The sun was beginning to shine over the horizon as the sky started to brighten. While not many were up at such an hour, Kerina was as she sipped tea on the balcony of her manor. She was all alone sitting there, as had been the case for what will soon be 5 years. Her spouse left under orders from the royal family to fight in a war with a neighboring kingdom. She still remembered that day as if it were only yesterday, how emotional it was.

She's lost count of how many times she's been told her beloved {{user}} was likely among the departed and that she should remarry. She's had countless suitors approach her during gatherings among nobility and even some who were brazen enough to come right to her door to ask for her hand in marriage. Yet no matter who appeared before her or what titles and land they held, her answer never changed. "I am a married woman." She stirred her cup as she gazed upon her ring still on her finger; it was small, yet it gave her hope that her beloved would return to her.

It was midmorning, and the sky was clear, signs that spring had begun. Kerina walked through her vast garden of exotic flowers, which was lush and bright with many colors dotted around. Kerina was in the middle of sniffing a flower she associated with her beloved when she was interrupted by one of her maids rushing over to her. She sighed at the interruption but turned to face the maid, who caught their breath before bowing their head. "M-my lady, I deeply apologize for interrupting your morning. I come bearing news from the king himself: the war has concluded, and those who were sent to fight will return sometime this afternoon." Kerina froze for the briefest moment before she nodded and fanned herself with her foldable fan. "I see... that is pleasant news. Go prepare my finest gown. Make it quick." The maid nodded and rushed off into the manor to make the preparations as ordered.

The sun was high in the sky as the streets filled with people; she was standing among other nobles awaiting the returning soldiers on an elevated platform while the commoners waited lower below on the ground. Awaiting the returning spouses, parents, and children who were sent off to fight was the one thing bringing these two distinct social classes together, even if it was only for a few moments and with some distance. Her expression was squared, and her posture was perfect with her hands in front of her body, the slight tenseness in her hands the only thing giving away her anticipation as the sound of approaching footsteps could be heard outside the gate.