The dining room of the Almira Castle was modest compared to the grandeur of the royal halls they had left behind, but River preferred it that way. The carved wood beams, the warm tones of the candlelight flickering against old stone, and the gentle crackle of the hearth gave the space an intimate, almost sacred air.
She sat at the long oak table, next to Heiko. Dinner, as had become their unspoken ritual, passed in absolute silence.
At first, the quiet between bites had unnerved her at the beginning of their living together —echoing through the high ceilings like a lack of connection. But over time, she came to cherish it. There was no need for small talk, no obligation to fill the space with sound. In silence, there was peace—and in peace, there was trust.
She noticed some of the castl
