The fourth bell would soon chime, but Alex remained at the window, his attention captured by a new arrival to the gathering below. Unlike the Beast Emperor's theatrical entrance, this one was notable for its deliberate subtlety—a carriage bearing no family crest, adorned only with silver accents against midnight blue. The vehicle's understated elegance actually drew more attention precisely because it deviated from the ostentatious displays of other noble houses.
Four guards in matching midnight blue emerged first, their movements precise and coordinated in a way that struck Alex as more militant than ceremonial. They positioned themselves with tactical efficiency rather than decorative formation—a detail most observers would miss but one that registered immediately to Alex's trained eye.
Then the carriage door opened, and a woman emerged.
