"Anna! Anna!" Ella called out as she searched the gardens for the third time with skirts gathered in her hands as she moved between rose bushes and neatly trimmed hedges.
"Anna, where are you?" Ella yelled, peeking behind a marble statue as if her sister might have decided to become one with stone. "Let's get a hot chocolate drink."
Only the breeze answered Ella, rustling leaves carrying the faint scent of flowers. She sighted and returned back toward the manor.
"Great, she vanished," Ella muttered. "Again."
Inside the house, Ella checked the sitting room first—empty. The library—empty, except for dust and the smell of old paper. Even the kitchen, where Anna usually appeared whenever there was food involved, offered no sign of her.
Ella crossed her arms. "Anna, your hiding skills are top-tier. I can't find you at all!"
Then Ella heard it.
A sift, rhythmic sound of water.
Ella went to the closed-curtained window, moved it to the side, and peered. The fountain's water ran softly, and that was when she saw a silhouette.
"Anna?" Ella hurriedly ran out into the garden and to the front of the house. The fountain stood quietly there, the water spilling in gentle arcs into the basin below.
And sitting on its edge with shoulders slightly hunched was Anna.
Ella stopped in her tracks.
Anna's head was lowered, her fingers skimming the surface of the water. Her face was calm at first glance, but Ella noticed the way her shoulders trembled ever so slightly.
Tears fell silently, disappearing into the fountain as if Anna didn't want them seen.
Ella approached slowly, careful not to startle her little sister. "You know," Ella said lightly, sitting beside Anna. "I looked everywhere for you. For a moment, I thought you were kidnapped by your horse."
Anna let out a small, shaky laugh, quickly wiping her cheeks. "That would've been embarrassing."
"That horse of yours does look suspiciously loyal to you," Ella added, peering into the fountain as if expecting hooves to appear. "If anyone were to stage a kidnapping, it would be your horse."
Anna snorted despite herself. "He wouldn't even stop running even if I pulled the reins back."
"See? Rude and unreliable," Ella said solemnly.
Anna wiped her face again, the corners of her mouth tugging upward before falling. Silence settled between them and was broken only by a gentle splash of water.
"…Cindy was really angry," Anna said at last, staring into the ripples. "She always said that riding isn't proper, and that makes me look wild. Like, I don't know my place."
Ella hummed thoughtfully. "She does have a talent for sounding like a worried mother trapped in an older sister's body."
Anna glanced at her. "You're not going to say she's awful?"
Ella tilted her head. "I could but then you'd feel bad for agreeing, and then we'd all be miserable together, which sounds exhausting."
Anna laughed softly, a real one this time, though her eyes were still shiny. "She makes it sound like I'm committing a crime just by sitting on a horse."
"Well," Ella said seriously, tapping her chin. "You are committing the grave offense of enjoying yourself."
Anna nudged Ella with her elbow. "How scandalous."
"Oh no, authorities need to be called," Ella exclaimed playfully, acting shock.
That earned a small splash of water in Ella's direction. "Hey!"
Ella gasped dramatically, wiping her already wet sleeve. "I came here to console you, not to be baptized by fountain water. Do you know how cold that is?"
Anna giggled, then sighed again, quieter this time. "I know Cindy worries. I just… I wish she'd stop making me feel like I'm doing everything wrong."
Ella leaned back on her hands, looking at the sky. "Cindy likes rules. She likes something that needs to be followed. You…" she glanced at Anna. "You like freedom, I believe. That's why rules felt suffocated to you."
Anna smiled weakly. "So I'm not improper?"
"You are improperly brave," Ella corrected. "And improperly happy when you're riding. Very rude of you, honestly."
Anna laughed, then her shoulders slumped, and she leaned forward. Ella didn't hesitate and wrapped an arm around her, pulling Anna close.
Anna froze for half a second before melting into the hug, burying her face against Ella's shoulder. "I'm glad you found me."
"Of course I did," Ella said gently. "You were hiding in the most obvious sad places. Fountains are always suspicious."
They stayed like that for a moment as the water continued its soft rhythm.
Finally, Ella cleared her throat. "Now, are you done being tragic?"
Anna sniffed. "Maybe."
"Good. Because we will be getting hot chocolate, and I don't lie about important things."
Anna pulled back, eyes lighting up. "With marshmallows?"
Ella grinned. "I wouldn't dare offer anything less."
Anna stood, wiping her face one last time, then grabbed Ella's hand. "Race you inside."
"Hey—unfair!" Ella protested as Anna bolted off. "You used emotional distraction! That's cheating!"
Anna's laughter echoed back as she ran, and Ella followed, skirts gathered and smiling as she chased her sister back toward the warmth of the manor.
Without them knowing, a figure from the window was looking at them.
"Lady Cindy, your sisters are very… one of a kind," Dr. Addilon stated in a tone that wasn't complimenting.
"What do you want, doctor?" Cindy asked, removing her hand against the curtain of a large window, making it fall back in place.
"We must discuss what we should do… to your brother," Dr. Addilon whispered, looking to the sides to make sure they were alone.
"What do you propose, doctor? Is my brother still…ill?" Cindy asked, concern was evident on her face.
"Hmm, I can say he looks and thinks better, but sometimes his symptoms are still aggravated if triggered by uncertainty," Dr. Addilon explained, handing Cindy the files he carried.
Cindy sighed loudly as she took the files and scanned them briefly. "We don't have much choice. The title of a Viscount needs to be put in his name, or someone else would inherit it."
"I understand. I will inform you when my last tests are done, and your brother can go publicly again," Dr. Addilon lowered his head before leaving Cindy alone.