NOT much time had passed since the morning sun’s face first emerged from the horizon, gently illuminating the land. Under Chris’ orders, the carriage ambling down the lazy country road came to a stop.
“We’re almost there, Princess. It’s a short walk from here, but you’ll find it well worth the effort,” Chris explained while offering Sonia his hand once more.
After a moment’s hesitation, Sonia threw all caution to the wind and laid her hand upon his. Nothing happened. Relieved to the bone, she allowed Chris to assist her down from the carriage.
Chris led her by the hand up the gently sloping hill. That alone was enough to set Sonia’s heart racing. It felt as if she were treading upon a whole new world.
“Aren’t you afraid of setting foot on unfamiliar soil, Princess?” Chris asked, noticing the spring in Sonia’s step as she hummed.
“No! Not at all! It’s so much fun when I imagine what might be lying ahead,” she replied, only to furrow her brow in a troubled frown.
“What’s the matter?”
“You’d never know I’m of marriageable age... I’m a far cry from the image of a proper young lady... It’s mortifying.”
“Don’t let it get to you. Everyone is different. If you’re too shy and passive, running the castle while your husband is away could prove challenging. I’m certain that your inclination to make things fun or joyous as you press onward is a trait that will prove very important to you,” Chris said. His hand suddenly pulled away from Sonia’s. “Look! That’s the spot over there.”
Sonia gasped in awe when her gaze fell upon the direction Chris was pointing. Toward the peak of the gently sloping hill was a thick field of white flowers.
“I believe they are white clovers... It makes for such an impressive sight, I simply had to share it with you.”
“It’s beautiful! Absolutely breathtaking! Sir Chris, thank you for bringing me here,” Sonia gushed.
He led her to the field of white clover flowers, smiling at how she seemed so excited that she was practically bouncing with enthusiasm. Upon reaching their destination, Chris removed his cloak and spread it over the ground.
“There you are. Please take a seat,” he offered.
He did it all so smoothly, Sonia found herself briefly mesmerized; her cheeks promptly flushed.
“Th-Thank you.”
“It was nothing,” Chris replied with a smile that seemed particularly brilliant to her.
Now if only he didn’t have that beard ruining his smile. No, even with all that hair it’s still nice... Sonia thought to herself.
Chris sat leaving a respectable distance between him and Sonia before opening the basket.
“Now then! I think we’ve both been looking forward to breakfast!! I made sure to bring some wine as well,” Chris declared. He amazed Sonia by pulling out a bottle of wine and two cups that he must have slipped into the basket at some point without her noticing.
✦ ✦ ✦
FROM that point on, the journey to Clare Castle proved most enjoyable. Perhaps it was evidence of his years on Sonia, but Chris was a treasure trove of stories. Also versed in poetry and music, he sang happy songs, sad songs, and recited romantic poems. Among the various tales he spun were accounts of the palace and stories of knights. Not only did he display extensive knowledge over a wide range of topics, he was a captivating speaker.
Whenever Sonia pestered him to continue, he would change the topic, ask an increasing number of questions about her, and occasionally start a debate. In this manner, the two of them talked without end. And before they knew it, they had reached Clare Castle.
The carriage haphazardly jolted to a stop. Wondering if something was amiss, Sonia peered out the window only to see her old home.
“What’s happened to it...?”
No sooner had she stepped out of the carriage than Sonia stared up at the castle aghast.
“Is this really Clare Castle...?” she asked. The whitewashed porcelain castle had lost its former glory. The whitewash was peeling off, revealing the unsightly stacks of faded Ashlar stones beneath. As if to say it was no longer needed in times of peace, the curtain wall encircling the castle meant to defend against enemy attacks suffered from neglect, with some areas left in shambles. Even the path stretching from the gateway to the forebuilding, and the decorative row of trees along the path, were abandoned to wither.
“Princess,” Chris called to Sonia, still looking around in dismay. Hearing his voice, she looked up at his face.
The next moment, her eyes darted toward Clare Castle towering behind him. The eerie vibe it emitted made her freeze in place. There was darkness—she felt like she could see some sort of black haze encompass the castle as if it were trying to hide it from the refreshing weather and clear blue skies.
✦ ✦ ✦
“What happened here...?” Sonia struggled to ask before taking in a deep breath. Drawing her lips into a tight line, she glared firmly up at the castle.
“Let’s go, Sir Chris,” she said and offered her right hand as if asking him to escort her.
Chris couldn’t help but slightly curl his lips in a grin at the sight of her behaving like the mistress of the castle. “As you wish,” he replied and took her hand.
✦ ✦ ✦
CREAK... The double doors made a rusty sound as they opened. The black doors had originally been selected to complement the porcelain white castle’s design, but they only made it look all the more creepy now that the whitewash was peeling off.
Although Clare Castle was an old castle with a long history, it had undergone remodeling and renovations countless times in the past to keep it up to date with the times. The landing spread before Sonia’s eyes when she opened the entrance doors. She knew if she climbed up the landing, which had been enlarged during renovations, the grand staircase dominating the center of the room would take her straight to the second floor. Doors leading to the other rooms were placed directly in front of the stairs, as well as on either side.
The first floor had a great hall for balls and meetings, a dining room, along with a sunroom that opened to the courtyard.
Welcoming their mistress home, the staff, maids, and butler stood in procession with heads bowed on either side of the rectangular, crimson rug that seemed to continue on forever. Serving as the representative of the castle staff, the chamberlain, Matthew, greeted Sonia and Chris.
“Welcome home, Duchess Sonia! And it is an honor to welcome our mistress’ fiancé! Thank you for coming, Sir Crisford Cortot!” Matthew exclaimed.
Seeing what had become of Matthew, Sonia’s eyes widened and the blind anger dissipated. In its place, her pale blue eyes quivered with pity.
Despite his old age, in the past every inch of Matthew’s body had beamed with pride at holding such an important position. It was as if the youthful soul of the Matthew she knew had suddenly aged, for his face was covered in wrinkles, and his hair had turned white and dull. He used to stand straight and tall regardless of his years, but now his back was hunched over as if he could no longer hide the weight of his burden.
Yet, the way he still welcomed her back with a cheerful voice clearly unable to conceal his happiness touched Sonia’s heart. When he presented the Clare administration report at the abbey a month ago, he had still been his ordinary, lively self. Whatever troubles had brought about such a dramatic change in him must have occurred within this past month. Sonia’s intuition told her that whatever it was, it was related to Clare Castle.
“Matthew! I can’t believe my eyes...! How have you managed? What happened?” she asked.
“Duchess Sonia...”
Matthew was briefly dumbstruck that Sonia would draw him into an embrace, but after a moment, he began to shake his head happily from side to side as tears filled his eyes. After gently pulling Sonia away, he wiped the tears from her eyes while explaining, “Several problems hit all at once... However, we should be fine. All shall be well now that you’ve come back with Sir Crisford,” Matthew said and looked over at Chris. They seemed to communicate something through their eyes before exchanging nods.
She had no idea what went on between the two men, but decided it was time to pull herself together and straightened her back.
“I want an explanation. Why is the castle in such a horrible state? What has been going on here?” she inquired. This was her first job as the lady of the castle.