The heavy atmosphere in the Elsher family’s main residence was bleak and suffocating, unlike how peaceful the ambiance was in Mrs. Evans’ cottage in Moonville.
The golden hues of the sumr sun stretched lazily across the sky, showering a warm glow over the small village of Moonville. The breeze was gentle, rustling the leaves of the surrounding oak trees.
Lariette was sleeping soundly on her late grandmother’s old bed when she suddenly stirred awake, her lashes fluttering softly.
’...who’s laughing?’
In her drowsiness, Lariette barely registered the faint echo of laughter coming from the open window. Blinking sleepily, she rubbed her eyes before looking at the wall clock.
The needles pointed to six-ten in the evening. Lariette almost gasped, realizing how long she had been napping. She went to bed after putting the als sent by lissa in the kitchen.
"Hahaha! Really?"
"Yes! It’s true!"
The laughter bood louder, followed by so words. Intrigued, Lariette slipped out of the bed. Her brain had just fully registered whose voices were those.
’That sounds like... Eddy? Aunt l and Uncle Paul too.’
After stretching briefly, Lariette quietly headed to the window. Chuckles slipped out of her lips once she saw the culprits who woke her up with their chatter and laughter.
Through the angle of the window, Lariette saw Ruediger, Paul and lissa. All three of them sat in a circle on the wooden platform near the swing, seemingly engrossed in talking.
Lariette crossed her arms on the window thresholds, resting her chin on it. The breeze lightly ruffled her hair while the sun shared its warmth with her.
’What are they talking about’
Pushing herself from the window, Lariette hurried to the washroom. She washed her face and combed her hair before heading out of the bedroom.
As Lariette approached the side door to the yard, the trio’s chatters sounded clearer. None of them had noticed her appearance yet.
"What are you gossiping about, huh?"
Ruediger, lissa and Paul paused, abruptly looking in the direction of the side door. They chuckled once they saw Lariette. She wore the rubber slippers before heading to the platform.
"Oh, my dear," lissa laughed, the wrinkles by her lips softening, "We’re just telling your husband about Little Lettie’s mischievous days."
"Yes, yes!" Paul nodded repeatedly, eagerly agreeing with his wife before adding, "Seems like he didn’t know just how much of a troublemaker you were before."
"Excuse ? ?" Lariette narrowed her eyes, looking at Paul and lissa with a playful suspicion, "Aunt l, Uncle Paul, have you forgotten I was the most well-behaved child among my peers?"
Lariette’s cheeky reply earned laughter from the trio. She plopped down on the platform, sitting between Ruediger and lissa.
Ruediger arched an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a grin, "Are you sure? Uncle Paul and Aunt l’s stories said otherwise, tho."
Lariette glared at Ruediger. She noticed he had started addressing Paul and lissa casually.
"Ahem. Maybe I was a little bit naughty. Veryyy little bit!"
"Hahaha!"
Ruediger, Paul and lissa laughed upon hearing Lariette’s response. She even tried to convince them by making a gesture with her index finger and thumb.
Lariette’s cheeks flushed. She stared begrudgingly at Ruediger who kept laughing, thinking whether to smack his back or pinch his arm.
"You laugh so much," Lariette muttered, her voice sounding accusatory.
"Hehehe, Little Lettie is cute," Ruediger covered his mouth, shoulders still shaking from his laughing, "I heard you tried to build a treehouse all on your own."
"T-that!"
Lariette was tongue-tied, unable to say anything further under Paul and lissa’s giggles. Her cheeks reddened into a deeper shade.
"Hahaha! You took the wooden planks from my shed," Paul said between his laughter, shaking his head, "We found you when you hamred nails. Luckily, your grandma didn’t faint."
lissa sighed, fondly recalling the mory, "We were so worried you’d injured your hand. But, you just grinned and said, ’I have a vision!’"
Crossing her arms, Lariette feigned offense, "In my defense, I was very ambitious."
"Too ambitious!" Paul let out another hearty laugh, "You were eight! You showed up at our door the next day with a blueprint. Did you still keep it?"
"...I dunno," Lariette lowered her head. She added sheepishly, "Maybe... it’s hidden sowhere?"
"Hahaha!"
Lariette glared at Ruediger when the man joined Paul and lissa, laughing again. He simply winked at her, causing her heart to skip a beat.
"Our Lettie is so cute," lissa nudged Lariette’s elbow, "She’s much cuter than our stinky sons."
"Aunt! Don’t laugh at !"
Lariette playfully smacked lissa’s arm before hiding her face behind the older lady. She felt the tremble of the lady’s back, caused by her laughter.
’This is nice.’
The thought crossed Lariette’s mind as she smiled shyly. She had forgotten the last ti rry laughter resonated in this lonely cottage.
Peeking from behind lissa’s back, Lariette’s gaze wandered to Ruediger.
The man’s crimson locks caught the last traces of the sun and his erald eyes sparkled with amusent. He looked so comfortable here as if he also returned to his hotown, not just her.
Lariette bit her lower lip, trying not to smile. As much as she thought Ruediger was being more annoying today, she couldn’t deny she liked seeing him this happy.
"Enough hiding behind . Are you going to the festival tonight? You can use our bicycle. Sadly, the motorbike is under repairs."
Once their laughter faded, lissa brought up the topic of the festival. Lariette’s face bead instantly before nodding. She hurriedly straightened her back.
"I’d love to! What do you think, Eddy?"
Lariette’s sparkly eyes collided with Ruediger’s. He chuckled seeing the evident excitent on her face.
"Sure. When should we go? At seven? Or, eight?"
Ruediger had heard more about the end of the sumr festival from Paul and lissa. It was held at the riverside just near the village entrance. Folks from other villages also ca.
"The bonfire dance starts at nine," Paul chid in, ntioning one of the most-awaited activities for the festival, "You can go at eight. It’ll be cooler than now."
"Okay!"
Lariette clapped her hands, already envisioning the rriness of the festival.
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