The crisp morning air greeted us as we stepped out of the castle, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful. The sun was low, casting a soft golden hue over the grounds, and a light breeze rustled through the trees.
It was one of those rare, quiet moments where the world seemed to slow down, allowing us to just be.
Riley walked beside me, her fingers brushing against mine as if silently asking for permission to hold my hand.
I smiled and intertwined our fingers, enjoying the warmth of her palm against mine. She glanced at me, cheeks slightly flushed, but her lips curved into a small smile.
"You know," I teased, "for someone who wanted to get up and start the day earlier, you're pretty content walking slowly now."
Riley laughed softly, the sound warm and familiar. "I might've been in a hurry, but I'm not going to waste a moment like this," she said, squeezing my hand. "Plus, after everything with Leora earlier, I figured we deserved some calm."
