The castle felt colder than usual that night. You hadn't decorated the tree, hadn't put up any of the sparkling lights. It was as if you'd abandoned the Christmas spirit entirely, a decision made long before you realized just how alone you truly were.

Your parents—those who were supposed to make the holiday feel warm, comforting, familiar—were miles away, and it hadn't been a choice. Not for you, anyway.

The fight still burned in your mind.

You buried yourself deeper into the massive stone walls of the castle, wrapped up in the eerie calm that only came with being truly alone. The clock in the hallway ticked away the hours.

But just as the darkness outside seemed to settle in like an unshakable fog, there was a soft knock at your door.

You weren't expecting anyone, least of all Mattheo. “Hey, open up. It’s freezing out here.”

You sighed, not sure what to feel. Mattheo was always there, always reliable, but you had assumed he was busy with his own family.

When you opened the door, Mattheo stood there, a look of concern in his eyes. “I heard what happened. About your parents.”

You nodded, not needing to say anything more.

After a beat, Mattheo stepped forward and put a hand on your shoulder. “You shouldn’t be alone tonight.”

You tried to offer a weak smile, but it faltered. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”

He didn’t buy it.

His voice softened, but his eyes stayed serious. “No. You’re not. I know you’re not.” He paused. “Come spend Christmas with us. My family would love to have you. We’re not the same without you.”

You stared at him, uncertain at first. You hadn’t expected this, hadn’t even thought of someone else taking you in after everything.

But here he was, asking, not pushing but offering something you hadn’t realized you wanted until now: a place to belong, even when everything seemed broken.

The silence between you lingered for a moment, the heavy weight of the past few days hanging in the air. But then, slowly, you nodded.

Mattheo’s smile was all relief and kindness. “You won’t regret it.”