"Thank you, Uncle August," Roman said, eagerly taking the candy. He began picking at the waxed paper wrapping but paused at the sound of his mother's voice.
"It is chocolate. There are no almonds in it, correct?" Eilika asked, her eyes fixing on August, who remained kneeling on the parquet floor to stay at the boy's eye level.
August raised an eyebrow. "Why? Does the boy not eat almonds?"
"Yes, Uncle. I am allergic to them," Roman spoke up, his fingers still resting on the half-peeled wrapper. "Aunt Rosaline brought a tin of chocolates a few days ago, and after I ate them, my face grew terribly hot and itchy."
"No, these are made of pure cacao," August reassured her.
A memory surfaced in his mind. Liliana had possessed that exact same allergy. He kept the observation to himself as he watched Roman finally pop the chocolate candy into his mouth. A genuine smile softened August's austere features at the boy's obvious delight.
