As the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the castle, I stirred from my slumber. Descending from the carriage, the atmosphere was thick with an unspoken tension between Daniel and me. Despite the discomfort, we maintained a facade of normalcy, silently acknowledging the strained nature of our relationship.
As we crossed the threshold into the castle, Daniel lingered at my side. The weight of the unsaid hung in the air, and yet, we chose the path of pretense. It was as if we were dancing around the palpable strangeness that had woven itself into our interactions.
Daniel's footsteps diverged toward the corridor leading to the north wing, distancing himself from the impending communal dinner. Seeking to bridge the gap, I ventured a question. "Aren't you joining for dinner?"
His response
