Alice

As the carriage rolled smoothly along the winding dirt road, the rhythmic clatter of wheels against stones formed a comforting backdrop to Marcus's thoughts. He sat back in his seat, the soft cushioning cradling him, but his mind was anything but relaxed. His eyes drifted across the interior of the carriage until they landed on Alice, who was sitting directly across from him.

In the past, Marcus had barely noticed her. His sole focus had been on his training and the demanding schedule at the academy. Strength was his only concern, and everything else seemed like a distraction. Yet now, with the quiet of their journey wrapping around them like a warm blanket, he took a moment to really look at her.

Alice was beautiful, with delicate features and soft, flowing hair that framed her face. She was around his age, perhaps a year older, and yet he had always viewed her through the lens of a servant rather than as a peer.