CHAPTER 206: CHAPTER 206 – A FROZEN MORNING IN NOCTURE

The morning air pierced so sharply that Sofia awoke shivering, even with a thick blanket wrapped around her. Her golden hair was a tangled mess, spilling over her face. She sat at the edge of the bed for a while, eyes heavy, body reluctant to move.

But habit was habit. She always rose earlier than anyone else in the castle.

Dragging her feet slowly, Sofia made her way to the small washroom adjoining her chamber. The stone floor was icy beneath her soles, making her frown.

At the basin, she turned the old metal tap repaired countless times by the city’s blacksmiths. Water gushed clear and fast, but the instant it touched her hands, the cold sank straight to her bones.

"Ah !" she gasped, nearly stumbling back in shock. A drop splashed onto her nose, making her flinch. Quickly, she snatched the hand towel from its hook and pressed it to her face, trying to chase away the bite of the freezing water.

A long breath later, she muttered, "Good heavens... this cold is unnatural."

She studied her reflection in the wooden-framed mirror. Her golden hair was a wild tumble, some strands sticking to cheeks flushed red from the chill. With a sigh, she returned to her chamber and opened the wardrobe.

From within, she drew out a thick cream-colored coat trimmed with white fur at the collar. She slipped it on, then stood before the large mirror in the corner.

Her fingers worked carefully through her hair with a small ivory comb, untangling stubborn knots. Now and then she sighed in irritation at the strands that refused to obey. Finally, she braided part of it back, leaving the rest to fall over her shoulders. Her face looked fresher now, though drowsiness lingered.

Outside the window, morning light seeped through the thin curtains, unveiling Nocture draped in a pale veil of mist. Smoke curled from chimney stacks kitchens already awake, preparing breakfast for the households.

Sofia smiled faintly. "All right... Let’s begin the day."

She reached for the small notebook at her bedside table, flipping open to today’s agenda written in her own hand.

It was shorter than usual. No meetings with department heads, no emergency logistics briefings, not even a military report until the afternoon. She exhaled softly, then smiled. It had been far too long since she last walked her city simply for the sake of it always bound to her desk or her balcony view.

With that thought, she rose, her cream coat still wrapped around her. Without changing from the thin nightdress beneath, she stepped into the cold corridor. Each breath puffed white in the air.

Her hand knocked gently on a wooden door along the eastern corridor. "Rina," she called softly.

A muffled groan came from within, followed by sluggish footsteps. The door creaked open to reveal a young blonde woman still wrapped in a thick blanket, her eyes narrow with sleep.

"Sofia... are you seriously waking me this early?" Rina rubbed her face, her tone dripping with irritation. "I only just got back to sleep after checking reports last night."

Sofia giggled, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. "I know. But today is free, and I want to walk through the city. You’ll come with me."

Rina blinked at her, as if to check she wasn’t joking. "You... Want to go out? In this freezing morning? In your nightclothes?!"

Sofia nodded serenely, her expression serious but her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Yes. It’s been too long since I saw the city from the ground, not just the castle balcony."

With a long sigh, Rina leaned against the doorframe in defeat. "If you weren’t the ruler, I’d have thrown a pillow at your face. Fine. Ten minutes. But you are changing, Lady Sofia. Don’t think I’m walking beside you while you parade around in pajamas."

Sofia lowered her head in mock submission, lips curling in satisfaction. "Very well. Ten minutes."

They returned to their chambers. Sofia changed into a deep-blue winter dress layered with a white-fur coat at collar and cuffs, slipping on tall leather boots lined with wool.

Rina, ever practical, chose a long dark-brown tunic with a leather belt, thick trousers, and a moss-green coat that nearly swallowed her whole. She tied her hair quickly, still a little messy but decent enough.

When they met again in the corridor, Sofia squinted with a smile. "You look ready to climb a mountain, not stroll to the market."

Rina snorted, pulling her coat tighter. "Better prepared for snow than frozen solid on the street. Unlike you, I’m not immune to cold."

Sofia laughed softly. "That’s why I bring you along to remind me of what ordinary people need."

Rina only rolled her eyes. Together, they descended the grand staircase of the castle, its stone steps glittering faintly with frost.

When the main gate opened, morning’s icy air rushed to meet them. The wind carried tiny crystals that glittered in the sunlight. The stone road leading to the city was dusted with thin snow, stamped with the footprints of guards who had just changed shifts.

Sofia drew a deep breath, letting the chill fill her lungs. "Mm... mornings like this always make the city feel alive. Do you hear it?"

Rina, shivering, glanced at her with a scowl. "All I hear is my own teeth chattering."

Sofia chuckled, lowering her head slightly to her friend. "I’m serious. The creak of wagon wheels in the distance, the strange crow of mutant chickens from rooftops, the calls of merchants setting up stalls... all of it announces that Nocture is truly a city now, not just a place to survive."

Rina’s glare softened at the sight of Sofia’s rare brightness. "Keep talking like that and I’ll forget you’re the city’s ruler. You sound like some girl on her first holiday to the market."

They joined the flow of people heading down into town. Guards saluted Sofia, but she returned only small nods today she wanted no formality. Children ran by with warm bread in their hands, the sweet aroma of baked wheat floating on the air.

The market was already stirring. Wooden stalls brimmed with wool dyed in bright colors, baskets of red apples still chilled with snow, and simple jewelry of polished metal that caught the light. From one tent came the mouthwatering scent of hot stew, making Sofia’s stomach grumble softly.

"We should have had breakfast first," Rina muttered, eyeing steaming bowls.

Sofia’s eyes sparkled. "Isn’t it better to eat while we walk? Look, they’re selling sweet pastries there."

"Oh heavens..." Rina covered her face with her hand. "You really are a tourist."

Still, she followed Sofia to a bakery stall, where a rosy-cheeked woman offered honey-filled rolls fresh from the oven.

Sofia bit into one, sighing with delight. "Warm... sweet... perfect."

Rina folded her arms, then bought one too. "All right. I admit this is good."

They wandered deeper into the market, mingling with the crowd. No one looked at Sofia with fear or distance; though they knew who she was, today she was simply part of the city’s rhythm. And for Sofia, that was enough sometimes, even rulers needed to feel like one of their people.

The morning market was a swirl of color wool swaying from poles in shades of red, blue, and deep green; vegetables heaped in baskets, carrots bright orange, potatoes still dusted with soil, cabbages glistening with dew.

"Look at this," Sofia said, pausing at a fabric stall. She stroked dark-blue wool. "So soft... it would make a fine shawl."

Rina arched a brow. "Since when do you care about fashion? You usually wear that same black coat all the time."

Sofia’s laugh was mischievous. "I do care. That coat is just practical. But maybe I need something different. What if I make one for you too?"

Rina groaned. "I can already picture the castle staff fainting if we walk in with matching shawls."

"Wouldn’t that be nice? To show them we’re not only about documents and military meetings, but also taste," Sofia said, smiling.

The old shopkeeper chuckled. "If Lady Sofia wears it, the whole city will follow. Choose any color you like."

Rina gave in at last, choosing a dark green to match her eyes. Sofia bought both pieces, folding them neatly.

They stopped next at a trinket stall, where simple metal bangles, glass-stone pendants, and crudely etched rings were displayed. Young couples haggled and laughed around them.

Sofia picked up a small ring with a red glass stone, smiling faintly as it caught the light.

"Does it suit you?" Rina asked.

Sofia shook her head gently. "No. I already have something far more precious." Her fingers brushed the thin ring hidden in her coat pocket, something she only wore when alone. She quickly replaced the trinket, masking her thoughts.

Rina didn’t press. Instead, she pointed at a pendant shaped like a wing. "That would look good on you. Reminds me of Noir though he prefers sleeping to flying."

Sofia laughed at the image. "Perhaps I’ll buy it."

She did, along with a few herbal sachets from the next stall. The fragrance of dried lavender, mint, and ginseng filled the air.

"For long nights in the study," Sofia said, weighing the pouch.

"Or to keep you from dozing off on your paperwork," Rina retorted.

Sofia smiled knowingly, then let her gaze sweep the market one more time. People bustled about their lives, but when they noticed her, they greeted her with smiles or respectful nods.

"See, Rina," she whispered. "This is how a city should feel. Peaceful, full of life... normal."

Rina held her gaze for a moment, then nodded softly. "Yes. And you’re the one who made it this way."

For a heartbeat, Sofia said nothing, her eyes tender. Then she stepped forward again, letting the market’s clamor swallow them both.