The new terror

A lifelong bond forged in childhood, the narrator’s love for his cousin Cordélia blossoms amid carefree holidays and shared adventures. Their devotion feels inevitable—he teaches her to ride, she dazzles with music and drawing, and together they dream of a wedding that seems just beyond reach. When their families finally intervene, the young couple is forced apart, sending him abroad for technical studies and military service while a lingering promise hangs in the air.

Back in France, he carries the weight of his parents’ sudden death and a modest inheritance, all while counting the months until he can claim the life he has always imagined with Cordélia. His days are filled with sport, study, and restless anticipation, yet the promise of their union is continually delayed by duty and circumstance. The listener is invited into a world where youthful love meets the harsh realities of expectation, setting the stage for the uneasy tension that will soon surface.