It was already Friday evening and Aunt Molly had sent my cousins to the movies with Fabrice so she could be alone with me. Her round face exuded happiness and her fresh generous cheeks rounded and glistened like the cupcakes she lovingly baked every week. Her eyes laughed naturally, and her small, warm forehead made you feel at ease.

- You know, next year it's Ludiwine's turn to get ready for the 18th birthday ball," she declared, examining my dresses in the closet.

- Who's still talking about a ball Molly? Honestly!

- Ah, you know, Grandma's always called it that. What do you want me to call it, a party?

- Yes!

- In any case, ball or birthday party, or whatever, I hope by then we'll have celebrated your wedding! And who knows... maybe you'll already be expecting a little baby?

The cap of my perfume bottle slipped from my hands. Fortunately I was sitting in front of my dressing table otherwise I would have fallen out of my chair. She was crazy. Everything was happening so fast. My throat was tight, my hands were sweaty. Damn it! I wasn't even going out with Quentin! What would happen to me if he didn't like me? And then a brat! Whoa, it was time to calm down. I wasn't there at all. But not at all! We are in the twenty-first century, Hello, my aunts, I remind you !!! Already we no longer need to get married, so a baby in the process... Why rush things? I mumbled silently. As she braided my hair, Molly must have noticed my discomfort, because she stopped and put her swollen hands on my shoulders.

—I'm rushing you, aren't I? I'm sorry, darling. This is a lot for you to take in, but you have to understand that Patricia's suicide and. . .

—Suicide? I cut her off. I thought she drowned?

—Yes, yes, she did. She bit her lip and shook.

—You've said too much, Auntie. What happened?

She scanned the surroundings to see if Eleanor was around, for she feared too the wrath of her sister.

—Okay, don't say I told you, right ? Neither to Eleanor nor to your grandmother ! Then she continued: Patricia threw herself off a cliff in Sutton because she couldn't bear the curse.

I was in shock.

—But what curse? What does it consist of?

—Oh no! that I can't share! Ask your grandmother. Only she can tell you the process.

Her forehead wrinkled with indignation and her fingers twitched nervously around my braids.

—I want it to end so badly! All our daughters! You're all under a spell and it won't end until. . .

She bit her lip. . .

—So there is a way to stop it? I stared into her eyes.

—Yes, yes. . .

She turned me to face the dressing table and patted me on the shoulder :

But it won't be in my lifetime, darling. Only the third daughter of the third daughter can!

—The third daughter of the third daughter?

—Yes . . . your mother is the third child of the countess. Should your mom have had two other girls, well, the third one could have stopped this excruciating curse.

She paused.

That's why we're going to do everything we can to help you meet the love of your life, my darling... Believe me!

—But how?

—I don't know. Talk to Grandma about it, but it's not for this generation anyway. We can only hope that one of you and your cousins has three daughters and that the third daughter of the youngest will extinguish this terrible curse!

That's why we will do everything to make sure that you meet the love of your life, my dear. . . Believe me!

All of this was suddenly weighing heavily on me. I knew we had a secret. There was an unspoken agreement to avoid talking about it, but it was still a lot to absorb. My aunt must have noticed, because she took me in her arms and looked me straight in the eye.

—I know, honey, it's hard. But we will be there for you, anytime. We will never leave you. However, don't forget, no one but the women in this family can know about this, Aurora. Are you listening? Not even Fabrice.

I nodded with my chin, unable to pronounce anything, while running my fingers through my hair to appreciate the finesse of the French braids Molly had made.