The evening had been a cascade of laughter, warmth, and celebration, but now it was time to part ways. The glow of the enchanted lanterns flickered gently in the night air, their golden light casting elongated shadows against the cobbled streets. The scent of vanilla cake still lingered faintly in the air, mixing with the cool breeze of the approaching midnight.
A polished black carriage rolled to a stop in front of the restaurant, its exterior gleaming under the soft glow of the street lamps. The crest of the Anna's family was embossed on the side.. an intricate design of silver leaves intertwined with arcane symbols. At the front, a pair of well-groomed obsidian horses snorted, their breath visible in the chill. Standing by the open carriage door were two elven butlers, their postures impeccable, their expressions unreadable beneath the dim lighting.
Anna’s mother, Mrs. Vera Everwood, stepped gracefully from the carriage, her presence commanding yet gentle. She was a striking woman, her long silver white hair neatly arranged beneath an elegant midnight-blue cloak that shimmered with enchantment. Her deep green eyes, identical to Anna’s, softened as she exchanged pleasantries with Emma's mother, Vivian.
As they conversed, their voices a quiet hum of familiarity , Emma gently pushed Anna’s wheelchair forward, careful not to let the wheels snag against the uneven cobblestones. The lantern light reflected off the smooth silver frame of the chair, casting faint ripples of gold across Anna’s pale hands resting on her lap. She turned her head slightly, her soft green eyes looking at Emma with a knowing smile.
“Thank you,” Emma murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Anna’s smile widened, her delicate fingers tightening slightly on the armrests. “No need to thank me,” she said, her tone light. “What are friends for?”
For a moment, Emma hesitated, her grip unconsciously firming on the handles of Anna's wheelchair. The words settled over her like a fragile thread connecting past and future, and for a fleeting second, her thoughts drifted to the path ahead.. the unknown journey she was about to embark on. But she quickly pushed the thought aside, forcing a small smile as she continued forward.
The butlers moved in seamlessly, one taking over the wheelchair while the other lifted Anna effortlessly into the plush interior of the carriage. Once seated inside, Anna turned back to Emma, her face half-illuminated by the warm glow within.
“Tomorrow then,” she said, her voice carrying the same lighthearted certainty as always.
Emma lifted her hand in a wave, the motion slower than she intended. “Tomorrow,” emma echoed, though deep inside, she knew her presence might not be there.
Mrs. Vera turned from Emma's mother Vivian, her cloak billowing slightly as she approached the carriage. “Goodnight, young lady,” she said, her refined voice tinged with warmth. “And happy birthday.”
Emma bowed slightly, the corners of her lips curving up in gratitude. “Thank you, Mrs. Vera.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
With a soft nod, Anna's mother stepped inside, and the carriage door shut with a gentle click. The horses neighed softly, their harnesses jingling as the carriage began its smooth departure. From the dimly lit interior, Anna waved one last time. Emma lifted her hand in response, watching as the carriage disappeared down the lamplit street, its presence fading like the last whisper of a song.
A cool breeze stirred the leaves in Emma's mother’s garden as they finally returned home. Windfield was quieter now, the echoes of the night settling into a tranquil lull. Upon reaching the wooden gate of their home, its familiar creak welcoming them back. The scent of lavender and earth filled the air as Emma and her family passed through her mother’s carefully tended garden, the moon casting a silver sheen over the delicate petals of nocturnal blooms.
Inside, the warmth of the house enveloped them instantly, the remnants of the evening’s celebration lingering in the air. The wooden floors creaked softly beneath their steps, and the faint glow of the fireplace flickered from the living room. They were all tired, the weight of the day settling into their limbs like a gentle exhaustion.
Ethan, her twin brother, wasted no time. He walked straight into his room without even bothering to close the door properly, his exhaustion evident in the sluggishness of his movements. Her elder sister, Ellie, paused outside her own room, stretching slightly before turning to Emma with a knowing smile.
“Want me to walk you to yours?” she offered, her voice light with teasing but underlined with a hint of genuine concern.
Emma shook her head, her silver-white hair falling slightly over her shoulders. “You’re tired too. Go get some rest.”
Ellie smirked, reaching out to ruffle Emma's hair with ease. “Alright, alright. Goodnight, squirt.” With that, she turned and disappeared into her room, the door clicking shut behind her.
Emma lingered for a moment, then turned towards Ethan’s room. Peeking through the half-open door, she found him sprawled across his bed, already fast asleep. His chest rose and fell in steady rhythm, his usually mischievous face now relaxed in slumber. A small smile tugged at her lips.
“Goodnight,” She whispered before carefully pulling the door shut, making sure not to let it creak.
Finally, she made her way to her parents’ room, the soft glow of magical candlelight seeping through the small opening beneath the door. Stepping inside, she found her mother standing near the window, the distant village magical street lamp reflecting in her thoughtful eyes. She turned at the sound of Emma's approach, her expression instantly softening.
She stepped forward and placed a gentle kiss on Emma's forehead, her touch warm and familiar. “Goodnight, sweetheart. Sweet dreams.”
Emma exhaled softly, nodding as she gave her a tired but content smile. “Goodnight, Mom.”
With that, Emma turned away and walked across the hall to her own room.
Closing the door behind her, she let out a slow breath. The quiet of her space wrapped around her like a comforting embrace. The cool floorboards pressed against her bare feet as she made her way to the dresser, pulling out her nightclothes. She took her time brushing her teeth, the minty freshness settling on her tongue before she washed her face and slipped into the warm comfort of her pajamas.
Sitting at her dressing table, she carefully undid her silver white hair, letting the strands fall free as she ran her fingers through them. The reflection staring back at her in the mirror looked different somehow.. perhaps it was just the soft glow of the magical candlelight, or maybe it was something deeper.
Not lingering on the thought, she turned away and padded toward her bed. The blankets felt cool against emma's skin as she climbed in, pulling them up to her chin. A yawn escaped emma's lips as sleep began to take hold, her mind already drifting into the comforting abyss of slumber.
And then, with the quiet hum of the night outside her window, emma closed her eyes.
Sleep claimed her slowly...