Chapter 307: 307:A walk
Atheline stood upon one of the palace terraces shortly after sunrise, watching the city stretch awake beneath him. Merchants were already opening their shops. Children carried small baskets toward the market alongside their parents.
Blacksmiths had reopened the large doors of their forges, the familiar rhythm of hammer striking steel echoing faintly across the morning air.
Even the palace itself seemed livelier. Servants moved with lighter expressions than they had during the depths of winter, no longer burdened by hauling endless supplies of firewood through the halls.
A soft weight settled against his leg, he looked down. The white fox had wandered over sometime during his thoughts and now leaned comfortably against his boot.
Its appearance had changed noticeably over the past week. Large clumps of fluffy white fur were beginning to fall naturally from its body as its thick winter coat slowly gave way to a lighter one.
He crouched beside it.
"So..." He gently pulled a loose tuft free. "I was right."
The fox blinked innocently.
"You really are getting smaller."
The little beast responded by puffing itself up proudly which was an entirely ineffective attempt. He laughed quietly.
"I don’t think that worked."
The fox let out an indignant chirp before shaking itself vigorously. Immediately, another cloud of soft white fur floated into the air.
Atheline watched it drift away before smiling to himself.
"I suppose we’ll be finding your fur everywhere for the next month."
Behind him, the balcony doors slid open. Lilith stepped outside, already dressed in her usual royal attire despite the early hour.
Her golden eyes immediately fell upon the floating white fur then she sighed.
"It reached our bedroom."
He looked guilty.
"Already?"
"Our study."
"..."
"The library."
"..."
"And somehow..." She brushed a small strand of white fur from the shoulder of her cloak. "...my office. I don’t even know how it got there when I made sure to lock the room."
Atheline looked toward the fox.
"I think you’ve declared war on cleanliness, you little thing."
The fox merely yawned before curling itself into a ball near the morning sunlight.
Lilith crossed her arms.
"I believe we’ve been defeated."
"I wasn’t aware we were fighting, anyone."
"We lost anyway. Zelpher has started complaining, I just hope it doesn’t reach the throne room. The servants can’t keep up with the rate of its shading."
He chuckled before walking beside her toward the stone railing overlooking the Court. For several minutes, neither spoke, they simply watched the city below. Sometimes, the silence between them felt more comfortable than conversation.
Finally, she broke it.
"The council begins in an hour."
"I remembered."
"I know."
"You still came to remind me."
"I did."
He smiled.
"I appreciate it," he nudged her playfully," I’m also looking forward to tomorrow’s reminder."
She rolled her eyes at that.
The throne room had gradually regained its normal atmosphere. Gone were the tense gatherings filled with accusations and investigations or the emergency meetings that stretched from sunrise well into the night.
Instead, councillors now discussed rebuilding projects delayed by the long winter. Maps covered the central table as engineers explained plans to repair mountain roads damaged by heavy snowfall.
Another official presented estimates for reopening trade routes with neighboring territories once the last of the ice disappeared from the major passes.
The noble elder stood at the front as always.
"Our northern trade route should become fully accessible within three weeks."
Another councillor stepped forward.
"Several villages have requested additional lumber. They wish to begin repairing roofs damaged during the storms."
Lilith nodded.
"Approved."
She looked toward her husband.
"Your thoughts?"
He glanced through the report before answering.
"If we’re already transporting lumber north..."
He pointed toward another marked settlement.
"...we should send additional stone to these villages at the same time."
Several councillors looked over the map.
"The roads overlap for nearly half the journey. It saves both time and manpower."
The Noble elder smiled faintly.
"A practical solution."
Lilith nodded once.
"See that it’s done."
"As you command."
The meeting continued much the same way. There was something strangely satisfying about discussing ordinary governance.
Atheline found himself enjoying these quieter meetings far more than he ever expected. They reminded him that ruling was not always about defeating enemies. Sometimes, it was simply making people’s lives a little easier.
When the council finally adjourned, Simion caught up to him outside the chamber.
"Your Majesty."
Atheline turned.
"You don’t have to call me that every time we’re alone."
The noble smiled awkwardly.
"I’m still getting used to it."
"I know."
They began walking through the palace corridors together. For a while, neither spoke, eventually, Simion glanced toward him.
"You’ve changed a lot, especially from the time you first arrived."
Atheline looked amused.
"I hope that’s a compliment."
"It is."
"You ask different questions during meetings now."
"I do?"
"I remember you used to ask whether something could be done."
He nodded thoughtfully.
"And now?"
"Now you ask whether it should."
Atheline remained silent for a moment.
"I suppose..." he smiled faintly. "...I’ve started thinking like a king."
"I think so too." Simion looked ahead thoughtfully. "I’ve learned quite a lot simply by watching you and Her Majesty."
"You’ll make a capable councillor one day."
"I hope so."
There was no arrogance in his answer, only quiet determination. Atheline appreciated that.
That afternoon, after the official work had finally ended, Lilith suggested the usual but today the timing was off.
"Walk with me."
He looked up from the report he had been reading.
"Just us?"
She nodded.
"Hhm, I want us to do something different today."
He closed the document immediately.
"Okay, anything you suggest will always be legendary, I’ll trust you again this time."
Rather than leaving through the palace’s grand entrance, they exited through one of the quieter garden gates, wearing simple cloaks that concealed the more recognizable details of their clothing.
The guards remained nearby, though far enough away that they wouldn’t intrude. The court was alive. Street musicians played cheerful melodies in the marketplace.
Artisans displayed beautifully carved wooden ornaments in preparation for the coming spring festivals. Children laughed as they chased one another through streets that had become muddy from the melting snow.
Atheline smiled as they wandered without any particular destination.
"It feels different, from when I came with Zelpher."
"The city?"
He nodded.
"It feels lighter."
Lilith looked around.
"The people are beginning to believe the difficult days are behind them, that time, people were counting down to winter and preparing."
"I hope they’re right."
"So do I."
They stopped before a small elderly vendor roasting chestnuts over a clay stove. The warm aroma drifted pleasantly through the cool afternoon air.
The old man smiled warmly.
"A bag?"
Atheline nodded.
"Two."
Moments later, each held a small paper bag filled with steaming roasted chestnuts. He laughed quietly after nearly burning his fingers.
"They’re hotter than they look."
Lilith calmly peeled one before eating it.
"They always are."
He glanced sideways.
"You’ve done this before."
"Many times."
"Before becoming Queen?"
"Even afterward."
He looked surprised.
"You come here?"
"Occasionally. When no one notices."
He laughed.
"I suppose even queens deserve roasted chestnuts."
"They do."
For the next hour, they simply walked, with little to no concerns, just two people enjoying the final peaceful days of winter together.
As the sun slowly descended toward the horizon, casting long golden shadows across the streets, Atheline quietly looked around at the smiling faces filling the Court
"I think..." He spoke almost absentmindedly, "...this might be my favorite season."
Lilith looked toward the melting snow surrounding them.
"Winter?"
He shook his head.
"No." He smiled gently. "The moment just before spring."
She followed his gaze toward the awakening city. After a long silence, she quietly replied,
"...Mine too."
Neither of them noticed the pair of unseen eyes watching from a distant rooftop before disappearing silently into the fading evening.
