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The day of the Winter Solstice dawned bright and crisp, the air carrying a sharp chill that bit at exposed skin.
Snow blanketed the ground in a pristine white, shimmering under the pale morning sun. In the castle, the energy was palpable—an undercurrent of both excitement and tension.
Servants bustled through the halls, their arms laden with decorations, food trays, and ceremonial attire.
The royal banner of Rudenheischt, like the crest— a forest with five birds at the top, and clear seas at the bottom —fluttered in the morning breeze above the castle towers.
The courtyard had been transformed overnight. Twinkling lights strung between frost-covered trees cast a magical glow over the space.
In the center stood a massive ice sculpture of the Winterazia flower in full bloom, its crystalline petals catching the light and refracting it into a dazzling array of colors.
