July 15th, 1701 – Elysee, Capital of the Kingdom of Elysea
Royal Palace
It was early morning in Elysee, the capital city slowly waking beneath a warm summer sky. Servants moved quietly through the marble halls of the Royal Palace, carrying trays laden with breakfast and fresh linens. Guards stationed at their posts exchanged sleepy nods, waiting for their shifts to change.
In the royal apartments, Queen Amelie stood by a tall window overlooking the gardens below. She was quiet, reflective. She had felt unwell lately, something subtle yet persistent, something she had only shared quietly with her most trusted maid, Sylvie. But now, after careful consideration and whispered conversations with her personal physician, Amelie knew she could no longer keep the news to herself.
