News from the frigid Northern Front could not reach the imperial capital in a single day, just as the howling cold winds outside Liya Tower Fortress could not penetrate the prosperous and affluent city of Post.
By late May, the imperial city's temperature gradually shifted toward summer. Noble ladies obsessed with fashion began switching to lighter attire. Even amidst the capital's increasingly tense atmosphere, these beautiful young girls, dressed in elaborate little dresses, legs sheathed in colorful sheer stockings, feet in exquisite high heels, remained the most dazzling sight on the streets.
Astrid sat by the window with one leg crossed over the other. Her figure was gently wrapped in an ornate night-sky-blue dress. Her silken, lustrous silver hair cascaded down her back, softly supported by two equally fair hands.
Behind her stood Elise, a raven-haired beauty in a black-and-white maid uniform, meticulously tending to the Imperial Princess's hair with delicate movements.
