Daphne heard all these comments. She smiled faintly as if trying to ignore them, but she felt the weight of the words pressing on her heart.
Then, she stopped at an old apple vendor's cart. The fruits were neatly arranged, glowing with their bright red color. She took out her notebook and wrote in beautiful handwriting:
"How much for four apples?"
The vendor read her words with scrutinizing eyes, then replied in a calm tone:
"One silver piece, miss."
Daphne took out small coins with a strange design from her bag and offered them to him with a shy smile. But he frowned and looked at the money in confusion before saying:
"This currency is not from around here. I cannot accept it."
Daphne: (wrote in her notebook) "But it is very valuable where I come from."
Vendor: (smiled with a slight sarcasm) "Where you come from? You look like you're from another world, girl."
Daphne: (wrote quickly) "Can't you accept it? It really is valuable."
Vendor: (looked at Marshmallow) "Perhaps if your cat smiles at me, I'll consider it."
Daphne chuckled softly, hugging Marshmallow lovingly, and wrote in her notebook:
"Marshmallow does not give out smiles easily, but he is grateful for your kindness."
The vendor smiled gently, took two apples from the cart, and offered them to her for free:
"Take these, miss. Consider it a simple welcome from the neighborhood."
As she continued walking, she felt a mixture of strangeness and comfort. The city was completely different from her world, but it possessed a kind of special charm. She looked at the two apples in her hands and whispered to herself:
"Even in a new world, people still possess kindness... But what about Adonis? Why does he live in a place like this?"
As the sun began to dip towards the horizon, she grew worried that Adonis might return and find her outside the house. She quickened her pace, returning with a face that held a mixture of curiosity and fear, wondering about the conversation that might await her upon her return.
With quick steps, Daphne reached the house, a subtle feeling of unease accompanying her. The cold air stung her face, but the warmth of the house awaited her. When she entered, the place was eerily quiet. Adonis and Yarrow had not yet returned. She glanced around before placing Marshmallow in his small straw basket in front of the fireplace, which glowed with a reassuring warmth.
Daphne busied herself with caring for the little cat, preparing a special meal for him consisting of tender pieces of meat and a little warm milk. She watched Marshmallow devour the food with relish and murmured to herself, "I must prepare something for everyone; they might be late."
She began working with enthusiasm. She opened the kitchen cupboard and took out what she needed: pieces of fresh butter, brown sugar, and some cinnamon sticks. The bright red apples awaited their turn on the table, and she carefully began slicing them, enjoying the sound of the knife as it passed through their skin.
She placed the ingredients on the stove, and the aroma of melting butter began to mingle with the fragrance of cinnamon and apples, filling the place with an irresistible warmth. While preparing the dough for the apple pie, she glanced at Marshmallow, who was relaxing by the fireplace, carefully licking his small paws as if feeling content.
After putting the pie in the oven, she used the time to prepare a hot soup made of lentils and vegetables. She stirred it with a rhythmic motion, while her thoughts wandered far away. "I hope they return soon... they might be hungry," she thought as she wiped her hands on her apron.
When the smell of baked apples began to waft into every corner of the house, Daphne stood for a moment, looking at the table she had set with dishes, feeling a sense of inner satisfaction. While the rain began to fall heavily outside, the warmth of the house defied the bitter cold, and those delicious smells were like an invitation to return to safety.
Outside, the rain was falling heavily, its drops striking the windows as if playing a melodious tune on the strings of the night. Amid this scene, the sound of Yarrow's bark, the loyal dog, rose as if calling Daphne with longing and affection. Daphne left what she was doing and headed towards the door with quick steps, filled with worry.
She opened the door to find Yarrow standing there, completely soaked, his fur dripping with water. Her eyes widened with unmistakable happiness, as if she understood everything he wanted to say. Yarrow rushed towards her with great enthusiasm, stood on his hind legs, and licked her hands with longing and gratitude. She laughed softly, patted his head gently, before raising her gaze to meet Adonis.
Adonis stood behind Yarrow, his appearance showing the weariness of a long day. His long black hair clung to his face, while water dripped from his heavy coat. Daphne looked at him with concern, but he gestured to her with his hand reassuringly, then said in a soft voice filled with exhaustion:
"Sorry, Yarrow, you got soaked in the rain. I won't take you with me tomorrow."
Adonis entered the house with measured steps, took off his wet coat, and hung it by the door. He stood for a moment in front of the glowing fire in the fireplace, as if seeking the warmth he had missed outside. Then, without uttering a word, he went up to his room to change his clothes.
After a few minutes, Adonis returned looking completely different. He wore a white shirt open slightly at the collar, its sleeves rolled up to reveal his strong forearms, and comfortable black trousers. In his new attire, he seemed even more attractive in his comfort and simplicity, despite the obvious weariness in his features.
As he descended, Adonis inhaled a delicious aroma that permeated the house. It was a mixture of baked apples and cinnamon, a warm fragrance like an embrace on a cold night. He tilted his head slightly, enjoying the scent, then whispered to himself with a faint smile:
"Delicious smell..."
In the kitchen, Daphne was sitting on the floor beside Yarrow, who was devouring his food greedily. She had placed his meal in a small bowl and watched him carefully, smiling with contentment. Adonis, who had been standing silently at the entrance, watched her as well. Her features were calm, but in her eyes was a glimmer of tenderness that made Adonis forget for a moment the weariness he was feeling.
He suddenly decided to move towards her with a surprising step to startle her. She turned quickly, a slight look of alarm on her face, but she quickly composed herself, picked up her ever-present notebook, and wrote quickly:
"Dinner is ready. You must be hungry, aren't you?"
Adonis smiled quietly, then nodded and headed towards the table to sit down. Daphne sat opposite him, and they began to eat in silence. But it wasn't a heavy silence, but a comfortable one, filled with tranquility. Adonis ate his food quietly, but his eyes occasionally glanced at Daphne, observing every small movement she made, without making it obvious.
After dinner, Daphne put the dishes away in the kitchen, but she noticed a slight change in Adonis's expression. She approached him with steady steps and stood beside him. She gestured for him to lean down slightly, and he hesitated for a moment but obeyed. She placed one hand on his forehead and the other under his chin to steady him, then wrote quickly in her notebook:
"Your temperature is high. You are not well."
Adonis raised his gaze to her, smiled tiredly, then gently took her hand, lowered it from his forehead, and said in a quiet voice:
"Don't worry... I'm fine."
Despite his words, Daphne couldn't hide the concern that was evident in her eyes. She stared at him for a long moment, as if trying to read what he was hiding behind that smile. But she decided not to press him. She closed her notebook and headed to the kitchen to prepare a cup of warm drink, determined to do anything to help him.
In these small moments, Adonis felt something strange in his heart. Perhaps it was a new warmth he hadn't known before, or perhaps just an appreciation for her gentle silence that didn't need many words to be understood.
In the kitchen, Daphne was busy preparing a warm drink to help Adonis recover. The scent of soothing herbs mingled with the warmth of the fireplace, but her heart was not entirely at ease. She felt a strange urge to check on him. She placed the cup aside and headed with quiet steps towards his room.
Inside, Adonis had succumbed to his illness. He lay stretched out on his bed, his strong features that usually looked stern and commanding now appeared weary and weak.
Daphne approached cautiously, afraid to wake him, but she couldn't ignore the worry that gripped her. She sat on the edge of the bed and tilted her head slightly as she watched his sleeping face. Strands of his black hair were tangled, scattered across his forehead in a disheveled way, but it added to a strange beauty.
She slowly reached out her hand and brushed the strands of hair from his forehead. His skin felt warm, more than it should. She gently placed her hand on his forehead to gauge his temperature, then frowned with concern. She whispered to herself:
"His temperature is very high..."
She rose quietly and quickly, heading to the kitchen to fetch cold compresses. The sound of her footsteps was barely audible as she walked on tiptoes, avoiding making any noise. She returned to the room moments later, carrying a small towel and cold water.
As she approached to place the compress on his forehead, she felt a sudden movement. Before she could comprehend what was happening, Adonis gently grasped her wrist and pulled her towards him. Her eyes widened in surprise as he looked at her with half-closed eyes, his voice tired and hoarse, but filled with sincerity:
"Who... are you?"
Daphne froze in place, unable to find words. But Adonis continued in a voice barely audible, as if the words were escaping him despite his exhaustion:
"Daphne... you... changed my life..."
He paused for a moment, as if trying to say more, but weariness overcame him. He slowly closed his eyes, and his voice became a whisper:
"I... I..."
Before he could finish his sentence, sleep overcame him again. Daphne remained frozen in place, her eyes wide with shock. She stared at his face for moments, trying to comprehend his words. She muttered to herself:
"Who knows... maybe I'm here for reasons I don't yet understand. Maybe being inside this book has something to do with everything."
Then she let out a long sigh, as if trying to shake off those thoughts, but found herself looking back at him. She moved closer and said to herself:
"You are as white as snow... black eyebrows and very long eyelashes."
She gently raised her hand, as if afraid to wake him, and placed the tips of her fingers on his eyelashes, continuing in a whisper:
"And blue eyes... long, dark black hair... oh my god, you are my type."
She suddenly felt ashamed of what she was thinking, quickly moved away, and lightly slapped her cheek as if punishing herself. She said to herself nervously:
"No, no, no. This isn't right. I mustn't like this person... all of this might just be a dream, or... or an illusion!"