The grueling journey from Ehrenwald finally ended as Emperor Dietrich's procession rolled through the towering gates of Auristella, the heart of the Empire. Everything here felt worlds apart from the Von Meier estate, where morning mist clung to the vineyards and silence reigned. Auristella was grandeur incarnate, wrapped in a cold, majestic hush.
Dusk had settled over the palace spires, carved from gleaming marble and bound with iron-rich granite. The façade shimmered with stone dragons frozen mid-roar, as if the entire structure had been conjured from beauty and spellcraft.
The imperial convoy halted beneath the arched stone portico. Instantly, the Imperial Guard and high-ranking attendants, who'd been waiting for hours, snapped into formation, lining up to form a corridor of honor. Among them stood Queen Inggrid Anneliese, poised and regal, ready to welcome her husband home.
