Lily arrived at the imperial palace in a grand procession, her carriage surrounded by a guard of knights in shining armor. Her heart racing with excitement and nervousness, she looked outside at the streets lined with cheering citizens, all eager to catch a glimpse of the young princess and her entourage.

She had never been to such a grand event before, and the thought of mingling with the high society of the empire filled her with a mix of anticipation and fear.

As the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the palace gates, Lily took a deep breath and smoothed out the folds of her elegant gown. She had always detested such occasions, choosing the independence and thrill of practicing with her weapons over the tedious formalities of court life. Yet she had spent hours preparing for this moment, making sure her dress and hair were just perfect. She knew that every move she made tonight would be scrutinized by the other attendees, and she didn't want to give anyone any ammunition to use against her. It was her duty as a member of the royal family to represent her house and her kingdom, no matter how much she might chafe at the constraints.

As she stepped out of the carriage, she was greeted by a line of imperial guards, their armor shining in the bright light of the lanterns that lined the palace entrance. She nearly lost her footing as a fanfare of trumpets announced her arrival. She forced a smile and walked up the red carpet, her head held high as she made her way into the grand hall. She couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as she walked past them, her heels clicking against the marble floor.

She made her way through the grand entrance of the palace, her eyes taking in the lavish decorations and opulent furnishings that surrounded her. The palace was a testament to the wealth and power of the empire, and Lily couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as she realized that she was a part of it all. As she reached the ballroom, she was greeted by a sea of people, all dressed in their finest attire. Inside, the hall was a riot of color and noise, filled with nobles and courtiers all vying for attention and influence. She scanned the crowd, trying to spot any familiar faces, but she was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people present.

Retreating temporarily, she made her way towards the bar, took a non alcoholic drink. She attempted to focus her blurry eyes on the crowd despite being blinded by the lights coming from ordinary lamps, ancient light artifacts, and ruby powered ones.

Lily's eyes scanned the crowd, taking in the various factions and houses represented at the event. There was the House of Lighthelm, known for their devout worship of the Creator God and their mastery of craftsmanship. There was the Free Company, a band of mercenaries and adventurers always on the lookout for a quick profit. And then there was the mysterious House of Kasandra, a faction that had emerged from the shadows only recently, led by the sister of the Morning Star himself.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Lily's attention was drawn to a group of nobles standing in a corner, deep in conversation. She recognized one of them as Nikolas Pierce, the leader of the Free Company, and his wife, Sylvia, a renowned warrior in her own right. Lily made her way over to them, determined to make use of this opportunity to gather information.

"Good evening, Lady Sylvia, Lord Nikolas," she said, bowing slightly. "It's a pleasure to see you both here tonight."

Sylvia smiled and inclined her head in greeting. "And a pleasure it is to see you, Lady Lily. How have you been faring in your studies?"

"Well enough, thank you," Lily replied, trying to keep the bitterness out of her voice. "Though I must admit, I find court life rather tedious at times."

A chuckle escaped Sylvia's lips. "Oh, you're still as honest as you were ten years ago."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Forgive me, but has the queen met me before?"

"Well, Edmund was just about to boast about how refined and elegant his youngest daughter was when I noticed a dirty child playing hide and seek in the courtyard with your father's knights." She wiped away her tears with a finely decorated handkerchief.

Lily's face turned red, and she lowered her head.

"Do not take it to heart, princess. In the free company, everyone is treated the same. We also prefer the more.. active type. Now, would you like to join us at a table? I am starving!" She winked at Lily, who raised her hand above her chest, exhaled and nodded.

Lily sat at the table, sipping on her tea as she listened to Lady Sylvia and Lord Nikolas. They were discussing the latest gossip and political happenings in the court.

"Have you heard about the rumors surrounding the Emperor's sister, Kasandra?" Lady Sylvia asked, leaning in closer to Lily.

Lily shook her head, "No, what are they saying?"

"You know, my dear Lily, the emperors's sister has been quite the talk of the town lately. She's made quite a fortune selling her rubies to King Lighthelm, among others. And she's been behind many of these new innovations we've been seeing as of late. Have you heard about the machines they've been using in the mines? Absolutely remarkable. I must say, I do admire her business savvy. And of course, she's always impeccably dressed. A true fashion icon." Lady Sylvia sipped her champagne, a sly smile playing on her lips.

Lord Nikolas leaned over, "They say that Kasandra has been gathering strength in the shadows for years, hiding from the Emperor. It's said that she has mysterious powers and has returned with a plan to regain the lost glory of the Ruby Kingdom. I've also heard she has ties to some unsavory characters. But I suppose when one is in the business of making money, one must make sacrifices."

Lily raised an eyebrow, "That's certainly intriguing. But I have to say, I'm not surprised. It seems like every time I turn around, there's some new intrigue brewing in this court."

Lady Sylvia nodded, "Yes, it can be overwhelming at times. But that's why it's important to have allies and to be strategic in your actions. Speaking of which, I must say, I've been very impressed with you, Lily. Your ambition and proactive nature are quite refreshing."

"Thank you for your kind words, I really appreciate it." Lily grinned in response, fully aware that Sylvia was attempting to ensnare her. Yet she couldn't help but admire this woman, who was capable of being both a warrior and a queen.