Once the elegant woman let go of Lorelei, she realised that she hadn't even introduced herself yet, and neither had Lorelei, so she asked Lo.
''What is your name, dear?''
While wiping the tears off her face with her apron.
She answered.
''Lorelei.''
The woman smiled.
''What a beautiful name you have. My name is Silvia, Maria's mother''
Silvia afterwards clapped her hands together.
''Now, let's eat!''
Maria immediately started devouring the plate in front of her. When she looked over at Lorelei, she noticed that she hadn't even budged yet, still holding her fork while staring at the plate of food.
''You aren't eating?'' Maria said.
Lorelei looked at her and in a shy voice replied ''I dOn't KnOw hOw tO uSE ThIs.''
Maria's mother glanced over at Lorelei.
''It's alright, eat however you want. I will teach you tomorrow morning.''
Lorelei replied with a thank you as she placed the fork on the table and took her glove off. She then ate with her hands hastily. She was very hungry, all the walking and running tired her. She ate and ate until everything on the plate was gone in an instant.
Silvia then giggled.
''You must've been hungry. Poor child, do you want more?''
At first, Lorelei did not want to bother, so she replied.
''No, i'Ts fiNe I'M FuLL.''
Silvia insisted and took her plate to the same room and came out with a plate loaded with food. She then handed the plate to Lorelei with a smile.
''Here you go, dear!''
Once again, Lorelei thanked her and started eating, a little slower this time.
She ate until she felt her stomach was full.
After they were done eating, Silvia took the plate from both of them and told them.
''Now it's time to go to sleep, Maria. Could you please take her to the other room?''
''Sure! Lorelei, follow me!'' , she said playfully.
She then got up and ran up the stairs; soon enough, Lorelei followed after thanking Silvia with a bow.
She suddenly stopped, opened a door in the hallway and told Lorelei.
''From now on, this is your room!''
Maria entered, but Lorelei stayed at the entrance. Was it really okay for her to accept such kindness, she asked. Maria then turned back and, without saying anything, dragged her in and closed the door.
''Listen, Lorelei, it's fine, do not worry, you don't have to repay us anything, that's just how my mother is. She loves helping people, and since you're about the same age as me, she couldn't just leave you to yourself in a place that far from the capital.''
Maria stared into Lorelei's eyes, waiting for her to say something, but she stayed silent.
Lorelei stayed there, standing still, while Maria went over to the bed and jumped on it. She turned towards Lorelei and told her.
''Join me! It will be fun!''
As of her habit, Lorelei observed every corner of the room. It was filled with hand-drawn portraits of flowers, a few books on the shelf and a bed in the corner of the room. It was a simple-looking room, yet it felt so nostalgic and comfortable. Before Lorelei was even able to take a step towards the bed to join Maria, Silvia said from downstairs.
''Now, back to your room, young lady! Let Lorelei rest!''
Maria then replied from the room.
''Yes, mom!''
She quickly dashed off the bed and told Lorelei.
''Goodnight! We'll be able to play tomorrow if you want!''.
She ran back to another room, leaving Lorelei alone in hers. Lorelei quietly sat on her bed as she processed everything that had happened so far, deciding if she should trust them or not.
For a short while, she thought to herself.
''JuSt FoR a LiTtLe.''
She lay on the bed. Lo thought that it was surprisingly soft and started rolling around it, feeling every inch and corner of it. She grabbed the pillow and clung to it until she felt herself slowly drifting into sleep.
A few hours passed, and Lorelei still wasn't asleep. She looked under the door and saw that the lights were off.
Silvia must've also gone to sleep.
She heard little footsteps getting closer to her door until it slowly creaked open; it was Maria.
She swiftly turned around to close the door behind her and crawled onto Lorelei's bed.
With her, she was carrying a book as well as Lorelei's glove and told her in a whispery voice.
''Here, you forgot it downstairs.''
Maria handed the glove back to Lorelei. She brought the book she was holding onto her lap, and that's when Lorelei noticed the book. Maria asked Lorelei if she wanted to read it with her. Naturally, Lorelei replied with a yes.
Maria reached out to the nightstand and lit the candle, letting the book cover be discovered. It was an apple, on the cover, a rotten apple. The flame was of a bright orange that instantly captivated Lorelei's attention. The little fire produced by the candle was wavering and twirling around it, just like the flame was dancing for her and her only. Lorelei's little spectacle was interrupted by Maria flipping the pages of the book she was holding. Maria then started reading from the first page. Before she reached the end, Lorelei asked her if she could teach her how to read and write since she wasn't very good at it.
''Sure, I will teach you how!''
She slowly started spelling out the words for Lo as Lo repeated after her.
''A p p l e.''
Lorelei repeated
''A p P L E.''
This went on and on until Lorelei was finally able to read the first phrase of the book.
''ThE ApPle FeLL frOm tHe tRee AnD sOmEoNe pIcKeD iT.''
Maria excitedly said.
''GREAT!''
A little too loud... Her mom heard her voice from her bedroom.
''Back to your room, young lady!''
She was still snoring and barely awake. Maria laughed and looked at Lorelei.
''Goodnight, Lorelei, sleep well.''
Before closing the door and going back to her room.
Soon after, Lorelei also fell into a deep slumber.