That evening, Ramiro burst into Luzia's bedroom. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the scene before him—Luzia, seated gracefully at a small table, calmly engaged in a game of chess with Aurelio. Across from her, Aurelio studied the board with an intense focus, his brow slightly furrowed in concentration. Cecilia stood nearby, hands clasped together, watching the game with an eager yet anxious expression.
Ramiro blinked, momentarily speechless. Of all the things he had expected to find, this was not one of them. "You're... playing chess?" he finally managed, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Luzia glanced up at him, unfazed by his dramatic entrance. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she delicately moved a piece across the board. "Yes, Father. Is something the matter?"
Ramiro hesitated for a moment, glancing between them. 'I hurried through my work just to check on Luzia...' he thought. He let out a huff and crossed his arms. "I—well—I thought you'd be bored, so I figured we could have dinner together and maybe hang out a bit... but here you are, having fun without me," he said, his tone carrying a hint of disappointment.
His gaze drifted to the chessboard, and another thought struck him. 'What's more surprising is that a ten-year-old is playing chess... I don't think she was taught how to play it back at the orphanage.'
Just then, Aurelio moved his piece and leaned back with a satisfied smirk. "Checkmate," he declared.
Ramiro's thoughts came to an abrupt stop. 'I suppose I was expecting too much.'
Luzia, however, remained calm, her expression composed as she studied the board. "I lost," she said matter-of-factly.
Aurelio shrugged. "My lady is really bad at chess," he said bluntly. "But I can teach you if you'd like."
Luzia tilted her head slightly. "I don't like the game..."
'No wonder she's so bad at it,' Aurelio and Cecilia thought in unison, exchanging a knowing glance.
"But I will learn it," Luzia added, her voice firm.
Ramiro cleared his throat to get her attention, and Luzia finally looked up at him as if just realizing he was still there.
"Oh, Father, you're still here," she said casually.
Aurelio quickly stood up and bowed, followed by Cecilia, who also performed a respectful curtsy. "Greetings, my lord."
Ramiro smiled inwardly. They were so engrossed in the game that they forgot my presence, he thought.
"I was bored and you were busy," Luzia replied, her tone softening. "That's why I came to Aurelio, asking if there were any games available. And that's how we ended up playing chess."
Ramiro chuckled, his earlier frustration fading. "Ah, so it was your idea to seek out entertainment, not mine," he said with a playful tone.
Luzia smiled slightly, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I didn't want to bother you, Father."
Aurelio, who had returned to his seat, tilted his head. "My lady might not like chess, but she has the potential. If she practiced more, she could be quite good."
Ramiro raised an eyebrow at Aurelio's remark. "Is that so?" He looked over at Luzia, who seemed rather indifferent to the game.
Cecilia, who had been quiet up until then, smiled at the exchange. "My lord, perhaps you could join us for the next game. It would be interesting to see how you fare against the young lady."
Ramiro laughed lightly. "Oh, I'm sure I'll be just as skilled as my daughter." He gave a mock bow. "But I'm afraid I have other activities I want to do with you luzia before dinner is ready."
Luzia raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly teasing. "What an excuse. Are you afraid I will beat you, Father?"
Ramiro chuckled, a confident smile curling on his lips. "Afraid? Of course not," he replied, straightening up and walking toward the table. "But I do think it's time for me to show you how it's done." He pulled out a chair and sat across from Luzia.
Luzia raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You're really going to challenge me?" she asked, her voice cool yet slightly intrigued.
"Absolutely," Ramiro said with a grin, reaching for the chess pieces and setting them up. "You'll learn a lot from me, Luzia. I don't lose easily."
Cecilia and Aurelio exchanged a glance, both amused.
Aurelio rearranged the board, and Ramiro leaned forward with a playful grin. "One round," he declared. "And the loser has to fulfill the winner's wish."
Luzia, for her part, was unfazed. She moved her knight first. "Very well, We'll see, Father," she said casually, her fingers hovering over the board.
Ramiro mirrored her calm demeanor, studying the board for a moment before making his first move. The game began in earnest, both of them focusing intently on the positions of their pieces. The atmosphere in the room grew quiet except for the sound of pieces being moved on the board.
Luzia played with a careful approach, not rushing her decisions. Despite her earlier indifference to the game, she seemed to grasp the fundamentals quickly, placing her pieces in strong positions to challenge Ramiro.
However, Ramiro's experience soon began to show. He made calculated moves, trapping Luzia's pieces in tight positions. She didn't seem discouraged, but rather intrigued by how he was managing the board.
Minutes passed, and Aurelio and Cecilia watched in silence, the tension between the two growing. Luzia's pieces dwindled, but she never lost her composed demeanor.
Ramiro finally leaned back in his chair, his eyes twinkling with a bit of triumph. "Check," he said smoothly, watching as Luzia's face remained composed despite her defeat.
Luzia studied the board, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of one of her remaining pieces. "You're good, Father," she said quietly, her voice not quite holding a hint of annoyance, but rather respect. 'I didn't expect a crybaby like him to be that good.'
Ramiro gave a satisfied smile, but it was soft, almost affectionate. "Well, Luzia, this time I win," he said, moving his queen with a swift hand to declare the checkmate.
Luzia gave a small, appreciative nod, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Next time, I will win, Father," she said, her voice calm but carrying an undertone of determination.
Ramiro stood and placed a hand on her shoulder, his tone warm. "Next time, I'll look forward to it."
The playful tension in the room eased, and Cecilia gave a light laugh. "That was certainly a match to remember."
Aurelio nodded. "Indeed, my lord. I think you've gained a worthy opponent."
Ramiro turned to face them, the smile still lingering on his face. "She certainly is," he agreed. "Now, how about we move on to dinner? I think we've had enough excitement for one evening."
"What about your wish, Father?" Luzia asked, tilting her head curiously.
Ramiro paused, the playful grin still on his lips, as he glanced back at Luzia. "Ah, right. The wish." He tapped his chin thoughtfully, clearly amused by the idea of it. "Well, you see, Luzia," he began with a slight chuckle, "I will tell you after dinner."
A knock came from the room door, and everyone turned to see Beatriz standing at the entrance.
"Oh, my lord, you're here?" Beatriz said, her eyes lighting up in surprise.
She quickly bowed, a graceful gesture of respect, before continuing, "The dinner is ready."
Ramiro nodded with a smile, his expression softening at Beatriz's arrival. "Ah, excellent timing, Beatriz," he said warmly. "We were just wrapping up here."
Luzia stood up from her seat, brushing her hands off as if to signal the end of their playful chess match.
And with that they left for the dinner hall.
After dinner, Luzia, now dressed in her nightgown, stood hesitantly in front of the door to Ramiro's room.
'I can't believe his wish was for me to sleep next to him,' she thought, feeling a strange mix of confusion and curiosity. She had never shared a bed with him before, and the request felt both surprising and uncomfortable.
As she raised her hand to knock, the door creaked open slightly, and Ramiro's voice called out gently, "Luzia, come in."
Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside. Ramiro was already sitting on the edge of the large bed, his expression soft as he looked up at her.
"I know it's a bit unusual," he said, his tone warm and understanding, "but I thought it might make you feel more comfortable. Sometimes, it's just nice to have company when you sleep."
Luzia paused, still unsure, but then nodded. There was no malice in his request, just a father's desire to care for his daughter. Slowly, she walked over to the bed and sat down next to him.
Ramiro smiled gently. "You can sleep as you like. We don't have to talk if you don't want to. Just close your eyes when you're ready."
Luzia tucked herself under the covers, her mind still turning over the strange request. But as she lay there in the warmth, she found herself relaxing, the rhythmic sound of Ramiro's steady breathing lulling her into a peaceful sleep.
As Luzia and Ramiro slept soundly, the room grew still, the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains. The same figure, with silver hair that shimmered in the dim light, appeared beside her bed. His gaze softened as he looked down at her sleeping form, a smile curling on his lips. His hand hovered in the air, hesitant, before retreating as Luzia stirred, and she turned to the other side of the bed. Her eyes fluttered open, and she blinked, feeling an odd sense of unease.
She sat up slightly, glancing around the room. She could have sworn she felt a presence. She quickly turned back to her side of the bed, but the room was empty.
'Was someone watching me?' Luzia thought, her heart racing slightly as she pulled the covers closer to her.
She shook her head and thought, 'Probably my imagination. Let's just sleep.'
Pulling the blankets up to her chin, she turned onto her side, trying to push the uneasy feeling away. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she let out a soft sigh, convincing herself that it was nothing—just the tricks of a tired mind and soon fell asleep.