In the throne room, Urraca was seated on the throne to the right, slightly lower than the central throne. Her gaze swept across the room as she awaited the arrival of the guests.
At that moment, a servant entered through the door with a brisk step and approached Urraca with a respectful bow. "Madam," she said with a soft yet urgent voice, "the guests have arrived. A guard is guiding them here at this moment."
Urraca nodded calmly. "Thank you for informing me," she replied kindly. "Please, go and welcome them and ensure they are greeted properly."
Before the servant could leave, Urraca stopped her with a gesture and said, "Wait a moment. Before you go, make sure to inform the other servants that they can begin cleaning and setting the table in the dining hall. I want everything ready to receive our guests."
The servant nodded and hurried to fulfill Urraca's order.
After a few minutes, Urraca heard the distinctive footsteps announcing the arrival of the guests. The sound echoed through the castle corridors, indicating their approach.
Finally, the guests reached the main door of the throne room. With a soft creak, the doors opened slowly, revealing the figures of the newcomers.
Upon entering the throne room, Emma was impressed by the atmosphere that surrounded her.
Natural light filtered through small windows, bathing the space in a gentle luminosity. Additionally, torches strategically placed on the stone walls provided a warm and welcoming glow.
In the center of the room, on a raised platform, majestic thrones carved from wood stood adorned with simple yet elegant engravings. Flanking them, two large wrought-iron chandeliers cast a dim and atmospheric light throughout the room.
The walls were richly decorated with tapestries depicting scenes of epic battles, heroic feats, and the illustrious history of the castle owner's lineage.
Under Emma's feet, the floor was covered with exquisite carpets, adding a sense of comfort and elegance to the room.
Emma directed her gaze to the only figure present in the room: Urraca, seated on the left throne. Her imposing presence filled the space, and Emma felt momentarily overwhelmed by the solemnity of the moment.
However, she remembered her purpose and advanced determinedly towards Urraca, ready to begin her new life as a servant in that majestic castle.
Approaching Urraca, Emma spoke respectfully, saying, "Madam Urraca, I am Emma, and this person to my left is my younger sister, Agnes. We are the daughters of the Count of A Coruña, and we have come here with the purpose of serving your children."
Urraca looked at them carefully and noticed a familiar resemblance between the twins and her husband, Raimundo, as well as with her daughter Sancha. This resemblance caused her an uncomfortable feeling and an unsettling premonition.
After a moment of reflection, Urraca replied to Emma with a calm yet firm voice, "Very well, I accept your services. You will begin training to be servants starting tomorrow. Today is already late, and you need rest for tomorrow."
Urraca rang a bell, filling the room with its delicate tinkling. Instantly, several servants entered the room, bowing respectfully to Urraca.
"Please, take the guards to the room where the guests' weapons are stored, and then send them to the servants' quarters to leave their armor and prepare for dinner," Urraca ordered.
Urraca looked at the servants and added, "You can send the stewards directly to the servants' quarters. And the twins to the guest room," Urraca said calmly, confirming the disposition of the girls.
The servants, following Urraca's instructions, divided into three groups. One group was responsible for accompanying the twins to their guest room, ensuring they were comfortable and attended to.
Another group headed towards the stewards, guiding them to the servants' quarters, where they could rest and prepare for dinner.
The last group escorted the guards to the room where the guests' weapons were stored, and then would lead them to the servants' quarters to leave their armor and freshen up before dinner. With this organization, Urraca ensured that all guests and their entourage were properly attended to.
The servants led the group of guards to a room where numbered cabinets from 1 to 100 were located. They explained to the guards that they should choose a cabinet and open it. Inside, they would find a set of wooden tubes along with a carved wooden board bearing the cabinet number.
They indicated that they should take the board with the corresponding number to the cabinet they had selected and leave their swords placed on the tubes, with the handle on the wooden tubes and the tip of the sword pointing towards the ground. This procedure ensured proper order and care of the weapons while the guards stayed.
After completing the procedure with the swords, the servants led the guards to the third floor, where the servants' rooms were located. They guided them to a room designated for two people.
The servants explained to each group of two guards that towels and clothing were available in the closet assigned to each room. Additionally, they reminded them that they had approximately one toone and a half hours to prepare before dinner.
The servants continued instructing the guards: "In about 5 minutes, we'll bring you hot water for refreshment. Within 30 minutes, we'll come by again with more water. And if by chance you need more hot water at any time, don't hesitate to ask any servant you see in the hallway."
Guard A expressed gratitude with a simple "Thank you," while Guard B added, "If we need anything, we'll be sure to let you know."
After an hour and fifteen minutes had passed, Urraca turned to María and instructed her, "You can tell the cooks to start setting the table and preparing for dinner. Also, start informing the guests that they should come down to the dining hall for dinner in 15 minutes."
María nodded diligently, accepting Urraca's order.
María hurried to the kitchen and approached Diego, the head chef, saying, "Diego, Urraca has given the order that you can now set the table. Dinner is almost ready, so make sure everything is ready on time."
Diego enthusiastically nodded upon receiving María's instruction and replied, "Alright, let's get to work!" With determination, he began organizing the team of chefs and directing the preparations for dinner.
Diego turned to Martín, Miguel, and Javier and instructed them, "Martín, Miguel, and Javier, start setting the cutlery on the main table. Carlos, take care of opening the wine barrels and make sure they're ready to serve when the guests arrive."
The chefs nodded determinedly and got to work, accepting Diego's order with diligence and efficiency. Martín, Miguel, and Javier headed towards the table with the cutlery in hand, while Carlos took care of the task of opening the wine bottles.