Lyra's POV
The vehicle came to a gentle halt, and I shifted toward the window. Valeska Estate unfolded before me like a vision crafted from excessive wealth and careful planning. Stone towers punctuated the landscape at measured distances, their surfaces gleaming in the late afternoon sun. Manicured gardens stretched in precise geometric patterns, every shrub shaped to perfection, every water feature positioned with deliberate intent. The paved drive wound through this display, broad and flawless, bordered by statuary that likely exceeded the value of entire neighborhoods.
Impressive, certainly. Perhaps more so than Kaelen's residence, though his possessed warmth and character. This place struck me differently. As though constructed purely for spectacle, designed to make guests pause and gawk and feel insignificant. Grandiose for grandeur's sake. Hollow beneath all its splendor.
