King Georg had initially included Fabian's name on the list of participants to rescue Princess Elke, continuing to hold onto the notion of a possible marriage between the two.
When Princess Elke decided not to partake in the festival, Fabian's name was naturally struck off the list, as it was feared that he might choose to rescue someone else, thus shattering the king's dream of an arranged marriage.
Although Fabian did not participate, he found it stifling to be surrounded by influential individuals who were accustomed to curry favor with one another for the sake of their business interests.
Instead, he decided to venture into the forest, relishing the solitude and the embrace of nature. Some of the trees displayed hints of green, while others remained completely bare, victims of the winter's harshness.
Silently, Fabian walked, his footsteps creating squelching sounds as they crushed through the thick blanket of snow covering the ground.
