Little Adeline hid in a dark corner of the theater, secretly listening to her grandmother speak with her eldest granddaughter.
"You always say whatever comes to mind. Do you know why I chose your little sister to be the lead swan...? Tears are part of River Swan, a tradition passed down through our family line. Without training through tears, it could never become perfect. Annie, someone like you is too rigid, too lacking in delicate emotion. To truly master this art, one must—" Her grandmother's voice faded into silence.
In the present, Adeline was walking through a small meadow behind the mansion. Countless varieties of flowers bloomed there, enough that it could almost be called a field of colors. Small furry animals scurried through the garden, both large and small gathering in little groups.
One guinea pig ran up to Adeline with an adorable squeak.
"Wheek~ Wheek~"
She bent down and scooped the little creature into her arms.
"Hey there, little one."
Brian watched the young woman as she gazed fondly at the tiny animal, smiling and laughing cheerfully.
"They're all so chubby. How do you raise them like this?" he asked.
"With the vegetables from the garden. They've got plenty to choose from, so they all grow up round and cuddly."
Adeline placed the guinea pig on Brian's shoulder. The little four-legged creature froze in place, too afraid to move, doing nothing except letting out a painfully loud squeak.
Brian picked it up and set it back down on the ground, letting it scamper into a nearby bush.
"Run along, little buddy."
"Do you like guinea pigs?" Adeline asked.
"I don't know. They seem kind of difficult for me to take care of." Brian shook his head.
"They're not difficult at all. Just keep them in a small cage, make a little tunnel for them to live in, and give them a few pieces of vegetables each meal. That's enough."
She walked past a flowerbed filled with pink tulips.
"These flowers never wilt because we take good care of them. Even when the seasons change with time."
"Pink tulips represent confidence. The larger the bloom, the more confidence it holds," Brian said as he gently brushed a finger against one of the flowers.
"Confidence, huh?" Adeline murmured. "You know something, Brian? Ever since you came here, you've changed the way I think. There are some things I'd like to... ah, never mind."
She bent down and picked a tulip.
"This should be my way of saying thank you."
Adeline handed the flower to him. "Don't be shy. If you want more, just pick them yourself!" She tilted her head and smiled with the innocence of a child.
"Many thanks!" Brian said, tucking the flower into his shirt pocket. "Grown lovely."
"I don't really know what to say. I'm the kind of person who likes keeping to herself. I don't go out much. I hardly have any friends, so talking to people of the opposite ' tends to come out a little awkward."
The young woman puffed out her cheeks with a slight pout.
"So that means you're really single, huh?" Brian hummed. "You should try letting someone into your life. It can be a really worthwhile experience. Of course, relationships come with problems that have to be shared too." He chuckled softly. "Still, at least it's less lonely than being single."