Chapter 3

- Why don't you get her a job somewhere else, that place is not for a child. - Irene let her anger show as she spoke to her father without looking at her sister.

The man squinted his eyes as if reading his daughter and realizing that she didn't like her sister, but he would still stand by his decision, whether he accepted it or not.

- Because you know that I don't approve of you going to LORDITA alone. - The man spoke seriously to the young woman, who turned her face away and began to walk away from her father and brother. - Irene, your sister will work at the same place as you, because I don't trust her to work anywhere else, besides, your mother and I know the owner. - The man tried to explain, even though he hadn't made much effort to speak the real reason for sending them to that place. Carlota, who heard everything, was happy, because her father was protecting her, which was very rare after she had fought with some men who tried to abuse her and her sister at the fruit and vegetable stand.

Although her manner was similar to that of a boy, she only did this as a let-down because she didn't want to go through that again and because she could fool the guards when she had fights that the king did.

- I just hope she doesn't screw it up like she always does. - Irene treasured this work that was about to begin and would not let her younger sister ruin everything. Charlotte, who was listening to everything in silence, realized that she was only a problem for her sister, but she would get better and be like a ghost by not getting in her way or getting involved in any kind of fight, even if it was for a good cause.

- I only do what I think is right, and if I notice any of those men making fun of you, I will hit them, but only if you allow me to, since I will not interfere, but in anything that compromises your future, sister. - As Irene was sulking, thinking that what Carlota said was just a promise without a guarantee, she rolled her eyes in disgust. The man, seeing that his eldest daughter still looked displeased, spoke up.

- Irene, you must take care of your sister in my or your mother's absence, and stop this senseless jealousy. - The man spoke in a louder tone, attracting the attention of those waiting for the cart.

- Father why don't you see that Carlota doesn't suit that place look at her and tell me how she looks, even in these old dresses she is still as ugly as the boys in the village. - The man had had enough of Irene and her picking on her sister and without patience spoke up.

- Irene comes to not see that her is young, besides, you think it's so wrong the way she dresses, so give her some of your dresses and help her look more like you. - He was stern in his tone of voice and made Irene stop picking on him for the moment. - Irene I worry about you my child, you should be married by now at your age, and yet we are still waiting for the merchant's son, who is your fiancé, to come and marry you, but what will he say when he finds out that his wife is dancing in a liquor house with many men, being soldiers and rich merchants. - Irene was thoughtful, but then looked at her sister.

- You should stay away from me when we're working and don't tell anyone you're my sister, and don't dress up like me, and stay uglier than you already are so no man will be interested in you. - Irene said feeling superior.

- Father? - Irene realized that her father was upset and kept his daughter's distance, she approached him in a sweet and serene voice as she used to do so that her parents would forgive her. - I'm sorry father I know you said unpleasant things, but my dream is just to be a dancer and who knows, maybe I can go to the palace, our life would change and you and mom could live quietly as you always dreamed. - The man understood everything, and certainly he didn't mean to speak to his dear daughter that way, but he doesn't like to see his sisters fighting.

After they climbed into the wagon, it took about two hours of traveling for the sisters to say goodbye to their father. Before they reached their destination the man looked at his two daughters, that moment was sad, and he did not want to see them grow up so fast, and now they would go to work and be far away from their parents.

- You two be sensible and take care of each other in my absence. - The man could not be strong and let a few tears run down his face as he hugged his two daughters. There wasn't much he could do to keep them at home away from the malicious looks of the men who frequented the drinking house, but he was confident that they would be able to protect themselves and keep their faces covered until they were married otherwise it could be a disappointment to the family and end up damaging the marriage of the other if one of them showed her face before the wedding to one or more strangers, with this thought he took the only savings he could scrape together it was little, but it would give them enough to pay their way home if they needed to.

- Dad, you don't need that much. - Irene said when she saw that in the bag there were a few silver coins, it wasn't a large fortune but for her family it was, and they could probably get by with that money for a few months, so she decided to refuse, he and his mother were old and might need to buy some medicine in the absence of their daughters. Carlota who was watching everything in silence noticed that the man was sad that his daughter had refused his money, maybe because she was embarrassed that it was too little, she thought that maybe he was having this thought and for this reason she decided that she would take the money just to make him feel better, however, she would still return it at the end of the month when she returned home.