Lydia led me along a winding path, the night air filled with a quiet stillness, broken only by the soft crunch of our footsteps.
She had prepared everything, her hand in mine as we walked side by side under the starlit sky.
The air was cool, and faint breezes stirred the soft scent of pine and something floral, a perfume of the night that felt fitting for the occasion.
Each step carried us farther from the castle grounds and deeper into a secluded part of the gardens where lush hedges and winding paths made it easy to get lost in the beauty of nature.
Eventually, we reached a small incline, and Lydia gestured ahead with a warm smile. "It's just up here," she said, her voice barely louder than a whisper, as if she didn't want to disturb the peaceful night.
As we climbed, the soft lights of the castle receded, replaced by the gentle glow of stars overhead, and my heart thudded with a blend of anticipation and calm.
