Chapter 16: [Duchy of Inferna][7]Tea in the Snow
The biting winter air had taken the training camp captive with a frost that seeped into my very bones. Every breath I took turned into a white mist, freezing instantly in the air and lingering before my eyes like fleeting proof of my existence.
Elara’s voice, as sharp as crystal, cut through the cold air like a sword. "Hold your wrist firmer, Cassian! The sword should be an extension of you, not a foreign object in your hand!"
Under her command, I swung the heavy steel training sword again and again. Each movement left a sweet burn in my muscles, yet it wasn’t enough to dispel the turmoil in my mind. This complex sword technique required not just physical effort, but also intense mental focus. Elara was far more than an ordinary instructor; she was a swordmaster, and her expectations were always of the highest caliber.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Iris in the other corner of the training grounds. She was sparring with a young soldier. Her red hair was a stark, beautiful contrast against the snow-white ground, and there was a grace to her every move. Her strikes were swift and precise, skillfully forcing her opponent back.
Watching her, I felt a warmth spread through me that I couldn’t quite describe. Even though I wasn’t part of this family, being included in their world, even for a moment, felt strangely comforting.
Just then, I was startled by the soft sound of footsteps echoing on the stone ground. Turning my head, I saw one of the family’s servants approaching us. The thick woolen cloak she wore seemed insufficient to protect her from the cold. When she reached us, she bowed politely and spoke, her voice retaining its warmth even in the frigid air: "Master Cassian, Duchess Seraphina invites you to join her for a cup of tea in the garden."
The unexpected invitation surprised not only me but also Iris, who stopped her training mid-motion and turned toward us. She lowered her sword and walked over, her face a mixture of curiosity and a hint of jealousy. "Mother invited Cassian? What for? Well, I’m coming too!" she declared excitedly.
The servant met Iris’s enthusiastic outburst with a calm smile. "Lady Iris, the Duchess specifically mentioned that she wishes to spend some time alone with Master Cassian."
This reply instantly wiped the excitement from Iris’s face. Her lips pouted, the sparkle in her eyes dimming. Her disappointment was so palpable that I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. Why would the Duchess want to speak with me alone? The first thought that crossed my mind was whether I had made some mistake. Perhaps they now considered me a burden. My heart began to flutter like a trapped bird against my ribs.
As I followed the servant, a thousand scenarios played out in my mind. The palace corridors were silent and grand, the portraits on the walls seeming to judge me as I passed. Finally, we reached the glass doors that opened to the garden. Outside, the world was blanketed in a pristine layer of untouched snow. Everything was so pure, so white, it felt like stepping into another realm. In the center of the garden, in a camellia that was somehow kept warm despite being surrounded by snow, sat Duchess Seraphina.
As I approached, I bowed respectfully to greet her. A warm smile appeared on her face, an attempt to put me at ease. "Cassian, please forgive me for interrupting your training. I hope I didn’t pull you away at a crucial moment."
"Not at all, Lady Seraphina," I mumbled, trying to keep my voice from trembling. "Thank you for inviting me to tea."
She gestured to the chair in front of her. "Please, sit."
I sat down quietly, not knowing what to do with my hands, and clasped them in my lap. A servant poured steaming tea from a porcelain pot into my cup. The scent of bergamot that filled the air eased my tension, if only slightly.
Seraphina took an elegant sip from her own cup. Her blue eyes gazed for a moment into the distance, at the snow-covered garden. Then they returned to me. "How is your training going? Is Elara pleased with you?"
"I am doing the best I can. Thanks to you, I feel myself improving every day. I am grateful for this opportunity you have given me," I said, choosing my words with care.
The Duchess smiled softly. "There’s no need to be so formal, Cassian. Please, feel at ease. I only called you here because I was wondering how you were." Her words were like a thawing warmth on a block of ice within me. I relaxed a little, taking a sip of my tea. But I still couldn’t completely let my guard down. I was still wondering about the true reason behind this kindness.
"You and Iris seem to be getting along very well," she continued, her voice taking on a more personal tone. "In fact, Iris has never had a true friend before. She has always been lonely. Since you arrived, her spirits have been so high. It’s the first time she has formed such a sincere friendship with someone her own age." She paused and looked directly into my eyes. "As you know, Iris is the sole heir to this duchy. That makes her the most important person in our lives. I want to thank you for being her friend."
Her words brought all the spinning gears in my mind to a sudden halt. For a moment, I just stared blankly at the Duchess’s face.
Thank you... Why was she thanking me? Iris and I... were we friends? That word held no meaning in my world. I was a refugee with a dark past and an uncertain future. They were the rulers of this land. This wasn’t a friendship; it was a temporary charity. The very idea of being her friend crashed violently against the walls I had built around myself, the echo of it unsettling me.
I didn’t know what I was supposed to feel. Gratitude? Suspicion? The sharp sense of mistrust that had kept me alive for years began to coil around my heart again like a poisonous vine. Kindness always came at a price. I had learned that lesson in the most bitter of ways.
A lump formed in my throat. The warm teacup felt like ice in my hands. I couldn’t remain in this uncertainty any longer. I had to know the truth behind this benevolence. They had opened their doors to a stranger, given him the best training, and seated him at their table. What did they expect in return?
I slowly raised my head and, using all my willpower to keep my voice steady, I spoke. My voice was as calm as the winter frost, yet just as fragile.
"Lady Seraphina... I don’t understand," I whispered. "Why are you doing all of this for me? Taking me under your roof was a grace I could never have imagined, yet you offer me the best training, a warm bed, and... friendship." I paused, searching for the right words. "There must be a purpose behind all this generosity. What is it that you want from me? Are you planning to purchase my loyalty with these displays of affection? Are you raising me to be a sharp sword that will forever be indebted to you?"
My questions hung in the air, followed by a moment of silence. I tried to read her expression, searching for a flash of anger, a sign of disappointment... But there was nothing of what I expected.
Instead, a soft chuckle, mingled with a sad smile, escaped Duchess Seraphina’s lips. It wasn’t a mocking laugh; on the contrary, it was a compassionate sound, one that seemed to understand my pain.
"Oh, Cassian..." she said, her voice like a mother’s murmur. She rose from her seat, came to my side, and placed her warm hand over my frozen ones. "Is our duchy truly such a cruel place in your eyes, that we would use a small child for our own gain?"
I couldn’t answer her question. I just remained silent.
She looked so deeply into my eyes it was as if she could see the darkest corners of my soul. She slowly reached out and gently stroked my hair. The touch was so unexpected that I flinched.
"I know you have suffered a great deal and that trust is a foreign concept to you," she continued in a soft voice. "But we have no expectations of you. There is only one thing we want from you: for you to set aside the burdens of your past and just be a child. To grow, to learn, to laugh... and yes, to be a friend to Iris."
Seraphina’s final words struck my heart not like a bolt of lightning, but like the first spring sun melting earth that had been frozen for decades.
To be a normal child... A happy life... These ideas were so foreign, so unattainable, they almost sounded like an insult. But at the same time, somewhere in the depths of my soul, they ignited a long-extinguished spark of hope. The warmth was both painful and irresistible. Maybe, just maybe, this snowy garden wasn’t a prison for me, but a new beginning.