"I won't allow myself to be weak."
The only that was left was to register Azriel and Ares into the orphanage, and that was exactly what Lucinda had done after taking care of Azriel. She was worried about Azriel, especially his eating habits. He ate so little, that it was hard to believe that it was a diet of a 7-year-old boy. The boy consumed not even half the sandwich. She tried to make him drink juice, but after three or four sips, he was full.134Please respect copyright.PENANAuGbcYnBXDb
The only thing that Yeonjun felt when he looked at how much he ate was anger, anger at the people who abused the poor little boy. She had to calm him down, or he would have started shouting swear words in front of Azriel.134Please respect copyright.PENANA5nuauOISd8
Ares was brought back to Azriel, much to his relive, before she left. She made sure that the caretaker, Maria, fed him before she left for registration.
Now that the registration, an important work, was done. She only had to worry about Azriel's health and money for her family. Ares wasn't much trouble like Azriel was, and he didn't cry that much as well. She had her own family as well to worry about as they had financial issues, and she was the eldest along with her brother, so she had to earn it. She must live up to her parent's expectations since she is the responsible one. They had left them to her, she is now responsible for her siblings.
"Where are Azriel and Ares, Maria?" She asked the youngest caretaker in the orphanage, Maria.134Please respect copyright.PENANAXSayPsZ9aE
"Azriel is with Yeonjun and Jin in his room."134Please respect copyright.PENANALfuHHq5bYI
"And Ares?"134Please respect copyright.PENANAvSyrhREpW6
She gulped and hesitated a bit. "A-Ares is with your elder brother..."134Please respect copyright.PENANAJLoCNCX5g3
"Eh?" She gasped and looked a bit... no, a lot horrified. "My brother? He is right now in the orphanage? Where is he right now?"134Please respect copyright.PENANAI3g3V5sZjz
"In your room." And she started rushing towards her room, it wasn't like she was afraid her brother would do something to Ares nor did she have a bad relationship with him, they were rather very close. She didn't want him to meet Azriel yet. Her brother doesn't have a bad personality or anything like that, but he can be rather rude to people he doesn't know.
Cadmus was sitting on her bed, wearing his famous long black coat with his hairs on the side and his pale skin being even paler in the light of the room. His arms supported Ares as he pulled her brother's hair. Even though he had an emotionless mask on his face, she could tell from his eyes that he was kind of happy holding him.134Please respect copyright.PENANAYBPNuDe0a8
"You were like this too, small and cute..." he spoke with her monotone voice. "But now look at you, wild and ugly... I wonder where it all went wrong?"134Please respect copyright.PENANAYZFfYc5WuW
He smirked at her, growing her anger even more. "It's not like you are even better than I am, Cadmus."134Please respect copyright.PENANAr8ytIVJChg
"Watch your tone, little sis, I am your elder brother." He set Ares on the bed. 134Please respect copyright.PENANA2bRktJNPLb
"Anyway, why are you here?" She ran her hand through her hair, frustrated. "Please don't tell me you're here for some st-"134Please respect copyright.PENANAOu78CzlOSL
He cut off her, "Emily... Her health is deteriorating further. She's coughing a lot. I was given a list of medicines, but they are all way too expensive. I am already doing 5 jobs, but I don't think I will be able to afford them. They say that without treatment, she might lose her life."134Please respect copyright.PENANA2GmZW9dLx6
Her heart sank as the cold wind froze her further. With her arms wrapped around herself, she collapsed into her brother's arms. Sobbing uncontrollably, she could not hear anything her brother said as he comforted her. 134Please respect copyright.PENANAAnnpH2ntc4
Emily, her younger sister, had severe lung conditions that needed immediate treatment... however, due to lack of money, they couldn't help her. She struggled to hold back her tears. She shouldn't cry at this moment when her brother is standing right there, holding his back as well. He is so strong, she always admired him. Handling a whole family all by himself while she was here, not even strong to hold back her tears. She was so weak.
"Have you calmed down yet, Lucy?" 134Please respect copyright.PENANAGyJnOPijiU
Wiping her tears, she suggested with determination, "I'll find more jobs, I'll do 2, no 10 jobs for her. No matter how much it takes, I will make money and make sure she lives." 134Please respect copyright.PENANAjSgiXZ1dr1
Her brother hugged her tightly as he caressed her long yet roughly wavy, blond hair. "Sorry, only because I am an incompetent brother do you have to work. If only I was more useful and had a successful job, then none of you would have to suffer." 134Please respect copyright.PENANAm7KKF29klo
"Of course not, Cadmus. It's only because of you we have survived this far, and only because of you we are going to survive further." She gently smiled at him as she cupped his face. "I will take your burden away. I will work harder as well. I won't allow myself to be weak and irresponsible. I am, too, the elder at home."
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