BELLA POV
Then—
I smacked his shoulder.
"Put me down!"
He did.
Carefully.
I fixed my clothes with royal dignity.
"I knew that tree was suspicious," I said proudly.
"You touched it."
"That was a test."
"You got trapped."
"That was part of the test."
He nodded slowly.
"Of course."
I crossed my arms. "Did I pass?"
"Yes," he said. "You successfully discovered the trap."
I lifted my chin.
"Hmph. You're welcome."
"I'm sorry, my child," a deep voice said from behind us.
I turned.
An old man stood a few steps away, holding a wooden walking stick. His hair was white and long, his back slightly bent with age, and his eyes—
His eyes were pale.
Clouded.
Blind.
Still, he was looking straight at us like he could see everything.
"I actually set that trap to catch rabbits and squirrels," he said calmly. "They like stealing the fruit from my trees."
That was… awkward.
"I didn't know, sir," I said quickly, bowing my head.
Don't ask me why I bowed.
