The morning air pierced so sharply that Sofia awoke shivering, even with a thick blanket wrapped around her. Her golden hair was a tangled mess, spilling over her face. She sat at the edge of the bed for a while, eyes heavy, body reluctant to move.
But habit was habit. She always rose earlier than anyone else in the castle.
Dragging her feet slowly, Sofia made her way to the small washroom adjoining her chamber. The stone floor was icy beneath her soles, making her frown.
At the basin, she turned the old metal tap repaired countless times by the city's blacksmiths. Water gushed clear and fast, but the instant it touched her hands, the cold sank straight to her bones.
"Ah !" she gasped, nearly stumbling back in shock. A drop splashed onto her nose, making her flinch. Quickly, she snatched the hand towel from its hook and pressed it to her face, trying to chase away the bite of the freezing water.
A long breath later, she muttered, "Good heavens… this cold is unnatural."
