Love. Part two.

"You are in a good state of mind today, Monsieur.  I'm glad to see you like this," said Nicholas, smiling happily.

Putting on his jacket, Adelard smiled back.

Straightening strands of his long hair once more, he turned to Nicholas.

"How many times have I told you not to address me so formally?  How long have we known each other.  You are just like a brother to me.  So there is no need for this word Monsieur.  Will it be convenient for you if I refer to you like this?  Monsieur Nicholas, please bring me the morning paper.  Monsieur Nicholas, please give me that bottle of cologne."

"Okay.  Stop that. I'm really uncomfortable,"  answered Nicholas slightly shaking him by the shoulders.

"That's much better.  The people around me already treat me like a king.  They are always so polite.  Since childhood, I have not seen a single emotion other than admiration and deceitful politeness."

"Maybe when they see you they feel nothing but admiration.  You've always been like this."

"What?"

"Wonderful," Nicholas said and stepped aside.  Shaking his head, he smiled happily and added,  "Now I ask you to follow me.  Breakfast is ready."

Immersed in the aromas of pastries and fresh fruit, Adelard opened the first page of the newspaper and began to delight his taste buds with the culinary masterpieces of his chef.

Cheese omelet, buns, fruit salads, it was all a major start to the day.  And when the last page of the newspaper turned, Adelard looked gratefully at the table and then his eyes searched for this one person whose hands were creating such creations.

Bathing in the sun, he sat down on a swing and swaying slowly recalled his dream that he had at night.  And the chirping of birds added even more color to his surreal dreams.

Interrupting his meditation, Nicholas stood in front of him.  His tall, slim body completely covered the sun.

"Adelard, today you have an appointment with Monsieur."

He had hardly finished his sentence when Adelarde interrupted him, shaking his head, "Cancel all appointments for today.  Today I am perhaps in a good mood and I want to spend this day contemplating the beautiful nature and walking along the cliff.  Please cancel this appointment.  For some reason today I feel like I have to go to the beach. I have such a feeling as if my heart will soon be singing serenades."

Touching his forehead, Nicholas replied,

“Your forehead is cold today.  Perhaps this means that your heart soon will become the warmest place."

Looking at him, Adelard laid his head on the pillow and the light wind played with his curly hair.

Living in a big house with a few servants, he would spend his day like this, sitting in the garden, dreaming.  Someone would say: what can he dream about, he has everything.  But perhaps as everyone knows, man by nature is always inclined to dream.

Is it a curse of the human race or its best quality?  Alas, no one knows the answer to this question.

"Do you want me to accompany you?  Today they promised rain again.  Don't forget to bring your coat."

“No, Nicholas, you don’t have to come with me.  I want to walk myself.  Do not worry."

Taking a small book filled with poetry, he smiled at Nicholas and left the house.

Despite the rain predictions, the sky was clear.  The sun's rays playfully lit up everything around.  The chirping of birds and a light, soft wind that created the feeling of silk on the skin inspired a light sleep.  And even the nature itself around seemed to be still dozing.  Tall grass and flowers chaotically scattered by some force, creating an incredible coziness reminding a person that he was at home.

Walking under the sun, Adelard involuntarily hummed an incomprehensible song, but from the quiet and dull sounds it was possible to understand that he was humming a joyful song.  Twitching his right hand thereby giving the rhythm to the song, he closed his eyes for a moment and only a slight fear returned him to himself so as not to fall on the way.

Leaving the house far behind, only the green steppe spread out in front of him.  A steppe that knew no boundaries.  And only the cliff at the end spoke of the opposite.

Heading towards this cliff, he looked back to make sure that Nicholas was not following him as he usually did.  But only he was in this peaceful steppe.  He and light, silk wind.

Taking off his leather shoes, he felt a tingling sensation on his feet.  Accelerating his step, his eyes were riveted to the end of the steppe.  Not knowing why, but his heart was beating so hard and loud that he thought it was fatigue.  Although it is possible, the heart is the only organ capable of feeling happiness first.

When the steppe was left behind, the view of the immense, impossible beauty now opened up in front of him.  It was like a canvas of a great artist, whose colors lay so that they involuntarily created the shades of the sea, the shades of the sky and slightly darkened stones that lay on guard against the gentle sea waves.

As if sensing Adelard's presence, the sea suddenly began to dance, jump.  The waves began to float harmoniously in his direction, and only stones did not allow them to get out of the sea surface.

Opening the first page of the book, he began to greedily read it.  Before his eyes, beautiful words filled with the spirit of old times floated.  Gently plunging into poetry, he himself, without expecting it, suddenly began to read aloud, read aloud and solemnly.  And with his voice, the waves, too, began to rage as if they made it clear that they were hearing him.

What kind of verse it was and why with every word his heart fluttered, we do not understand.  But one thing is certain, it was a verse about love.

Taking his eyes off the pages, he looked at the sea and then at the sky.  As Nicholas said, the rain was really going to fall over the inhabitants of the small town.

The clouds were gathering with every second.  The wind was getting stronger, the waves were pounding on the huge stones.  Adelard, putting on his coat and hat, closed his neck with a collar and, not hurrying to get up and leave, he continued to sit.

He sat and did not move.

Feeling the first drops on himself and then the rain itself, he reluctantly got up, taking a deep breath, he wanted to turn towards his house, but then his gaze fell on someone.

The girl, wrapped in a warm shawl, stood right on the edge of a small cliff.  Her blonde, snow-white and slightly yellowish curly hair danced in the wind.  Putting her arms around herself, it was clear that she was cold.  And a thin brown dress indicated that her attire was not for the weather as it is now.  Eagerly wrapping herself up in a shawl as best she could, she stood, like a frightened, but free animal, looking straight ahead.  Her sophisticated profile of slender face reminded of those noble people from old paintings.  Only, in her fragile but strong body, the spirit of modernity lived, and only her upbringing insisted that she retained all the dignity of nobility.

Seeing all this at one glance and not even knowing this girl, Adelard suddenly became a clairvoyant, a prophet, a sorcerer.  The whole life of this beautiful creature suddenly flashed before his eyes.

Suddenly, in Adelard's soul, something changed dramatically, and without noticing it, he went in her direction.  The rain began to pour down even more.  Thunder shook everything around.  Slightly shuddering, the girl shrugged her shoulders, but she was not frightened by the thunder like Adelard himself that was already standing behind her.

Bright green eyes that expressed nothing but great purity suddenly looked into his eyes full of night.

And now, he could finally see her face.  As he expected, it was a divine face, impossible but still existing beauty.

Expressive, wise eyes, a small nose resembling a doll, thin pale lips that tensely held an incomprehensible emotion, almost pale, tender, thin skin through which one could see the lively tones of her life, a thin, swan neck which was adorned with a necklace without a single precious stone and narrow shoulders that held the pride and strength that was lacking in the women he knew.  Everything about her was divine.  And only that brown dress, too simple and pale, reminded that she was a simple person.

Looking at him, both surprised and a little anxious, her long, thin fingers wrapped around the ends of a shawl.  The raindrops covered her with their magic, but that didn't make her any less beautiful.

Adelard was unable to say anything, just took off his hat and just as abruptly, unexpectedly for both, suddenly knelt down.  More precisely, he fell powerlessly.  Throwing his head back, his long hair hung down like a waterfall from behind.  His eyes were drawn to her, and they begged her for something.

The girl, a little frightened, backed away, but making sure that there was only a cliff behind, she stopped.  Then she took a few steps in his direction and stretching out her thin hand, she said nothing, just looked at him.

Lightly touching her hand, as if fearing to spoil such purity in human form, Adelard felt the cold, soft skin under his palm.  Her small hand sank into his large palm.  And now, when his long fingers covered her hand completely, she suddenly trembled.  She trembled either from the cold or from feelings.

Holding her hand in his, Adelard stood up and swayed a little.

Finally, the girl said softly, "Are you all right, Monsieur?"

Her gentle, quiet voice, for him, was louder than thunder.  And this voice immediately made the strings of his heart play a melody of happiness.

"Monsieur?  she asked again.

Adelard moved closer to her, lightly squeezing her hand, he suddenly let a few tears down his pale cheek.

He dared not say anything.  After all, all words lost their power in front of such beauty, in front of such wisdom, and in front of such divinity.

Trembling, the girl turning away, wanted to leave, but Adelard grabbed her, or rather hugged her.

Drowning in his arms, the girl screamed loudly and wanted to push him away, but he hugged her even tighter.

"Let me go.  Let me go now."

But he did not hear her.  He only knew that at last the secret of love and happiness was revealed to him.

Realizing that this strange man was not going to let her go, she suddenly lifted her leg and stepped on his foot.  With a slight sound, Adelard finally let her go and the girl stepped aside.

Looking at him with tension and anxiety, the girl still was in no hurry to run away.  Perhaps her feminine intuition knew this man was safe.

Adelard finally came to his senses.

"Please excuse me."

Having made a deep bow in front of her, he looked rather ridiculous considering the fact that he looked like a wet cat.

Noticing this, the girl suddenly laughed.  Her pale face turned red.

"Excuse me," continued Adelard.

Stopping laughing, the girl said, “Monsieur, you better go home. You are soaked to the skin."

Looking at himself, Adelard nervously said, "And it's true."

"Are you really all right?"

"Do not worry."

"In that case, I'll go," she said, and then Adelard panicked.  Considering that she needed to be stopped, he suddenly exclaimed: "Wait!"

The girl stopped and turned towards him.

Forgetting how to speak, Adelard nervously tightened his grip on his hat.

"What?" she asked a bit rudely.

"What is your name?  Let me know your name."

Restraining a smile, the girl seriously and proudly asked, "Why do you need it?"

"I, well, maybe," taking a deep breath, he nervously smiled and then determination surged over him and he loudly and confidently said, "I love you."

And these three words frightened the girl even more than his furious look.  Abruptly turning her back to him, the girl ran away.  Her small figure was heading towards the forest and then just disappeared from sight.

"I love you," he repeated looking straight ahead. "I love you."