CRUEL KING

Lori's return

Lori's return

The rooster crowed even earlier than on other days, and while the sky was still tinged with dark ink, Anisha got up.

It was time for her to take up the torch and provide for their family. To live up to the responsibilities that were now hers.

She sat on the edge of her bed for a good minute, just long enough to emerge.

Dalia was fast asleep, her body curled in on itself, as if she were cold.

Without a sound, Ani got up and pulled the covers over her shoulders. It was up to her to look after her sister now, she mused as she brushed away one of the golden locks that covered her face.

As she passed her father's bedroom door, she paused. Softly, and even if it seemed absurd, she felt the need to enter for a moment.

_ Father, I'll do my best today," she said softly, running her hands over the sheets aged by years of confrontations with the washboard. And don't worry, I'll be careful...

After a brief morning wash, she went into the kitchen, which was in a corner of the living room, and set about preparing breakfast.

_ You should have gotten me up, I would have," grumbled Dali, who had just joined her.

_ You'll do it next time, come on, let's eat.

She placed a large bowl of steaming soup in front of her sister, then took off her apron and headed for the stairs leading upstairs.

_ I'll be back before noon, in which case you can start weeding the bottom of the garden.

Seeing that Ani was planning to leave immediately, Dali asked her:

_ You're not waiting to go at the same time as Rio?

_ If I want to collect as many shells as possible before the tide comes in, I'll have to go at daybreak.

_ Fine, but be careful.

After smiling at her sister, Ani put on her oldest chiton, grabbed her baskets and ropes and left the house.

A cold wind whipped at her face, and despite the thick woollen coat she was wearing, she shivered.

The water promises to be invigorating today...

Once seated on the large rock that would serve as a mooring point for her ropes, the young girl glanced at the city awakening in the distance.

In a sky still devoid of sunlight, the smoke rising from the fortifications gave the impression that the high stone walls were overflowing with clouds.

Surrounded for most of its length by the sea, the city also boasted the island's largest port. It was this famous port that constituted the wealth of their small principality.

At this thought, the memory of Lori in that carriage came back to her mind. And, as she had done every time she thought of him for the past few days, she grew more reserved.

It was undeniable that he had lied to her, that he had deceived her about his identity, but what was worse was the disdain with which he had looked at them that day.

That proud expression was far removed from the simple, cheerful personality of the boy she knew.

_ If he really was a nobleman, what was he doing on the outskirts of our modest village? she wondered aloud, as she tied her baskets to her ropes.

_ Maybe to see you," sounded a familiar tone just behind her.

Eyes wide and heart pounding, she turned back to Lori who was standing beside the large boulder.

Machinally, she inspected the boy, who no longer looked anything like that.

His body had grown taller, his shoulders much broader and his face had lost all youthful features.

His clothes weren't nearly as rich as those he wore in the carriage, but they were still of a manufacture that no average citizen could afford.

The ring emblazoned with the princely emblem that adorned his hand, while she held the collar of his crimson velvet jacket, left no doubt as to his true identity.

Uneasy as ever, she put aside her anger at him and bowed her head to the man who had once been her friend.

Lori's footsteps were barely audible, and when he took her by the arm to straighten her up, the girl gasped.

_ Ani... you don't have to do this, we're all alone here.

As if to give her further confirmation, his words reminded her that the gulf between their worlds was now as wide and deep as the expanse of water before them.

_ I'm really happy to see you again," he continued, without taking his eyes off her, or even letting go of her arm. It's been a long time...

Without answering, Anisha kept her head down.

Seriously, what did he want her to say? She sighed inwardly.

He was no longer the friend who had left her to serve under the flag of the King of Targat, the kingdom of which they were feudatories.

Now he was a prince and she a mere villager.

What did he hope to achieve by coming back to see her?