child for thirteen years and was always bathed in endless parental love. But alas, an accident happened and soon her mom and dad were gone, they drowned in the river. What happened on that fateful day, only God knows.
A very distant relative found out about her trouble, with whom the family had never communicated before «third water on jelly», so to speak, and agreed to shelter the unfortunate. Now Bozhena began to live with her aunt Marina and her large family in the village of Zarechny, Nizhny Novgorod region. They didn’t like the girl, but the most important thing was that no one offended her.
Bozhena helped her relative with the housework, sat with the named brothers and still managed to go to the village school, study perfectly.
There were no friends, because she was always busy with household chores and she had no time left for any walks and conversations.
But still, youth is a wonderful time, it’s time for love and sweet girlish dreams, falling in love and Bozen was not spared, she lost her head from one local guy, he was different from all the guys, fit, tall and very handsome. The locals called him Prince and he was the most important among them.
The Prince had the name Nikola and this year he turned twenty-one. His parents held a high post in the village of Zarechny, his father was the Head of the Administration.
Spring has come. After everyone celebrated Easter, Bozhena’s birthday came along with the singing of birds, the girl turned eighteen years old.
– Well, dear Bozhena, you have become a young and beautiful girl, you are my good one, – Aunt Marina suddenly spoke warmly – - it’s time to marry you, who do you want? Maybe you have a guy that you like, or who likes you?
«I don’t like anyone at all, Aunt,» Bogena said and lowered her eyes to the floor, covering them with long eyelashes like a fan.
– Never mind, the time will come, and you will meet him. And now you need to get ready for the road.
– Where to? It’s my birthday today – » the girl almost cried with annoyance.
– Bozhena, I want to ask you. My dad is in a serious condition, and he needs to be visited and looked after. I have no one to leave the household and the children to now. Will you help me, daughter?
How nice it was to hear my aunt’s words, they just caressed the soul of Bozhena. And no one has said kind words to her for a long time, after the death of her parents. The girl’s heart was kind and it immediately thawed.
– Yes, of course, my dear aunt, I’m going to pack my things and go.
– That’s good. And on your birthday, I baked a pie for you, go drink tea with your brothers, and after that they will take you on a horse to your grandfather.
The girl immediately became cheerful, she went to her room and began to get ready for the road. Merrily humming to herself a song that her mother used to sing to her a long time ago.
– God is sitting in the sky, sitting and looking at you and warming you with his warmth. Bozhena… Bozhena… my beloved daughter…
Bozhena gathered her things, there were very few of them and went out to her relatives with a bag in her hands.
«That’s all, I took the most necessary things – » she said quietly, looking at everyone gathered at the table.
– Sit down dear, have some tea and you have to go already, otherwise it will get dark – - said Aunt Marina, cutting a piece of chocolate cake for her.
Bozhena sat down on a chair next to her younger brother. All the relatives around her were sad and sat silently at the table with their eyes down, and the strangest thing was that no one congratulated her on her birthday. After a while, when everyone had eaten, Aunt Marina told her husband, he had been sitting not far from her all this time:
– Take Bozhena to the village to Grandfather Suren. Drop her off in the field, and then they will come for her and take her to the right place.
The man with the huge beard lifted his dark gaze from the ground and said:
– Don’t worry, I’ll do everything.
Bozhena went outside and stood in the front garden looking at the amazing Spiraea shrub, which bloomed only today, as if he had prepared such a gift for her.
Suddenly a raven flew in and began circling over the front garden, spreading its dissatisfied cawing everywhere.
«The beauty is being taken away from us again… What a grief, grief, inhumans… inhumans…
The raven screamed flying over the heads of people, but none of them understood him, because the bird language could be understood by sorcerers and various evil spirits, although some people heard the bird…
Marina’s husband harnessed the horse and shouted to Bozhena to go and get into the cart. Bozhena sat down comfortably, the cart moved from its place and rolled after the horse. After driving a little away from the village, they heard a scream:
– Stop!
Bozhena turned around and saw Nikola, he was running after them, waving his hands for them to stop.
The man’s face immediately changed and even darkened:
– What do you want? he asked, trying to be polite to him.
– I’ll go with you.
– Not ordered! The bearded man replied menacingly.
– Yes, who didn’t tell you what you’re talking about? Ask my father all the questions! Come on, touch that got up! – and Nikola jumped into the cart, to which the man remained silent and rudely shouted at the horse:
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