Alina followed Miri down the stairs to the ground floor. She always made sure to stay just behind the woman until they reached the conservatory.
Warm sunbeams streamed in through the southern annex. Massive glass panels rose on either side, creating a dome-like roof crafted by a skilled architect.
In summer, they simply opened some of the windows; in winter, every light was intensified to provide enough warmth for the plants, some of which were from tropical countries. Like the large tree whose blossoms cascaded down, offering a delightful canopy over a small corner with a table and chairs. A rose hedge bordered the area, with two arches providing entry.
Through one of these arches, an older woman could be seen.
Once again, a strong feeling gripped Alina. Her steps slowed, almost coming to a halt.
"Alina!" Miri called out, bringing her back to attention. She stood just outside the archway, waiting for Alina to catch up and command her feet to move forward.
A lump formed in Alina's throat. Then, a step forward. In her haste, she almost tripped over the hem of her dress, but she managed to save the moment just in time. Not without Miri noticing the stumble, though.
She said nothing, simply walking ahead of Alina through the archway.
Should she say or do something? Alina wondered as she stood beside Miri, scrutinizing the stranger.
The woman had already noticed their presence but didn't turn around. Alina had imagined the woman to be a monster, with gray hair like cobwebs, a crooked nose, and cold features. A foolish thought, considering she had given birth to two beautiful girls. Neither Nice nor Nerre could be considered unattractive.
Time hadn't passed the woman by. Her graying hair was tied up, her dress in subdued colors. She appeared rather simple, not as lavishly dressed as Miri.
Her features seemed devoid of joy, until she cast a brief glance at Alina, her expression momentarily brightening before sinking back into contemplation of the roses.
She looked like a kind woman.
"We were just talking about it," Miri took the girl's obligation to greet away. "And now, I'm pleased to introduce you to my future daughter-in-law."
Pride resonated in Miri's voice, growing even more evident with a brief glance at Alina.
"Isn't she a lovely young lady? I bought her this dress for the day when my son finally musters the courage to announce their engagement."
Until now, Alina had been unable to say anything, but now the words rushed out in a fit of genuine outrage.
"Dearest Miri," she interjected. "This engagement is a fantasy of our fathers'. Ero and I have no such plans! We're just friends."
"Alina!" Miri's voice cut through, admonishing her. The girl flinched, intimidated.
Miri often expressed her desire to see them both at the altar, but she had never been this aggressive, unlike her husband.
"Let her be," were the first words of the other woman. She plucked one of the rose petals. "A girl who speaks her mind is like this rose. Beautiful, yet with thorns that should not be removed. A rarity amidst all the obedient dahlias."
Alina wanted to dodge, but she accepted the woman's approach and the way she tucked the white rose into her hair.
"Please don't make the same mistake I did," the woman said with a weak voice. "Let the children find their own path without forcing them into a role."
"We're not making a mistake!" the master of the house's powerful voice echoed through the conservatory. Beldor took a few steps to stand between Alina and Miri. There, he took the woman's hands in greeting. "They both don't yet know the true love they feel. We're just aiding them."
"Oh!" Alina blew out in exasperation, turning to the man with that single word. She placed her hands on her hips. "I should know who I feel for, shouldn't I?"
"Alina!" another shrill cry from Miri for reprimand.
The girl and the man paid no mind.
The judge even began to laugh.
"Someday you'll stand before a priest!" Beldor asserted confidently.
Stubborn, Alina would call it. But she found an equally stubborn opponent in herself.
Nobody could put her next to Ero in a wedding dress. Not even if they resurrected her mother from the grave!
As often happened, she saw it futile to argue with the man, as usually only one winner emerged.
She walked to the table and attempted to sit on one of the four chairs. The dress showed the same stubbornness as its wearer. A mass of underskirts and whatever else was used to give it volume made it uncomfortable in its stiffness. It took a while for Alina to find the right position to sit.
In doing so, she found herself under the watchful gaze of the two spouses. Miri felt validated in her opinion of the common folk, while Beldor chuckled kindly at his prospective daughter-in-law.
The judge sat next to her, his wife taking the seat opposite, leaving only the chair opposite Alina for the other woman.
The girl felt like fleeing. Under Miri's watchful eyes, she silently complied with the role of the obedient noblewoman. Often her gaze wandered shyly to the woman, capturing every nuance of her expression, trying to find certain similarities in her face.
"A truly lovely and spirited girl," the old lady said with a kindly smile. There was nothing in it to match the demon she had imagined in her childhood and still carried some weight today.
As Arela had said, this woman was a good person.
"Your name is Alina?"
She nodded.
"I know the legends of the Amazon tribe, and your parents chose a truly powerful name. It seems to have been under a good star," she said, turning to Beldor. "What about Ero? Is he still at that terrible school run by that dreadful man?"
Terrible? Alina's grip on the table tightened. Her father might not have been a handsome knight, but he had his qualities and bore many injuries from battle. But he was a kind person who took in Alina and cared for her without ever letting a doubt be voiced.
Beldor placed a reassuring hand on her arm.
"The school serves a good purpose," he defended Marno's life's work. "It puts the peasants at the forefront. With their help, many are no longer as helpless against robbers and gain great recognition in the king's army. Ero may not have initially been in favor of it, but it's good for him to be confronted with it. He has learned to become a good person. His parents tend to spoil him too much."
A very delicate expression. In truth, the lad had been so spoiled at the beginning that Marno often had to set him straight.
Miri's hand reached close to hers and pulled Alina closer to her.
"Please don't mention that you're the daughter of that rough barbarian," she pleaded softly.
Alina broke free from her grip.
"My father had a visitor yesterday. There was an argument, and Ero thought it appropriate to introduce me to her as his fiancée."
"She means Nerre," Beldor addressed it.
"Your father must have sent her away," Miri remarked, making a shooing motion with her hands.
"My daughter is terrible!" the other woman interjected. She shook her head before turning her attention back to the girl at the table. "Where are you from?"
"From Miro," Alina chirped happily. Thus, residents of all lands found themselves peacefully gathered at one table, as many wished as an example for kings.
"Oh!" she seemed delighted. "I've never been there, but I've heard about beautiful cities. Your king is said to own several castles. Beldor tells me Ero visits some of them as King Ylias' guest."
How could Alina explain exactly where her school was? She tried using the example of the table, pointing out some cities with imaginary dots that were closer. Immediately, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Poor thing!" the woman concluded completely wrong. "Don't you have a home?"
"Yes!" Alina exclaimed, looking between both spouses, paying particular attention to every warning glance from Miri.
"What Alina is trying to explain, without incurring my wife's wrath, is that she resides in the same school as our son. She is the daughter of the noble knight we spoke of earlier. Alina is a talented dancer but comes from humble beginnings. It doesn't change the fact that we would both welcome her into our family."
"She's the daughter of that dreadful person?" the woman exclaimed, shocked, and Alina's suspicion that Ero might be the reason for her poor opinion flared up. "The poor girl! And what about your mother, does she keep a good eye on you?"
Her gaze dropped sadly to the tabletop.
It almost seemed absurd which feelings surged in this situation. It wasn't usually so hard for her to talk about. Who did she have to mourn? A fool!
"My mother died a long time ago. I can barely remember her face or her voice."
No! Not now! she commanded her tears. She never cried over the loss of her mother and father. Not anymore after so long. They had left their child alone! They didn't deserve any of Alina's tears!