Chapter 69

In the majestic interior of an imposing castle, there sits a throne occupied by an unusual figure: a child of around 10 to 11 years old. Their sharp gaze is fixed on a man kneeling before them. Beside the throne, two serious men watch the scene attentively, conveying an air of importance and determination.

"Are you sure it will work?" one of the men next to the child inquired, expressing his doubts and the need for unwavering trust in the endeavor. "Yes, sir! The French are inflated with pride due to the victories they have achieved... Not to mention the audacity of the church nearby," the man humbly replied, bowing his head and placing his hand over his chest, showing respect for the authority present.

"It is quite likely that we will succeed, especially because of our element of surprise," echoed the second man, positioned on the other side of the throne. In his words, the confidence that the idea at hand was promising and had great chances of success shone through.

The child, seated on the throne, did not fully comprehend the nature of the conversations, but could sense that something was being plotted there, a capture, a Machiavellian plan. Their curious and innocent eyes attentively observed every movement and word spoken.

"It is decided. Tomorrow, our army will march towards the city of Rouen," proclaimed the confident man, directing his words to the individual who remained kneeling. The certainty of his success overflowed from his features and gestures. There was an obstacle in their path, a lingering threat, and now was the time to rid themselves of it once and for all. The man who was kneeling gracefully rose, performed a respectful bow, and left the king's chamber.

The child, with their curiosity bubbling, couldn't resist the temptation to question their two uncles who remained by their side. "Uncles, whom do you wish to capture?" they asked, seeking to satisfy their curiosity and unravel the mystery unfolding around them. The uncles turned their gazes towards them, a sinister smile forming on their lips. "It is nothing but a sinner, blaspheming the name of God wherever she goes," the uncle replied while ruffling the child's hair, deliberately disarranging it. The young protagonist tried to push the uncle's hand away from their head, but it had already been withdrawn. As they relaxed, the uncle's hand once again messed up their hair, playfully toying with their expression of discomfort and surprise.

------------------

In the vast field where the lush green of the grass contrasts with the open sky, a group of cows indulges in a voracious feast. They devour everything within their reach, driven by insatiable hunger. As one of the cows delights in the succulent grass, an unexpected act interrupts her pleasure: a slap resonates on her voluminous belly. With her large eyes, the cow directs a furious gaze at a red-haired man who dealt the blow. The animal's expression clearly conveys her discontent.

"Aren't you satisfied? Do you think you'll explode?" teased Rémy, playfully delivering another tap to her belly. The cow chooses to ignore him, returning her attention to the succulent meal awaiting her. Observing the group of cows, Rémy is assaulted by memories of the past, imagining himself in their role. The mere idea of having to consume the amount of food these animals consume makes him feel nauseous. However, Jeanne's improvement by his side brings solace. Even if it's only modest progress, it already makes a significant difference.

"It's so close, yet it feels so far... I can't wait for our wedding day!" A smile emerges on Rémy's face as he casually leans against the cow. As he imagines himself united with Jeanne in holy matrimony, his heart fills with excitement. Curiously, he wonders about the names he will give to their future children. However, a sudden awareness makes him recoil: "Hold on, I'm rushing ahead! We're not even married yet, and I'm already thinking about children." To regain his composure, Rémy lightly taps his own face. After a few moments, the restlessness dissipates. Although the future remains uncertain, he senses that only good things are on their way.

Jeanne is in her kitchen, skillfully holding a skewer. The pieces of meat are arranged perfectly, ready to be cooked. Determined to create a dish that will surely please Rémy, she decides to go the extra mile this time. Carefully, she takes a little salt, which she obtained with difficulty due to its high price. However, motivated by the previous day, Jeanne decides to add even more seasoning. Gently, she sprinkles the salt over the meat, preparing it to be roasted over the wood-burning stove. Attentively, she arranges the wood in a way that keeps the fire alive, without letting it dwindle or become too intense.

"There we go! Let's see if it will be delicious," exclaims Jeanne excitedly, clapping her hands cheerfully. She can hardly wait for Rémy to taste her culinary creation. "There's no way he can say it's bad. I need to give it my all," Jeanne affirms, clenching her fists with determination. While eagerly awaiting Rémy's arrival, she keeps herself busy preparing other dishes. Joyfully, Jeanne hums in the kitchen, taking care to tie up her hair so it doesn't fall into the food.

Amidst her tasks, Jeanne realizes that she will need to dedicate herself even more because, as she understood from conversations with Rémy, he wants to have children. Therefore, she aspires to be the best mother possible! Doubts arise in her mind: "Am I capable?" Jeanne pauses, overcome by uncertainty. She doesn't want to fail as a woman or as a mother. "Whether I will succeed or not, I don't know. But I will try," Jeanne says, puffing her chest out so much that her breasts almost burst through the fabric of her apron. She plans to make an effort and learn from her mistakes. Once again, Jeanne reflects on the events of the previous years. "I tried to learn from my mistakes, but I didn't always succeed," she confesses, squeezing her hands with regret. Although she saved many people, there were others she couldn't protect. Jeanne longs to have prevented all the deaths, wishing she could have saved everyone.

"I'm home!" Rémy's voice echoed through the house's entrance, reaching Jeanne's ears. Instantly, her face transformed, assuming a softer and more welcoming expression. She knew that if Rémy saw her like that, he would worry about her, and that was something she didn't want. She wanted to avoid giving him any reason to worry. With a familiar smile on her face, Jeanne greeted him: "Welcome."

Knowing that Rémy was eager to retreat to his room, as he already anticipated what Jeanne would say, he opened his mouth pretending to yawn and began walking towards the bedroom. However, before he could fully retreat, he felt something grabbing his shirt. Who else could it be but Jeanne? "You can't go to bed on an empty stomach," she said, pulling Rémy by his shirt to the chair at the table and making him sit down. With a melancholic smile on his face, Rémy gave in, resigned.

"Come on, this time it's better," Jeanne asserted confidently, convinced that she had finally succeeded. In truth, Rémy was just playing along because, of course, he would taste what his future wife had prepared for him. He was only pretending to resist, hoping that the act would be successful. Unfortunately, as we can see, it wasn't.

Jeanne carefully placed the skewer on the table and anxiously waited for Rémy's reaction, standing by his chair. Rémy smiled because something had reminded him of something special. He took the meat and took a bite, feeling its tenderness that seemed to melt in his mouth like cotton. To his surprise, it was extremely tasty. Rémy chewed with delight, savoring every piece. Seeing the expression of pleasure on Rémy's face, Jeanne was radiant. "I told you it would be delicious," she declared, placing her hands on her hips, displaying pride. For her, that moment was a significant breakthrough. "Congratulations," Rémy said, truly impressed with the quality of the food prepared by Jeanne. It exceeded his expectations. "I hope you like what I'm going to bring," Jeanne added, hurrying towards the kitchen, leaving Rémy intrigued, wondering if that meat would be the only dish for dinner. "There's more...," Rémy murmured, toying with the meat, unsure of what to do. Observing Jeanne's actions, he wondered if he would become fatter, after all, with so many delicacies she insisted he taste, it was a concrete possibility.

The hours passed, and finally, Rémy and Jeanne retired to their room, lying side by side. Rémy enveloped Jeanne in his arms, embracing her from behind. "What's wrong?" Jeanne asked, turning to face him as she was facing away from him. "Nothing, I just want to stay like this," Rémy replied, inhaling the scent of her hair and tightening the embrace. Jeanne gently moved Rémy's hands away, allowing her to turn and face him. "This is better, don't you think?" she said, with a slightly blushed face, resting her head on Rémy's chest. How could he disagree? That closeness was more than he could ask for. There was no reason for complaints. Running his hands through Jeanne's hair, Rémy felt calm and serene. Jeanne also appreciated that gesture, feeling so close to him when he stroked her hair.

"Now I can sleep peacefully," murmured Rémy, resting his head on hers and closing his eyes. Jeanne smiled, closed her eyes, and rested her head on his chest. Both of them quickly fell asleep, diving into dreams of what the future held for them. They imagined the wonderful things that were to come, eagerly anticipating experiencing them together.

--------------

Meanwhile, on a road winding towards Domrémy, the imposing figure of a man on horseback could be seen. His countenance was grave and tense, as if carrying the weight of a dark secret or the imminent threat of a cruel fate. Moving at a dizzying speed, he pushed forward, urging his loyal equine companion to give its utmost.

This man sensed that his journey to Domrémy could take hours, maybe even days, but he had an unwavering determination to reach his destination the next day. He would not allow the horse to rest for a single moment, nor would he allow himself a moment's pause, for what he had to communicate to Jeanne was of transcendent importance. A somber omen hung in the air, an indication that a new battle was about to erupt.

He hesitated to disturb Jeanne and her future husband, but he had been entrusted by the king to summon them. The city of Rouen was threatened by the approach of an entire army, and who would be more fitting to face such a challenge than the saint and her courageous knight? Thus, driven by an urgent sense of purpose, the man exerted himself to reach the village as quickly as possible to deliver the crucial message in his hands.

-----------

38 advanced chapters on my Patreon: patreon.com/Louisdg