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Kirovo Palace

Alone in his bedroom, Damir pressed his back against the door and a deep sigh escaped his mouth.

He rubbed his forehead, then dragged his hand over his face.

What if marriage to Adelina had been arranged at the winter solstice?

Would it have had any weight in keeping her in Aramoor, or potentially allowing him to escort her to Kirovo Palace?

He tugged the collar of his cotton shirt and paced the wooden floorboards. How could he let his best friend, someone he loved in perhaps more than a friendly way, walk away so easily?

Unspoken words danced on his tongue, and his stomach knotted. Full of regret at the missed opportunity, he frowned. How could he express his unshakable feelings for her when she was no longer down the cobble path from him ?

With his hands on his hips, he pondered.

His gaze travelled to the stack of parchment on the dresser.

Striding across the room, he pulled out his chair, then collapsed onto it.

Perhaps writing a letter to Adelina would ease his mind.

After all, they’d shared a brief, unchaperoned kiss that had affirmed his affection for her, yet he’d fled without confirming his love for her.

He flattened his hands on the wooden surface, flexed his fingers, then placed a piece of empty parchment in front of him.

With the quill in his hand, he dipped it into the inkpot and stared at the blank paper.

Drawing his bottom lip between his teeth, he searched for the right words—ones to provide her with comfort in her new accommodation.

Dear Adelina, he scrawled at the top of the page.

Shaking his head, he screwed the paper into a ball and tossed it to the floor. Laying a fresh piece in front of him, he steadied his hand, and wrote in cursive:

My dearest Adelina,

Please accept my deepest apologies for leaving you so brashly. You deserved my solace, as you bring such light to my life.

I must disclose to you the warm feelings which my heart holds for you. A regret stirs within me now that you’re gone. I wonder how this day may have ended differently if our marriage were arranged by our fathers, and what a splendid celebration it would have been.

When you’re ready, and if the affection is returned, I will reveal my feelings to your father, and ask for his permission to wed you upon your return. I hold onto the hope you will find your way back to me. For now, I promise to write to you in the hope it brings you comfort during your training .

Ever yours,

Damir.

He sat back in his chair and stared at the parchment. The corners of his lips turned upwards into a smile, and his shoulders relaxed, free from the burden.

Once the letter was sealed in the envelope, he stuck a green stamp on the front and scribed the Kirovo Palace address. Gripping it, he hurried downstairs, flung on his fur coat, then stuffed his feet into his boots. As the door opened, a bitter wind nipped at his cheeks.

He followed the cobbles towards the only mailbox in the whole village.

With great effort, he stuffed the envelope inside the already cramped enclosure.

All he could do was wait for the coach to arrive the following morning to collect and distribute the mail.

If the courier experienced no delays, Adelina would receive his letter within two weeks. He’d wait and hope she’d reply.

Leaning his head back, he watched the shifting clouds.

White tufts dissipated and reformed, stretching across the sky.

The snow had stopped, and soon, the weather would warm.

An image of him and Adelina celebrating the spring equinox came to mind.

He’d buy her a bunch of fresh peonies from the merchant, and perhaps a gift alongside it.

Instead, he wondered if such an experience would happen.

After all, the carriage took her farther and farther away from him, and into another man’s palace.

He shook his shoulders, then headed towards the carpenter’s workshop.

As he pushed the door open, a small bell dinged, alerting the shop owner of his arrival .

Alexei smiled from behind his workbench and rested his elbows on the rough, wooden surface. “Ah, nice to see a friendly face around here.”

“Morning.” Damir bowed his head, then checked his watch. “Ah, it’s been a long day already.”

“Test wiped it out of you, boy?”

“Something like that.” He waved his hand flippantly.

“I heard all about it. They took that lovely lass of yours away from you.” Alexei grabbed a rag and wiped his dirty hands with it. “Come on, let’s take you to the tavern. I’ll get you a pint on me, lad.”

“Are you sure? I was supposed to help with your orders.” He frowned.

“Course—they can wait.”

With a grin on his face, Alexei guided his apprentice out into the chilly afternoon. Together, they strolled along the frosted cobbles, taking care over the icy stones.

∞∞∞

The carriage trundled along the trodden dirt path. Harsh winds beat against the sides, but when Adelina peered out the window, her gaze fell upon the thinning clouds. The New Year was a few days away, and from there, spring awaited.

She sat back in her seat and flipped the pocket watch over in her hands. The surface gold was worn but still glinted under the daylight streaming through the window. Tracing her finger over the hinged metal lid, she pondered its significance .

“What do you have there, miss?” Salma, sitting opposite her, leaned forward to get a closer look.

“My grandfather’s pocket watch.” Adelina frowned. “Trouble is, I’ve never seen it before.”

“What’s the worry? You have a fine piece of eighteen-hundreds gold there. It’ll be worth something.”

However right she may be, Adelina would never consider selling such an item. Her mother gave it to her for a reason, and she was going to uncover it.

She opened the lid and stared at the unmoving hands. “It doesn’t work.”

“Are you surprised? It’s an heirloom, so it will be decades old.” Salma shifted her gaze to the landscape whizzing past.

“I’ll search for a clockmaker in Toichrist, and have it fixed,” Adelina decided.

A week of travelling through the lanes and vast countryside passed before they reached the border of Toichrist. Each night was spent in taverns along the way, and Filip ensured she was well-fed and washed before their journey continued.

Another four days later, in the late afternoon, they arrived in the bustling village of Kirovo in the south of Toichrist.

Large stone buildings stood beside a wide river. The horses pulled the carriages over the bridge to join several other black carriages beating along the cobble paths.

Adelina gripped the round window frame and gasped at the bell tower. The clock chimed as the hands struck 9:00 a.m.

“Wait until you see the palace.” Salma chuckled.

“You’ve been here?” She cast a glance over her shoulder at her chaperone .

“When I was a little girl—many years ago.”

Adelina’s lips parted as her gaze fell upon a grand building as they rode past. Its four white towers were adorned with golden, round roofs. Their peaks kissed the thin clouds above.

They journeyed through vast, open markets—the smell of rich spices wafting through the gap in the carriage door. Bakeries lined the streets alongside seamstresses and fabric shops, shoemakers, woodworkers, and taverns, to name a few.

“We’re almost there.” Salma looked over the top of her round spectacles.

A giddiness filled Adelina as they approached the tall iron gates of Kirovo Palace. Although her heart ached for her family and friends, the beautiful surroundings soothed her discomfort.

Two guards hauled open the gates, and the carriages rolled around a pond, then halted at the entrance of the palace.

Moments after stopping, Filip opened the door and smiled at her. “Welcome home.”

Her gaze lingered on the stone palace in front of her. The walls were painted a sea foam green, which stood out against the white window frames and pillars. Each pillar’s capital gleamed a brilliant gold. An oval shaped plaque hung above the entrance, welcoming guests to Kirovo Palace.

“Here.” He lifted his hand for her to hold.

She bowed her head a fraction, then rested her fingers on top of his knuckles. He guided her to the stone steps running parallel to the building. A male and female servant awaited them.

“Fetch Ms. Orlova and Ms. Abramova’s luggage and have it sent to their respective rooms,” Filip said .

The female servant bowed and obeyed.

The man positioned outside the front door opened it, revealing an open foyer and marble flooring, which led to a grand staircase embellished with gilded frescoes and ornamentation, granite columns, and sweeping balustrades of marble.

The archway on the ground floor directly ahead led to the kitchens, pantry, and scullery—the scent of baking bread wafted through the open doors—and several doors indicated a variety of other rooms on the ground floor, ones she’d explore later.

Adelina pressed her palm to her breast. “It’s beautiful.”

Filip smiled. “I’m sure your chambers will please you both. Follow me.”

He led them up the curving staircase and down a long corridor branching right from the main landing. Thick red carpet crushed underfoot, and golden framed portraits graced the walls.

“This one is yours, Salma.” He pointed to the second door on the right. “The servants will show you around the palace. This evening, a feast will be served with our finest wine, seeing as we were unable to celebrate the New Year on our travels.”

“Thank you, sir.” She curtsied, then disappeared into her room.

“I’ve saved the best for you, of course.” He smiled and cast Adelina a playful look from the corner of his eyes.

At the end of the corridor was a large, undressed window, and beside it, the door to her chamber. She glanced at him before entering the room.