Meeting the Lady

October 15th, 1693.

The sun dipped low in the sky as Prince Bruno and his entourage rode through the gates of Château Vauclerc. The estate, once a symbol of noble prestige, had endured the scars of war. Though the structure remained intact, remnants of its former grandeur had faded—overgrown gardens, cracked stone columns, and empty halls that had once been filled with wealth and splendor. And yet, despite its diminished state, there was something dignified about the way it still stood, much like the woman who resided within.

Bruno dismounted, adjusting the cuffs of his dark military coat. He had not come with grand declarations or an excessive entourage—just Antoine Leclerc, Captain Vallier, and a small unit of guards who waited outside the château walls.

Leclerc, ever the strategist, smirked as he walked beside Bruno. "Are you nervous, Your Highness?"

Bruno shot him a sharp glance. "I govern a nation. Why would I be nervous?"