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The garden air carries the scent of soil and frost. Sunlight spills across the marble steps, catching against the pale pink fabric of her dress and the embroidered petals trailing along the skirt. She descends, mindful not to startle the animal, and lowers herself beside him, gathering the folds of her dress neatly beneath her. Cael glances toward her at once. The severity in his expression eases, softening into a calm facade as he gives a small nod in greeting.

“Good morning,” Elara says softly.

The cat lifts its head at the sound of her voice, blinking at her before pressing itself closer against Cael’s leg, as if it has already chosen where its loyalties belong.

Warmth brushes against her palm. Elara startles, looking down to find the black cat has abandoned its place beside Cael. It moves toward her instead, pressing its head against the hand resting against her dress. A low purr vibrates beneath her fingers, steady and unapologetic in its demand for attention.

A smile finds her before she can stop it. She strokes its back gently with the tips of her nails, earning another pleased sound from the creature. The cat responds by climbing one step higher to settle directly between them, positioning itself with such confidence that it appears determined to receive affection from both sides equally.

Elara lets out a chuckle. Beside her, Cael reaches forward as well, and together they begin stroking the animal’s dark fur. Their hands brush once. Neither comments on it. Eventually, their movements slow into the same rhythm, guided less by intention than by the animal stretched comfortably between them.

The residual tension that once accompanied every moment spent near him vanishes. The constant nervousness no longer tightens her shoulders. Her heart does not race. It beats with its usual steady rhythm.

The guard’s presence fades from her awareness, and the distant sounds of the gardens soften into the background. When she lifts her gaze, she finds Cael already looking at her. Then the cat decides it has exhausted the purpose of the stairs altogether. With surprising agility, it springs onto Elara’s lap and begins gathering the fabric of her skirt beneath its paws. The embroidered details stitched along the black, glittering material crumple beneath its relentless kneading, causing her to stiffen in total uncertainty.

Her life has rarely extended beyond palace walls. Animals exist as distant things, such as horses prepared for riding, birds passing overhead, or creatures admired from afar instead of held.

The cat seems unconcerned by her hesitation. She lowers her hand and strokes its back once more. The creature rewards her by pressing closer against her torso before settling across her lap. After a moment, it rolls onto its back with absolute trust, exposing its stomach and stretching its paws toward the sky. One of the cat’s claws catches against the necklace resting at her throat.

Elara stills as the small claw snags the chain. The golden pendant glints, suspended against her collarbone. She unhooks the tiny claw, her fingers lingering over her mother’s necklace to press the metal against her skin, holding onto the keepsake for a simple sense of comfort.

She watches him watch the cat bat at the chain, and wonders if he remembers the previous night as clearly as she does. The cat catches the filigree once more and tugs it toward itself. Before Elara can react, another hand reaches forward.

Cael carefully frees the necklace from the creature’s grasp. His fingers brush against the chain near her collarbone before he withdraws his hand, his movements focused on preventing the cat from damaging the gold.

Elara lowers her gaze. The pendant settles back against her skin while the cat stretches contentedly across her lap, entirely unaware of the significance it has interrupted.

Cael watches the scene, a smile softening the usual composure of his features as a faint color rises along his cheeks. Observing his guards drop to reveal the gentle soul beneath his silent title cements in her mind what she had admitted to him the previous night.

He is a safe place for her.

A quiet warmth rises between them, Cael’s own silent amusement revealed through the subtle movement of his shoulders. How rare is it for anyone to see this side of him?

“Your Highness, the steed is ready,” the vanguard announces.

They both turn toward the interruption. The armored guard steps onto the garden landing, his pale blond hair illuminated by the winter sunlight while his vivid green eyes observe the scene with disciplined composure. He leads the white steed by its leather bridle with practiced ease. The horse moves gracefully along the stone path, bringing the crisp scent of leather and sweet hay into the air. It flares its nostrils, releasing a soft, warm huff of breath that turns to mist in the morning chill before standing still at the landing.

The guard’s hold remains relaxed, accustomed to an animal that requires little guidance and carries itself with confidence. The moment the steed notices Cael, that composure disappears. It pulls forward, slipping several steps ahead before the guard can restrain it. The white steed lowers its head, seeking attention with the confidence of long familiarity. Cael rises immediately and places a hand against its forehead, stroking between its ears with calm assurance while the horse leans into the touch.

The reaction from the cat is immediate. It stiffens and arches its back on Elara’s lap, a low warning rumble vibrating from its throat. Its tail lashes once against her skirt before it fixes an unwavering stare upon the much larger intruder. Elara smooths her hand over its head in reassurance, her fingers moving gently through the dark fur. The cat relaxes, leaning into her touch while continuing to watch the horse with suspicion.

Elara watches Cael, understanding that he intends to ride beyond the palace grounds, further into the kingdom. There are valleys she has not seen, villages she knows only through reports, and forests whose edges she has glimpsed from a distance. Riverath holds more than corridors and council halls; it holds life beyond ceremony.

She rises and carefully lifts the cat from her lap, placing it upon the stone step. The creature stills there without complaint, its tail flicking against the marble. “May I come with you?”

Cael’s smile softens into thought, carrying caution rather than refusal. He turns toward the guard and signs something. The guard bows at once and steps away without question. When Cael looks back at her, he gives a single nod.

Another horse is led onto the garden path, a dark brown mare with its coat smooth and glossy and its saddle already secured. Her heart begins to race. Before she can step toward it, the guard places a foot into the stirrup and mounts in one clean motion. Settling into the saddle, he gathers the reins and waits, leaving the white steed as her remaining option. The animal shifts but does not resist her approach. Gathering her skirt, she places a foot into the stirrup and attempts to mount.

Cael steps beside her before she can try again. Without hesitation, he takes her hand. With steady strength, he guides her upward, one hand supporting hers while the other finds her waist. Once she is seated, he releases her, ensuring her balance is certain before letting go.

Cael swings into the saddle behind her, his chest coming close enough that she can feel the warmth of his frame against her back. Reaching around her to take the leather reins, his arm grazes her side in the process. The steed begins to walk, its hooves pressing against the stone path.

Elara balances herself, one hand resting near the front of the saddle as they pass through the open gates. Beyond the fortress grounds, the air feels wider than it does within the stone walls, carrying the scent of open land. She has always preferred it. Riverath stretches out in ways she has not seen, and finally, she finds herself looking forward to discovering it.

Cael dismounts first, landing upon the earth before stepping to Elara’s side and extending a hand toward her. She places her hand in his, allowing him to support her as she slides from the saddle. Her feet meet the ground. She draws a breath before smoothing the folds of her skirt and settling fully upon the solid earth.

Behind them, the guard dismounts as well and leads the dark brown horse alongside the white steed, keeping both animals calm as he guides them a respectful distance away. He remains attentive, his posture alert while the horses lower their heads near the path.