In the distance, Grace's voice broke the silence of the field.

—Madelyne, Henry! It's time to go!

We picked up our things and headed back. When we arrived at the house, my father and Mr. Charles were waiting for us at the entrance. Everything seemed calm, until Mr. Charles's gaze fell on Henry... and on the ribbon that I had put in his hair.

—Henry! What stupid thing did you wear? —he shouted furiously, raising his hand ready to hit him.

Without thinking, I put myself between them.

—What are you trying to do? — I ask firmly, feeling my heart pounding.

Mr. Charles frowned, his hand still raised, his gaze moving from me to the ribbon, then to Henry, nervously standing behind me.

—What are you trying to do? — I repeated, breathing deeply to stay calm.

The silence was tense for a moment. I knew I shouldn't talk to an adult like that, but I also knew that Henry didn't deserve that treatment.

—Mr. Charles... — I said softer, with my gaze fixed, — It's not what you think, we were just playing. The ribbon... I gave it to him as a gift. So that her hair wouldn't cover her eyes.

Charles blinked, taken aback by my tone. Behind me, I felt Henry move. With trembling hands, he immediately removed the ribbon and folded it awkwardly before putting it in his pocket.

—I...I'm sorry, father — he murmured without looking up.

My dad, Viktor, then intervened, placing a hand on Mr. Charles's shoulder.  — Charles, it's nothing serious, there's no reason to get upset.

But Charles did not respond immediately. He looked at me, not like one looks at a capricious girl, there was something in his eyes confusion, perhaps, or surprise for years I couldn't decipher her thoughts.

His hand slowly lowered.

—We'll talk later, Henry — he said in a hard, but more restrained voice.

Henry swallowed and nodded.

After that incident, my father, Madelyne and I quickly withdrew. The next day the engagement dinner would be held at night. We were never very close to my uncles, aunts or cousins, the occasions on which we had lived together had been brief, however, the engagement was an opportunity for them to visit us and get us all together. When night fell, only Madelyne and I were lying in our room.

—Madelyne, are you asleep? — I asked, approaching her bed.

Madelyne shook her head. I hugged her from behind her back, lying down with her. I could feel myself sobbing lightly.

—I don't want tomorrow to come — she whispered and ran both hands over her face, which ended up covering it as if she wanted to hide her tears.

—Mad, I'm with you, what do you want to do? Shall we escape together?

Madelyne didn't answer, she just continued crying.

—Mad it won't be the end of the world, like you said, there are years until you get married, and if when that day comes you don't love each other... you can be friends before anything else. If you get along well, really well... the future can change.

Madelyne turned and looked at me with reddened eyes.

—Yes, I thought about it, but do you really think that… that it could be different?

—I'm sure you do, you know what happened to our parents when they were young, mom was almost married to another man, but since she loved dad, she even ran away from home to prevent the marriage. Maybe in a few years you will have fallen in love with someone else, even Henry, or something else may happen.

—You're right — she murmured — I needed to hear it from someone else.

I hugged her again, now with more force.

—I will always be with you Mad, we could even go live in the city, just you and me, I can open my fashion store, you would help me and that way we would become famous, what do you say?

—Yes that's fine.

Finally, after Madelyne calmed down, she fell into a deep sleep, needing a good rest for the party that awaited us the next day.