Esmeralda sat silently beside Ophelia, her eyes focused on her friend's serene face.
"Lia.." She felt her anxiety gnawing at her throat like a persistent whisper.
Hesitantly, her attention drifted to the dark night sky outside, where stars twinkled like diamonds against the inky blackness.
The moon's absence was a vivid reminder that Vladmir's control over Celestia remained unbroken.
"Oh, I can't believe this." Esmeralda's thoughts swirled with unease. The world was still celebrating from the end of the eternal winter, but she felt no joy, only a hollow sense of dread.
After settling Ophelia into a comfortable slumber, Esmeralda retired to her own chambers, where her maids assisted her in changing into a delicate sleeping dress.