Between our hands

Chapter 20: Towards the Light of Day.

The next morning, Maëlle and Victor woke up still lying next to each other, finding comfort in the closeness they had shared during the night. The sun's rays gently filtered through the curtains of the suite, illuminating their tired but peaceful faces. The golden morning light was soft, almost timid, as if it wanted to offer them a little respite before the day began.

After a few moments of shared silence, as they slowly regained their composure, they got up. Maëlle, though still affected by the events of the previous day, found solace in the familiar routine of the farm. She needed this simple escape to cope with the tension that had been weighing on her since the incident. They decided to start the day by heading to the farm, hoping that physical work and the connection with the animals would bring some peace to their minds.

Upon arriving at the farm, they were greeted by the soothing scent of damp earth and the gentle bleating of animals. Maëlle headed to the stables with Ely and Summer by her side. Her movements were full of tenderness as she fed the horses, checking on their condition and softly stroking them. Each gesture was precise, measured, like a familiar dance she had learned over the years. The presence of the horses, their warmth, and their gentle eyes calmed the storms inside Maëlle.

Victor, meanwhile, tackled tasks related to the cows. He meticulously checked their health, bending down to inspect their hooves and making sure they were well acclimated to their new environment. Though physical, the farm work provided a welcome relief. They almost lost themselves in the simplicity of the daily tasks, momentarily forgetting the complications of the outside world. Their attention to the animals and the serenity of the place allowed them to reconnect with fundamental aspects of their lives.

After a simple but nourishing lunch, they went to their first local language class. The classroom, located inside the palace, was modest yet welcoming. The walls were decorated with maps and posters illustrating words and phrases in the foreign language. Maëlle and Victor settled in, their notebooks open in front of them, pens in hand, ready to dive into learning this language so different from anything they knew.

The teacher, an elderly man with a neatly trimmed beard and kind eyes, began the lesson with patience. His explanations were clear, and his encouragement frequent, creating a studious yet relaxed atmosphere. The first lessons were basic, focusing on greetings, common phrases, and numbers. Despite Maëlle and Victor’s efforts, their pronunciation attempts were often clumsy, leading to occasional bursts of laughter.

The king, curious to see how his young protégés were adapting, discreetly attended their lesson. He sat in a corner of the room, observing with amusement as Maëlle and Victor struggled. At each awkward attempt, he couldn’t help but smile, his eyes twinkling with mischief. When a word or phrase proved particularly difficult, the king’s laughter echoed through the room, adding a touch of lightness to the studious atmosphere.

At one point, Maëlle tried to pronounce a simple sentence, but her accent was so off that she turned the word into something entirely incomprehensible. The king burst out laughing, a hearty, warm laugh that filled the room. Victor, amused by Maëlle’s struggles and the king’s hilarity, joined in, and soon Maëlle herself was laughing at her own mistakes.
“Don’t worry, Maëlle,” Victor said, laughing, “at this rate, we might end up inventing our own language!”

The king nodded with a benevolent smile.
“Learning a language is always difficult,” he said, his amused smile never leaving his face. “But you’ll get there. You have the determination. And a little humor in the process never hurts.”

The lesson continued in this relaxed atmosphere, punctuated by laughter and the king’s kind remarks. This unexpected levity offered a welcome break for Maëlle and Victor, helping them relax and forget, if only for a moment, the challenges they were facing. They felt more at ease, more confident, and above all, closer to each other. The day at the farm, combined with their efforts to learn the local language, gave them the feeling of moving forward, step by step, toward a better understanding of their new life.

After the language class, Maëlle and the king took a walk around the palace. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden light over the lush gardens and majestic arches. The day's warmth was softening, creating a serene and soothing atmosphere.

Maëlle walked beside the king, her face still marked by the shadow of her discomfort from the previous day. The bluish marks on her wrist, hidden beneath the sleeves of her dress, were a silent reminder of the humiliation she had endured. The king, perceptive of her state, broke the silence by starting a conversation.
“Maëlle, it seems something is weighing on you. Do you want to talk about it?”

Maëlle hesitated for a moment, then opened up. She shared with the king the details of the unfortunate encounter she had the previous day. She described how, lightly dressed because of the heat, a man had insulted and humiliated her with offensive accusations. Shame and pain were evident on her face as she spoke, and the king listened attentively.

Once she had finished, the king took a moment to gather his thoughts, his eyes full of compassion.
“I’m sorry you had to go through such an experience,” he said softly. “Unfortunately, some people here are still deeply rooted in old mentalities. Mutual respect is not yet a universal norm, and some people struggle to accept differences.”

He paused, carefully choosing his words.
“This isn’t an excuse for their behavior, but rather an explanation. Traditions and beliefs are deeply ingrained here, and there’s still a long way to go for everyone to understand and accept cultural and religious diversity. It’s not your responsibility to adapt to this ignorance, but for them to grow in their understanding of the world.”

Maëlle listened intently, finding some peace in the king’s words. She nodded, recognizing the wisdom in his response.
“I understand better now,” she replied, her tone a bit lighter. “It’s hard to accept, but I suppose it will take time for me to get used to it and to help, in my own way, to bring about change.”

The king smiled gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Your presence here, your willingness to understand and learn, is already a step toward change. Don’t let this isolated encounter define you or make you doubt your place here.”

They continued walking, the conversation shifting to lighter topics. Maëlle felt a bit relieved, finding comfort in the king’s words. The palace gardens, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, seemed to offer a new perspective on what she could achieve in this country, despite the initial difficulties. The shadows of the night were beginning to creep in, but for Maëlle, a glimmer of hope now shone more brightly, guiding her steps in this new adventure.