The lights of the candy cottage came into view, their warm glow piercing the darkness of the forest. Rosina paused at the edge of the clearing, staring at the house she had built with her own hands.


    “Hansel and Gretel need me,” Rosina whispered, her voice trembling. “They need someone who can protect them without losing herself.”


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    She straightened, her resolve hardening. Whatever darkness lurked within her, she could not let it consume her. For the children’s sake—for her own sake—she would hold the light, no matter how heavy it became.


    As she stepped into the clearing, the forest seemed to exhale, the tension easing with her resolve. The candy cottage welcomed her with its warm, sugary scent, and as she crossed the threshold, she cast one last glance at the forest behind her.


    “Adelheid is gone,” she murmured. “And Ruprecht’s time will come. But not tonight.”


    The door closed behind her, and for the first time in hours, the forest was truly still.