"You were brave," Damian remarked.
His words made Eilika lift her head and look at him, slightly surprised by the sincerity in his voice.
"Most children would have frozen in fear in such a situation," he continued thoughtfully. "But you didn't hesitate. You didn't even think about your own safety. You stepped forward to protect your father. That kind of courage is rare… especially in someone so young. It is truly admirable."
For a brief moment, Eilika simply looked at him, absorbing what he had said.
"Thank you for saying that," she replied softly, though her voice carried a trace of sadness. She turned her head away, her gaze drifting toward the quiet surface of the pond. "No one has ever admired me for that."
Her fingers brushed lightly against the side of her gown.
"Instead, they blamed me for it," she continued. "They said I should have stayed out of the way, that I should not have interfered."
Her hand moved unconsciously to her cheek, where the faint scar rested.
