The Celestis Empire stretched before them like a tapestry of golden fields and stone fortresses. After weeks in the barren mountains, the sight of cultivated land and proper roads felt almost alien.
The Ambrose estate appeared on the horizon like a monument to a life he'd temporarily abandoned. Stone walls, manicured gardens, servants' quarters arranged with military precision.
All of it pristine and untouched by the blood that had stained his hands raw over the past month.
He dismounted in the courtyard, his legs stiff from days of hard riding.
"My lord!" Seraphina rushed from the main entrance, her face a mixture of relief and concern. "You've returned safely."
His personal maid looked exactly as he'd left her. Auburn hair pulled back in a practical bun. Clean dress without a single stain or tear. Skin that had never been split by shackles or burned by mountain cold.
