiet movement by the time both women arrived. Soft snorts, hooves against straw, and the clean, earthy scent of hay. Sunlight spilled through the open doors, catching dust motes in the air.
Anna was already patting down a tall chestnut horse as if she'd been born in the saddle.
Ella, meanwhile, stood in front of a calm-looking gray mare and eyed it suspiciously.
"It's been a while," Ella muttered, thinking back to when her mother let her ride a horse twice in her childhood.
Anna grinned. "You'll be fine. Just put your foot in the stirrup and—"
Ella did as instructed. The moment she tried to hoist herself up, the horse shifted slightly. She yelped, clung to the saddle, and ended up dangling awkwardly, one foot in the stirrup and the other flailing in the air.
Anna burst out laughing. "Ella! You're not climbing a wall!"
"I—I know that!" Ella huffed, hopping once, twice, and failing both times. On her third attempt, she somehow turned sideways and gently slid back down, landing on her feet with absolutely no grace.
The horse flicked its ear, unimpressed.
"I swear," Ella said, pointing at the horse. "You moved!"
Anna laughed harder. "She didn't. You just hesitated."
"I did not hesitate. I strategically reconsidered my every move," Ella stated confidently, even though she knew it was because her skills were low.
Before Anna could respond, a voice spoke from behind them.
"Would you like some help, lady?"
Ella turned, mortified, and came face-to-face with a young man holding a bundle of reins. He looked to be around her age, with neatly kept dark hair and warm brown eyes.
His features weren't striking enough to steal breath, but there was something easy and charming about him, like someone you trusted without knowing why.
His sleeves were rolled up, forearms dusted with hay, and his smile was gentle rather than smug.
"I'm Thomas," he added. "The horse keeper."
Ella cleared her throat. "I usually mount horses with… elegance."
Anna snorted. "Don't fool the stable boy. He knows horses more than us!"
Thomas hid a smile. "Haha, of course. Horses can be quite… selective." He adjusted the stirrup slightly and steadied the saddle. "Just give a little push this time. I'll keep her still."
"Okay, don't let me fall down," Ella stated as she tried again. With one determined hop and a very undignified squeak, she finally landed in the saddle, slightly crooked but victorious.
"I—I did it!" Ella froze as she realized she was on top of the horse.
Anna applauded. "Miracles do happen."
"Well done, lady," Thomas chuckled.
Ella straightened proudly, then immediately grabbed the saddle as the horse took one step forward. "I am never getting down again."
Anna and Thomas laughed upon seeing Ella's frightened face.
"Don't worry, Thomas will be there when we come back. For now, let's have some fun!" Anna yelled happily as her horse galloped toward the forest.