The next day, Nerya was awakened by her father.

  He gently placed a hand on her cheek, stroking it slowly so as not to wake her abruptly.

  “Hello, my princess.

  You need to get up, we have to get ready to go out,” he said in a low voice.

  Nerya opened her eyes, yawning at length while her vision was still blurred.

  She looked toward the window, seeing that the daylight was still faint.

  “Papa, I’m still tired.

  I want to sleep,” she replied.

  “I know, but we have to prepare everything.

  Trust me, you won’t be disappointed today.

  You haven’t forgotten that it’s your birthday,” Eldran said with a smile.

  Nerya’s eyes widened, she had forgotten for a moment that it was today.

  She sat up at once, smiling as she threw off the blankets to get up.

  Eldran straightened as well, slightly surprised.

  “We’ll have breakfast, then your mother will dress you, all right,” he went on as he headed for the door.

  “No, I want Papa to dress me today,” Nerya asked, tugging at his trousers.

  Eldran turned back to her, bending down to take her into his arms and settle her against his hips.

  “I know, little heart, but I can’t today.

  Papa has things to take care of,” Eldran replied.

  Nerya gave him a muffled smile, resting her head against Eldran’s shoulder.

  They left the bedroom and headed for the table, where Eldran set Nerya down on her chair.

  “Good morning, little dormouse, it was about time you got up.

  You’re not going to be late today,” Zephyra said, setting a cup of milk in front of Nerya.

  “Good morning, Mama.

  Thank you,” Nerya replied.

  She blew on her still steaming milk, brought the cup to her lips, and took a long sip.

  Breakfast passed quietly, Nerya noticing that her parents spoke in low voices at times, preventing her from hearing what they were saying.

  Once the cups were empty, Zephyra cleared the table while Eldran stepped toward Nerya and kissed her on the forehead, before turning to Zephyra.

  “All right, I’m off, I’ll make sure everything is ready.

  I’ll leave the young lady to you,” he said, holding Zephyra against him.

  She nodded, and Eldran headed for the door while Zephyra moved closer to Nerya.

  She wiped her mouth, still damp with milk, and took her into her arms, carrying her into the washroom.

  “We’re going to make you all pretty, we’re not taking you to the church all dirty,” Zephyra said with a smile.

  Once on the floor, Nerya removed her clothes and settled into the large basin.

  Zephyra lit a small flame in the hollow of her hand and slid it beneath the pitcher to heat the water.

  After a few minutes, she withdrew her hand and took the pitcher, bringing it close to the basin and gently pouring the water in.

  Nerya relaxed under the warmth that washed over her, playing with the water while Zephyra prepared what she needed to wash her.

  She moved closer to Nerya, kneeling as she rolled up her sleeves.

  As she leaned down to pick up a small sponge, Nerya plunged her hands into the water and splashed her mother, immediately turning her eyes away with a mischievous look.

  “Really, Nerya?

  And on top of that you turn your eyes away?

  You’re a terrible actress, I can see that crooked smile, you little brat,” Zephyra murmured.

  She set the sponge aside and plunged her hands into the water, splashing Nerya in return.

  She then placed them on her sides and began tickling her in several places.

  Nerya twisted in every direction, laughing loudly.

  They played like that for several minutes, before being interrupted by the front door opening.

  “Girls, where are you?” Eldran’s voice called.

  Zephyra put a finger to her lips while looking at Nerya, telling her not to make a sound.

  She dipped her hand into the water and waited.

  Eldran opened the door, and Zephyra threw water at him, Nerya bursting into laughter.

  They both started laughing as Eldran stumbled backward, grimacing slightly from the impact.

  “So that’s how the city guard watches his back, we’re really not that safe,” Zephyra said, still laughing.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Eldran straightened up and stepped toward her, taking her hand and pulling Zephyra up.

  “You’re lucky I love you.

  Otherwise you’d have ended up in the cells a long time ago,” he replied sarcastically.

  “And what would you do without me, hm?

  I’m far too essential to make up for your little brain,” Zephyra shot back.

  They looked into each other’s eyes for a few moments, then kissed at length.

  Nerya, still in her basin, looked away with an eye roll and a sigh, slightly embarrassed by the scene.

  She tapped the water to remind them she was still there.

  “All right, I’ll finish washing the little terror and we’ll join you.

  Do you know if there will be many people today?” Zephyra asked.

  “No, just three or four who are supposed to come by.

  But it would be good to go before her turn, so she can see how it works at least,” Eldran replied.

  Sometimes I wonder, do they forget that I’m supposed to be starting to understand what they’re saying?

  They talk as if I were still a baby, I feel like, Nerya thought.

  Eldran then left the room, Zephyra kneeling again as she picked up the sponge.

  She dipped it into the water, poured a viscous liquid over it, and began to gently scrub Nerya’s body.

  After a few minutes, she took hold of the nape of Nerya’s neck and leaned her back to wash her hair.

  “All right, we’re getting out of the water now.

  Then we’ll put on your little dress, you’ll look very pretty in it,” Zephyra said in a soft voice.

  Nerya smiled at her and held out her arms, Zephyra grabbing a thick little wool towel.

  She unfolded it and wrapped it around Nerya, lifting her out of the water, then rubbed her through the towel to dry her.

  She dressed her in the small white dress Melphina had given her, Zephyra tying her hair into a ponytail while leaving part of it loose, giving volume to her hairstyle.

  Nerya looked at herself in the mirror, smiling without realizing it as she saw her reflection.

  “There we go, all clean and pretty.

  You’ll soon be a big girl now,” Zephyra said, her gaze tinged with a bit of sadness.

  “Thank you, Mama, I love you very much,” Nerya replied.

  They left the room and joined Eldran, Nerya sitting beside him while Zephyra set glasses on the table.

  She poured fruit juice into each of them, sliding the glasses forward.

  “If everything goes well, it shouldn’t take too long.

  Let’s just hope the gods aren’t playful today.

  We were lucky the ceremony fell exactly on her birthday as well,” Eldran murmured, taking a sip.

  “Ohhh, you’re almost becoming endearing when you worry like that.

  But everything will be fine.

  Just look at how pretty your daughter is,” Zephyra said.

  “I know she’s beautiful, she’s our daughter, I remind you.

  But because of that thing, a doubt settled in.

  And I can’t really get rid of it.

  What if something goes wrong?” Eldran asked.

  He placed a hand on Nerya’s cheek and caressed it tenderly, giving her a wide smile as she drank her fruit juice.

  “We can’t predict anything, and we’ll deal with it when the time comes.

  But let’s not spoil her day with doubts, and leave that behind, all right,” Zephyra cut in.

  “You’re right, we shouldn’t talk about that, especially today.

  If you’re ready, we’ll go.

  Even if we arrive early, we can see how things go for the others,” Eldran went on.

  Zephyra nodded, putting the glasses away before slipping on her light coat.

  Nerya climbed down from her chair and followed her father toward the door, but Zephyra caught her hand.

  “Come here, my sweet.

  You’re just missing one little thing and you’ll be perfect,” she said, rummaging in a pocket.

  She bent down and took a lock of Nerya’s hair, fastening a small brooch to it.

  Nerya stepped in front of the mirror, admiring what her mother had given her.

  Its shape resembled an elegant bird, its blue color mixed with violet bringing out her green eyes.

  She then turned toward her father.

  “Look, Papa, it’s really pretty,” she said, lowering her head slightly.

  Eldran gave her a wide smile, then opened the door and held out his hand before stepping outside.

  Nerya took it and crossed the threshold with him, entering the small garden bathed in sunlight.

  But the air was rather cool that morning, and Nerya shivered a little as she stepped out.

  They left the small garden, but to Nerya’s surprise they did not head toward the village.

  They took the road leading outward, a place where she had never set foot before.

  “Mama, where are we going?

  Why are we going that way?” she asked, troubled.

  “Because we’re going to another town, my dear.

  We don’t have a church suited for what we have to do here,” Zephyra replied.

  They walked for a few minutes like that, Nerya looking around, excited as she discovered new views of the landscape.

  Then they stopped in front of a small stable, where horses harnessed to a small carriage were waiting.

  “Everything ready, Wensworth?

  All good on our side,” Eldran asked in a firm voice.

  Nerya moved to stand beside her father, discovering a tall, slender man.

  His enormous mustache hid much of his mouth, while his long hair falling from beneath a tall hat gave him an elegance close to that of the Nobility.

  “Of course, Eldran.

  We can leave whenever you wish.

  The horses have been prepared for the road, we can wait for you as agreed,” Wensworth replied, removing his hat to greet Zephyra and Nerya.

  They climbed into the small carriage, the man taking his place in front and gripping the reins.

  He tightened his hold as he raised them, then brought them down in a sharp motion, the leather cracking loudly.

  The horses neighed at the sound and started moving, Nerya clutching her mother’s arms as she nearly stumbled.

  “I can’t wait for the sun to really show itself, I was expecting a bit more warmth this morning,” Eldran grumbled, blowing on his hands.

  “I could warm you up a little if you’d like, but you’re getting old, my dear.

  Not sure ten seconds would be enough to warm you,” Zephyra replied with a smile.

  Eldran rolled his eyes, while Nerya adjusted her small coat to block the cold air on her neck.

  “Your humor leaves something to be desired sometimes.

  Old age is starting to catch up with you too, my dear,” Eldran shot back.

  I love you, but honestly… you’re hopeless sometimes, Nerya thought as she looked at them.

  A silence settled in, Nerya leaning over the edge of the carriage to admire the scenery.

  Everything was about to become a discovery from that moment on, and she fully intended to enjoy her first steps beyond the village.