The morning sun filtered through the iron-trimmed glass of the Palacio Real's west atrium, casting a pale glow on the polished tiles as the heavy bronze doors swung open.
Prince Lancelot stood at the top of the stairway in full regent attire—dark navy coat trimmed with silver embroidery, his gloves tucked neatly beneath one arm. At his side, Alicia adjusted the folds of her overcoat, scanning the courtyard below as the carriage of the Britannian delegation rolled to a halt.
"Three carriages," she murmured. "Not just diplomats. They've brought experts."
"Good," Lancelot said calmly. "Let them see what progress looks like."
The lead envoy stepped out first—a tall, balding man with a face sculpted in stern lines. Lord Halworth, Lord Chancellor of the Britannian Isles, dressed in a gray coat with understated brass buttons. Behind him, engineers, scribes, and what appeared to be a sanitation scholar followed, blinking at the unfamiliar heat.
