Chapter 22

• The morning sunlight filtered through Astrid’s chamber, casting a golden glow over the elegant gown spread across her bed. It was unlike anything she had ever worn—a deep emerald green dress with intricate gold embroidery that shimmered like sunlight on water. The fitted bodice was adorned with delicate lace, and the skirt flowed gracefully, designed to give the wearer an air of regality.
• Astrid stared at the gown with a mixture of apprehension and determination. She had always prided herself on her practicality, on her ability to hold her own in a world dominated by men. But today, she needed to be something else—something softer, more feminine. She needed Kael to see her not as a comrade or a rival, but as a woman.
• Her maids hovered nearby, their excitement barely contained. "You’ll look stunning, my lady," one of them said, holding up a pair of jeweled slippers that matched the gown.