By the time we finally rolled into the capital, my body was crying for a spa, my hair smelled faintly of fried chicken, and my mood was at rock-bottom sass levels.

But the second I saw the city, all the complaints lodged in my throat.

It was… massive.

The capital sprawled out like a glittering beast, all shining glass towers and sprawling plazas. Cars zipped everywhere, banners flapped in the breeze, and in the center—like some impossible jewel—stood the castle.

Huge. Majestic. ...