CHAPTER 84: A New Beginning

CHAPTER 84: A New Beginning

In the village, at dawn the next day, Karolus walked purposefully with a small bouquet of fresh flowers he had picked along the way. His step was firm, though inside he felt a mix of nerves and anticipation. He had resolved to see Elizabeth and give her the flowers, a simple gesture but one loaded with meaning for him.

The Von Hohenfels house stood with its rustic, warm air. At the entrance, a woman with graying hair, a clean apron, and a kind expression was sweeping the porch. She was the village midwife, who had helped deliver more than one generation.

Seeing Karolus approach, she looked at him curiously and stopped.

"And who might you be, young man?" she asked in a sweet but firm voice, tilting her head.

Karolus swallowed, uncomfortable, and raised the flowers.
"Uh... I'm Karolus... I came to ask for Elizabeth."

The woman looked him up and down and let out a chuckle full of affection.
"Karolus! I can't believe it. Is it really you?" She put a hand to her chest and shook her head. "But I saw you born with these very eyes. How time flies!"

The young man felt somewhat embarrassed, scratching the back of his neck.
"Well... I suppose one changes over the years."

"You certainly do!" she replied with an affectionate glint in her eyes. "And look at you, all grown into a man, and bringing flowers too. What a lovely gesture!"

Karolus smiled shyly, averting his gaze slightly.
"So... is Elizabeth home?"

The midwife leaned the broom against the wall and nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course, son. Wait here, I'll call her."

With agile steps, the woman entered the house, leaving behind the scent of freshly baked bread that filled the air. Before disappearing over the threshold, she turned her head and said:
"It makes me so happy to see you, Karolus. Not every day does someone I held in my arms as a newborn come back to visit."

Then her voice faded inside the house, calling out affectionately for her daughter:
"Elizabeth! Come, you have a visitor!"

Karolus took a deep breath, adjusted his jacket collar, and looked at the flowers in his hands, feeling his heart beat strongly.

Hours later, Karolus and Elizabeth walked together through the small village. The afternoon was slowly fading, and the sky was tinged with shades of orange and violet. They had spent the day talking, laughing, and remembering childhood moments that, though hazy, were still alive in some corner of their memories.

Sitting on a bench in the square, Karolus held the slightly wilted bouquet in his hands, while Elizabeth played with one of the flowers.

"I can't believe you came all the way here," she said with a soft smile, glancing at him sideways.
"I couldn't stay away without seeing you," replied Karolus, somewhat serious but with a warm glow in his eyes. "The years have passed, Elizabeth, and yet... here you are."

Elizabeth looked down, blushing.
"You're still as direct as when we were children."

Karolus let out a light laugh.
"Maybe... but now I have more reasons to be."

She raised the flower and gently touched his nose with the stem.
"Silly..."

The evening wind wrapped them in a comfortable silence. They didn't need more words. That afternoon sealed the beginning of something new between them.

Twelve Years Later

The old Von Hohenfels country house now brimmed with life. A child's laughter echoed through the halls. Karolus, somewhat more mature with his hair showing slight silver streaks, carried his eldest son in his arms: Karick Roger, a restless eight-year-old boy with the same mischievous smile as his father.

In the living room, Elizabeth, her belly now swollen, sat knitting while watching the scene with tenderness.

"Karick, get down from your father, he's not a horse," she said, though with sweetness in her voice.
"But Mom, Dad wants me to!" the boy replied, laughing.

Karolus set the little boy down on the floor and sat next to Elizabeth, taking her hand.
"You know? I've been thinking about the name for the one on the way."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, really? Surprise me."

Karolus smiled confidently.
"Let's see... what do you think of Wilhelm? It's a strong name."

"No." Elizabeth shook her head and continued knitting.

"Alright... what if we name him Magnus?" he proposed, with a slight theatrical gesture.
"Not that either. Too heavy," she replied without looking at him.

"Okay... how about Adrian? It sounds elegant."
"No, I'm not convinced," she said, shrugging.

Karolus sighed, putting his hand to his forehead.
"Elizabeth, you're rejecting all my names."

She finally set her knitting aside and looked at him tenderly.
"Because none of them fit."

Karolus frowned in a playful gesture.
"And so? Which one does?"

Elizabeth placed her hand on her belly and smiled, serene but firm.
"His name will be Phoenix Roger."

The silence filled with profound meaning. Karolus looked at her, surprised, as if he hadn't expected it, but instantly understood.

"Phoenix..." he repeated quietly. "Rebirth, strength in adversity..."
"Exactly," she affirmed. "That will be his name."

Karolus took Elizabeth's hand and kissed it softly.
"Then so it shall be. Our second son will be named Phoenix Roger."

Karick, who had been listening attentively from the floor, interrupted by raising his hand like a teacher in class.
"What about me? I want to have a say too!"

Elizabeth and Karolus burst into laughter, and the house was once again filled with that warmth only a family could provide.