Mrs. Cox was pounding on our door early in the morning, shouting for us to get out into the garden, accompanied by a few unfamiliar girls and a guard. My roommates were sent either to the kitchen or the laundry, while some others were assigned to clean the guest rooms — those seemed to be the most enthusiastic ones for some reason.
The grass was still damp with dew, and though the sun was already high in the sky, I shivered when a stronger gust of wind brushed against me. I breathed in the fresh air, enjoying the sound of insects buzzing around. I'd never been afraid of bees or wasps; I always believed that if I didn't harm them, they wouldn't sting me.
As we reached the edge of the garden, I couldn't help but marvel at the sight again and again, and for once I didn't mind spending the day outdoors. My first steps led me straight to the rose bushes, and without caring about anything else, I devoted all my attention to the colorful petals.
