Hand in hand, Ethel and Cloud walked out of the forest edge and returned to the picnic area where their parents were seated. Requesting water from the servants, they dropped onto the teal blanket beside the adults, who set down their goblets to acknowledge the children.
"Are you kids hungry?" Duchess Leonard asked with a warm smile.
Cloud nodded, turning to Ethel, who was thoroughly famished from all the excitement. "I'm starving!" she chimed in.
The servants laid out platters of food and goblets of water. Simple crusty bread and savory boar jerky quickly satisfied the young vampires' appetites. Shortly after Ethel took her last bite, five figures emerged from the forest line—Jerome, Skye, June, Viridian, and Primrose—their shoes covered in damp earth and their dark cloaks trailing behind them.
"I still say hiding in the thickets was cheating!" Primrose giggled, flopping onto one of the silk pillows and reaching for a glass of berry-infused blood.
"It isn't cheating if nobody catches you," Jerome countered with a proud smirk, dropping down beside Cloud.
For a little while, the blanket was full of lively chatter. The cousins recounted their game, arguing playfully over who was the best hider and how long Jerome had searched the woods. The sun sat higher in the sky now, casting a warm, lingering heat across the lake while the children rested and finished off the remaining platters of bread and dried meat.
The relaxed afternoon was broken by the heavy rumble of wooden wheels echoing down the dirt path. A sleek, black carriage emblazoned with the silver Ardaviar family crest pulled up along the lakeside, its horses huffing as the coachman stepped down to open the door.
A collective sigh ran through the cousins.
"Already?" June muttered, looking back toward the woods wistfully. "We barely got to explore the far ridge."
"It seems your carriage has arrived," Duke Leonard announced calmly, standing up from his seat. "Your father was quite clear in his letter—you are to return home immediately."
A wave of quiet reluctance washed over the young vampires. Skye dusted off his trousers and offered a polite, formal bow to the two Dukes and Duchesses, while June bid Jerome a quick farewell. Viridian walked over to Cloud and Ethel, giving Ethel a playful nudge.
"Next time we meet, little cousin, I'm finding you first," Viridian promised with a sly grin. "No hollow trees will save you."
"Goodbye, Effy! Goodbye, Cloud!" Primrose called out, offering a dramatic wave as she climbed the carriage steps.
One by one, the four Valair children boarded. With a crack of the reins, the heavy carriage rolled away, its wheels kicking up dust until it disappeared beyond the distant bend in the road.
With the energetic cousins gone, a peaceful, sudden quiet settled over the lakeside. Sunlight sparkled across the water's surface, where tall cattails swayed softly in the gentle breeze.
"Since the afternoon is still young and the weather is so fine, why don't you two go for a swim?" Duchess Leonard suggested, gesturing toward the sparkling lake.
Ethel's face lit up instantly, her earlier fatigue vanishing. "Yes, please!"
Having been taught to swim by her mother at a young age, Ethel harbored no fear of the water. The servants assisted the two children into their simple cotton bathing attire. Without a moment's hesitation, Ethel scampered down the grassy bank and plunged into the refreshing lake.
Cloud stepped in after her, expecting the timid little girl to stay near the shallow edge. To his surprise, Ethel kicked her feet effortlessly, gliding through the clear water with complete confidence. She floated on her back, her crystal-white hair fanning out around her like a halo on the glowing surface, before splashing toward the cattails to watch the small water bugs dart across the ripples.
Cloud swam up beside her, letting out a soft chuckle as she playfully splashed a wave of water in his direction. "You're a much better swimmer than a hide-and-seek player, Effy," he teased, wiping droplets from his eyes.
"Mama taught me!" Ethel replied proudly, floating effortlessly beside him.
From the shade of the pavilion tent, the two sets of parents watched the children play. Duke Vuron took a quiet sip from his goblet, turning to Zylus and Ether. "She is a remarkable child. She will fit in seamlessly at our estate in Rapture when the time comes."
Duchess Leonard smiled softly, though a gentle, motherly sorrow touched her eyes as she watched Ethel splash in the sunlight. "I only hope these quiet memories stay with her when she leaves."
As the afternoon sun began to dip toward the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the water, Ethel and Cloud waded back to the shore. Wrapped in soft linen towels, they sat side by side on the grass, watching the light dance across the lake in peaceful silence.