Inside the residence, Rhaegar stood beside the window. His tall figure remained still against the darkness as he gazed out into the silent courtyard.
Moonlight spread across the stone paths below, cold and lonely. Yet his thoughts were nowhere near the scene unfolding outside.
They belonged entirely to Caelith.
He remembered her smile. Bright and warm, capable of dispelling even the darkest moods.
He remembered the sight of her bent over her embroidery frame, delicate fingers guiding silk threads beneath the sunlight while golden rays danced across her features.
He remembered the way she curled against his chest, soft and trusting, her gentle breaths rising and falling against him in a steady rhythm.
The memories came one after another.
Simple moments. Ordinary moments. Yet each one carried a warmth that eased the tension coiled within him.
The tightness in his chest gradually loosened. His expression softened. Then, without another thought, he turned away from the window.
