The gloomy light sneaking through the cracks of the window that was still closed by the curtains tickled my eyes, making me realize that morning had come. I was surprised to find myself waking up on the sofa with my body still wrapped in the blue dress I wore yesterday afternoon. However, what surprised me even more was Alienor lying beside me, hooking my body with his little legs. I tried to wake him up by gently tickling the soles of his delicate feet. Yup, my attempt didn't work.
My attempt that night too.
That night, things got out of hand in the meeting room. Everyone was panicked and hysterical as the man, with a hoarse voice that seemed to choke his windpipe, burst into the meeting room and delivered the bad news. Papa hurried away with Nicolas and a few anxious-looking grown men. The fog that was descending on Ravela might have been darker and more dangerous than my worries, but I had no reason not to stop Father then. I was worried. I tried to stop him. But my anxious words were just like the buzzing flies that disturbed his dinner.
"Good morning, Milady." Marie entered and hurriedly opened all the curtains covering Alienor's bedroom windows. Without saying a single word, she did her job so quickly.
"Uh, is there Marie?" murmured Alienor who slowly opened her eyes. "Since when?"
Marie smiled faintly. "Just now, Milady."
The gray clouds swirling in the sky outside looked so dark, as if they carried an unkind message. When I realized, even the speck of light in the sky that woke me up from my sleep had disappeared. It looked like it was going to snow today.
When Marie turned off the lights in Alienor's room, the cold air instantly returned, until she turned on the small fireplace that served as a room heater.
Marie went over to Alienor to change her nightgown. Her skillful fingers quickly undid the ties on Alienor's gown, and removed the gown like she was removing her own hair. Her flawless demeanor looked as usual, until I noticed the gray circles etched under her eyelids. "Marie, what's wrong?"
Marie looked so surprised as if she had just returned from somewhere. "Ah, it's nothing, Milady."
"Your heart is not here," I said sympathetically. I took her hand, which was now busy buttoning Alienor's dress, and grasped her cold hand tightly. "Tell me, what's wrong?"
Marie's sweet, stiff face now seemed to stiffen. Her head lowered further, and she let out a long sigh. "I just didn't get enough sleep."
"Liar," I snapped unhappily. "I've gotten to know you. If what you say is true, you wouldn't be looking down like this."
Marie now raised her face. The gaze of the woman in her mid-twenties looked cold. She was still hiding something. "I am telling the truth. I didn't sleep well last night because I had to work overtime to serve the guests. Master Damien asked the guests not to leave the house. All the servants worked overnight."
"And Father?"
Marie looked down again. I hate it when she looks down like that and hides something.
"Master... hasn't returned yet," Marie replied swallowing. "
My muscles felt tense, and cold sweat rolled down my temples. I tightened my grip slightly, while swallowing the saliva that was struggling slightly inside my mouth. Alienor who also heard Marie's story looked a little confused.
"Did... that monster... really attack the village?"
Marie nodded. "Yes. They saw it. It was so big and black. That's what the eyewitnesses said."
"Raymond? What about Raymond? And the Marquis Marveille?"
"Young Master Raymond and Marquis Marveille were not following. Master ordered Young Master Raymond to take control of the situation here, while Marquis Marveille... Master prevented him from coming," said Marie who had returned to speaking like a puppet, as usual.
My ears were now filled with the sound of my own beating heart. Mixed feelings were running through my mind. I was worried. Of course I was worried. I also felt anxious. The monster seemed to be real, and Father had gone to face it. Father went to face it... and he hasn't returned?
Marie's tiny lips pursed even more. She tapped her forefingers together as she tried to stop the small tremor in her lips. I could tell she was reluctant to say what she wanted to say next, making me immediately think of the worst thing that could have happened to them.
However, before she could open her mouth any wider, she turned her gaze out of the window as the faint sound of horse's footsteps began to be heard. Immediately, she made a small run to the window that led to the front yard of the house. I followed her, as did Alienor who still didn't understand what was going on.
Two dusky-colored horses walked in our courtyard, carrying one adult man each on their backs, with five villagers in tow. They walked on the snowy road with sour faces. Father, riding a black horse, was at the front of the line, followed by Nicolas, who looked very tired.
"Looks like they're okay," Marie muttered.
I looked at Marie who still looked so anxious. "Do you think
they made it?"
"I don't know, Milady. We don't know what really happened, and what they faced," said Marie who was still watching the men out there.
My attention returned to Father with his disheveled appearance. His silvery hair, which was usually neatly combed and tied, looked tangled. His coat looked a little dirty, and his face looked exhausted.
A woman in a navy velvet dress approached Father with a worried look on her face, though I'm sure her gratitude now outweighed her worry. It was Thérèse, who-according to Marie-had been waiting for Father all night. She was seen removing and carrying Papa's dirty coat. Her lips were moving, saying something I couldn't make out. Father ignored her completely. He walked straight into the house when Simon came to greet him and opened the door for him. Nicolas, who followed Father, didn't seem to say anything. He simply bowed to Thérèse and entered.
The sound of a knock on the door pulled us from all thoughts of the terrible event. Marie rushed to open the door to see who had come. Simon appeared bowing as the door slowly opened, but he straightened up as soon as he realized it was Marie. "Is Lady Rosalynne inside?"
"What is it, Simon?" I asked, just before Marie opened her mouth.
Marie opened the door wider, then went back to take care of Alienor.
"Master asked me to take you to his study. It's important," Simon replied.
"Now?" I asked back for reassurance.
"It seems... so," Simon replied hesitantly.
It felt like a dream when Simon came to deliver his message. It had been a long time since Dad had called me to talk to him. Back then he wanted to send me to the girls' boarding school in Lourdes, but Mother was against it. This time Father called me again for something I couldn't even imagine. I felt happy, but also not. It didn't seem like a call that would make either me or Father smile. The situation didn't say so. Even so....
"Alright. I'll get ready first."