My mood immediately changed for the better, when I observed how pretty she looked with light pink painting her cheeks, making her ivory skin look almost translucent. I wondered how soft it would feel under my fingertips.
“Why are you outside alone?” I asked.
“Excuse me?” Her lips parted.
“You should not be alone where no one can see you. That man could be dangerous,” I said, peeling my eyes off her with a considerable effort.
“What? Why?”
“You’re not from here. You don’t know the people or their traditions.” I crossed my arms on my chest.
“That’s ridiculous. I’m by the house. And Denis was really nice.” Alina furrowed her eyebrows.
“Was he?”
“Yes, he was. Much nicer than you are right now.” Alina turned and walked back to the cottage.
I could see that she was fuming inside. She looked so delicious when she was angry with her straight back and long, wavy hair. I smiled, returning my gaze back to the horizon.
During breakfast, Alina avoided looking at me and played with her spoon instead of eating her oatmeal.
“I didn’t know you could cook.” Frid placed another helping of oats on her plate.
“I stayed alone in the house so often that my father taught me to make a couple of meals.” Victor added butter to his plate.
“I wish I could cook. If I ever needed to feed myself, I don’t think I could handle it. What about you, Aly?” Frid asked.
“No, I’m absolutely hopeless,” Alina responded.
“Maybe you could teach us?” Frid glanced at Victor.
“Sure. If you’d like. But is it because you don’t want to put on a dress to go outside?” Victor asked.
“I am not wearing a stupid dress!” Frid exploded.
“All girls wear them,” Victor continued.
“I’m not like other girls,” Frid muttered.
“Victor’s right. We could find something and make it fit you. I can help you with that. I used to sew... a lot,” Alina said.
My eyes landed on her delicate fingers. I could easily imagine it. Alina leaning over her needlework, the strands of her hair framing her gentle features. My eyes darted to the tight corset she was wearing, she looked like she was born wearing dresses with puffy, long skirts. Everything about her; her straight back, her pale, ivory skin, she looked like a princess from a fairytale and Denis could have been her knight in shining armor.
What did that make me? The villain? A monster with a soul as black as the scales of his beast who wanted to steal the princess all for himself?
“Not a chance. I’m not going to walk around looking like a troll in a dress.” Frid pushed her plate away with a frown.
“A troll in a dress? Gods! Who told you that?” Alina’s eyebrows shot up.
Victor looked down to his plate, visibly uncomfortable.
Frid stole a quick glance at him and abruptly looked away.
“Frid... hm, that was a long time ago. I was a stupid kid,” Victor said slowly.
“What did you do?” I asked, ready to strangle him.
“It’s alright. He didn’t mean it. I just don’t want to. Let’s talk about something else!” Frid picked up a piece of bread and took a huge bite.
