The city seemed brighter somehow. The streets felt washed in gold, the air lighter, as if the whole world had quietly conspired to welcome her new joy. Lea walked through the familiar lanes of Etoilemont, and every corner seemed to hum with new life. The baker’s display, the tram bells, the chatter spilling from cafés — everything carried a sweetness she hadn’t noticed before. It was as though she was seeing the city anew, through the warmth that Baron brought into her life.
Every morning, she woke up with something to look forward to — classes, assignments, the little walks back afterward. Even the dullest assignments had gained a kind of charm now. She worked harder, laughed more easily, and smiled more often. Baron, with his calm steadiness, made everything feel balanced — grounding he
