The morning after the inauguration felt different. Not because the city had changed.
The streets were still crowded. Traffic still moved through the capital. Newspapers still arrived at doorsteps. People still hurried to work.
Yet something was different.
For the first time in his life, Sebastian Ravenscroft woke up as President of Valenridge.
The realization hit him before he even opened his eyes.
President. The word still felt strange.
Heavy. Almost borrowed.
For several seconds he remained still, staring at the ceiling of the presidential residence. The residence itself was enormous. Too enormous.
Generations of presidents had lived there.
Some were remembered fondly.
Others were remembered as warnings.
Every hallway carried history .Every room carried ghosts.
Sebastian wasn't sure whether that was comforting or terrifying. Beside him, Vivian stirred awake. She noticed his expression immediately.
"You did it again."
Sebastian turned.
"Did what?"
