Chapter 117: VOL 2 Chapter 62: Heirs of famous houses.
After one last inspection, making sure the dress had no further imperfections, the young woman walked over to the shelf on the wall, from which she took a pair of slightly mended long shorts and a loose, light-colored blouse, and put them on.
Now that she was wearing comfortable clothes, the young woman took the dress and went to the back of the house, where there was what looked like a small courtyard with a small stone washbasin in one corner. There, she proceeded to wash the dress with utmost care, making sure to clean it thoroughly while also avoiding any damage to the garment.
Once the dress was clean again, the young woman wrung it out carefully and gently, ensuring she removed as much moisture as possible without twisting it too much, since that could damage the fabric or the dress's buttons. She then hung it on a clothesline stretched across the yard, using a couple of clothespins, making sure to position it somewhere rain could not reach it in case it rained during the night.
Having finished with her dress, the young woman walked back inside the house and arrived at a kitchen which, though modest, was spotlessly clean and organized, with various utensils that were well-maintained and arranged in meticulous order. The shelves, full of jars of spices and basic food staples, revealed a life of home cooking carried out with care and attention.
Inside the kitchen, there was an old-looking table with three chairs, where someone was seated who could only be described as a carbon copy of the young guide, looking almost exactly like her—although there were two important differences between them.
In the case of the young guide, she had smooth, silky hair, whereas the young woman in the kitchen had wavy locks that fell softly down her back. The most striking difference, however, was that unlike the young guide, who had a vibrant, healthy complexion, the young woman in the kitchen looked incredibly pale, sporting a skin color that was almost greenish. Meanwhile, her lips—unlike the young guide's, which were a lovely cherry shade—were almost deathly white with small violet discolorations in some parts.
"Clara, what are you doing up?" Upon noticing the sickly looking young woman, the young guide exclaimed with some concern as she approached her.
"Don't worry, Sofía. I'm fine. I got up a while ago and, since you hadn't arrived, I decided to make dinner." The young woman seated in the chair said with a slight smile on her face, as she pointed to an old-fashioned wood stove in one corner of the kitchen, on top of which a pot was boiling.
"Don't overexert yourself. You know you've been more delicate than usual these past few days. Let's go to bed; I'll finish making dinner." Sofía tried to lift Clara from the chair, but Clara placed a hand on her shoulder while speaking in a serious tone.
"You don't have to treat me like I'm useless, Sofía. At least let me help with this, or I won't be able to rest easy in that bed."
Upon hearing her sister's words, Sofía could only give her a troubled look, but after a moment, she sighed and left her in the chair again with a sad expression. However, just then she seemed to remember something, which filled her with profound excitement, and she exclaimed with a huge smile on her face, which slightly surprised Clara.