Lucien awoke to the soft golden glow of morning light filtering through the tall windows of his chamber in Valtoria Palace. For a brief moment, he lay still, allowing himself to adjust to the unfamiliar ceiling above him, the scent of Avalorian incense lingering in the air. Today marked the true beginning of the second leg of their royal tour—an extensive exploration of Valtoria, Avaloria's grand capital.
Despite the strange unease he had felt upon arriving, Lucien reminded himself that this was an opportunity. An opportunity to understand Alexander's homeland, to see firsthand the city that shaped the prince he was engaged to. He pushed off the covers and rose, readying himself for the day ahead.
