"Hey, look at that carriage."
"Wow… it looks beautiful and scary at the same time."
"You can bet those are high-ranking nobles. Maybe even royalty."
Several voices whispered among the gathered guests as another carriage slowly made its way through the gates and into the inner courtyard.
Unlike the elegant white and brightly decorated carriages that had arrived throughout the evening, this one immediately stood out for a different reason.
It was crimson and black.
Two large black horses pulled it forward at a gentle pace, their dark coats almost blending into the carriage itself beneath the illumination of the surrounding lights. The carriage was impressive without trying to appear overly extravagant, its darker architecture giving it an imposing presence that made several people instinctively lower their voices as it passed.
There was, however, a very simple explanation for its appearance.
The carriage bore the Tepes Crest.
