A few days had passed since Nicole and Jasper had prepared for the festival ball. The journey to the Apple Kingdom was long, but they set off before dawn, traveling through the icy lands of the Snow Kingdom until the air around them grew warmer as they approached the lush, green orchards that the Apple Kingdom was known for. The morning sun had just begun to rise when they arrived at the gates, where Lord Theodore, a tall, regal figure with silver hair, awaited them alongside his daughter, Lucia.
Lucia was a striking young woman with auburn hair that fell in waves down her back, her green eyes gleaming with curiosity as they landed on the couple. She smiled warmly, though her gaze lingered a little too long on Jasper, much to Nicole's quiet annoyance.
