Chapter 50; Pouty Boy

MAERWYN POV

There was a chill in the air the next morning. The air, crisp with the lingering scent of dew and the promise of autumn, I tugged at the hem of my cloak as I stepped outside. My breath puffed in delicate clouds before me, dissipating as quickly as it formed. The sky above was a patchwork of gray, softening the horizon where the first fingers of dawn stretched across the land. The world seemed hushed, as if it held its breath, waiting for something to stir.

I pulled her cloak tighter, the weight of the morning pressing against my chest. The familiar hum of the mansion behind me faded into the background, replaced by the rhythmic crunch of my feet on the floor.

I spotted Father speaking with a man just beyond the gates, their voices too low to hear. For a moment, I hesitated, debating whether or not to join them. My stomach twisted with unease, though I wasn’t quite sure why. Something about the way Father’s posture was more rigid than usual put me on edge.

Before I could m