Kiera’s ship landed on the Royal Imperial Space pad. No other ships than those belonging to the Royal family were allowed to land at this location; some nobility that had attempted to land here found their audiences canceled and levied with fines that were required to come from their personal wealth. One foolish man who had attempted it twice was stripped of all titles and returned to his home world with nothing. The ship landed and Kiera was escorted back to the limousine. It was a silly thing to have a formal dining table take up the cabin.
The limousine departed the ship and drove the short distance to the palace. This part she was familiar with; before their birthdays their father always sent his children to stay at one of the vacation homes solely so they could have this moment of arriving at the palace. Another silly tradition, but one more that Kiera loved. It actually made her feel like a princess. She remained sitting when the limousine came to a stop. Jac exited first and then escorted Emily out.
Kiera moved to the seat next to the door but didn’t dare make any motion to leave, that is until a velvet gloved hand was placed inside, “May I have the honor of escorting you, Your Highness?”
She grinned and put her hand in her father’s, “You may.” It was the only day that she was not allowed to use her father’s formal title, and today he wore no crown. Amadaus helped her out of the limousine and she took his arm as they walked together down a crimson carpet with the Imperial Royal Knights creating an archway with steel swords. At the end of the knights were her brothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces. They held no weapons and were dressed in their finery. At the end of the procession was her mother.
Elise Astria was a breathtakingly beautiful woman whose looks mirrored Kiera’s own. An unknowing observer could easily mistake them for full blooded sisters. In her hands Elise held a platinum tiara with a Nebula Ruby and a Nova Amethyst adorning it. They came to a stop in front of her mother who curtseyed low to both of them, “Many happy returns of the day, my radiant daughter,” Elise said. She handed the tiara to Amadeus and stepped aside. He maneuvered himself in front of Kiera and gently placed the tiara on her head.
“Many happy returns, Kiera, Princess of the Astrian Empire. It fills my heart with joy to celebrate you today. We celebrate the happiness and pride that you have brought into our lives. Allow us to celebrate with you, my radiant daughter,” he said, echoing her mother’s words. Kiera could only murmur a thanks, lest she be overwhelmed with emotion.
Cheers surrounded her as her father took her arm once more and escorted her into the Imperial Palace and to the Grand Ballroom where the celebration took place. As they walked she felt her father tense the slightest amount for just a moment. The cameras were all gone, she felt she could breathe easier.
“Father? Is something wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing for you to worry about, Starlight,” he replied, “Today is about you, cast all your worries aside.”
They passed through the grand ballroom, decorated in purple and red, her personal colors that were only used during this celebration. It wasn’t a coincidence that the colors she chose were also the ones used by the Mecha Corps. Music filled the room from a string orchestra. Tables surrounded the area for the dance floor; they would be guests for the nobility, especially from the Core worlds, that would be here to show their support for the Emperor and attempt to set Kiera up with one of their sons. Their tables were adorned with their planetary emblem, but Kiera paid them no mind. There were people sitting at the head table that held her attention. Her face broke out in a grin when she saw Tamalyn, Robyn, and Isaac standing behind the table. Kinsley was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Gargax, but her friends making it to the celebration was more than she could ask for.
“Thank Emily,” her father said as if reading her mind, “She made all the arrangements for them to be here.”
“Emily deserves a knighthood,” Kiera replied, meaning every word. Emily had been at her side since her birth, she was her best friend, loyal, intelligent and trustworthy. When they reached the table Kiera made her way around it to embrace Tamalyn, Robyn, and Isaac, whose face was scarlet by the time she reached them and could barely put two words together when she hugged him.
“By the stars, Kiera! I almost didn’t recognize you!” Tamalyn gushed, “You’re an Imperial Princess, nothing like I would have thought Royalty would be like at all!”
Kiera grinned, “Well, I couldn’t say anything, especially after Tracksuit huffed and puffed and earned everyone’s ire. Really, it’s only days like today where I’m a princess, every other day I’m just the daughter of the Emperor.”
“So not the humility!” Tamalyn grinned, “You’re a princess no matter what day it is! Doesn’t she look absolutely gorgeous, Isaac?”
Isaac just nodded, his face still red as he took a very quick glance at Kiera. He gave a weak “excuse me”, and then left the head table heading out of the rooms. Kiera gave him a puzzled look as he left prompting Tamalyn to lean in and whisper into Kiera’s ear, causing her to wince.
“The poor guy. Do you know anything about where Kinsley is?” Kiera asked, “I highly doubt Emily forgot to invite her, I mean, we all live together.” She hadn’t sat down yet. It would be the signal that the gathered nobles and other guests could approach her and give her their well wishes. She wanted a few minutes to talk to Tamalyn and Robyn, which was well within protocol, not like she was concerned with it.
“The only thing that I know is that Emily contacted me about a week ago and asked if I wanted to come to your birthday celebration. Of course I said yes. Then yesterday an Imperial Royal Navy Commander was at my door ready to escort me to your birthday celebration. I stayed in your guest palace. Guest. Palace,” Tamalyn said.
Kiera shrugged helplessly, “Sorry?” Prompting a laugh and a hug from Talamyn.
“I’m just shocked and blown away that you’re an actual princess. My first thought when I saw you was, ‘That girl is too pretty to be among the enlisted. She’s probably here for fun, probably a spoiled princess, ’and then you came and helped and were just bright and friendly and that thought changed to, “I was wrong, she’s a royal sweetheart,” Tamalyn said.
“I’m glad I changed your mind!” Kiera grinned.
“My father freaked out,” Robyn said, “He burst into my room and demanded to know why the Imperial Navy was here to pick me up. He made an off hand comment that you had the same name as one of the Imperial Princesses, but that wasn’t rare. My cousin had arrived yesterday an hour before the ship did and helped hold my father back from changing his mind!”
Kiera laughed, “You should have brought them!”
“Oh no, Alyxia is my favorite cousin and she’s going to be jealous but showing up to a party uninvited is not her style. I thought you were super cute when I first saw you and then when you put me on your back…” Robyn blushed, “I had to seriously think if I was straight anymore!”
“Send her a message! This party is going to be super long and we’re friends. I bet Alyxia will be just as fun as you are. Who cares about labels? Love who you want, however many people you want and ignore everyone’s opinions!” Kiera grinned.
Isaac still hadn’t returned and there wasn’t any sign of Kinlsey. Robyn used her ID to send a message to her cousin. Once you turned sixteen you were considered an adult and your ID band’s features expanded one hundred fold. It could store information, access the Imperial Network, had all the functionality of a commpad and did so much more. One of the Nobles actually had the audacity to cough several chairs down near where the Emperor was standing, talking with Emily. Kiera turned at the sound, and so did her father.
The noble stumbled like he had just been hit. He glanced at the Emperor and then at Kiera with a look of horror on his face before stepping out of line. The boy behind him merely raised his eyebrow when the noble made a “follow me” gesture and stayed where he was while the noble walked away. She turned away from the line.
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“Remind me never to upset your father,” Tamalyn said, “He just looked at that man and he moved, that guy didn’t even meet his Excellency’s gaze!”
“Behold the power of the Emperor,” Keira said with a wink. She looked back at Emily and waited until she finished her conversation and joined her. Only then did Kiera sat down, signaling the rest of the high table to sit and starting into the pre-feast politics.
The boy first greeted His Excellency before walking down to Kiera. With a low bow he spoke, “Many happy returns of the day, Your Highness, Prince Caspian Nevar, On behalf of my father I offer Rennevar’s deepest apologies for the shameful display.”
“Thank you, your apology is accepted,” Kiera replied with a smile. Caspian bowed again and then walked away. For the next forty-five minutes Kiera greeted the guests, getting many compliments on her appearance and introduction to this son and that son but very few daughters. Some of them held rings in boxes and held them out when introduced. Two got down on a knee and loudly proposed. One decided they were already married, adding “my lovely wife” to his greetings while introducing himself as “Imperial Prince so and so.” Then he tried to take Kiera in his arms to kiss her and was promptly removed by one of the royal guardsmen. Isaac returned and took his seat next to Tamalyn, his face much less red, but he still refused to look at Kiera.
Among the nobility was His Majesty King Halbretch Dalimus of Dalimar and his son, Crown Prince Albretch. Kiera kept a polite smile on her face but inwardly groaned when the man introduced himself. “Please allow me to introduce my firstborn son, Albretch. He will soon be leading the Imperial Navy to countless victories and is already seen by many as a hero on Dalimar for coming to the defense of one of our system’s outer planets against ork raiders. The ignorant thugs had no clue as to whom they were facing and were summarily defeated by Albretch’s quick thinking and superior tactics.”
While his father spoke, Albretch was staring wide eyed at Kiera, “This has to be some kind of joke, a prank!” he blurted, “It isn’t possible that you are an Imperial Princess! You’re just some mudder whore who is trying to get an easy position by sleeping up the ranks!” His outburst caught the attention of everyone at the high table and the nobles waiting their turn. It was one thing to be rude towards Kiera, but to say such an accusation during her birthday celebration was on such a level of stupidity scholars years later still hadn’t managed to figure out how to measure it.
The silence was devastating and somewhere in the back of Kiera’s mind was a stray thought that wondered how it could be weaponized. It had done to the mood of the celebration that her simulated rail gun had done to the behemoth. Everyone in the room was paralyzed by the audacity.
“Where is the real princess?” He continued looking up and down the table.
“Honesty is one of the core foundations of our Empire, King Dalimus,” Kiera said quietly, although for as silent as the room had become she might as well have been shouting. “Everything that you said about your ignorant, narcissistic offspring is utterly unbelievable. I had the misfortune of taking the Officer Entrance Exam with Tracksuit, and I had honestly hoped that his behavior was an outlier and not a true representation of the Dalimar Nobility. I was mistaken.” She paused, meeting Halbretch’s eyes, “Please remove yourself, and your son from this celebration.”
The King of Dalimar frowned, “Your Highness, I assure that I have not uttered anything false. I’m not sure to whom you are referring, but my son is of upstanding character! More than worthy of your hand in marriage, no one in this room can possibly compare to him. He just must be..confused, overwhelmed by your beauty!”
“Albretch,” Tracksuit said through clenched teeth, “My name is Albrecht Rance Halban Dalimus, Crown Prince of Dalimar first of the Peerage, you insufferable, hideous, mewling quim!” Each word he said was louder than the next.
The Emperor began to rise as the Dalimar king’s face lost all color. Tracksuit didn’t seem to notice either as he was glaring daggers at Kiera. She stood up holding a hand out to stop her father from acting, a gesture that caused a collective gasp to sound through the hall. Her face showed no emotion as she met Albretch’s stare, and then released the entire strength of her Radiance focused entirely on him. In that moment she was the MidSummer Sun, and he was caught in her glare.
The prince fell to his knees, blinded by her intensity, her heat, her Radiance. He lowered his head to the ground in a vain attempt to find some shade, something to keep her from seeing him, sweat gathered on his brow and even with his eyes closed he could see her blazing silhouette. He was not allowed to look at her, else he would burn.
“How dare you,” Kiera said, “How care you come to a celebration and spit venom. How dare you wield arrogance like it is your right, and how dare you act as if the stars shine for you alone. You wield the title of “Crown Prince” as if it means anything outside of your insignificant world. You are a prince no longer, nor a member of any noble house. Your titles and positions have been burned to ash, and they will not rise. Remove yourself from my presence.” She sat down, the dazzling, radiant aura that she wielded, fury of a raging star one more into the soft caress of a sun beam, then slowly set withdrawn back into her.
Halbretch bowed low, “Your will be done, Your Highness. I beg for your forgiveness for the actions of this boy,” he managed to whisper. He took Albrecht by the arm and hauled him to his feet. The boy's face was pale, his clothes covered in sweat which ran freely down his face. “Your Excellency, I will be removing myself from the peerage. A thousand pardons.”
The Emperor sat down and only nodded, dismissing the former King who hastily dragged his son out of the room. Following the debacle the rest of the nobility gave their well wishes, as did their sons. There were only introductions, no more proposals or requests for her company on an outing from any of them. When the last noble ws finished the majordomo entered the room.
“Your Highness, please forgive this interruption,” he announced, catching the room’s attention, “A most Prestigious guest of yours has finally arrived.. Announcing Miss Kinsley York of Albion.” The majordomo stood to his full height of four and half feet and stepped aside with a flourish.
The doors opened and Kinsley walked into the ballroom wearing a shoulderless red and purple dress, the tips of her hair dyed the same color. On her arm was Gargax, who was dressed in black leathers and wearing a red fur cloak. Metal bands studded with amethyst and rubies were worn on his wrists. His dark hair worn in a warrior’s braid, his beard also braided with rings bearing amethyst and rubies. Kinsley’s cheeks were bright pink by the time they reached Kiera, who could barely keep her obvious thirst off of her face. Kinsley curtsied, “Your Highness, please allow me to introduce Conqueror Gargax ut Vox of Eskar.”
Gargax didn’t bow but met Keira’s gaze. They engaged in a staring contest that lasted nearly a minute, a smile on Kiera’s face the entire time. He broke the stare and knelt down on one knee, bowing his head.
“I was wondering where you two were,” Kiera said, “Please join me.” They both stood and made their way around the table. Kiera embraced them both as the music started up again. Gargax took the empty seat to her left and Emily stood and offered Kinsley the seat to Kiera’s right.
The feast started shortly after with the servants bringing out the food on large platters, serving the high table first before everyone else. As they ate Kinsley explained that Tiberius had contacted Emily letting her know that Gargax was being released from the colony and would meet her on Albion station to be taken to the palace that morning. With everything that Emily still had to do, Kinsley left to go pick him up and then took him shopping for traditional orkish celebration attire. A delay in his arrival and an inability to find anything orkish on Albion prompted a trip to Sargax. An unaligned, foreign ork on the station caused some trouble and a fight broke out where Gargax took the head of a warlord and ended up causing a total of sixty-five injuries to various orks and bystanders. The cloak came from the warlord, everything else Kinsley put together from ork “fashion” with the help of a very enthusiastic ork woman who kept trying to convince him to see the “special things in the back.”
Kiera was torn between laughing at their misadventure, being impressed, and aghast. But decided on being happy that Kinsley and Gargax were there and had both made an effort to look nice for her celebration. It was everything that she could ask for.
“You were gorgeous before, Kara, but now…I don’t have any words to describe you,” Kinsley said, “When I saw you sitting there when the doors opened I went weak in the knees and only Gargax kept me from falling. I have no words that would do justice to describe you.”
Kiera grinned as dessert was being served, “Thanks, Kins. You look amazing by the way.”
Kinsley blushed, “It’s odd being told you’re pretty by a ray of sunshine like yourself.”
“Ray of sunshine?” Keira asked.
“Kara give warm. Comfort. Happy like rainbow eyes. Drive away clouds,” Gargax said, turning his attention to Kiera and holding her gaze, “Sun hurt is pain, but Kara beam of sun.”
“Aww,” Kiera said, “That’s beautiful. I like it. You two are too sweet.”
Tiberius approached them, giving his sister a bow, “Many happy returns of the day, Kiera,” he said, “
“So you do know my name,” Kiera teased.
“I do, and am also going to request a dance with my sister. Father will want the first dance of course, but I’ll settle for your third,” he glanced at Kinsley, “Or fourth.”
The rest of her siblings, and their families, followed after Tiberius, each one chatting with Kiera for a few minutes with the exception of Darthian. He gave his well wishes, but they were flat and overly formal before he excused himself and left. Darthian was the third born and out of all of her siblings the one she knew the least. He was standoffish at best, always playing the line of formality and rudeness. He had made it known when Kallax was born that his father had insulted the memory of his mother and any of his father’s children who did not share his mother’s blood were no siblings of his. He wasn’t even nice to his nieces and nephews. She put it out of her mind.