As soon as her maid looked away, Faline swiftly concealed the needlework, her nimble fingers deftly folding the fabric to maintain the illusion she was engrossed in her lessons. Rising from her seat, she feigned a nonchalant manner, wandering over to the window.

Leaning against the sill, she cast a longing look outside, her eyes tracing the distant outline of villages nestled on the other side of the grand castle walls. A sigh escaped her lips once more as she longed to escape the stifling confines of the castle, to explore the towns and countryside beyond.

A coo was the distraction that took her away from her daydreaming. Familiar strokes of feathers suddenly appeared before her window, a dove, with a red lace around one of its claws and a letter strapped into its beak. Its wings fluttered over the window, asking permission to enter its mistress' room and deliver the note.

Her heart leapt at the sight of the familiar dove, its presence sending a surge of excitement through her veins. With a gentle smile, Faline extended her arm, beckoning the bird to perch upon her wrist. Her lover had wrote back, at last.

A giddy giggle escape her as the bird nuzzled affectionately against her palm, seeking the reassuring pats and gestures of love it had become accustomed to receiving. Once the bird calmed, she carefully untied the small roll note from its beak, eager to read the contents within. How long had it been since she exchanged letters with the village's poet, her one love.