224: Egon's poem

Egon's poem

Under the ominous crimson hue of Lanark's somber midnight, Adela found herself lost in contemplation amid the sea of official documents scattered across her desk, detailing the affairs of the Kingdom.2

Suddenly, her attention was drawn upward as multiple knocks resonated through her chamber, catching her by surprise.

"Young Kannen!"

She hurried to the window and opened it with a soft creak. "There you are, my dear," she whispered with a heartfelt smile appearing on her lips. "Come on in!"

Kannen glided gracefully into the room, his long, strong feathers appearing even darker black under the moon's eerie red gaze. With a sense of purpose, he headed straight for the parchment that Adela had carefully prepared for these frequent visits of his. A pair of yellow eyes called her attention, beckoning her his way, as he perched on a nearby ledge, indicating his dedication to the important mission they shared.

She followed him, her nimble fingers delicately unwrapped the small piece of parchment that Kannen securely carried on his leg, knowing that it would be another word to add to the poem Egon had been crafting for her.

"Let's see what Egon has sent us tonight," Adela said with excitement as she unfolded the letter. Her eyes scanned the word: Depths.

"Ah, depths!" she mused as she tenderly stroked Kannen's feathers, thanking him for delivering Egon's message so faithfully. "You are such a clever bird, my dear Kannen."

With great care, she placed the new word beside the rest of the poem she had been receiving in bits and pieces from Egon throughout the duration of her mandatory confinement. Her fingers traced each word lovingly, reliving the moments they represented, and savoring the growing intimacy between them.

/Through trials we share,

A bond beyond compare.

A heartless beast, I have always been.

You came along, an alluring sin.

Another route, you have shown,

Devoid of vendetta, into the unknown.

I fear not a road, I fear not a night,

With a heart beside me, so kind and bright.

For you, my light, are my life's guide,

In shadows' depths,  /

Adela's heart swelled with anticipation. If Egon was following the rules of a normal Emorian poem, then one part was left missing — the last part of the poem that would reveal Egon's intentions. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be. The thought made her pulse race with excitement, her mind playing with endless possibilities.

She blushed, thinking of a certain word that rhymes with the word 'guide.'

As her head was in the sky, lost in thoughts of Egon's heartfelt poem, the door to her chamber swung open with a creak, and Larissa entered with a mischievous expression. Sauntering in with a cheeky smile, she couldn't resist interrupting her sister's reverie.

"Well, well, well," Larissa teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I see you've been receiving more of Egon's poetic love letters."

Adela's cheeks flushed further, and she quickly folded the parchment to hide the poem from Larissa's prying eyes. 

"Oh, come on, sister," Larissa chuckled. "There's no need to be coy about it. I can see the excitement written all over your face. So, tell me, what's the latest word from your poetic suitor?"

Adela couldn't help but smile at her sister's teasing. Despite her initial embarrassment, she knew she could trust Larissa with her feelings. "It's just a beautiful poem," she admitted, her voice softening with affection. "Egon has such a way with words."

Larissa's mischievous expression softened into one of understanding. "I'm happy for you, Adela," she said sincerely, walking closer to her sister and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I can see how much he means to you."

"Thank you, Lari," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "I can't wait to see him again after these long forty days."

"Well, I'm sure the wait will be worth it," Larissa replied with a knowing smile. "Just remember, I'll be here to tease you every step of the way."

It was a dark era for Lanark and Emoria, but Adela's relationship with the man she loved and the members of her family had never been stronger.

As the evening wore on, the playful banter between Adela and Larissa gradually gave way to a more serious tone. Larissa's eyes seemed to lose some of their usual sparkle as she began to speak about her betrothed.

"You're so fortunate to receive letters from Egon, I wish I could say the same about Andreas, but I've never received a single letter from him."

"Perhaps he simply struggles to express his feelings through letters," Adela suggested gently. "But that doesn't mean he doesn't care for you."

Larissa looked down, her fingers nervously playing with the edge of her gown. "Maybe you're right," she conceded. "But it's just that... I feel like we've grown apart, and I don't know if I can give him another chance."

Adela reached out, placing a comforting hand on Larissa's shoulder. "Have you spoken to him about how you feel? One honest conversation can make a world of difference, believe me."

Larissa's eyes clouded with uncertainty. "I haven't found the courage to do so," she admitted. "Besides, he seems so distant lately, though in truth, he has always been somewhat distant."

"Larissa, I've seen him standing outside your window late at night," Adela revealed. "I think he comes to catch a glimpse of you."

Larissa's eyes widened in surprise. "You've seen him?"

Adela nodded, "Yes, he comes by more often than you realize. And he doesn't hide himself from Father's knights."

Larissa sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "But what if he can never be over her…" She shook her head, the idea seemingly unbearable. "Let's not talk about her, please. Tomorrow is the fortieth. Let's focus on that."

Respecting her sister's wish to change the topic, Adela went along with it. "All right, what's on your mind?"

"...It's strange to think that our father, who spared his enemy and put an end to the animosity between our families, would lose his older brother in such a tragic way," Larissa remarked. "Even if he wanted to change the monarchy, our father would have surely wanted another way."

"I can't believe he's gone," Adela whispered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "And to think we lived our lives under constant espionage, only to have it end like this."

Larissa gently squeezed Adela's hand, "At least now we can speak freely without fear of spies and secrets,"

Adela nodded in agreement, her gaze drifting to the bottle of alcohol that still rested on her coffee table, a stark reminder of their murdered uncle.

Following her sister's gaze, the bottle's presence sent a chill down Larissa's spine.

"It's a small relief," Adela replied a moment too late, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness. "But justice hasn't been served yet... I only wish for the murderer to be found. We can't let fear rule our lives any longer."

"And what about Claude?" Larissa pondered aloud. "It's strange that he seems so distant from it all. I wonder why our father is keeping such a close watch on him."

Adela shrugged, her mind filled with unanswered questions. "I don't know, Larissa. There are so many things we don't understand right now. All we can do is be there for each other and support Father through this difficult time."

Tomorrow...

The next morning would mark the end of the mourning period, and she couldn't wait to see Egon again.

She turned to Kannen, who was perched nearby, ready to send him off. "Thank you for being such a faithful messenger," Adela said softly, stroking the sleek feathers on his head. "Deliver my love to him."

Kannen chirped in acknowledgment, as if he understood every word. 

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