A Lenda da Meia-Noite

In a secluded mountain valley of the Beira‑Baixa, an old, sprawling farmhouse crowns a verdant ridge overlooking the Fundão plain. Its wide wooden veranda, favored by swallows, opens onto a panorama of white‑washed villages and the snow‑capped Serra da Estrella. Autumn brings a bruised, melancholy light, and the wind whistles through chestnut groves, setting the stone walls and creaking beams to a haunting rhythm.

One evening, the Viscounts of Fragosa host a hunting party in the great hall, where a crackling fire gathers a curious mix of guests: a weary physician from Alpedrinha, a charismatic writer, and the viscount’s lively daughter. As the night deepens and the wind howls outside, their conversation drifts from lively banter to uneasy silences, punctuated by the occasional clink of a clock and the distant echo of a bell. The atmosphere grows tense, hinting at secrets that the old house seems eager to reveal.