(This bonus story takes place in a parallel universe where Edith''s parents did not die of cholera, starting from the summer of 1788)
Raphael found himself troubled these days.
It seemed that Edith had begun to distance herself from him intentionally. The change in her attitude seemed to coincide with the transformation of her physique. During this summer, she had suddenly grown much taller and become more slender. From her melodious voice, occasionally a high note would escape.
She still came to play with Charlene, but always turned a blind eye to him. Whenever he attempted to draw near to her, she would pretend he wasn''t there, pressing her body closer to Charlene''s and continuing their intimate banter with deliberate demeanor.
On this day, Raphael stumbled upon a beautifully illustrated copy of One Thousand and One Nights in a corner of the study. He brought it back to his bedroom to enjoy as a bedtime pastime.
To his surprise, as he casually flipped open a chapter, the young man''s fair face instantly blushed. It turned out that most of the illustrations within depicted enchanting scenes of passionate love between men and women. The strokes were rough and wild, yet strikingly lifelike. They teased Raphael, as he told himself to close the book, yet couldn''t resist the itch to delve deeper into its pages.
As he continued reading, his hand unconsciously moved to his own groin. Through the icy touch of silk pajamas, he could still distinctly sense the scorching heat pulsating within.
In his mind, the images of the two brothers'' coitus with the devil''s mistress faded away, gradually replaced by Edith''s flushed face from the sun, her occasionally pouted full lower lip, and the subtle mound rising beneath her dress.
He imagined all of this, throwing the book in his hand onto the ground, unable to control himself as he reached into his pajamas and shyly and intoxicatedly fondled his treasure, soft