The inn's hallway was narrow and creaked beneath their footsteps. The innkeeper, lantern in hand, opened the door to a room at the back, wishing them goodnight before leaving.
The door closed with a soft click, muffling the noise of the village outside.
The room wasn't large. Plain wooden walls, a small fireplace crackling in the corner, and a worn rug spread across the floor. But what immediately caught Ester's attention was the center of the room: a wide single bed covered in thick furs.
For a moment, her chest tightened. A part of her—no matter how small, no matter how foolish—still believed there would be two beds. It would be enough for them to sleep peacefully, each on their own side, without any problems. But no... there was the cruel confirmation. One. Only. Bed.
She stood in the doorway, as if the floor had turned to brittle ice beneath her feet.
