It's already nighttime.

People in the street are no longer there, as you and Sophie headed to the Shop.

"Oh it's still the same since I last visit here." You said, placing the umbrella to the side. "I'll be changing in my robes. Then we'll cook for dinner." You said and placed the lillies to the counter.

"Sure, I'll wait."

You smiled and rushed to your room.

You groaned, finalky taking off your undergarments and changed into a long night gown. Untying your hair, you brushed it. After that you finally went down to see Sophie.

"Sophie, dear let's get vegetables first..." You stopped talking when you saw an old woman seemingly covering up  her face with her arms. You look from left to right to see if Sophie is there but she's not.

You slowly approached the woman. "Umm, hello? Do you need help ma'am?" The old woman heard you but ignored as she grabbed the hat that was rather familiar to you. Even the green dress the old lady wore.

You noticed the woman's eyes widens, she saw her hands shaking, and it looks an old woman's body. You looked at her carefully.

You saw her panic, touching her face all over you tried to walk towards her but she rushed to the mirror and looks at her face.

She was schocked, Sophie turned into an old lady! Her appearance change, her nose grew longer, and she looks so small because of her back problems. Her hair is white as the snow. She's a different person now.

"M-Ma'am are you okay—"

"Is this really me?!" The old woman shouted at herself, even her voice turned old! You slowly realized who the old lady was. It's Sophie! But how?

"S-Sophie is that, you?! Oh my, what happened?!" You rushed towards her, she didn't even noticed you were there. You hold her old hands. "Who did this to you? What happened while I was gone?" Sophie noticed that you starting to cry as she pats your hands. "I-I don't really know, but the witch of the waste did—mmm." You noticed her struggling to say the word as she let out a heavy breath. "I'm sorry. I was cursed and turned into like this!"

You also heard about the witch of the waste. She is a nasty witch who curses many woman who is more beautiful than her... But why Sophie of all people?

You felt bad for leaving her hear as you hugged her tightly and started to sob. Why did that witch turn your sister into this?

"I'm so sorry Sophie. I didn't save to that witch..."

"No, no... Don't blame yourself for this Y/N. I didn't know that was witch of the waste. She came in here and says that the shop is cheap. And I got angry and let her leave but instead she cursed me and left." She ramble out her words as you let go from the hug. Tears falling from your eyes.

"I'm sorry Sophie. I don't know what to do. But I'll try to make it up to you. Just don't panic okay?" You said as Sophie nodded at you.

You wipe your tears and smile at your sister. "Why don't we eat and let's get you to bed? We'll discuss this tomorrow."

--

The next day.

Sophie refuses to leave her room making you concerned about her. You knocked on her door. "It's me, Y/N..." You say, holding your both hands as you rub your thumb to the finger. "I'll be going somewhere and tell about the curse to help you. Don't lock up yourself in there, okay? You need to eat too."

"I-I'll be fine, Y/N, thank you. You can go now, I'll see you later." You frowned and nodded even though she will see that. You clutched your umbrella tightly. "Very well, I'll be going now. Take care."

"You too."

Going downstairs, you saw the hatters as they greeted you. You went outside and go to Eliza's flower shop.

Many people the knew you looked at you, concerned as their eyes followed your walk. Your shoulder slightly lslouching and you have a frown on your lips. It's rare to see you frowning while walking outside. You usually have this happy aura that makes people happy.

But today is different.

Eliza heard the bells from the door as she greeted.

"Hello, welcome to my flower shop— oh dear! Lady Y/N what happened?" She scanned your whole face as she walk towards you, she looked worried while holding your hands.

You have bags under your eyes, you can't sleep because you were watching Sophie as she sleep. You still blame yourself for what happened so you watched her until she fell asleep.

"Oh, I have a bad night. My sister... She's been cursed." After saying that you felt like your heart shattered as you felt like crying again. Eliza widen her eyes at the new as she hold your waist and drag you to the Garden where there's a lot of flower blooms this spring.

Eliza knows it can make you calm, you love flowers.

She guided you to the chair as you sat on there and cover your with your hands. "I'm so sorry you have to see me this."

"It's fine. It must be hard for you to handle this, dear. Have some tea. It will make you calm. It's Jasmine tea." Eliza pour the tea to your cup. You looked down as you noticed the tea sparkled in a periwinkle color. You know something is in that tea which is a good thing.

You knew that Eliza was a witch—a good one in fact. But she stopped her witchcraft and began a flower shop.

You knew it since she told you about how she manages to make her flowers bloom faster which makes it more sense why she had a lot of flowers.

After taking a sip, you felt calm and you stopped crying. Eliza sat in front of you, holding your hands like a mother calming her daughter. It was a sweet moment. You and Eliza have this mother and daughter bond everytime. She's your second mother.

"Can you tell me what happened, dear? We can maybe fix it. But don't get your hopes up if I can't do anything, understood?" You nodded at her, she gesture her hand to make you talk.

You took a deep breath first as you look into her golden eyes. "She was cursed by the Witch of the Waste. I was not there to save her. I feel so bad for it." Eliza was tense when she heard the name. Eliza and that witch is not in good term, never was. That witch is powerful. She used to be a good witch but she made a pact with the fire demon. "She turned old, Eliza.. I'm scared that she might died faster." And you began to cry again, your heart broke from the words slip from your mouth.

It might happen, but you don't want that yet...

Eliza rubs her thumb to your S/C skin. "The Witch of the Waste is a very powerful and feared witch with a vast arsenal of magical abilities. I cannot do anything about Sophie's cursed. I'm so sorry dear." Eliza looks into your eyes, her lips frowned when you nodded.

"But I'm sure that curse will be gone once Sophie will find someone she loves."

"Someone she loves? But how?"

Eliza smiles and sips her tea. "You will know who that person is. They can be a woman or a man. Who knows? And that's the only way to break the curse." You started to think about it when you remembered about yesterday.

"Howl..." Eliza heard you, she only smiles when you looked at her. Confused, you drank your tea again. "I think I know someone that Sophie likes. A certain wizard that owns a moving castle."

"Hmm, it's Howl, yes? He must've captured your sisters heart."

"I hope he'll break the curse. I don't want my sister to suffer like that. But I don't know where Howl is for now." You had a plan, to find Howl and make to curse break. You were desperate but this is for your sister. You love her, and you will protect her and Lettie no matter what.

"I can tell you where Howl is hiding, Lady Y/N." You were snapped from reality when you heard Eliza. "Hiding? Why is he hiding?"

"I once become his foster mother. He was just a normal boy when he had given his heart to a fire demon that was fallen from the sky. Now that fire gave his power to Howl. That's their contract. Now that fire makes Howl's castle move and it will not allow any cursed enter that house." She explained while smiling at you.

"I took care of him for years and help him with his new abilities. I was sad when he left and pursue his well-doings. He came to me and said he'll be hiding somewhere else with Calcifer. That is the first time I saw him so scared, all I can do is help him. Building him a moving castle." You were amazed to Eliza's story. She was a good mother indeed.

"But I heard someone say that he eat womens heart. Is it because he's a womanizer?" You were startled when Eliza belowed a laugh. When she finally calms she wipe her tears. "Well, he is. He did fall in love with the Witch of the Waste. He told me that. But when he knew that woman used her power to become young and beautiful he left her." Suddenly, a realization came in Eliza's mind as she stood up.

"Now I know why you're sister is cursed. The Witch of the Waste was jealous of your sister!" You furrowed your eyebrows when you also realized it. "That's why, oh that witch... All of people, why Sophie? She didn't deserve this." You say through gritted teeth. You were angry because of what she done to your sister.

"I'm sorry dear that your sister got involve in her jealousy. But Sophie will do something to get that curse away from her body."

You stood up, Eliza following your actions. "I better get going now, Miss Eliza. Thank you for telling me this. Maybe Howl is gomna be the one who'll break the curse from my sister."

Eliza nodded and gave you a warm hug. "It's a pleasure Lady Y/N. If you two seen my Howl, tell him that she misses her son."

You hum and broke the hug. "I will, take care Eliza. I'll be going now."

"Just be careful dear."

"I will." You smiled and left the flower shop.

--

I know it's uncharacteristic for the reader to be a sweet sister to their siblings. But I want to portrait her as a caring big sister to her young siblings. I want that since I'm an only child :P

I just add my oc to have a relationship with Howl so that someone still cares for him :)

And I hope those info I write is true because I haven't read the book and I just research them. So if anything is wrong, please tell me :)

Thank you for reading! I hope the reader is not that annoying