As they reached the stables, the heavy scent of hay and fresh earth filled the air, mingling with the crisp breeze that tugged at Charlotte's loose strands of hair.
"Why have you gone quiet now?" Charlotte asked, glancing sideways at Viktor, who walked beside her with his hands clasped behind his back.
"I'm thinking," he replied.
"Dangerous habit," she teased.
He arched a brow. "Only when you're around."
Charlotte smirked, nudging his shoulder playfully. "I'll take that as a compliment."
The stableman nodded in greeting as they approached, already preparing the horses. Viktor moved toward a tall black stallion tied near the prince's own, while Charlotte, with a confident toss of her hair, approached a chestnut mare with a brown streak down its nose.
"You're taking that one?" Viktor asked, eyeing the horse with skepticism. "She's got a lot of spirit. High energy."
"She's perfect," Charlotte replied, patting the mare's side. "What, you don't think I can handle her?"
