Modern Women's Charm

Threats

Withstanding the pain of the wound, Jean continued to walk forward despite the narrow path.

There was a hope of a way out waiting for him up front there, so Jean couldn't give up here.

The wound on his shoulder was painful and painful, initially only in the right shoulder, but somehow now all his right hand was in pain, even his right chest as well, as if the wound was spreading.

Jean had no idea what was happening, the place was dark making her unable to see the condition of her wound.

The moonlight finally reached her eyes, she saw a way out not far ahead, as it was Jean biting her lips withstanding the pain while stepping forward faster.

Finally Jean managed to get out, the air was no longer as stifling as it was inside the crack, unfortunately just a few steps outside the crack, Jean fell unconscious.

From the direction of the dense forest came footsteps approaching Jean, while Jean was still a little conscious, she felt a soft but cold touch touch touch her cheek and went down to touch her wound, then everything disappeared. Jean was completely unconscious.

***

Elsewhere, in a room twice the size of Jean's hut. It looked as if Juno was being forced to eat by a middle-aged female servant.

"Let's eat fast, spend it fast! I still have a lot of work, it's a waste of time to take care of you. If only the fourth mistress hadn't told me to, I wouldn't have fed you." the servant's nagging was dissatisfied with Juno who yesterday refused to eat so he had to forcefully feed making sure the boy ate to the end.

Juno chewed the food in his mouth with difficulty as the waiter fed him in large quantities, when the food had only been swallowed in half, the waiter fed him again.

If Juno was unwilling to open his mouth, the servant would threaten to complain to the fourth wife of the Landlord.

Juno was not afraid of the evil woman, it was just that yesterday the woman came when she went on hunger strike.

"So you're on hunger strike huh? No problem, I can replace your position with your brother's. Let him be a slave, and you can be free to live out there alone." The fourth wife of the landlord threatened.

"Don't make my brother a slave!" Juno shouted in disbelief, she did not want her brother to become a slave.

"You who are slaves, or your brother who is a slave, decide. Whether you eat or not!"

Juno could not help but cry, her head lowered.

"Well I'll eat, don't make my brother a slave."

Jean is the only one of Juno's family left, she's been the closest and best person to him all along. Of course Juno could not bear if her brother became a slave.

So from there Juno was willing to eat back, but the middle-aged waitress still had to feed and make sure the food ran out.

Her tears kept falling, realizing she would become a slave, even though the food she was eating right now was rice and meat she liked, it somehow felt to be bland at the moment.

Juno's father used to say if men should not cry, but Juno could not stop crying, at this time she was afraid, sad and confused what to do, she did not want to be a slave.

After the food ran out, the waiter left.

Juno sat curled up hugging her feet in the corner of the room, the brown glazed tiles feeling smooth and cold when touching the skin of her feet.

His gaze was fixed on the small window on the upper wall of the room, it was impossible if he wanted to escape through the window because there was an iron trellis attached there.

He was also fed three meals a day in large quantities.

Juno had gotten used to eating once a day with her brother, so when she had to eat three meals a day with large portions, she felt her stomach like it wanted to explode.

The delicious food becomes unpleasant, plus the fact that he is currently a fattened lamb before being cut, which is why Juno refuses to eat.

He did not want to be a fat sheep that ended up being dismembered. Just let him stay skinny so that no one would buy him as a slave.

However, his foolish plan failed due to the threat of the Landlords fourth wife.

"Son, what should I do?" Juno called her brother in a soft voice.

He hoped that his brother would come to save him, but could he? her sister is just a weak woman.

Juno also does not know whether Jean made it back safely, he has heard that jobs as pickers or hunters are dangerous, many of which cannot come back alive.

Their father died because of his job as a hunter. Given that Juno felt regret not preventing her brother's departure as a picker.

"It's my fault, please don't die Jean." Juno beat up the floor blaming herself so foolishly she realized that her weak older sister was not very suitable for the dangerous job.

He regretted, why did not he leave, he was a boy, he had to protect his brother, but now he was crying because he was going to be sold into slavery.

Half a day later.

"Shelf" the door of the room opened, a female figure with thick powder walked in, the middle-aged maid also followed behind her.

"Wake up!" The middle-aged maid pulled Juno's arm, forcing her to wake up.

The Landlord's fourth wife noticed Juno's face and body.

"Hmmn, more contained than before, but still thin, also there are still a few bruises. Give him more medicine."

"Yes, madam." The middle-aged maid nodded.

" If there were only a week, your appearance would be better than this. Too bad you have to perform tomorrow." The fourth wife of the Landlord patted Juno on one cheek.

He stared dislikefully at Juno's beautiful eyes that were as blue as the sky, but his expression was relieved considering that the boy who owned those beautiful eyes would become a slave.

"Have my brother returned from the woods?" Juno asked suddenly.

"Your brother well, hmmm I'll tell you he's back or not as long as tomorrow you don't rebel." The fourth wife of the Landlord walked around Juno.

"Tomorrow you'll be voting for the upper class slaves, so be nice or you won't know from your brother, understand." The landlord's wife used Juno's curiosity as a threat.

Juno could only nod and pray for her brother's safety.