Chapter 121: No Stone Unturned (2/2)
”And the password, don't forget about it! Unless you recognize that it's daddy's voice, never open the doors for anyone if they do not know the password, all right?”
”Yes, mommy! I won't!”
”Okay, that's a good girl! For now, I want you to do the homework that I have given you earlier... If you managed to complete it before I return, then I will reward you with an ice cream tomorrow!”
Charlotte encouraged.
”An ice cream?! Yaaay! Mommy go buy me fried rice outside!” Cecilia urged.
Charlotte smiled and nodded, ”If that is what you want, then today is a fried rice day!” She declared and the little girl instantly became motivated to do her work. Charlotte woke towards the makeshift kitchen and took a chew stick near the stone countertop.
After washing her face with a little bit of water.
She took the fragrant chew stick and started chewing on it.
The people of Ashmelion, particularly in the poorer districts such as the Northern Borough often didn't practice basic hygiene. But despite the fact that the place was filthy and disgusting, they still knew how to take care of their teeth.
With a diet composed of hardtacks, beef jerky, and black bread... These residents knew that they had to keep their teeth strong and sturdy so they could keep on eating these foods. Toothbrush and toothpaste didn't exist in the world of Las Felipinas, so the residents of this world had to make do with salt and chew sticks.
Chew sticks came from a fragrant tree known as the Tree of Humot.
The people of Las Felipinas believed that the cause of diseases was bad and disgusting smells, so they almost always used fragrant; good smelling herbs and flowers plastered across the inner linings of their clothes to protect themselves from diseases.
The chew stick that Charlotte was chewing on to clean her teeth weren't particularly high-quality, but it did its job. It was questionable if it could indeed clean a person's mouth, but it sure could make their breath smell like flowers and menthol.
Charlotte was soon done with her morning routine and she then went out of the small hut.
Noticing that Grandma Elsa wasn't on her bed, she closed the doors shut and ordered Cecilia to lock the doors from the inside. Then, after making sure that everything was in place and she didn't forget anything...
Charlotte proceeded to the wet market.
She kept her pouch full of money as close to her body as possible. The petty thieves and the rogues in this particular district had hands that were too deft and swift for her dulled reflexes. She could instantly lose all the money that Calvin gave to her the moment she let her guard down.
But her excessive defensive measures caught the attention of those with sharp eyes.
One rogue, in particular, let out an evil smirk noticing Charlotte's jittery movements. After confirming that Charlotte indeed bought several cans of ice cream along with three bowls of chicken soup from the wet market at the Southern Borough.
The rogue licked his lips and disappeared into a nearby alleyway.
Back in Hampaslupa Street at the Northern Borough.
Cecilia was humming a popular tune among the kids as she played with her quill. She was doing her homework, but it was obvious that her focus wasn't on her work.
”Eating... Eating... I will eat...”
”Chicken, Ice Cream, and anything...”
”Pork, Gizzard, and intestines...”
”I won't eat them since I find them disgusting...”
Cecilia sang these lyrics as she wrote numbers into the piece of paper in front of her.
Soon...
A knock came at the door.
Cecilia almost immediately stood up.
Her eyes glittered with excitement as she rushed towards the door, ”Mommy! Is that you?!”
She was about to open the locks of the door when she suddenly froze.
”Mommy...?” She said.
No response came from behind the doors.
She immediately grew suspicious.
”Who are you? Is that you, mommy?” She asked once more.
This time, there was a response— ”No, this is not your mommy, Cecilia... I'm the landlord!
”Your mother told me to fetch you since she ran into trouble. She wanted me to make sure that you are all right. She'll come back late, so she's worried. Can you open the door? I just want to make sure that you are okay...”
Cecilia jolted.
Mommy ran into trouble?!
Panic filled Cecilia's mind as the quill that she held in her hand fell onto the ground.
She stretched her hand out and was about to unlock the doors when she stopped...
No... I can't...
Mommy told me that I should never open these doors to anyone unless they know the password!
Cecilia's eyes shone, ”Uncle Landlord... Can you tell me the password?” She said in a tone of voice filled with anticipation. The moment she confirmed the password, she would immediately open the doors so she could go to her mother that supposedly got into trouble.
”Password...?”
The voice that came from behind the door seemed to be astonished, ”There's a password? She didn't tell me that there's a password. I'm sorry, Cecilia, but I don't know. Just believe me, okay? Do you want your mother to be there alone without anyone to help her? She'll be bullied by others!”
”Do you want that to happen?”
”No, right?”
”Then, open the door...”
”I'll bring you to her...”
Cecilia gnashed her teeth.
The person behind the door was clearly their landlord. Their landlord was the owner of their house, so he should be someone that she could trust!
At that moment, Cecilia made a decision.
She unlocked the doors and the moment that it was opened.
The landlord appeared in front of her with a vicious smirk on his face.
”Good job, Cecilia... You're such a good girl...”
Smack!
The landlord sent a slap on Cecilia's cheeks, sending the little girl flying towards the side.
He then turned to look at his lackeys standing behind him, ”Search the house! That bitch should have a lot of money! To be able to buy ice cream and chicken every day... She must be loaded!”
The lackeys squeezed into the small hut and started their search.
They left no stone unturned.