Merenneito: Novelli

A weary city official steps off a horse into a sun‑dappled estate, his mind still heavy with the strain of urban life. The manor’s lofty towers, bright flower‑filled courtyards and quiet, echoing hallways offer a stark contrast to the bustling streets he left behind. As he wanders through the airy rooms, the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant murmur of birds coax a fleeting sense of peace, though a lingering fatigue keeps him tethered to his worries.

He soon discovers that the “lead lady” of the house is not the solemn figure he imagined but a bright, lilac‑clad young woman with a playful smile. Their conversation swirls between light teasing and careful hints of his frailty, hinting at a delicate balance between recovery and duty. The encounter sets the tone for a story that watches a solitary soul navigate the gentle yet unsettling borders between illness, expectation, and the promise of renewal.