The children had finished their meal in the dining room. Lioras and Eilora were playfully arguing over the last piece of bread, while Sulas remained silent, observing their exchanges with a thoughtful gaze. Alca, sitting across from them, calmly watched the scene.
"Good, you all ate well," she said in a soothing voice. "Now, it's time to get ready for the night. The governess will take you to take a bath. I'll see you a little later."
Sulas exchanged a hesitant glance with Eilora and Lioras, but none of them spoke. Alca gave them a slight nod before standing up. The children, guided by the governess, were led out of the dining room.
---
Meanwhile, Alca headed toward her office, where Alex, one of her loyal aides, was already waiting at the door. She was still dressed in her usual attire: a long dark coat lined with fur, a belt with her sword hanging at her side, ready to respond to any threat.
Inside, two knights and her secretary were already seated, examining documents.
"Madam," Alex greeted as she approached.
Alca nodded and pushed open the office door. The group, respectful and silent, waited for her to take her place before beginning. She positioned herself at her desk, her face marked by the fatigue of accumulated responsibilities.
"How are the preparations for the children going?" she asked while perusing the documents laid out before her.
"The staff is doing their best to make them feel comfortable," her secretary replied. "Their temporary room is ready, and tomorrow we'll ensure everyone has their own space."
Alca nodded, her thoughts still focused on the three children, especially Sulas, whose anxiety had touched her. After a few more exchanges about military and domestic matters, she dismissed the group and returned to her concerns about the children.
---
Meanwhile, the governess had helped the children take their baths. They were then carefully dried and dressed in clean, comfortable clothes. Sulas remained wary, watching every move of the servants, though the warm water had succeeded in relaxing his tense muscles. Eilora and Lioras, calmer, held hands, comforting each other.
Once the bath was over, the governess guided them through the immense hallways of the castle, offering a quick tour before leading them to their room for the night.
"This room will be temporary for tonight," she explained as she opened the door. "We'll prepare your own rooms tomorrow."
The room was large and welcoming, illuminated by the soft glow of oil lamps. A big bed, meant to accommodate all three children, occupied the center of the room. The twins approached the windows to observe the snowy garden, while Sulas scrutinized the space with discreet vigilance.
---
Later that night, Alca, back in her own chamber, had immersed herself in documents, although her mind was elsewhere. Dressed this time in a light lavender nightgown, flowing and airy, she tried to concentrate, but her concern for the children kept troubling her.
She eventually stood up, unable to remain longer without knowing if they were asleep. Silently, she made her way to their room. Opening the door gently to avoid waking them, she found them still awake, huddled together in the big bed. Sulas, with wide-open eyes, still seemed worried, while Eilora and Lioras whispered softly.
"You're not asleep yet?" Alca murmured as she entered the room, her gentle voice resonating in the peaceful atmosphere.
Sulas looked at her timidly. "No... We're having trouble sleeping."
Alca moved closer to them, sitting on the edge of the bed. "That's normal," she said, looking at each of them in turn. "You're in a new place, but everything will be alright."
Eilora sat up slightly and looked at Alca with a pleading gaze. "Can you stay with us? Just a little..."
Alca smiled softly, touched by the request. "Of course, I can stay."
She thought for a moment, then remembered a little story that, she hoped, would calm them and help them fall asleep.
"Do you know the story of the hare and the tortoise?" she began gently. "The hare was fast, so fast that he was convinced he would always win the race against the slow tortoise. So, during the race, he decided to take a nap... but the tortoise, with its slowness, kept going, without rushing, until it passed the sleeping hare."
Eilora and Lioras listened attentively, their eyes widening at the idea that a tortoise could beat a hare.
"And you know what?" Alca added with a smile. "The tortoise won. Because it never gave up, even though it moved slowly. That's an important lesson: sometimes, you just have to keep going, even when everything seems difficult."
The twins exchanged intrigued glances, amused by the story. Sulas, although still a bit wary, relaxed as he saw his siblings smile.
"So, sleep now," Alca murmured. "Tomorrow will be a new day, and everything will be alright."
The children snuggled under the covers, lulled by the softness of her voice and the lightness of the story. Little by little, their eyelids closed, and the room returned to its calm.
Alca stayed for a moment watching them before gently rising and leaving the room. She closed the door behind her, satisfied that they were finally asleep, with the promise to watch over them just as the tortoise moved forward, patiently, in its race.