Meanwhile, in the Zenithara estate, four more months had passed. The season had shifted fully into winter, and Charlotte was now in her seventh month.
A soft layer of snow covered the entire estate, stretching across the rooftops, the roads, and the open fields beyond.
The trees stood still, their branches weighed down by white frost. The air was quiet, broken only by the slow sound of wind moving through the empty streets.
Charlotte stood near the roadside, her breath turning faintly visible in the cold.
"Hmmm? The cold today is a bit much, no?" she said, her voice soft as she looked around.
A gentle wind passed by, brushing against her face and lifting strands of her long red hair into the air.
She was wrapped from head to toe. A long fur coat covered her body, reaching down to her legs.
Her hands were tucked inside thick gloves, and a warm winter cap covered her head and ears.
