I gently close the door to the twins' bedroom, careful not to disturb their peaceful sleep. Their slow, steady breathing calms the atmosphere, a stark contrast to the torment inside me. They are finally asleep after a long day of uncertainty.
As I leave the room, my footsteps echo faintly against the cold stone floor of the dark hallway. As I approach a large window, I notice the night sky suddenly covered in heavy gray clouds. The stars disappear, and soon, snow begins to fall slowly, forming a thin layer over the icy landscape.
I stand in front of the window for a moment, contemplating the snow which inevitably brings me back to old memories. This storm is like those of the past... the ones that stole so much from me.
After a long sigh, I turn away and head towards my room. The calm of the castle weighs heavily, a silence broken only by my footsteps.
When I enter my room, the flames in the fireplace are still crackling gently. On my desk, a pile of documents awaits me, scattered cards and letters, abandoned earlier to join the twins. But these do not concern military strategies. These are reports on the duchy and the affairs of the region, which I had left aside.
I sit at my desk, my shoulders heavy with the weight of responsibility. A parchment remains half unrolled, an unfinished correspondence. I pick up my pen again, trying to concentrate again on the state of the duchy, on the management of snow-covered lands and the problems of poor harvests this season. However, the image of the twins, their fragility in the face of this relentless winter, keeps coming back.
The snow continues to fall outside, and each flake that hits the ground seems to accentuate this sense of urgency. I must remain vigilant. I must protect them, even if it means my own priorities must change.
After several hours spent trying to immerse myself in these bureaucratic tasks, I finally get up. My limbs are numb from the cold, and fatigue is starting to take its toll. I slip under the covers of my bed, hoping to find some respite. But as soon as I lay down, I suddenly remember the other documents. Those left in the little house at the edge of the forest. They're out there, incomplete, waiting to be brought back here.
I close my eyes, but memories and concerns still swirl through my mind before sleep finally takes me.
---
I wake up slowly, the sun's rays caressing my face. Everything seems too calm. My eyes flutter, and I suddenly remember: it wasn't a dream. We're safe... Alça saved us. I look at Eilora and Lioras, still immersed in their peaceful sleep. Yesterday's anxiety fades a little.
In front of us, Alex waits in silence, straight as a soldier. "Alça is waiting for you for breakfast," he announces. His words startle me. Breakfast ? The normality of the situation seems strange to me.
We rise and prepare in silence, our footsteps echoing in the great castle. I remember the room we arrived in the day before. High vaulted ceilings, gray stone walls, and windows with heavy dark velvet curtains that let in subdued light. The furniture, simple but imposing, in solid wood, exuded a certain austerity. This is where we are led again.
As we enter, the tempting smell of fresh bread and hot food envelops us. A large oak table extends in the center of the room, and on its surface, a feast appears to have been prepared. Baskets full of golden brioches, platters of cut fruit, carafes of fresh juice – one of which is filled with orange juice for me – as well as jars of honey and jams spread out along the table.
There is also cheese, smoked meat, and still hot eggs which give off a fine steam. The contrast between the abundance of food and the situation we were in the day before, shivering with cold in this cursed forest, is almost disconcerting.
I sit down next to the twins, immediately grab the glass of orange juice, and bring it to my lips. The sweet taste makes me smile despite myself. Lioras and Eilora hesitate, as if they were not sure if they had the right to enjoy so much food. Alça, already seated, takes a sip of her coffee before giving us a soothing look. "Eat, there is enough for everyone. »
His words are enough to relax us a little. The twins grab some fruit and slices of bread, while I help myself to a generous portion of eggs and smoked meat. The salty, smoky taste of the meat instantly warms my body, still numb from the morning chill.
We eat in silence, each absorbed in our thoughts. The crackling of the fire in the fireplace, the distant sounds of the castle slowly waking up... everything is peaceful, but an underlying tension remains.
After a few minutes, Alça looks up from his plate and announces to us, in a quiet but confident voice: "Today we are going to town. »
My heart is racing. In town? My thoughts swirl between excitement and worry. Is it really safe? Lioras and Eilora exchange a quick glance, obviously just as unsure as I am. I wonder if this is part of her plan to protect us or if she has other intentions.
The twins remain silent, their gazes down on their half-empty plates. They don't dare ask questions, but I can see that, like me, they wonder why we have to go to town.
Alça, however, doesn't seem ready to give us any more details just yet. She just finishes her coffee in silence, her silver eyes staring at an invisible point in front of her.
After the meal, Alça gets up slowly, shoulders straight and walking confidently. "Alex will show you where to get ready." We'll leave in an hour. » She leaves no room for discussion.
I watch her walk away, still enveloped in this aura of mystery and implacable calm. Despite everything she's done for us, I can't help but wonder what else she's hiding.
Alex then guides us through the castle corridors to separate rooms to get ready. My mind races, thinking about the events of the past few days and what lies ahead.