Chapter 109

• Alera's Pov
• The air in the kingdom felt different today, crisp and sharp with the bite of winter. It had been a while since I’d walked these streets, truly walked them and allowed myself to be among the people I ruled. The snow crunched softly beneath my boots, the smell of roasted chestnuts and freshly baked bread wafting from the vendors’ stalls. Everywhere I turned, warm smiles greeted me, and I could hear the hushed whispers trailing behind me.
• “The Queen looks radiant today.”