Castle Savoyar. Part 3.

Alex.

Savoyar Castle stood before me, filling my heart with joy and relief. I was finally home. The castle's towers and walls seemed to welcome me, whispering, "Welcome, Alex."

But at the same time, a cold emptiness still lingered in my heart. The battle had left a mark on my soul. The feeling of invincibility that had engulfed me during the fight was gradually replaced by weariness and emptiness.

Sebastian's gaze, worried and observant, stirred echoes of emotions within me. I could see how he tried to hide his feelings behind a mask of indifference and composure, but I knew that a storm was raging inside him too.

Returning to my ancestral castle felt like coming back to my roots, to the place where I grew up and learned to be strong. As we approached, I noticed an unusual silence that I had never encountered before. Even during breaches, there would be the sounds of servants bustling around, worried neighs of horses. Now, there was nothing but emptiness and silence, as if the castle was sleeping, waiting for my return. I asked myself why I had come back here. For so many years, I had imagined how I would enter these doors again, hear the sound of footsteps on the stone floor. Unfortunately, there was no one left to welcome me. My parents wouldn't come out to greet me. Memories of my family usually filled me with sorrow and sadness, but now, they barely evoked anything except a mild discomfort, which I shrugged off and walked towards the door.

In the corner of my eye, I saw Sebastian watching me attentively, tracking my every step and glance, as if he expected me to falter and was ready to rush to my aid at any moment. But I stood firm on my feet. I gestured for him to follow me and opened the entrance door.

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Strangely, there wasn't a speck of dust in the hall. The chandeliers were lit, illuminating the stone staircase to the second floor. The light was on in the living room, and footsteps could be heard.

"Samantha, Sam!" I exclaimed as a couple cautiously emerged from the living room. They stared at us with surprise.

I wanted to run over and embrace the only ones left in this world who were close to me, but after a few steps, I looked at myself and realized that it wasn't the best idea.

"Later, my dears. I'm all dirty. Can you tell me where I can freshen up and change?" I looked at the surprised elderly couple apologetically.

"Oh, my dear, we're so happy. Finally! We didn't expect..." Samantha could barely hold back tears, while Sam smiled and held her hand.

Sam explained to me that after my parents' disappearance, King Christoph took control of the castle's finances as the closest relative on my mother's side and my guardian. The King considered the expenses for the empty castle's servants unjustified and agreed to allocate funds only to Sam as the manager and his wife, to maintain order and prevent the estate from being looted. Most rooms and spaces were preserved using magic. Order was maintained only in the manager's, the Duke's, and the Duchess's rooms, as well as in the dining hall and kitchen.

I introduced Sebastian to the elderly couple and briefly explained the purpose of our visit, asking them to provide us with a snack in the kitchen and telling them that I would take the prince to his quarters myself. I chose the Duchess's chambers for myself, and Sebastian got my father's chambers. I explained to Sebastian that Sam and Samantha were not servants; they were like family to me, and I asked him to treat them with due respect and tact. We agreed to meet in an hour and have a meal before going to sleep, once I had freshened up. Then, we each headed to our respective rooms.