The Aldenar estate, usually calm and powerful, had become the center of another kind of storm, buried under ledgers, trade manifests, and the frantic pace of a growing fashion empire.
The success of the "Aurora" collection had surpassed even Verona's most ambitious projections. It was no longer just a boutique; it was a phenomenon. Every noble house from the Capital and around was clamoring for a piece of the Northern aesthetic. The silver-wool fabrics, the intricate frost-patterns, and the structured, regal silhouettes had become the mandatory uniform of the elite.
