The air on the balcony was cool, brushing against Jason Valenhart's face with soothing whispers that danced with the lively music spilling from the banquet hall. Below, laughter erupted like firecrackers, but up here, the stars painted a different kind of canvas—a serene solitude away from prying eyes and judgmental whispers.
Jason leaned on the stone railing, observing the moonlight's indigo embrace over the sprawling grounds of the Nova Empire. His mind raced as he contemplated his encounter with James von Nova. The young emperor was, in essence, the embodiment of opportunity—a gateway into a world Jason desperately wanted to navigate. But singularly approaching him would seldom yield results; alliances were best forged through mutual interests, even friendships built upon shared ambitions.
As if on cue, a voice punctured the evening's tranquil spell, delicate yet commanding. "You seem rather lost in thought, Prince Jason."
