Ruhtinatar Aurore : $b (»Königsmark»)

The story opens amid the solemn grandeur of ancient Saxon and Hanoverian castles, their towering stone walls and gilded chambers whispering of forgotten legends. In the chill of an October twilight, a small company of soldiers trudges through rain‑slick forests toward a shallow, ragged trench, their lanterns casting trembling shadows on the mist‑filled ground. The mood is a blend of looming dread and fragile hope, as the land itself seems to hold its breath before the storm of war.

At the centre stands Lieutenant Raoul Vignerte, a dark‑haired youth thrust into command despite his years. He guides a weary troop through the bewildering maze of woods, his thoughts tangled between duty and an emerging affection that flickers like the candles they struggle to light. As the first rumors of the great conflict stir, the men’s quiet camaraderie and whispered conversations hint at deeper tensions that will shape their destinies.