[Imperial Palace—Weeks Later—The Grand Celebration Ball]
Tonight The Imperial Palace did not merely shine.
It blazed.
Chandeliers burned high above like captured constellations, their brilliance spilling across polished marble and jeweled silks, turning every movement into something almost divine. Music flowed—deep, orchestral, deliberate.
A rhythm meant not just to entertain but to display power, prestige, and dominion. Across the vast ballroom, nobles moved in elegant patterns, their steps measured, their laughter restrained.
But beneath their refinement, whispers stirred. Behind painted fans and jeweled goblets, voices slipped into quiet gossip.
"This… is far grander than any celebration I have witnessed."
A soft hum of agreement followed.
"Well, it would have to be," another replied. "It is held for the Serpent King, after all."
"I wonder…" a third voice leaned in slightly, curiosity sharpening their tone, "…what the Zahryssar truly look like."
