Dusk settled slowly over the castle.
The last traces of sunlight disappeared behind the distant mountains, leaving the halls quieter than usual.
The servants' footsteps softened. The air felt heavier at night, like the castle itself finally exhaled after enduring an entire day of politics, tension, and whispered conversations.
Aire lay awake on her bed.
Her eyes remained fixed on the ceiling above her while silence wrapped itself around the room.
Sleep wouldn't come.
She had tried.
After Madam brought dinner to her chambers earlier that evening, Aire had forced herself to eat quietly alone. The tray still rested near the fireplace now, mostly untouched despite Madam's watchful insistence that she finish it.
Aire turned slightly onto her side.
Her thoughts refused to settle.
The meeting from earlier still lingered in her mind. Her chest tightened faintly at the thought of Nate.
Aire immediately rolled onto her back again.
She refused to think about that.
