It's such a cold laugh

Aria slipped out of Penny's arms and walked towards her mother. Natalia knelt down and said, "Where were you so early in the morning?"

Aria: "I went to check up on Penny. Is something wrong, mom?"

Beth: "Nothing, I just came into your room and could not find you. So I got worried and told mom."

Aria nodded and Natalia stroked Aria's head, "Change and come down to breakfast. Okay?"

Aria gave her mother a sweet smile and Penny bowed to them as Natalia and Beth went out of the room.

Penny then helped Aria get dressed after she bathed and as Penny was combing her hair, seh said, "Miss Aria, is anything special today?"

Aria looked at herself and Penny in the mirror, "Why do you ask?"

Penny: "Nothing very much. You've let me help you get dressed, and you're not even complaining when I'm doing your hair in such a fancy and complicated way."

Aria sighed. Penny was indeed doing her hair today in a much princess style. She said, "Nothing much. I was just thinking about something."

Penny: "What's on your mind, Miss Aria?"

Aria: "Would you like to hear the truth?"

Penny: "Of course."

Aria: "I suspect you're not telling us something."

Penny was shocked, "Why do you say so, Miss Aria?"

Aria: "Well, for starters, nobody is so careless to slip while they are at such a height like the bell tower. And especially not you, Penny."

Penny bowed her head and did not reply.

Aria: "And, I suspect someone among the castle. You see, I believe someone pushed you and you are protecting the person."

Penny looked at Aria in shock, "Mi-miss...."

Aria: "You need not worry. I'm anyway going back to the academy tomorrow. But I must warn you, I'm not letting the person off."

Penny: "No Miss Aria. Please do not take any stupid action."

Aria laughed. It was a cold laugh. It made Penny shuder. "This kind of laugh should not belong to such a small child!!!" she thought.

Aria suddenly stopped laughing and said, "You can be sure Penny, I will not take any stupid action." Then she looked at herself in the mirror and said, "The hairstyle is actually really pretty." Then she went out of the room, leaving Penny alone.

Penny was still in shock. This was the first time Penny had felt afraid of little Aria. Aria was angry, truly angry. She was so angry that she was almost calm. Penny had once before seen Aria's grandfather like that. It had been the only time she had been so afraid of another human. Penny shudered and hurried out of the room to take care of the rest of her duties.

Aria spent the morning after breakfast with her sisters opening presents. Beth and Julia exclaimed and felt awed at each and every present. Each one was more expensive, more grand than the last. But Aria rarely gave any response. Her mind was occupied with something else. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful as she spent time with her family and packing to go to the academy the next day.