Author's note: this is from Duke's point of view

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"Let's investigate that passage to the dungeon some other time.", I said to Serina. "There is one place we missed on the main level."

Serina followed after me obediently.

I opened the double doors, and we entered the grand hall that had off-white ornate ceilings, dark marble columns along the walls, and the mosaic floor in the shades of brown was a masterpiece on its own.

I remembered numerous parties that were held here.

Serina went next to the massive fireplace and looked at the white mantle that was embellished with golden details.

"This place seems to hold many memories.", she said, and I was not sure if she could feel the energy of this room, or maybe she just read my expression.

"Yes, it does.", I confirmed and embraced her from behind. "Several times a year, we would host parties. I thought it was for my father's business partners, but now that I know about creatures, I believe it was more than just business-related."

I pointed to the double doors on the left. "Through there is the formal dining room." I gestured to the right to another set of double doors. "There was seating organized in lounging areas, and here people would dance."

"Sounds like fun."

I hummed in agreement. "It was. But out of all parties, I remember the Winter Solstice the most."

"Tell me about it.", Serina demanded.

I took Serina's hand in mine and we went into what used to be the family room.

"It would start weeks before the Winter Solstice as the kids in school start practicing for performances because there was a festival in town with food and games, and kids would sing, dance, and do plays on the stage. A few days before the Winter Solstice, we would start decorating the house. Everyone would get busy making it look like it's a winter wonderland." I put my hand on the top of the fireplace mantle. "My mother would put here branches and pinecones and arrange candles… In the corner was a massive pine tree with white, golden, and silver ornaments. My father and a few of his helpers were in charge of setting up string lights everywhere."

"The festival you mentioned…", Serina interrupted me. "Was that in the town we passed through on the way here?"

Oh, I was careless and got busted. Well, I can't lie. "Yes."

Serina's brows furrowed, and I can only assume that she was guessing how that dead town looked with people in it.

I walked to the window that faced the back garden and opened it after a short struggle. I pushed one board down, to let the sunlight in and gestured outside while continuing my story about the Winter Solstice.

"On the morning of the Winter Solstice, people over the age of eighteen would gather there and go hunting while women were in the kitchen, baking various dishes, and kids…", I gestured at myself. "Went into the town to help out the elderly complete their chores. Men returned in the evening with their catch and a weeklong feast would start. There was a huge bonfire and a lot of singing and dancing. People would come and go, each family would bring a container with some dish and it looked like a massive potluck. I believe that by end of the week, everyone from the town had at least one meal here. The few elderlies who couldn't come would get food delivered to their homes, and we also sent food to the hospital."

"Sounds wonderful…", Serina said. "We should do that this year."

I looked at her with a complex expression. "The house is not in the best shape, and we are missing a lot of people."

Serina shrugged, indicating that it's not a big deal. "There is more than half a year until the Winter Solstice. That will be plenty of time to fix up this house and hire staff. As for people… we don't need thousands. A handful will be enough." She turned to the empty corner where the pine tree used to be. "You can go with Sergio and pick the best pine tree from the forest, and Cali and I will decorate it. Mona, Ash, Zoe, and Luca will be here also. My father will help you in hunting, and other than each of our guests bringing dates, I'm confident that we can find a few more people to join in."

I was grateful that she didn't mention Lazarus.

I'm not a construction worker, but I could see that the work needed to restore this building to its previous glory, will not be trivial.

"You make it sound easy, Serina. It will take quite an effort to fix this place and turn it into a winter wonderland."

Serina thought otherwise. "But it is, easy. You are forgetting something."

"What am I forgetting?"

Serina took my hand into hers and I followed her out of the room, to the back of the mansion.

The garden in the back showed years of neglect as it was completely covered in weeds. Roses and other flowers were definitely dead and if any of the ornamental trees still exists, it was obstructed by unwanted plants.

"Close your eyes.", Serina told me.

I had no idea what's on her mind, but I obeyed.

Seconds passed.

Birds chirped in the forest, leaves rustled in the breeze, Serina's scent of jasmine and Japanese wisteria wafted into my nose, and... that was it.

I was about to open my eyes, but then I felt that the Sun was obstructed, and the temperature plummeted.

"You can look now…", Serina said in a singing voice.

I gaped at the flurries around us, and I looked up at the clouds bunched above us, while further in every direction was a clear blue sky.

I extended my hand and caught a snowflake that melted on my palm within a second.

"You are amazing.", I said under my breath.

I never thought that she will create our personal mini-snowfall.

"You wanted winter wonderland, I can make you one.", Serina said while looking at me lovingly. "We don't need a fancy house or a luxurious interior. Let's fix the roof and make sure the house is structurally sound, and everything else can come later because the only thing that matters is that we are together."

She held my hand in hers and gave me a squeeze before continuing, "I heard you talking about the Winter Solstice, and not once you mentioned walls or carpets or luxuries that a mansion can provide. It was about people coming together and having fun with music, dancing, and food. Friends and family."

I looked into Serina's gray eyes full of love and realized that she was right.

That week-long celebration was about friends and family coming together, and it didn't matter where we were because we spent time in this house, in the forest, in the town… and it was equally fun.

"You are amazing, you know that?", I asked her, and she smiled.

I kissed her tenderly, hoping that it will tell her how much she means to me.

This place holds remnants of my past, and a lot of memories from the time when I lived a carefree life.

Of course, now I know how that was only an illusion, but I can't deny that my childhood was a happy one. Probably thanks to the lies that surrounded me.

I had no idea why I brought Serina here before the engineers said how the house is safe, but I was glad I did.

With this visit, Serina got a peek into my past I was happy to share it with her because I want to share my everything with her.

I thought that revisiting this place I might be sad to see it ruined, or maybe angry because of lies that are etched into each wall of this mansion, but there were none of those. Serina's presence soothed my dejection and thanks to her I was able to focus on the future that has the two of us in it.

We held each other and kissed under our personal snowfall and nothing else mattered.

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