*
The sunlight was beautiful.
After breakfast, he walked with Ellen in the garden.
Ellen was still very afraid of strangers, so the entire garden was cleared of outsiders, leaving just the two of them wandering around.
The air carried the faint scent of morning dew, and Ellen seemed to be in relatively good spirits today. The birds were awake too, chirping and calling to one another from the branches, and she looked up, curiously observing them, her gaze pure and clear.
"Philip, that bird is beautiful."
Ellen pointed upward at a brightly colored little bird for him to see.
Philip gently stroked her hair, speaking softly: "If you like it, I can catch it for you to keep."
There was nothing wrong with coaxing her into happiness.
Ellen withdrew her gaze, turning to look at him: "Can you?"
Philip smiled: "If you want to keep it."
Ellen's expression was somewhat conflicted; she did like the pretty bird, but...
"If I keep it caged, would it be very pitiful?"
"Does that matter?"
