A few days had passed since that night, yet his image never left Noha's mind. Every moment of Arion's laughter, every warmth his presence brought, knocked on her heart with a voice she could no longer ignore.
Every morning, she would look down from her window, toward the street, toward the bakery, searching for a glimpse of him. She did not know his name yet, but she felt a hidden connection between them—something small and simple, yet strong enough to fill her heart with passion and curiosity.
That night, she decided to go to him again. She slipped quietly from her window, avoiding the servants and the lights in the palace, until she reached the bakery. The doors were closed, but he noticed her as she approached.
She lifted her head, meeting his golden eyes with her hazel ones. This time, it was no longer a fleeting glance.
He smiled at her and said, "I see you again… is this a coincidence or a plan of yours?"
Noha blushed slightly, but felt a freedom she hadn't experienced in a long time.
"I just… wanted to see the world as you see it," she whispered softly, as if revealing a small secret.
Arion smiled and began telling her about his bread, the small streets, and his simple dreams that no one had known about. Noha listened attentively, feeling a growing sense of belonging to this world, a feeling she had never known inside the golden palace walls.
At the same time, a sharp fear pricked her heart. Her marriage to Sky was approaching, and her real world was full of dangers and strict rules. Every moment with him was like fire: beautiful and warm, but capable of burning her if she wasn't careful.
When Noha returned to her window, she felt something new in her heart. It was no longer mere admiration or curiosity, but a genuine desire to choose her own path, even if that path was full of risks. For the first time, she felt her heart truly belonged to her alone.