A train filled with passengers was traveling along the tracks, and a crew member hurriedly made his way through the crowded second-class carriage to the outside of a first-class compartment, followed by two special passengers who had gathered due to an emergency announcement. A brown-haired man in a dark blue coat stepped out of compartment number two, looking somewhat anxious, as he was actually waiting for the crew to arrive.
“This gentleman is a doctor, and this young lady is a nurse,” the crew member introduced.
“He is much better now, I think actually…” The brown-haired man’s gaze fell on Khanyi, smiling at her with his eyes, “Uh, I think actually, the doctor can be dismissed; we need this nurse to help take care of him.” His lake-blue eyes flickered.
“Um, if I can be of help,” Khanyi replied timidly.
The train continued to run on the tracks, and under the crew member’s persuasion, she moved from the crowded second-class carriage to this luxurious first-class compartment. During this time, she only needed to check on the patient in the adjacent compartment every hour. The man’s condition had stabilized; he had used an inhaler and taken some medication, and now he was sleeping soundly. The man sitting across from her occasionally glanced at her. They exchanged a few words and learned each other’s names. Khanyi was not used to chatting with unfamiliar men, especially one as handsome as he was, which made her even shyer. Although she kept her head down, looking out the window, she could still feel his gentle gaze on her.
She could hardly believe she was already on a train heading north. An hour ago, she had lied to the maids, saying she was going to meet Annabel to buy something in the city center. To avoid the guards’ eyes, she hadn’t even taken her suitcase, dressing instead like a wealthy lady going out shopping, carrying a small handbag and leading “Teddy.” Her suitcase had already been sent to the grass in advance; all of this had been meticulously planned for the 24th, his birthday. This sudden decision was less about giving him a surprise and more about her longing for him. Although he called her every day, his voice always sounded exhausted, and he would sometimes fall asleep while talking. The feeling of both missing and worrying about him tormented her to the point where she could not stay put for even a moment.
“Swan Castle!” she suddenly exclaimed, looking out the window. Amidst the white-capped mountains, a fairy-tale castle with Gothic spires appeared, and she recognized it at a glance. As the train turned on the winding tracks, the entire castle came into view.
“Yes, this castle originally belonged to Ludwig II,” he said, looking out the window with a smile. At the moment she had exclaimed, a charming light flickered in his dark eyes, as if he no longer had to be on guard, appearing innocent like a child, filled with youthful tenderness, which only deepened his interest in this girl.
“No, it hasn’t been abandoned; it now belongs to the Albert family, and the descendants have restored it,” she glanced at him, his eyes so handsome, with deep lake-blue pupils that seemed to release a magical pull, drawing one in. She paused for a moment, then quickly looked back out the window.
He smiled noncommittally, and from her tone, it seemed she understood this history better than he did. “This castle is full of romanticism and has a well-known tale about Ludwig II and the former Austrian queen, his cousin—Princess Sisi. Their love was not accepted by society and ultimately ended in vain.”
She seemed not to hear his introduction but was lost in memories, recalling how he had brought her to this dreamlike castle, walking through every room, telling her the story of the castle’s owner, the young prince and Princess Sisi’s romance, and his friendship with Bismarck; he had also taken her to the opera hall, recounting the interactions between the castle’s owner and the musician and playwright Wagner; they had gazed from the tower at the snow-covered mountains, the melting lake, and the spring-like earth, sharing many local folk tales about magic and knights… Previously, she had only known about Wagner’s dramas but had not deeply understood the background and stage of those great works. Perhaps from the moment he brought her to this castle, she gradually began to believe in all of it. She understood why that melancholic king, who always held onto romantic ideals, indifferent to politics, preferred to wander alone at night, could connect so well with the iron-willed Chancellor Bismarck, because in everyone’s heart, there exists such a castle, the purest and holiest realm like heaven, and his eyes, like the snow-capped peaks surrounding the castle, were crystal clear ice blue.
She seemed to hear his words echoing in her ears, “For profit, perhaps I could sell everything, but I will always hold onto love.”
“How wonderful it would be if there were no regrets in love in this world…” she murmured softly, her mood seemingly turning somber, her slightly furrowed brows hinting at melancholy and sorrow.
He looked at her, puzzled by why this Eastern girl could change so quickly. Although her frowning expression was gentle and charming, he still preferred her smiling face. “What do you have in your little suitcase?”
“Ha, did you discover it?” Khanyi said, “It’s a gift from my friend, a mixed-breed dog named Teddy.” She carefully pinched the little dog’s neck and chest, lifting it up and placing it on the small table. The puppy, having been cooped up in the suitcase for a long time, seemed a bit excited as it crawled around the small dining table, almost falling off the edge.
