Alina's Endless Misfortune and Grandmother's Consolation

She laments that her life has been a continuous series of hardships and difficulties, and she feels a great sense of loss over the fact that the person she desired has become someone else's.

Alina's grandmother expresses deep affection for Alina, treating her as more than just a granddaughter, but as a daughter.

She prides herself on having protected Alina from all evil as her guardian, and finding it agonizing to watch Alina's sadness, she tearfully pleads, even mentioning her own life.

Alina confesses that she has no one else to rely on in the world but her grandmother and earnestly asks her not to cry.