The narrative follows Ivan, the fourteenth child of the Yezero family, who reside at the Flower Garden Apiary by Lake Bled. Unlike his thirteen older brothers, each managing their own flower field and apiary, Ivan has no inheritance and works tirelessly as a laborer for his family. The Yezero family operates like a bee colony, with Ivan's mother, Berta, as the queen bee, and the women of the family performing all the labor. The men, Ivan's father included, are largely idle, existing primarily for procreation, with the threat of expulsion if deemed useless, mirroring the fate of male bees. Ivan's father was driven out fifteen years prior and died in an accident.
Ivan, now twenty, diligently works to secure his place, though he receives no pay and struggles to find a marriage prospect due to his lack of property. The region around Lake Bled, known as the "Eye of the Mountains" for its central island with a church resembling a pupil, is a former royal resort. The apiary benefits from the abundant natural resources. As spring approaches, the bees become more active, requiring Ivan's attention to maintain the hives, which are adorned with intricate carvings depicting local scenery, serving as both identification and a display of the apiarists' prosperity.
During a midday break, Ivan is approached by Romana, the wife of his twin brother Sasha. Romana, whom Ivan had previously helped when she was being sold off, now brings him a fish pie and invites him to share lunch by the lake. Ivan declines, adhering to the unspoken rule against spending time alone with a brother's wife, despite Romana's lingering attachment to him. He eats alone, reflecting on his precarious position.
Later, his childhood friend Mihal, son of a general store owner, arrives with supplies for Ivan's brothers. Mihal expresses concern over Ivan's thinness, a testament to his often-unfed state, and offers him dried fish. Ivan mentions Romana sharing her lunch, which Mihal finds worrying given her marriage to Sasha, who is known for his possessiveness. Mihal also reiterates his family's offer to adopt Ivan, an offer Ivan politely refuses, stating his deep connection to his work with bees. He cherishes the Carniolan bees, affectionately called "grey bears," for their gentle nature.
Ivan confides in Mihal about his plan to save money from his fishing sideline, earned by accompanying Mihal's grandfather, to eventually open his own apiary. Mihal's grandfather, a skilled fisherman, has a fondness for Ivan and even gifted him a lakeside cabin. During their conversation, a male bee lands on Mihal, and Ivan expertly catches it, explaining that male bees lack stingers because they serve no purpose beyond reproduction. Mihal humorously likens this to Ivan's brothers.
Ivan returns to the crowded Yezero household, where he has no personal space and must navigate the chaos of his many nephews and nieces. He often retreats to the cabin gifted by Mihal's grandfather for peace and to escape the overwhelming family dynamics. One night, while fishing for dinner at the cabin, Ivan encounters a large, disheveled man named Maximillian Fribay, who is starving. Ivan shares his catch, and in gratitude, Maximillian offers him a bottle of fir tree sap honey, a unique type of honey made by bees collecting honeydew from aphids on fir trees. Maximillian, who lives near Bohinj Lake and practices a different style of beekeeping focused on forest trees, is intrigued by Ivan's buckwheat honey, which his own family dislikes.
Maximillian then makes an astonishing request: he wants Ivan to marry his nineteen-year-old daughter, Anya. He explains that Anya has not yet had her first menstruation, making her a late bloomer and thus unmarried. Maximillian, fearing his own mortality, wishes to secure Anya's future and sees Ivan's kindness and skill in beekeeping as ideal qualities for a son-in-law. Ivan, however, refuses, citing his commitment to his bees and his family, who would suffer without him. He also expresses sympathy for Anya, suggesting that perhaps she doesn't need to bear children, as childbirth is dangerous. Maximillian is moved by Ivan's perspective.
Maximillian reveals he fell into the lake, losing his belongings and money, which is why he sought Ivan's help. He explains his family's secluded life near Bohinj Lake is partly due to a lingering obligation to supply honey to the now-dissolved imperial family. Ivan offers Maximillian shelter in his cabin and suggests he seek a bride in town, while also providing him with a contact at a butcher shop. The next morning, Maximillian prepares a rabbit feast for Ivan as a parting gift before heading to town.
Returning home, Ivan finds the household already in motion. He observes Romana and Pavla, another sister-in-law, preparing meals. He retreats to his cramped attic room, where his nephews and nieces are sleeping. He uses this quiet time to study beekeeping, learning about the historical figure Anton Jansa, who revolutionized beekeeping by advocating for coexistence with bees. He also learns about the importance of identifying and managing bee diseases, such as mite infestations.
Later, Romana visits Ivan during a break, bringing a cream cake, a local delicacy. Ivan accepts, despite the risk of being seen alone with her. He notes how Romana, once timid, now asserts herself more, though she still seems unhappy and hints at unspoken troubles. He enjoys the cake and lemonade, and Romana playfully wipes cream from his mouth, a gesture that startles him. He notices a mark on her neck, which she quickly dismisses. After Romana leaves, Ivan is tasked by his mother with waking his brother Sasha.
Sasha, Ivan's twin, is lazy and arrogant. Ivan finds him in his room and reluctantly wakes him, enduring Sasha's rude remarks and his boasting about his intimacy with Romana. Sasha, possessive of Ivan's attention, is jealous of Ivan's relationships and often tries to provoke him. Ivan, however, remains focused on his work, which Sasha cannot take away from him.
The next morning, Ivan faces the usual barrage of orders from his brothers, relayed from their wives. He heads to the apiary, where he begins teaching his nephew Cyril about selecting male bee larvae. Cyril is initially squeamish but quickly learns the process. Ivan reflects on the family's matriarchal structure and his desire for Cyril to avoid the idleness of the male Yezero members. He plans to take Cyril fishing.
Ivan continues his work, inspecting hives and ensuring the health of the bees. He notes the approaching spring and the importance of maintaining the apiary's productivity. He also observes the subtle signs of Romana's unhappiness and the potential for trouble in her marriage to Sasha. The chapter ends with Ivan facing another demanding day, continuing his diligent work amidst the complex dynamics of his family.
