Sofia's footsteps echoed softly through the corridors of Nocture's castle, her thick cloak still wrapped around her body, carrying with it the lingering scents of the morning market: warm bread, wool, and herbal tea, now neatly arranged in the small basket she held in her hands.
She had just returned from a stroll with Rina. A smile and laughter still lingered on her lips, but as the castle gates slowly closed behind her, a creeping silence slipped in, like the chill that seeped through stone walls.
In the main hall, a soldier on guard offered her a brief salute. Sofia returned it with a light nod before continuing on toward her chambers. Rina had already excused herself to rest, leaving Sofia alone.
