When he finally reached the stable, he found that it was almost deserted, apart from a couple of horses grazing calmly, apparently enjoying some peace and solitude before their owner returned home. Alvaro took his place at one of the stables and let out a deep sigh, burying his head into his arms. Now that he finally had a little bit of space to himself, he closed his eyes and allowed his thoughts to wander.

The previous day had been a complete disaster. Everything had gone wrong, from the moment that he stepped foot inside the castle. At that point in time, he hadn't given any more thought to the...