Chapter 8

Feeling the city's cold breath, I was transported back in time to the past, to the days when this city was my home. Its face had changed, becoming hostile and filled with hatred. This place was no longer familiar to me, but still, I had returned here in search of answers.

As I walked through the familiar streets, I noticed that the city remained the same as it had been years ago. Dark buildings, dimly lit streets, and the cold faces of the residents—everything remained unchanged. There was no room for fairy tales or dreams here, only the harsh winter that had covered everything in its snow.

Together with Adrian, we decided to take refuge in an old wooden house that seemed frozen in time. The wind seeped through the cracks in the walls, and the air was filled with the scent of old books and mustiness. A man with thick gray hair sat at a large table, working on a pile of documents. He jumped up when he saw us and made a deep bow, showing respect and deference.

In this city, there were its rulers and its rules, and it seemed that we had stepped into the territory of powerful and influential people. I felt that this place had played an important role in my past, and now it was finally time to find out what this mysterious man behind the table could reveal about my family and my past.

-Welcome, Count and Countess, - he greeted and bowed, but Adrian's stern look stopped him from further actions.

-She is currently my fiancée, - Adrian said.

-Forgive me, my lord, - he said, falling to his knees and almost starting to kiss our shoes.

I watched as people knelt before this man, as it was something unusual and entirely atypical for anything I had ever witnessed in my life. He instilled fear and submission in them, and I didn't understand what could terrify these people so much. It was something extraordinary that exceeded my understanding.

The man at the table stood up and approached us. In his eyes, I saw confusion and outrage, and it seemed that Adrian didn't like what he was seeing either. He handed us several documents, and I had the feeling that it was something unexpected, something that didn't match our expectations. Something was missing, and I could feel that there was still a deep secret that hadn't been revealed.

This moment of our meeting with the man brought tangled thoughts and doubts within me. I had always wanted to learn about the true nature of what had happened and what this man might be hiding. Amid all this confusion and mysteries, I felt something strange towards Adrian, a desire to understand him more and to be by his side.

-There's no birth certificate for Miss Constance. There's also no death certificate for Martha Genevieve. We have a marriage certificate for 10 months before Miss Genevieve's birth, with Jean Genevieve, Martha Irish," he said and raised his eyes, trying not to show nervousness, showing a book with Orhan's entry, - We also have copies of birth certificates for her six children. She lives nearby, in the village of Springwood.

-We're going. She's not your mother. I'm certain, - he said with a somewhat strange voice.

We arrived at a house that was white and modest, but its atmosphere felt like home to me. When the woman with red hair, tied in a braid, opened the door, I noticed the exhaustion on her face and deep wrinkles etched into her skin. She greeted us and invited us inside, and Adrian had to be careful not to bump his head on the low ceilings. It turned out he was quite tall.

The woman invited us to sit at the table, and at that moment, her husband, sitting down beside us, joined us. His presence added mystery to the room and filled it with a special mood. I watched him, trying to figure out who they were, what had happened to them, and why we had been invited to this special house. Everything around me sparked intense curiosity and a desire to understand our role in this mysterious story.

-Sorry for such a greeting, Count Cortes. Unfortunately, we live in poverty, - he said with a sad tone, rubbing his calloused hands.

-No problem. I didn't come for a visit. Did you have a daughter born 21 years ago? - Adrian asked.

-No, I was pregnant with a son at that time, - she replied, and her answer surprised Adrian.

-Do you know someone named Igor Calabrio? - Kortes asked, with an air of confidence, waiting for an answer, - I now know your trump card, but do you know mine?

-Yes, he helped him. He didn't know my maiden name, - she replied.

-When did he have a daughter? - Adrian inquired.

-On the 6th of July, - she answered hesitantly.

-Can you tell us anything else? - he asked.

-He said she was born just a few hours ago, but I, being the eldest of all the children, can say that she was already a few days old, - she replied, though her emotions showed that she didn't understand the reason for these questions or their significance.

-Anything else? - he pressed her, and I could see that he was growing impatient, and she clearly didn't fully understand the purpose of these questions.

-She didn't look like him at all, like a stranger, - she added, and I thought that these were the final nails in the coffin. I almost cried; it had been so long...

-Thank you, - he said calmly and led me out of the house.

We got on our horses and returned to his estate, and as we turned back, the weather began to deteriorate rapidly. Gray clouds covered the blue sky, creating a threatening atmosphere. His eyes grew darker and more intense, reflecting his dissatisfaction. His black horse could sense his change in mood and nervously pranced. I felt that something unsettling was happening, and the nearby forest behind us foretold the approaching storm. My imagination was filled with a sense of danger, but at the same time, there was a strange excitement about the mystery surrounding us.

-We'll have to start over, - he said, sounding frustrated, - I'll begin everything anew. It's all so strange.

-Yes, I never thought it would come to this, - I replied, realizing that he probably knew this in advance, - Don't you want to hurt me?

-Life is a strange thing. Sometimes we think we know everything, and then this, - he said.

-I don't know much about life, especially marriage, - I said, my thoughts briefly turning to a terrible example.

-And what about what they do on the wedding night? - he teased, stopping me in my tracks.

-What? Well, I never... - I whispered, then suddenly realized how red my cheeks had become. He laughed.

-I'll tell you, and maybe even show you, - he said, and I turned beet red.

Oh, this man. So what? Don't men talk to women like that? No one taught him this. I turned my head away from him proudly. The sky darkened quickly, almost instantly. Lightning flashed behind us, and thunder rumbled one after the other, breaking the silence. My friend Iris didn't like this kind of weather. The snowstorm promised to be powerful, dangerous, and especially cold. We returned to the house, and I went to my room. This trip had taken a lot out of me. I sank into a hot bath and lowered myself into it. Oh, God, what am I doing? This will never end well. Calm down, Constance, my rational side whispered. You're not in love. You just feel a certain attachment to him. You've always been prone to blushing. No, these self-justifications sounded hopeless and pitiful.

-How do you even know if you're in love? - I said sarcastically, but my servant didn't understand.

-You're getting married. Don't even ask such questions, - she said in surprise. And why don't you feed my insatiable curiosity? No one would mind.

-I'm just curious. I never understood this in books, especially about butterflies in your stomach, - I continued, at which point I covered my face with my hands so that my servant wouldn't notice how red my face was and how my cheeks were burning.

-But don't you like anyone? - she asked, and I briefly thought, "I think so. Tall, handsome blond, his name is Adrian..."

-No, but I just want to know. Marriage without love can only have respect or convenience, - I replied to her. I should teach every woman that.

-Does your fiancé know? - she asked in surprise.

-He certainly suspects, but I don't think he'll object, - I replied, remembering that I could introduce anyone to my chambermaid.

-But he'll stand his ground, -she said, puzzled, and I didn't understand one thing: I'm not that easy.

-But I'm even worse. I'm a woman. And we're capable of bringing anyone to their knees, - I replied, saying that, I looked at her with a triumphant smile as I stood up.I climbed into bed and picked up a book I had borrowed from the library. The title was quite intriguing - "Legends of Ice." The cover was dark blue and shimmering, with what seemed like a moving engraving on it. The inscription on the cover also piqued my interest: "Believe everything they say, but seek lies in everything." Strangely, it was already too intriguing. "Wizards bear a great burden of power; ice wounds the heart, destroying everything. But only the fire of love can melt the ice and fill them with strength. But those who provoke it to death will be punished. Blood will turn to ice, the heart will become frozen, the skin - like the northern ocean, and those who did wrong will be punished. Breathing will become pain, and every move will be a curse." "As days passed, the spells became relentless. But if you want to know the truth, seek the curse that befell their kin, delve into the prism of past events that the accursed Cortes lineage has forgotten. The text appeared on the snowy-white paper, intimidating me with its content. And so, the old legend began." "Long, long ago, when it happened, many refused to even mention it, especially every accursed one of them. It all began when a witch with black hair, green eyes, and ivory skin fell in love with a man. She was created to this man, and everyone called him a beautiful dream, but his heart was as cold as granite. He didn't believe in the magic of love and made no sacrifices to the goddess of love. Enraged by his actions and insulted, she descended to the earth." "Then the offended goddess appeared before the lord of those lands, fairer than all living creatures, the girl he loved. Hearing his rejection and insult, she ordered him to kneel and beg for mercy. But his self-love prevented him from seizing the last chance." "Sannana's wrath knew no bounds. She cursed the lineage and all the lands under their dominion. No one would escape this curse and would not live to see their 30th year unless they fulfilled the demands; they would lie dead. Since those ancient times, the coldest places in this kingdom became the iciest, with the harshest winters that lasted until spring." I closed the book and immersed myself in its story. These legends filled me with excitement and many questions. What happened to this lineage? How could they have incurred such a curse? There were so many mysteries I wanted to unravel. Continuing to read made me wonder if I was ready for the truth that could change everything I knew.