daughter at the bailiff's house, of Kuttenberg
“I sit by the shutters and sew, waiting for word from Prague and keeping my own quiet company.”
Things Kunigunde Torwart had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Terce
I hear the King's soldiers marching in the lower town, but they are nothing to the cruelty in my own home. Mother acts as if the clerk never existed. At least the large cat with the torn ear stays on my lap and listens to my tears.
Nota scribaeShe wept into her handkerchief for a full turn of the hourglass before saying this.
the second day of Easter week, at None
Else Schönpetr came to call today, smiling and talking of spring. She is a sweet girl, but she knows nothing of true suffering. I offered her some small beer and then claimed a headache so I could go back to my solar and mourn in peace.
I only wished to see you smile, Kunigunde. The sun is so warm today.
You should have gone to mass instead of sulking in the dark.
the Wednesday after Saint Joseph, at Vespers
A fine, large cat wandered into the kitchen today. He has a notch in his ear and eats like a starved miner. Matilda must have drawn him to our street with her scraps, but the Lord sent him to comfort me. I locked the heavy oak door to keep him safe.
That beast is a bad omen. Adelheid's soul walks because of that cat, mark my words.
Keep your vulgar superstitions to yourself, Betty.
Nota scribaeDictated from behind a locked door. I had to shout through the wood.
the second Sunday of Lent, at Sext
My mother has a heart of flint. Because Karl has no grand prospects, she had his master send him away to Prague. I have cried for three days and my eyes are swollen shut. Will he forget me among the city women? I shall not leave this house again.
Candlemas, at Compline
Karl walked with me from the market today. We stood by the wall in the cold and he spoke of the future. I am entirely devoted to him. Surely mother will see that a good Christian clerk is better than some rich, drunken burgher.
He seemed a polite young man, though his cloak was very thin.
Nota scribaeShe smiled while speaking, a rare thing.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Kunigunde, open the door! I know you have my Maggie in there, I heard her mewing at the shutters.
I hear nothing over the soldiers, sister.