The next morning came quietly. It was the break of dawn, the kind of hour when the world still seemed half asleep. The sky was painted in a dull blue, with a pale touch of morning light. Outside, the air was freezing. The trees were bare, their branches stiff with frost, and everything felt quiet and heavy, like the cold had silenced the world.
The carriage stood ready outside, dark and strong, its wheels lightly dusted with snow. The horses snorted softly, their breath visible in the cold air. Guards in thick coats sat tall on their horses, ready to escort the royal carriage. A few servants stood close by, their faces red from the wind.
