The Lily's Quest (From "Twice Told Tales")

In a sun‑drenched countryside, two young lovers set out to choose the perfect spot for a summer retreat they imagine as a tiny temple of joy. They picture festivals of fruit, music, poetry, and quiet moments beneath elm trees, a place where happiness can bloom like roses on marble pillars. Their affection for each other makes the landscape itself seem to sparkle, and they feel certain they will find a nook that captures the very colors of a sunset.

Trailing them is an elderly cousin, cloaked in melancholy, whose presence casts a somber shadow over their bright plans. He warns that the very ground they favor once hosted a house plagued by sorrow, a lingering grief that has stained the site for generations. As the lovers listen, the contrast between their hopeful dreams and his unsettling tale creates a tension that forces them to reconsider whether true happiness can be built upon a place haunted by the past.