Picnic (2)

She opened the second box. Inside were sliced bread and a small jar of honey. The third box contained apples and diced melon.

She spread everything out on the waterproof blanket, then took two thermoses from the bottom of the canvas bag and placed them in the middle.

"This one is tea, and this one is lemonade. Take your pick."

"You really came prepared," Veratia said with admiration.

"If you go on a picnic and don't eat your fill, then there's no point in having a picnic." Pabbie tore off a piece of bread, dipped it in honey, and put it into her mouth. After chewing and swallowing, she nodded in satisfaction. "And you might only come to a place like this once a year. You have to save your best state for it."

Harry picked up a slice of bread topped with a piece of cold meat and a small chunk of cheese, then took a bite.

The bread was still warm, and the salty fragrance of the meat and cheese melted over his tongue. Combined with the faint rustling of the flower beds swaying in the wind, everything was just right.

Sitting amid the sea of flowers, he turned his head and glanced at Cassandra beside him. She was lowering her head to drink her lemonade.

"What do you think of this place?" Harry asked.

Cassandra looked around.

"Better than I imagined."

"What's better than you imagined?"

"The colors, of course." She pointed at the surrounding flowers. "I thought there would just be a few scattered clusters, but I didn't expect them to blanket the entire area. The colors are even too. The pale purple and white blend together without looking messy."

Pabbie picked up the conversation from nearby. "These flowers are called Dry Purple Iris. Their blooming