After a while, Isabella managed to calm herself. Though she has been more mature in the end she had been raised as a protected daughter under her father's care, she was still young — and far more innocent than she liked to admit. The greatest shock of her life had been seeing Carlos wounded during the attack on the estate. Since then, she understood what it meant to see something precious harmed.
She wiped her face carefully, steadying her breath.
Then she remembered her grandfather's earlier question.
She lifted her head.
"I do have a question," she said quietly.
Kruger exhaled in relief. He had believed the damage to his treasured book would wound him deeply — but he had not expected that seeing his granddaughter cry would hurt far more.
"Tell me," he said gently. "What are you curious about?"
He moved to sit beside her, bringing the book closer so she could point to the passage. But Isabella startled slightly and pulled her hands back.
