Chapter 4 — Eloise’s Arrival

Eloise

The carriage rocked along the uneven cobblestones, its wheels creaking under the weight of its gilded frame. Through the small, arched window, Princess Eloise Vaelwyn caught her first glimpse of Veladral’s Market District. The bustling maze sprawled out below her, alive with the clamor of haggling merchants and the hum of countless voices. Vibrant awnings in shades of red, gold, and emerald stretched above the narrow streets, casting fractured light over the sea of faces. Yet amidst the lively chaos, cracks in the façade revealed themselves. A merchant’s heated argument with a guard ended in a terse exchange of coins. A few stalls stood abandoned, their wares overturned as if left in haste. The lingering scent of spiced meat and fresh-baked bread mingled faintly with the acrid tang of smoke.