LIANA'S POV
The carriage wheels crunched against the gravel drive, and I pressed my face to the window to get my first glimpse of House Sedimo. My breath caught in my throat. The estate stretched before me like something from a fever dream. Marble columns rose toward the sky, each one carved with patterns so intricate they must have taken master craftsmen years to complete. Gardens sprawled in perfect symmetry on either side of the main path, every hedge trimmed to mathematical precision. Even the gravel beneath the carriage wheels looked expensive, each stone carefully chosen for its color and shape.
I stepped out of the carriage, my wounded leg protesting the movement. The bandages Lord Thalen had wrapped around my knee were hidden beneath my skirts, but I could feel the constant throb of pain with each step. I realized quickly that Lord Thalen had used silver and he meant business last night.
