The royal carriage moved deeper into the city.
The streets here were different.
Snow was still present, but it was thinner, cleared regularly, swept aside with care. The stone beneath was darker, smoother, etched with faint mana channels that pulsed quietly beneath the surface. Buildings rose taller, broader, their designs severe and symmetrical, more fortress than home.
The rider sat straighter now.
He glanced back once, then again, clearly aware that this was no ordinary fare. Anyone summoned to the Empress's palace was a person of consequence. That much was obvious.
After a moment, he cleared his throat.
"So… sirs," he began cautiously, voice respectful, "is this your first time visiting the Royal Palace?"
Silence.
Bruce's gaze remained fixed ahead, posture relaxed but alert. Duke sat beside him, hands folded neatly, expression unreadable beneath the brim of his cap.
The rider waited.
'Nothing.'
