[Inside the Carriage — On the Way to Veyrhold House — Night]
The carriage moved steadily through the frozen road.
Outside, the northern night stretched wide and pale beneath the moon, snow drifting across the path in thin silver lines while the sound of the wheels echoed softly in the quiet darkness. Inside the carriage, the air was warm, lit only by a small lantern hanging from the side.
Levin sat near the window, silent. In his hand rested the blue ring. The same ring Seraphine had returned to him in the gallery.
The gem caught the faint lantern light, glowing softly against his fingers as the carriage swayed with the road. For a long moment, he did nothing.
Only stared at it.
Then slowly… his gaze drifted toward the dark window, and the reflection of his own face faded into memory.
And the years fell away.
***
[Many Years Ago — Veyrhold House — Inner Garden — Day]
