Twilight settled across the Lionhart Estate as Alex walked the ancient stone paths of the eastern gardens. His solitary stroll provided necessary distance from the diplomatic currents already flowing through the main halls, where early-arriving dignitaries gathered in anticipation of tomorrow's ceremony.
The formal gardens represented generations of careful cultivation—rare specimens from across the continent arranged with mathematical precision to create living demonstration of imperial power and control. Yet beneath this carefully maintained appearance, Alex's enhanced perception detected subtle modifications since his previous visits—defensive arrays concealed within ornamental patterns, surveillance configurations embedded in decorative elements, protective measures disguised as architectural embellishments.
