Around the time the festivities were in its starting stages, a different scene could be seen taking place from further outside in the capital. One that seemed much more hurried than what was happening inside Esmelas Garden.
"I really don't think I'm cut out for this, Nial...", A voice of a worried girl said, passing through the streets of the capital. The voice belonged to a girl who currently wore a tired expression on her face. She was presently running, and she didn't seem to be alone. A man with a scruffy beard was also running alongside her. Before long, they finally reached Dreichel's Plaza.
The man, seemingly out of breath because he hadn't exercised in a while, suddenly stopped his feet. A mark of anger then appeared on his forehead as he yelled out to the girl.
"You're the one who got us into this damn mess, Dorothy!", The man yelled, obviously angry. "All you had to do was take the next flight bound for Liberl to return to our office at the LNS, but no, you just had to get the wrong ticket. How in Aidios's name did you end up here in Erebonia's capital of all places!?"
Hearing that, the girl paused in her tracks.
"Huh?", The girl responded. "Are you telling me this isn't Liberl?", The girl asked, tilting her head in confusion. In the near distance was a vibrant, vermillion-clad palace standing tall over the rest of the capital.
"No, it isn't!", The man yelled, still angry. "Seriously, just what in Aidios's name goes on inside that head of yours? You don't know how many hoops I had to jump through to catch the immediate next flight to make sure you were alright, Dorothy.", The man continued. Seeing the girl safe and unharmed, it was then he let out a sigh of relief, which allowed him to catch his breath.
As for the girl in front of him, it was a pinkish, red-haired girl who was wearing some short monocle-style glasses over her eyes. Thankfully, as the man said, she appeared unharmed. That was the least of his worries now. Taking a moment, he couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the imposing Valflame Palace before him. A statue of a domineering emperor could be seen in the middle of the plaza not too far away.
"Now that I can take a look, I was beginning to wonder why this scenery looks so strange. It's all vibrant and pretty-looking, just like a sunset. This really isn't Liberl?", The girl asked, still appearing confused.
This year, the girl turned seventeen years old. Her hair was styled into two curls beneath her chin. She has been an aspiring news reporter and it hasn't been long since she joined Liberl's News Service, or LNS for short. She is Dorothy Hyatt! As for the man beside her, he is her senior in the news world, Nial Burns!
Thanks to some actions Naoto had taken ever since his prominent return in Grancel Castle a few years ago, that news spread like wildfire throughout Liberl. This news reached Dorothy's eyes at a younger age prior to joining the LNS, which only further ignited her passion for photography. She had seen how grandiose Grancel Castle was in that news article. The only thing she didn't see at the time was the Glorious, as it stayed out of range. Still, Dorothy was enamored with it nonetheless, and quickly dove down the path of studying photography herself. Naoto had given her a silent push, even though he didn't know about it.
And now, at seventeen, Dorothy successfully entered the LNS. It was then she met Nial Burns, and was placed under her. Despite her airheadedness and tendency to get lost a lot just like how a green-haired man from One Piece does it, Nial still accepted her as his protégé. All thanks to her talent in taking good photos. The one downside to that, is that Dorothy was an airhead amongst airheads. He had to constantly watch over her!
Unless Dorothy was given a specific destination, and even with that, Dorothy would still often find herself appearing at random locations throughout Sky. Presently, she was on her way back to Liberl from an outing, but Dorothy one single miscalculation when she bought her flight tickets back home.
Dorothy just so happened to buy airship tickets bound for the capital of Erebonia, and not the capital of Liberl!
The moment Nial caught wind of what happened to Dorothy, he panicked. Now owing several favors to his fellow reporters, he made haste toward Grancel Airport, and caught the next flight out, only to somehow find Dorothy acting like a lost kitten instead of attempting to make her way back to Liberl. Honestly, Nial found it shocking to see Dorothy making it to Heimdallr, of all places. To further add to that surprise, he was curious as to why Nobles were currently going back and forth inside Dreichel's Plaza, all dressed prim and proper.
In the end, Nial let out a deep sigh. Reaching into his pocket, he took out a cigarette to help his nerves, then lit it up.
"We aren't in Liberl, Dorothy. This is Erebonia, and it's capital city, Heimdallr at that. Still, perhaps this might be a blessing in disguise and it was the will of Aidios that brought you here. There were rumors floating around in the news circle here that something was going to be announced soon. Something big.", Nial said, seeing several parked orbal cars lined up on the other end of Dreichel's Plaza. Several RMP Officers were in the middle of guiding Nobles inside. This scene was taking place just a little bit earlier than when Naoto and Princess Alfin went into their respective changing rooms.
"Haha.", A voice called out to them, revealing an icy, blue-haired woman dressed in the RMP Officer uniform. "You would be correct on that. Would you two perhaps be reporters for the Imperial Chronicle?", The woman asked, who was, of course, Captain Claire. A couple of RMP Officers were also added into the mix beside her.
"We're...not exactly with the Imperial Chronicle, even though I did do some with them in the past. We happen to be with Liberl's News Service. Thanks to this dolt, it was a very expensive trip coming here.", Nial responded. This time, he formed a fist, and smacked Dorothy on the head.
"Owie...", Dorothy responded. "What was that for, Nial?"
"The LNS, huh?", Claire responded, becoming interested.
"That's right, Ma'am. Is something truly happening tonight inside Valflame Palace?", Nial decided to ask.
"Indeed there is.", Claire said, nodding her head. "His Imperial Majesty decided to host a ball tonight to celebrate the coming of our next century. It has been invited to all Nobles alike. But it isn't just that. His Excellency has reached out to several News Agencies and has invited several reporters, so I am not sure if you two were on the list. Regardless, it looks like lady luck has reached out to you. The dancing will begin shortly, and by the time you get checked in, there should be enough time for His Excellency to make the big announcement."
"So that invitation those higher ups in our News Service really wasn't just a rumor then...", Nial murmured, becoming surprised to hear what Claire had just said. "Tch, they're wanting to hog all the glory for themselves. I can already smell a Grade A article on our hands.", Nial continued, shocked to hear that. Claire simply smiled in response.
"Haha.", Claire laughed again. "We did receive some backlash with how these invitations were sent out by His Excellency. He mixed some fake ones in, so consider yourself lucky to make it here. We'll turn the other way, so you're more than welcome to join the reporters who have already made their way inside.", Claire responded with a smile. She assured Nial that the event happening tonight was real and true.
"Jackpot!", Nial exclaimed. His eyes turned into two Mira coins. "You really are a stroke of luck, Dorothy. I'll forgive you for coming here. The nice officer here says it isn't too late for us to head inside!"
"It isn't late for you, like I said. If you would like, I can escort you inside. Most of the Nobles have already arrived, and so did the other reporters. We specifically invited the CNS and LNS here tonight.", Claire said.
"This really is the famous palace that withstood the echoes of time? We're in Erebonia?", Dorothy murmured to herself, ignoring Nial's excitement. She was in her own little world as she marveled at the sight of Valflame Palace. She received an urge to take some photos right then and there.
Seeing Dorothy act like this, Nial sighed again.
"Did you listen to a single thing I just said, Dorothy?", Nial said, sighing.
"Oh?", Dorothy responded, finally becoming aware. "Are we going inside this place, Nial?", Dorothy asked, showing sparkles in her eyes.
"Hah...", Nial uttered, shaking his head. At the very least, it looks like Dorothy was finally getting on track with the ongoing conversation.
Nial then looked back at Claire, and apologized.
"I do apologize for the behavior of this dolt. Dorothy's a good girl, but somewhat of an airhead.", Nial explained. Claire laughed again hearing that.
"Haha, that is alright with me.", Claire said. "As long as the two of you are reporters with the LNS, I do not mind guiding you inside. We've sectioned off an area meant for you all specifically, so if you two have nothing else waiting, I will guide you shortly. Please keep in mind Nobles can be quite precarious at times, so try not to look at them directly in the eyes. Keep your head lowered, especially since the two of you come from Liberl."
"Thanks for the warning, Ma'am.", Nial responded. "We are very professional with what we do. We'll make sure not to cause any trouble tonight. But it might be a bit pretentious to ask, what is all the fuss about tonight's event? Could you give us a little sneak peak that I could display in the article we will write later?"
Hearing that, Claire smiled.
"Well, it's not like we're hiding it or anything. It will become news before long. Not only to just our home here in Erebonia, but to the rest of the continent.", Claire said. "You see, His Excellency is going to officially declare the engagement of Erebonia's Treasure, Her Imperial Highness, tonight."
It took a good moment for that to register in Nial's head. His eyes then turned wide as saucers.
"W-W-WHAT!?", Nial exclaimed. As he did, the cigarette that he had in his mouth soon fell down onto the thin layer of snow beneath his feet...