Golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, scattering light across the polished marble floors. Exquisite paintings lined the walls, and tables draped in crimson velvet gleamed with silver cutlery and crystal goblets.
Delicate floral arrangements filled the air with a subtle fragrance, mingling with the scent of roasted meats and sweet pastries.
A string quartet played softly in the corner, their music weaving through the low hum of the crowd's conversation.
Everything here screamed wealth and power—but to Severine, it also felt like a battlefield. One wrong step, one careless word, and bloodless wars would be waged behind polite smiles.
To protect herself, Severine had used a new kind of armor. The midnight black gown clung to her figure.
The off-shoulder design bared her pale collarbones, the dark fabric cascading downward in smooth, ruthless lines that swallowed the light instead of reflecting it.
