It had been a few days since Astrid and her brothers had moved into the palace, and everything had been going smoothly. To her surprise, even Luke—who had been openly hostile toward Alaric—seemed to have softened his stance. Astrid dared not to ask why, but the shift was noticeable. She silently appreciated the newfound peace, finding comfort in the fact that the tensions that had once seemed so overwhelming were slowly dissipating.
Life in the palace was far different from what she had imagined. She had assumed royalty meant rigid rules, suffocating traditions, and a dull, monotonous existence. But to her surprise, the atmosphere was lively and warm. The people were friendlier than she had expected. Their smiles were genuine, their hospitality unwavering. The servants, once viewed with suspicion and distance, greeted her as though they had known her forever. There was no pretentiousness here, no cold formality, only a welcoming atmosphere that put her at ease.
