Something about the 'trouble' I heard from the whispers around me might actually be happening. For, just as it was getting dark outside, and even dinner time had ended an hour ago, not a single horse-drawn carriage could be seen approaching the veranda, or even passing by our front yard. From behind the window of Alienor's room I could see a few points of light coming from the houses around our land starting to appear, casting a dim light that illuminated their houses both inside and out. But I didn't see any of those little dots moving in and out as they came and went.
The maids who gossiped between jobs once whispered to each other about a wild animal attack on the Ravela farm and the rumored affair of Earl Ragnor—one of King Agner XIV's confidants—with a harpist at Vallacia Castle. The affair couldn't possibly be the topic of the meeting on this long night—it had nothing to do with life in Ravela. But I also hoped that it wasn't the attack they were discussing at the meeting.
Marie—the maid who took care of me and Alienor—appeared from behind the door with a pot of milk, a cup and a jar of honey.
"Is the meeting over?" I asked curiously.
"Not yet, milady. The guests have increased." Marie placed her stuff on the table by the window, then excused herself.
Alienor and I looked at each other. She, who had been busy with her rabbit doll just a moment ago, was no longer interested in the soft white thing. She put it on the bed, then came over to the sofa. Now she also looked worried. "Rossie, why haven't the guests come back yet?"
"I don't know. Maybe they're still at home with us."
At the time of Mother's death, Alienor was very sad when people kept coming, even after Mother's funeral was over. Maybe since then she always thought badly when many people came to the house. Therefore, I tried as much as possible not to make her anxious.
"I heard Raymond say there was trouble in the city, and something about a city council meeting," Alienor said, "but why do they have to meet here?"
I stroked Alienor's golden hair gently. The weight on my mind made me feel uneasy, but I finally—again—could force a smile. "You know, our house is very cozy and warm. Maybe those people don't want to come to the town hall because it's so cold. Besides, our father is a very influential person. It's only natural that they would come to our house to see Father. And Father is glad to welcome them."
Alienor now began to smile. "You're right. It's because Father is great, right?"
"Yes, you're right," I said enthusiastically.
The inner sense of regret came rushing back as I saw the twinkle in Alienor's eyes that glittered because of the story I had told her about Father. How much Alienor loved and was proud of Father, even though she herself was rarely cared for by him.
I loved Father too, but sometimes I felt sad when his indifference seemed so obvious. I once heard our servant say that Father really wanted a son. That's why after Raymond was born, Father didn't care much for us girls who were born after Raymond. Maybe that's also why he never paid attention to us and was always cold.
Even so, he was still my father who had given us life. After all, he was the tree on which the flowers bloomed, even if he eventually ignored the petals that fell and were blown away by the strong wind.
Besides, Father was an important person in Ravela. No one could match Earl Damien Favre for his dedication and love of Ravela and its people. Because of this, Father was always willing to do anything for his homeland. And because of that, the people of Ravela respected him greatly.
"Rossie?" Alienor woke me from my reverie. "Are you alright?"
"Ah. Yes, I am. It's okay. I was just daydreaming a bit."
The sound of a knock on the door from outside was enough to make me and Alienor gasp. The hoarse voice of a woman asking permission to enter made Alienor get off the sofa and go to open the door.
Marie looked surprised when Alienor opened the door for her. "Milady, you shouldn't open the door for me."
"It's okay. What is it?"
"I came for Lady Rosalynne. There is someone waiting for her in the parlor."
Alienor turned and looked at me with one eyebrow raised. That little girl always wanted to know every business of the people in this house. However, after a few moments of her staring at the doorway, she returned to her seat with a feeling of disappointment. I'm sure Marie had said—or done—something in that split second that made Alienor sigh in disappointment.
"It's okay. Just wait here."
* * * * *
No one could guess who was waiting for me downstairs—including myself—other than Marie who didn't even say anything as she walked behind me. The sound of her footsteps muffled by the ziegler carpet that stretched along the corridor made me a little nervous. I wasn't used to receiving guests. To be more precise, it's rare for anyone to pay me a visit. Maybe it was just a bookish nobleman who happened to be at the meeting, who wanted to ask me for a romance recommendation who also happened to like various works of art and literature. Or maybe it was the traveling cloth merchant who always forced me to buy his wares because he knew my nature who always feel guilty for anything. I don't know. I kept thinking hard to find the answer in my memory.
But as I passed through the meeting room, all thoughts of the person waiting for me instantly vanished.
Whether the guests' voices were too loud or my ears were too sensitive, I could faintly hear an old woman saying the word "emergency" in a hoarse voice. The door to the meeting room—which I had almost walked through—was slightly ajar, allowing the light from the lamp that illuminated the room to slip out.
"The situation has become chaotic. My stairs have been destroyed and all my livestock have been devoured." The old woman's voice echoed back, sounding trembling with a slightly muted cry.
Marie probably knew that when something was pulling me there was no stopping me. Yes, she did. She whispered my name to confirm something. And when I looked at her, she understood, and she left with a resigned look on her face.
The old woman's voice pulled me closer to the doorway. From the crack of the open door, I saw several townspeople and some nobles gathered with worried faces. After the first second I peeked in, I decided to stay put, tapping into the conversations of the people in the room with my own ears.
"The residents are already starting to get scared. If left unchecked, they'll eventually become victims," said a well-dressed young man who seemed to be walking toward Father's table.
"I heard that two farmers have already fallen victim in the outskirts of the South."
"That old legend that the previous patriarch of the Marveille family once mentioned is true. This little town could fall into terror! We cannot allow this! We must act immediately!" This old man's voice sounded fiery.
What legend had the previous patriarch of the Marveille family mentioned? As if moved by the voices of the guests, my hand moved forward to grasp the door leaf. I almost lost control of the curiosity that almost made me break through the barrier before me.
"Calm down, everyone." Father's voice now echoed throughout the room. "I know we can't just stand by and face the terror of that thing. But we have to think about our next move."
'That thing'? Was it a pack of hungry wolves that had come out of hiding?
"We can't just act." Now it was Raymond who spoke up. "If it really is the creature mentioned in the old book belonging to the Marveille family, it means that it has enormous power. We can't carelessly deal with it."
"Then how do we deal with it? Do we also have to ask the church for help?"
The hot atmosphere gushing from inside the room made me sweat too. Even if the meeting was outdoors I'm sure they wouldn't have felt the chill of the winter wind blowing. Besides, I was really curious about what kind of creature they were talking about, the one that was rumored to be terrorizing Ravela—and the one that could make commoners and nobles gather in the same room regardless of social status.
The door to the room was about to open when I unconsciously pushed myself to become more and more one with the doorway. A gentle touch of a hand landed on my shoulder, startling me a little, but also making the reflex motion of pushing me stop—thankfully the door didn't open any wider.
"Rossalyne, what are you doing here?" The gentle voice came from the mouth of a handsome golden-haired man who was now standing beside me. "I've been waiting for you. I see you're here."