The air outside was frigid, yet the snow remained elusive, giving the castle an otherworldly glow as lanterns and candles flickered, casting dancing shadows on the stone walls.
Within the sitting room, the residents had sought solace from the chill, gathering around the crackling fireplace.
Leela's discontentment was palpable as she clung to Ezra, his body radiating a comforting heat. "I wish I could stay cocooned in my blanket all day," she grumbled softly, her breath visible in the chilled air. Ezra's arm tightened around her, a silent gesture of understanding.
Ezra's usually vibrant eyes held a somber look, his attention divided between Leela and the thoughts that weighed on his mind – the mer girl who had stirred a melancholy within him. He absentmindedly stroked Leela's hair, a silent reassurance that he was there, even if his thoughts were elsewhere.
