The heavy, suffocating atmosphere within the Amber Palace had reached an absolute, critical breaking point. The towering golden walls, which once symbolised the immense wealth and absolute power of the empire, now felt exactly like the crushing, highly decorated confines of a gilded tomb. The thick, stagnant air was completely saturated with the foul, sickening stench of rotting organic matter and heavily rusted iron.
Prince Mars stood completely alone within his luxurious private chambers. He was staring directly into a massive, highly polished silver mirror, but he entirely failed to recognise the frantic, deeply unhinged reflection staring back at him. The highly enchanted, incredibly potent prank love potion, secretly administered to him by Princess Astra over several agonizing months, was finally, completely breaking down.
