Lutetia Castle wasn’t entirely unfamiliar—it wasn’t my first visit.

The Imperial Palace, at a glance, resembled a medieval castle in its external design. Of course, the interior had been extensively renovated, befitting the residence of the Emperor. Yet, its outward appearance retained a certain rustic charm.

Lutetia Castle, however, felt more like a "palace" than the traditional image evoked by the word "castle."

Perhaps it was because Belvur drew inspiration from France. The opulence of Lutetia brought to mind the splendor of the Palace of Versailles.

This likely stemmed from a fundamental difference in how the two nations approached the …