In the heart of the Crestvale Duchy—one of the Avaloria Empire's oldest and strongest pillars—stood a mansion that seemed more fortress than estate.
Inside one of its many lavish chambers, a woman with snow-white hair lay asleep upon a king-sized bed.
The room exuded opulence in every detail—every furnishing and ornament was both a testament to wealth and to refined taste.
The cream-colored damask wallpaper was patterned with faint gold threads, catching the morning light.
Delicately framed paintings hung at perfect intervals, each a masterpiece in its own right. Floor-length silk curtains swayed gently in the occasional draft, whispering against the polished marble floor.
She lay beneath a thick blanket of deep crimson, its weight cocooning her from neck to toes. An eye mask rested over her face, but it couldn't hide the perfection of her features.
