Chapter 263

• Andrea embodied every inch of what a High Lord
• might look like. His emerald tunic, etched with threads of shimmering bronze, exuded a regal elegance, and each time he glanced my way, I caught a scent of fresh earth, blossoming flowers, and the gentle breath of wind. Like Leonardo, his hair was perfectly in place, and his skin, unmarred by scars, had a warm tan. A bronze sword rested in its scabbard beside the gilded chair he occupied, an effortless symbol of his power. If this was Andrea at ease, I couldn’t help but wonder how imposing he’d appear in the heart of his palace.
• Leonardo sat beside me in silence, his brows drawn as he took in the conversation between Andrea and me.