A middle-aged woman, wearing a deep blue dress that rippled around her with each step, advanced along an austere corridor. Her hair, pulled back into a tight bun, was braided, and her piercing eyes scrutinized the darkness ahead of her.
At the end of the corridor, she pushed open a heavy wooden door, adorned with carvings, and entered an immense room. She paused for a moment, taken by a silent admiration. The room, a grandiose library, was illuminated by crystal chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceiling, casting a soft golden light. The walls were lined with thousands of books, arranged on dark wooden shelves that reached up to the ceiling. Iron staircases and walkways allowed access to the upper levels, and leather armchairs and reading tables were scattered here and there, inviting contemplation.
The woman smiled as she surveyed the place. She murmured, as if to herself, "So the rumors were true... The great Galaad, one of the famous spouses of Negestat, was indeed a literature enthusiast."
The silence that followed her words was heavy, as if the library itself was holding its breath. Then, a voice rose, clear and poised, resonating through the shelves: "And what brings an illustrious personality like the matron mother Valeria of the house Drakos to this place?"
Valeria turned toward the source of the voice, a smirk on her lips. From the shadows between the shelves, a figure gradually emerged. It was a man of imposing stature, dressed in a long, dark coat.
Valeria inclined her head slightly in greeting, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Galaad," she said in a soft but respectful voice, "it is good to see you again." She observed him for a moment, trying to read his gaze. "I am here only to admire your collection," she added, letting a hint of mystery linger in her words.
Galaad smiled in turn, a smile full of implications, as if he perceived the unspoken in Valeria's words. "Books have always had the power to reveal many things... and to hide secrets." His eyes roamed the rows of books around them. "But, as always, it depends on who reads them."
Galaad approached Valeria, his steps echoing softly on the marble floor of the library. He stopped at a respectful distance and looked at her with calculated curiosity. "So, matron Valeria, how did you find this place? My dear wife, knowing her, would never have breathed a word of this library's existence. Even to you, her close collaborators." He narrowed his eyes slightly, seeking to discern the true intentions behind her visit.
Valeria smiled, a mysterious and satisfied smile. "I have my connections, Galaad. Some secrets are never really well-kept." She turned on her heel and began to walk along the rows of books, her fingers brushing the dusty spines.
Her sharp eyes scanned the titles with calculated speed, capturing the names engraved on the spines at a glance. She walked slowly, occasionally stopping to admire a particularly ornate cover or an intriguing title. Her gait was fluid, almost silent.
At one point, her gaze was drawn to a book whose binding seemed older than the others. She reached out, her slender fingers resting delicately on the cracked leather. With a precise motion, she pulled the volume from the shelf, lifting it with assured grace. The book was thick, its pages yellowed with age, and a thin layer of dust escaped when she opened it.
Valeria tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing to better read the title inscribed in gold letters on the cover. "The Lost Chronicles of the Ancient Alliance," she murmured, a slight smile playing on her lips. She let her fingers glide over the first pages, turning them with care, as if she feared damaging them.
She stopped at a particular page, her eyes lingering on the text. Her brows furrowed slightly, a sign of increased concentration. She quickly scanned the lines, absorbed by the content.
All the while, Galaad watched her with palpable interest, his eyes following her every movement.
"Are you aware of the latest news from the kingdom?" Valeria asked in a light tone, while leafing through the pages of the book.
Galaad raised an eyebrow and replied, his tone mysterious: "The birds sing, the rivers flow, and the stars shine in the sky. But some nights, clouds hide the light of the stars, and shadows move without a sound." His words were enigmatic, but Valeria understood that he was perfectly informed about recent events.
Finally, Valeria gently closed the book, a muted sound resonating in the silence of the room. She held it for a moment in her hands, looking at the cover with an inscrutable expression. Then, with calculated slowness, she turned to Galaad, the book still in hand, ready to speak to him, her eyes piercing the veil of indifference he wore.
"I intend to free Damaris," she declared, her voice calm but firm.
Galaad's gaze betrayed a brief moment of surprise. But he quickly regained his nonchalant demeanor, masking his emotions under an impassive expression. "Free Damaris?" he repeated, as if testing the weight of those words. "That's a bold endeavor, even for you, matron Valeria. Are you sure about what you're saying?"
Valeria held his gaze, a cold determination reflected in her eyes. "I am," she replied simply. "Our kingdom needs her."
Galaad remained silent for a moment, contemplating the implications of her words. Then, he slowly nodded, a spark of amusement gleaming in his eyes. "Very well," he said finally, an enigmatic smile forming on his lips. "Act according to what you have resolved in your heart."
Galaad observed Valeria for a moment, then shrugged with feigned nonchalance. "If that's all, I'll leave you. As you can see, these books are waiting for me to read them." He turned slightly, ready to resume his place among the endless shelves.
Valeria took a step forward, her heels echoing on the marble, and declared with a hint of firmness in her voice: "I need your help." The words hung in the air for a moment, heavy with meaning and unspoken promises.
Galaad stopped abruptly, slowly turning his head toward her, his face darkening.
"Don't drag me into your affairs, matron Valeria."