Luciano put his hand on Callisto’s shoulder and put his mouth close to his ear so that no one could hear. Callisto raised a brow but then looked at him and said: “Alana likes meat. Give her a bite or cut it into small pieces and bring it to her mouth. But don’t give her lamb, the fat and chicken skin. She doesn’t like that. No fish, either. Once, she got into trouble because of a bone. Don’t do it when I’m not here. Milk doesn’t suit her either. And then there’s the other thing. I want you to warm her hands in hot water every day. And rub them afterwards, please. She’s been practising her handwriting lately, so make sure she doesn’t spill any ink. And I still don’t want you to see her naked. You can ask a woman to help change her clothes and bathe.”

Luciano turned and climbed aboard, and the boat was launched at the signal. He looked up from the lake at the white castle. It was a divine Armenia, shimmering in the light. The last time he’d looked up, black thoughts had consumed him. He was determined to kill Alana.

– That’s right. At that time, I went to…

“Come here.”

She noticed him when he approached her under his breath, trying to take her life, even though he was very confident in his stealth.

“Why don’t you come closer now you’re here?”

He was astonished to hear it. Alana had mistaken him for someone else.

“It’s rare tonight, isn’t it? This is not a terrace, and there are lights. It’s not even a new moon, and yet here you are. To be honest, I thought I would not see you again after a long time…”

– Who did Alana think I was that night? I thought I knew her because I had held her for so long, but I was beginning to think that I didn’t know her very well. But I can’t go back now, even if I wanted to. Anxiety is rising in me.

When he closed his eyes, he could see her crying and waving at him. He placed his hand to his forehead and exhaled. The drawbridge of the castle was still raised. The security was still strong, the castle unassailable.

As the ship moved on, more and more things came into view. This was Almodóvar. The tower was said to have been built by Lorenzo, the founder. It was said to be a white tower, but it was weathered and yellowed, and the carvings were indistinct.

The king of Armenia – Alana– was said to enter the tower after her death.

He shook his head, thinking of that scene. He didn’t like it. Absolutely not.

♔♔♔

Luciano’s mood was grim, even though he had arrived in the country he had longed to return to. He was told that the meeting with Teges was scheduled for a week later. But he was too distracted to remember what he had been told. The royal family and other noblemen of Armenia were staying at Fuentes, the old fort of Serrat. It was a place he had visited with his father before, but he was more interested in what Baron Gusman had to say about it than his own feelings.

Luciano’s room was one of the finest in the fort, and his father had once occupied it. He sat down on the bed and lay down on the blanket, which had been engraved with Serrat patterns. He rubbed his nose against it, but of course, he could not smell his father.

There was a knock at the door of the room, but Luciano did not react.

When it rapped again, he sat up and gave permission to enter. In came his men, Frian and Leandro, and the rotund Conrad.

They knelt down in front of Luciano.

“Luciano, we would like to receive further instructions.”

“Before that, I have a story for you… Conrad, stand in the doorway. Keep people away.”

Luciano looked sideways at Conrad’s back towards the door and spoke to Frian and Leandro.

“…When our country was destroyed, my wife – Alana – was in this country. The King of Armenia’s plot …… all began with Alana’s words.”

A scowling Luciano nodded. He then told us what he had heard from Baron Gusman. Frian and Leandro did not say a word. When Luciano had said all he had to say, he breathed. The room, which was turning red, was so silent that his sighs were audible. Leandro was the first to speak.

“The Queen who spoke of black earth and black water? Do you hate her?”