The entire empire was alight with celebration. From the grandest noble estates to the bustling streets of the capital, everyone was rejoicing. Flowers adorned the roads, banners bearing the Imperial crest fluttered in the wind, and performers filled the squares with music and dance.
The engagement of Prince Cassian and Lady Annora was being hailed as the event of the decade. Nobles, commoners, and foreign dignitaries alike were in attendance, eager to witness the union of the empire's most powerful figures.
The palace was a spectacle, glowing under the lights of thousands of lanterns, its grand halls filled with laughter and revelry.
But amidst the joy, two figures stood apart from the rest.
Adeline and Benedict.
