The next morning was surprisingly clear.
I woke up just before dawn, even before the first rays of the sun had completely dispelled the darkness of night.
Outside the windows, the morning mist still lingered, and the faint light slowly painted the sky a pale golden color. It seemed as if everything around me was waiting in anticipation of something important.
I quickly got ready — the familiar movements of my hands buttoning buttons, smoothing fabric, and pulling on boots. Today was the first day of the Imperial Hunt, and no matter how hard I tried to stay calm, a slight excitement still lingered somewhere inside me.
When I left the room, Rubiella was already waiting for me in the hallway. The girl was standing by the window, and the light of dawn fell softly on her pale, sparkling skin.
