In the heart of Romelia, the capital of the Empire, the grandeur of the imperial palace loomed over the bustling city. Inside its gilded halls, Lord Lisidor, patriarch of House Veritia, sat in a stately chamber, nursing a goblet of crisp apple cider. Across from him, the regent of the Empire, Marthio of House Achea, reclined in his high-backed chair.
Lord Lisidor's gaze drifted down to the pale amber liquid in his cup, its faint sparkle catching the light streaming through the tall, arched windows. The cider was cool on his lips, sweet and tart, a drink that had become the toast of noble gatherings across the Empire. He swirled the goblet absently, reflecting on the significance of this unassuming beverage.
