As Duchess Malaica made her way back to Kys Elanore, a sense of triumph enveloped her.
The meeting with Aragon had unfolded in her favour, and the prospect of an alliance through marriage hung in the air. Her mind raced with plans for the impending wedding, a celebration that would mark the union of two houses and potentially alter the course of the Southern Provinces and the king's capital.
Malaica's journey had been one marked by resilience and tenacity. Married at the tender age of fourteen, she had faced the harsh realities of life early on. The birth of her son brought both joy and sorrow, for it was followed by the loss of her husband in the brutal conflict against the barbarians.
In the aftermath, Malaica, thrust into a position of unexpected leadership, had risen to great heights, steering the House Virjor to prominence.
