The Seraphine estate stood on ancestral land that had belonged to the Traditional faction for over five hundred years...a sprawling compound that managed to be both fortress and palace simultaneously. High stone walls surrounded meticulously maintained grounds, and the main residence itself was a masterwork of classical architecture that spoke of centuries of accumulated wealth and unshakeable power.
Lady Seraphine's private study occupied the west tower....a circular room with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered panoramic views of the estate grounds and the territory beyond. The space was elegant without being ostentatious: dark wood furniture that had witnessed generations of political decisions, shelves lined with books both ancient and modern, artwork that spanned centuries of Seraphim history.
Seraphine herself sat behind a massive desk, her hands folded precisely on its surface, her expression unreadable as she listened to Ambassador Isadora deliver her report.
