She stepped onto the shore, but instead of following the path, she turned aside and entered the forest. The boy followed her. He called out to her, but she—feigning offense—ran away.
Alkadia was terribly amused by Kryspin's behavior. He chased after her like a madman. To tease him even more, she started laughing and running faster. But she finally tired, and as soon as she reached a small clearing, she collapsed onto the green grass. Her wet dress clung to her body.
"I'm sorry," Kryspin panted tiredly as he threw himself on the ground beside her. "I didn't think you'd be so angry.
" "Nothing happened. I forgive you," she replied wearily. She closed her eyes and pondered. Meanwhile, the boy was walking through the meadow, picking flowers.
After an hour of dozing, Alkadia was awakened by the boy's cries.
"What happened?" she asked, licking her parched lips.
"I think they've already arrived from the city." Mom's calling me for dinner. You better go too. Here, make yourself a wreath, I'm off. See you tomorrow!" After saying goodbye, he flew through the forest to the village. Alkadia lay on the grass for a moment longer, holding a bouquet of flowers. Finally, she stood up and slowly padded home.
A familiar building came into view. The girl sat by the kitchen window, not wanting to disturb her parents, who were chatting inside. She spread the plants on her lap and began weaving a wreath. Her hands were busy, but her mind wasn't, so she involuntarily began listening to the discussion:
"...don't be stupid! When are you going to tell her? She has to know!
" "But not now," the girl's mother said in a trembling voice.
"When? In a week it might be too late, you know that.
" "But listen...
" "I understand, but I love her like my own daughter...
" "Me too...
" "You're right, we promised her after all." We can't postpone this moment forever.
"Gods, how hard it must have been for them. Giving their only daughter to complete strangers. I can still picture her sad, tearful face.
" "Me too. Have you noticed how much she resembles her mother?
" "Yes. She's beautiful.
" A moment of silence. Dhalia stirred the pot with a wooden spoon. She tasted the soup and asked,
"So when?
" "Tomorrow. First thing in the morning.
" "Okay. I'll call her, dinner's ready."
She leaned out the window where Alkadia was sitting, opening her mouth when she noticed her. The girl was sitting upright, holding an unfinished wreath in one hand and a flower in the other. She had a multitude of large daisies on her lap.
"Come home, dinner's ready."
The girl obediently stood up, throwing the plants to the ground.
Inside, eating their meal, Dhalia and Moldrak looked at each other sadly. Alkadiana, on the other hand, suppressed a burst of anger and pain. She knew the truth. Such a difficult truth.
She pushed her chair back with a screech and left. Her knees trembled. She leaned against the outer wall, trying in vain to wipe away the stinging tears.
Finally, she gave up and ran toward the lake, but not before she heard the trembling voice of the man she had until recently considered her father:
"This isn't how she was supposed to find out, not this..."
She climbed onto the highest branch of a beech tree, leaning over the calm surface of the water, and burst into tears. Spasms of sobs wracked her body, huddled and miserable. All the joyful days of her childhood flashed before her eyes. Finally, she understood. The carefree days were over
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