Chapter 9.4

Since that day, many years passed, which Ero spent by her side. For her, however, it became the last night she spent in her father's house. Already the next morning, he chased her out, where she defiantly spent the night first in the stable before moving into her hut.

Before that, she had never been alone but could go to her father whenever she was afraid at night or troubled by bad dreams. She never said anything, or how the suddenly closed door disturbed her.

For solace, she still had her mare Belena, who sometimes comforted her. Ero soon proved to be an excellent student: talented, clever, and ambitious. To top it all off, from this brief, initial encounter grew the desire to bring the two children together - his youngest son and the outspoken girl.

Beldor had taken a fancy to the blonde girl. He showered her with beautiful clothes and whatever pleased him, even though she didn't know what to do with them. His only visits were for her, not his son, which only fueled the differences between them. Ero felt abandoned by this. After all, until then, he had been a little prince to his parents, spoiled all his life.

At first, Marno observed everything with skepticism. He even disapproved of it. But they quickly became friends. After some time, Marno even supported him in his plans with both children.

Since that time, so little had changed. And Alina even liked it. Not the insistence that she should give Ero her heart. But everything else. The friendship between Marno and Beldor. The judge who accepted his desired daughter-in-law as his own child. Her friendship with Ero, with the little teasing. None of it had to change for her.

Yet, the passage of time determined its own path, from which many could not escape.