As the sun chased the moon from the sky and dawn settled over the land, the great gates of the castle were drawn wide open. Carriages rolled in one after another, their wheels crunching against gravel as nobles arrived from far and near. Liveried footmen hurried to assist their masters, while voices—refined, eager, calculating—filled the air.
Some guests had already arrived earlier and now wandered the castle grounds, strolling through its gardens and corridors, exchanging pleasantries with acquaintances or seeking out advantageous introductions. Laughter drifted through the halls, light and polished, hiding the quiet ambitions beneath.
