Black Duchess

There was also a small room in the recess in case of a siege: it had a small, narrow slot for guns to shoot at enemies. In winter, of course, it would be difficult to stay in this room since cold air would have penetrated through the cracks into the room.

The rooms in the other towers were similar: each had a bedroom with a recessed room for protection from attacks. After all, their times were cruel. People might live peacefully, but suddenly some danger such as war or other misfortune could come. It seemed that everyone living in these buildings had always been on alert.

Then we went up to the third floor. The room there looked even poorer. The bed was without linen and without a mattress.

Then there was an exit to an open roof apparently. Unfortunately, it was closed.

11.09.2016

In the morning of our second day, the owner of the castle, Count Dupré, Jean, promised to give us a tour after breakfast.

He came out into the center of the courtyard of the castle. He looked friendly and quite cheerful.

“How did you sleep? Were you disturbed by ghosts during the night?” the count asked.

It seemed to me that some form of tricky or a sort of fear was hidden behind his gaze… as if it was him whom they disturbed.

“No,” Nora simply said.

This morning she was shining… and no surprise: her childhood dream was to stay in a real castle!

“Everything is fine,” Nora added.

“Well, I found out that you looked at some parts of the castle yourself,” the count offered as he smiled cordially again. “I think I’ll have to satisfy your curiosity and tell you everything about the castle.

“So, the part of the castle above the main entrance between the first and second towers are our family rooms. To be more precise, the second floor is entirely ours; we live there all year round.”

The count waved his long, thin hands as if he was a teacher in the classroom.

“On the first floor to the left is my cabinet… that is, to the left if you face the main entrance. Here I receive tourists and groups of schoolchildren who come for a tour. I also solve business issues there.

“On the right – again, if you are facing the castle – there is a lavish, 19th-century living room. We are very proud of it. One can get there through the second tower from the courtyard. We will definitely go there.

“So, to get to the other rooms, you need to go through the courtyard. This small, square spot of land serves as a lawn. It is the center of the castle. If you turn to the left after the main entrance, you will enter the first tower and the rooms between the first and third towers. In the left part of the castle – as you have already understood – is the entrance to our side, to the bedrooms, to the second floor, and to your room, as well. Also, on the ground floor there is our modern kitchen. To the right from the entrance and immediately behind it you will find the medieval kitchen in which is a huge fireplace with a boiler and a wooden table. This kitchen is maintained for exhibition. We will see it today. There were servants’ rooms on the third floor; they are now closed as they are ruined.

“You can see the same between the second and the fourth towers. All of them, including the bedrooms, were rebuilt in the 19th century. The entrance to the first floor is through the second tower.

“As I said, if you go to the right, you will find yourself in the front part of the castle with the lavish living room and a 19th-century grand piano. If you go to the left, you will see a large living room in an authentic style. That is where you already had dinner. Then there is a large dining room where we were served breakfast. Then there is a small kitchen, where the countess cooks breakfast for the guests. There’s nothing else… just a wall. On the second floor are the guest bedrooms; on the third are the servants’ rooms which are closed.

“The part of the castle between the third and the fourth towers is the oldest part. Here on the ground floor is an open veranda with a tiled floor and a utility room where we store garden utensils. At the top there is the castle chapel, which we will visit today. The rest is closed because it is ruined.”

“What are those trees up there?” Nora asked as she looked up. We did the same.

“Yes, the trees have miraculously grown up there. This happens with old castles, especially in abandoned parts.”

The count’s eyes became sly and sparkled when he told some kind of lie that he did not believe himself. Clearly, this man does not know how to lie. Why was he so worried as if something terrible was stored in those closed rooms? We were there yesterday and didn’t see anything. Although, as for the trees on the roofs of abandoned buildings, it seemed to be true… except that I have observed such things in absolutely inhabited buildings, as well.

“So, I hope now you will feel better in our castle,” the count continued. “Well, it’s time to see all the sights of our family home. Let’s start with the tower you examined yesterday. The towers are closed to the public. Frankly, most of them are just walled up. They are ruined. It is better not to go there; it can be life-threatening.”

It was already obvious that the count himself really believed in what he was saying because he repeated the phrase about being “ruined” a lot of times. This is the way children lie: focusing on a fact that should remain unnoticed in the dialogue.

We followed Jean to the original castle kitchen, the one open for exhibition. There was the huge fireplace with a cauldron, a large cooking table, and a lot of medieval, iron dishes and pots. Previously, food was prepared here for the owners of the castle.

“Now let’s go to the office of our famous great-grandfather, Count de L*. Notice the portrait of him, painted in the 18th century. In here, there is a library inherited from our valiant ancestors. You can look through it when you are free. All the books are authentic, written in medieval Latin or in old French. The weapons and mounted animals are also real. These hunting trophies have been accumulating since the time of the founder of our family, the Count de L*, the husband of the first owner of the castle. They loved hunting and started this tradition.

“What’s on the second floor? Are we going there?” my wife asked.

“The second floor is closed to exhibition, but we do not mind your looking at it yourself. It was a priest’s room. He occupied it back in the 15th century. We don’t know who he was, but we assume that he was a family friend or some ancestor of ours who went to a monastery and left no information about himself.

“This is mysterious. Wouldn’t you like to know more about your family?” Nora wondered why the Count spoke so coldly about the history of it.

“Nora, we have lived in this house since childhood; and, believe me, there is nothing mysterious here. We are sort of guards of a museum standing in the forest… nothing more. We would have sold this castle a long time ago; but it is impossible since there are a lot of inheritors, and they would receive nearly nothing. At the same time, to live here you need to have a lot of money to maintain this antiquity.

The count looked aside again.

“Well, let’s move on. Through the second floor you can get to a medieval chapel. The owners prayed here during the siege of the castle and also baptized children, carried on weddings, and more.”

We followed the count through the kitchen to the stairs that led to our rooms. There were pictures of the family members on the walls. Indeed, they had a lot of relatives. We walked to the end of a corridor. The count opened a heavy, old door; and we found ourselves in the oldest part of the castle. According to him, it had been preserved since the 15th century, along with the walled-up towers. The rooms, which were located on three floors and connected to the four towers, were mostly rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries.

We found ourselves in a big room, a sort of veranda. It was made of white stone in the Catholic style. The windows faced the courtyard and were decorated with frescoes of the 15th century. On the left was a carved, wooden partition with an ancient chapel behind it, a picturesque sight. In the chapel itself there were narrow windows on the sides also decorated with frescoes of images of saints. In the middle there was an altar with a medieval tabernacle and a large portrait of Christ with a heart at the base of it. It appeared authentic.

Nora was over the moon with happiness. I was no less happy about it; it seemed that the new emotions prevented her from sleepwalking. The smile never left her face. She touched all the objects with such love and enthusiasm as if she had really returned to her long-abandoned house.

To the right and left of the chapel were separate, small prayer rooms, each of which was large enough for only one person. The ceiling was sculpted with the grimacing faces of demons. As the count explained, this was done so that the worshipper didn’t get distracted from their conversation with the Lord. Tricky!

Nora was fascinated. She came to the same heavy doors that were located opposite those through which we entered. In theory, they should serve as the entrance to the third tower. She tried to open them, but they wouldn’t budge.

“Oh, no!” the count exclaimed. “You won’t get in there. The doors are tightly closed. Even we don’t go there anymore. The tower is completely in disrepair, as I said.” The count reacted briskly as if they were hiding millions of dollars behind those doors.

“Completely?” Nora asked in surprise.

“Yes, absolutely! It’s dangerous!” The count appeared tense.

“And what was there before?” Nora did not let up.

“The rooms of the duchess’ children,” the count answered quickly.

“Duchess?” Nora’s journalistic curiosity came out.

“Ah, yes! I haven’t told you everything from the beginning. This castle was the dowry of our ancestor, my 11th great-grandmother, Duchess Louise. She was of royal blood because she came from the family of Eleanor of Aquitaine, your namesake. She married the Duc de L*, and they had four children! Actually, almost everyone in our family had many children. Except during the Middle Ages, this was a regular thing. All the rich aristocrats tried to give birth to the maximum number of children since the mortality rate was high, and the heir to the fortune and castles should be a boy.

Unfortunately, we know little about the 15th century in the history of the family. They say something happened to her children… but it is just rumors, and there is just nothing interesting in the old towers anymore!”

The count shouldn’t have said that to Nora. Now she was sure that the most interesting thing about the castle she would find in the old towers. Moreover, we had already been in one of the towers and had seen a lot of antiquities there.

Nora’s diary

11.09.2016

God, I’m in love with this castle! I have a feeling that everything here is sort of mine. How can one love castles so much? I don’t understand myself.

As for the castle, it is square with four towers. Between the two front towers is the main entrance to the castle. Next comes the courtyard. The tower on the left is allegedly closed; the tower on the right is rebuilt. Here, it seems, the count was not lying because the staircase did not go into the tower but went up and led to the floors on the left. The tower to the left and furthest from the entrance, the third tower, was the oldest according to the owners. There was a room of a mysterious priest which was the first room we examined. The far tower on the right was walled up; there was not even a hint of an entrance.

However, this is a magical place. When I found myself here, I began to breathe deeply! I felt so energetically strong, as if I had been plugged into an outlet. My fears have vanished. I wasn’t a sleepwalker that night. I’m something stronger than I was before… but what am I?

Anton’s diary

11.09.2016

The count led us through the courtyard to tower number two, which was already, in fact, almost not a tower. On the ground floor there was a 19th-century living room with a grand piano and family portraits of that era. The count said that their not-so-distant 11th great-grandmother played music here. Everything was wood; the windows were large and let in a lot of light. There was not a hint of Gothic style, except for the old sideboards which had been preserved since the 15th century. They were an example of early Gothic: black with carved figures of people and animals. They were also locked.

In the middle there was a sofa and several armchairs around a beautiful, large tea table of the 19th century. Apparently, they gathered here in the evenings in a family circle, drank tea, played the piano, and discussed the latest news.

According to the count, there was nothing else interesting in the house, no expositions. He repeated this lie over and over again with sparkling eyes. He also rubbed his hands as if he was washing them.

Then we went with the count to the living room and the dining room where breakfast was served to tourists. As the count explained, these rooms were decorated in an authentic style, but were not antique.

After the tour, we went to see the surroundings and visited the Breze Castle, a magnificent monument of antiquity also built in the form of a square. As in Dupré, there were some ancient parts and parts that were completely rebuilt by descendants. Yet there was something mystically ancient in these places. We didn’t have time to go anywhere else. We decided to go back and have a rest… which, translated from my wife’s language, meant “poking one’s nose into other people’s business” and “continuing to examine someone else’s property.”

The weather is great. It is much warmer in France than in Russia in September. I sincerely admired the weather. We wore thin windbreakers and jeans, and we were hot.

“Let’s go back to the castle. We won’t have time to see anything else anyway; all the castles are closed,” my wife said slyly.

“I think I know why you want to go back,” I laughed.

“Stop it!” Nora laughed back. “Well, yes, I want to wander a bit around the castle without the count’s annoying gaze. It’s so interesting. My God, is there a walled-up room there?”

Moreover, from my wife’s point of view – childishly naïve – it was clear that she had already come up with what might be there.

“Yes,” I responded. I couldn’t help laughing. “The count shouldn’t have said that to you. By the way, did you notice how the countess looked at you when we arrived the first time?

“Well, she’s a little skewed. Do you think it’s weird?”

Nora clearly hadn’t paid attention to it, but she was a dreamer by nature and as such didn’t pay attention to such things.

“Yes. Why such a reaction all of a sudden?” I began to think out loud.

“Maybe because we are Russian?” Nora laughed.

I didn’t tell her what I’d heard. In the end, it really might mean nothing.

“Another thing seemed strange to me,” Nora began again. “Why were so many rooms closed?”

“Either tons of gold or slaves from China… maybe a pet cemetery?” I offered.

I liked to tease her.

“You idiot!” Nora laughed out loud. Don’t talk nonsense. I feel there is something there.”

Returning to the castle, we saw that the owners sat in the new kitchen in the left wing of the castle, located next to the first tower. One of the wonderful things about such large structures is that we could walk around the whole castle, and the owners would not see us.

We left our things in our room and took a flashlight. After all, there was no electricity in the towers. I must say it was quite light outside! It was only 6:20 p.m,, but there was enough time before it got dark. However, we knew the towers might be blocked, given the count’s story.

“Where do we start?” I asked my wife.

I thought to myself that her haircut was not so bad and that she was the most beautiful woman in the world. I won’t get tired repeating it.

“We’ll start our journey from tower number four, a good number… and the owners will be far away.” “Yes, but it’s walled up,” I pointed out.

“I don’t think so. If so, why did they leave a door? It would have been blocked, too,” Nora said.

“Come on, Boss!” I decided not to argue.

Through the courtyard we headed toward the 19th-century living room. There we turned left and walked along the corridor. We passed the medieval-style dining room. Then we went into the kitchen. There everything was blocked with a wall.

“I told you so! It’s all nonsense. Everything is closed.”

The plan to reveal the secret of the millennium was falling apart.

“Damn it! There must be some kind of entrance. There just has to be!”

My wife was very upset, and I frankly did not understand why all this bothered her so much.

“Why are you so sure of that?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I have a strange feeling. It’s like I’ve been here before. I just know there’s something important in there.” Then in a half-whisper, Nora asked, “Do you think I’m crazy?” “I think you’re a dreamer,” I responded as I smiled back.

“Let’s go around by the street,” ordered my wife and cheerfully headed for the goal.

We went through the courtyard to the open floor under the chapel. The floor was great: it still had ancient castle tile, black and white, like in the movies about medieval knights.

We went inside. If you looked to the left, there was something like a shed where shovels and other gardening supplies were stored. There were also some hunting trophies on the floor. On the right was the beginning of the fourth tower. And there was a heavy, faded tapestry hanging on it.

Nora decided to check for a door behind the tapestry. She pushed it away, but there was a wall there, covered with dust. A minute later she stepped out away from the tapestry, cleaning dust off herself. Suddenly we noticed the owners coming out of the kitchen and heading into the yard.

“Hide! Quickly!” Nora whispered as she grabbed my hand.

We backed up behind the tower so that the owners could not see us. It was fun just like when I was a kid.

While we hid, we saw an open passage to the balcony. It’s not even a balcony; it’s more like a platform or terrace from which in the old days, apparently, there was a view of the moat.

As soon as the Duprés went outside, we slipped onto the terrace. What a picturesque view! It’s a pity the count didn’t bring us here… of course, it wasn’t safe because the balcony was low, and one could easily fall into the moat; but what a lively, historical panorama that opened in front of us! The old walls were partly covered with moss, apparently because it was wet there. We also saw caves in the moat below. It was quite strange as there should have been water in the moat. If you looked at the castle itself, it seemed majestic and huge.

“Look, Anton!” My wife pointed to the right. “An entrance! And a passage around the tower!”

“Indeed, it looks like a passage for gunsmiths. I think they defended the castle from here in case of a siege. Let’s go and see.”

We walked along a narrow corridor that led around the tower. I followed my wife.

“The door! Anton, here it is!” Nora smiled now. “But what is that?” she suddenly said.

A pentagram was carved on the massive door… not a very pleasant start.

“Latin inscriptions… God, why is that?” Nora whispered.

“A spell for tourists?” I tried to joke. Then I added, “My dear, I don’t like it.”

My wife did not pay attention to my warning and pulled the door by the massive handle. The door swayed but didn’t open. Obviously, it was securely locked. The owners did not want anyone to go in there.

“We have to open it,” Nora said firmly.

“You’re crazy! They will definitely find us!”

To be honest, I was not thrilled with the idea of making problems abroad instead of quietly enjoying my vacation. “Please, please, let’s come up with something!” My wife did not give up.

“Okay ….”

Then I remembered about the utility room. I went there to look for some tools. I found a bolt cutter, and five minutes later I was hacking into someone else’s property. After all, marriage is a dangerous thing. I have been warned more than once.

Soon I opened the door to the tower. It was dark from the threshold.

“Where’s the flashlight? Let’s go!”

My wife turned it on and cheerfully stepped inside.

“Maybe you shouldn’t…” I tried for the last time to make a call for common sense.

“This is a real adventure!” Nora exclaimed and smiled brightly again. “Come on!”

There was nothing I could do. A wife’s smile is more important than problems with the law.

Beyond the door was a spiral staircase leading up, just as in the third tower… and there were no catastrophic traces of destruction here. I must pay tribute to my wife: she was right.

The count lied to us… but why?

Chapter 5 Disappeared Children

Fortune rota volvitur; Descendo minoratus;

The Wheel of Fortune is turning I find myself at the bottom.

~Vagants’ poems about fate

Nora’s diary

11.09.2016

The count is definitely lying! It’s all weird, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it. I feel like I should.

This tower has left an indelible mark on my memory. I’ve never seen anything more heart-wrenching. We started walking up to the first room. There was a massive, carved, wooden door… however, a little worn out. Near it hung rosary beads on the wall. I wonder why.

We opened the heavy door and saw something incredible: the room did not look destroyed at all but rather neglected; and there was a feeling as if its owner had left for a while and would soon return. A huge bed sat against the wall to the right. There was a large fireplace. Everything was the same as in the other tower, but everything here was well preserved! There was a desk next to the window and an old bookcase along the wall to the left. A chest stood on either side of a table. A tapestry depicting hunting scenes hung on the wall near the bed. Everything was very dusty and dirty, but there was no doubt about the authenticity of these things.

I immediately rummaged through the papers lying on the table. The layer of dust was disgusting. I looked for something that would explain the puzzle.

“My God! Why aren’t they taking care of all this? It’s of historical value!” I almost shouted because I was excited by everything I saw and genuinely annoyed at the same time. I strongly love and respect antiquities. Gothic has always been my passion in all its manifestations: interior, clothing, and architecture.

“You’ve heard yourself that for them this is just a museum in the forest that they want to get rid of,” Anton replied.

“Look! These are letters.” I tried to read at least one of them. “I can hardly make out anything. They are all written in old French. It says here: ‘Summer castle… trip… Father was out hunting ….’ Oh, it’s hard to make out. The signature is Francis de L*, and the date is on it.”

“Awesome! Is the letter 15th century?” Anton shouted.

Letters dated 1426 impressed us. It was also impressive that their owners so carelessly left them to the rats. I concluded that Francis was the son of the same Duchess Louise, the 11th great-grandmother of the count, judging by the dates on the letters.

“Yes! And they didn’t even want to let us in here. It’s crazy!”

I looked up.

“What’s in the closet?” I quizzed.

We easily opened the old closet, which was full of men’s suits, eaten by rats. There were also a lot of men’s medieval doublets hanging there. They were something like a man’s sweater, only made of heavy velvet and sewn from multicolored fabrics, some decorated with stones or beads. I have read a lot about the Middle Ages, and I know that during that time “tear out the eye” outfits were in fashion according to the color scheme. Colorful fabrics were embroidered with beads. It symbolized a love for life.

There was a medieval library, as well. I opened the doors; one door almost fell off, but I managed to grab it. There were medieval books in Latin mostly. There were poems and more poems which were terribly interesting. It would take years to read all of them.