The long summer day is already halfway through. The warm air, filled with the aromas of strawberries and linden blossoms, quivered slightly near the ground itself, and in this haze bright butterflies flew from flower to flower, bees carried their sweet tribute, hurrying to keep up with the hive. Grasshoppers jumped out from under her feet, and Miranda, pulling a straw hat from her red curls, tried to catch them with a laugh. Tired Irishka kept bending down on the way to the castle, picking strawberries straight from the stalk, collecting a bouquet of fragrant berries. Gregory watched his ladies with a smile, trying not to wave the basket too...