Once the feast was finished the orchestra began to play again, signaling the start of the dancing, one of Kiera’s favorite activities. Her father stood up from his place a few seats down from Kiera and walked over to her, offering his arm. With a grin she took it and walked down to the dance floor.
“Today has been wonderful, father,” she said, “Thank you.”
“I am merely the host, it was Emily that took care of every arrangement. Seeing friends gathered around you brings joy to your mother and I. She was especially worried when you left for Albion and intended to take the test. She is much more relaxed to see that you are thriving.”
“I had Jac and Emily helping me along the way,” Kiera said as they glided around the dance floor, “My friends and I just kind of came together by circumstance but with each one I felt a connection and the longer we were together the closer we became.”
“Good,” Amadeus said, “What wish may I grant you, this year, starshine?”
“That Gargax has all charges against him dropped and granted imperial citizenship,” Kiera said after a few moments.
“That is already done. He not only passed the tribunal, but the officer’s exam as well. The incident at Sargax was self defense.”
“Then…” Kiera trailed off, the birthday wish was something she had always struggled with. It was easy to ask for a new toy or to take a trip somewhere when you were young, but Kiera had been struggling with them since she was twelve. “I don’t have one, father. I have everything I need, good friends, a wonderful family, and I’ll be entering an academy soon. At least I hope I will.”
“Your results are waiting for you, I had them delayed so you could see them today,” Amadeus said, “Another year without a wish? You are so much like your mother, finding joy in the simplest things and never one for wanting,” Amdeus slightly shook his head.
Kiera caught sight of Emily and Kinsley and then tilted her head, “Actually, father, there is one thing. Knight Emily. I would also like to sponsor citizenship for Emily’s teachers on Albion. They are saturnians and have residency. They are wonderful people and took care of Kinsley.”
Her father smiled as he gazed at his daughter, “Done. The Sous family are officially Imperial Citizens. We will have Emily’s knighting ceremony next week. I will bring them here after we conclude our dance.”
“Thank you,” Kiera said, giving her father a hug.. It was more than she had asked for. The sponsorship would have required a review and taken several weeks.Being citizens would open avenues that residency wouldn't, including free travel within the Empire, lower taxes, and protection should anyone target them. Their dance concluded with the last note from the orchestra and lively music came from the speakers overhead. The Traditional celebration had ended, and the party would begin.
Kiera’s friends came around the table and other guests flocked to the dance floor, mostly the young nobles, Kiera’s nieces, nephews and siblings, at least the younger ones, Tamariel, and Chalice. The dance music was interspersed with the orchestra playing and much slower dances. Kiera took Gargax's hand and just swayed with him, since he didn’t know the waltz or any of the other slow dances couples fell into. She caught sight of Tiberius dancing with his wife and her parents dancing together. While they may vacate the floor with ‘party’ music, they were quick to join in while the orchestra played.
Kiera accepted dances from several of the young nobles and noticed that Percival was making his way through her friends and had asked Kinsley to dance a half a dozen times. She accepted each time which made Kiera ecstatic, they looked cute together. She danced with Isaac once, trying to talk to him like usual but he remained focused on her eyes and trying not to step on her feet. Caspian Nevar was her favorite dance partner after her nephew. He was graceful, looked in her eyes the entire time and conversed with her rather than engaging in small talk. He was a racing fan and followed all the leagues.
Jac had a surprise for her. He asked her for a dance and halfway through someone tapped on his shoulder, “May I cut in?”
It was Zax. Kiera’s face lit up and she threw her arms around him in a tight hug, and then kissed him. He kissed her back, pouring their years of flirting and teasing into each other. He had never suggested anything, not even a kiss and would apologize if he felt he crossed some invisible line. Her age no longer mattered. Their lips parted and he swept her in a dance. Kiera didn’t care what anyone thought about her kissing a Nox, a member of a non-imperial species. Kinsley, Tamalyn and Robyn stole her away after the dance.
“Okay, who is tall, dark and handsome?” Robyn asked as soon as the four of them were alone.
“That’s Zax,” Kiera said, unable to hide her grin, “I met him when I was racing. He works for Jax and won the Majors his first year of racing. This year in the Premier League he took second place, only two points behind Karlin Squires, the previous years’ champion. We met at a ball when he saved me from this old, handsy guy. I have wanted to kiss him for almost two years!” she gushed.
“Well, I know who’s going to be in your bed tonight,” Kinsley teased. There was joy coming from her and a tinge of jealousy laced sadness.
“Kins, I–”
Kinsley hugged her, “Yes, I’m jealous it's not me, but we can have our time later. You are so excited, I can’t deny you.”
“It takes two to agree,” Kiera said, “As much as i want to I don’t know if—”
“After that kiss?” Tamalyn scoffed, rolling her eyes, “Sweetie, he wants you as much as you want him. I want to steal a dance from him!”
“Go ahead!” Kiera said, grinning, “Unless Percy’s caught your eye as much as you’ve caught his.”
“Kinsley has caught his eye,” Robyn grinned, “It’s adorable how much he checks in with her, watching her from across the room. Asking her to dance when he’s sitting down.”
“He’s a sweetheart, but not my type. I think he’s been attending to all of us. A complete sweetheart, you two can fight over him. Kiera’s niece on the other hand…”
Kiea rolled her eyes as they shared a laugh, “We’ll have to see how much Lily takes after her Aunt Tamarmial. We can gossip tomorrow, let’s go dance!”
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Kiera caught sight of Mias, Talah and their two children being escorted into the ballroom. The two men dressed in purple and red robes, while the women wore dresses of the same color. Kiera made her way over to them to personally welcome them to the celebration and was enveloped in a hug by Talah and Mias, both expressing their wonder and disbelief at what Kiera had done. They introduced her to their children; their daughter Lariat who was seventeen, and their son Almat who would be sixteen in the fall. Like Isaac, Almat’s face had turned scarlet and he could barely babble out a greeting, his eyes a mixture of green, orange and red. Plates were set out at a table for the new arrivals, with food being served shortly afterward. Once they had finished eating, the younger Saturnians joined Kiera’s friends on the dance floor.
Hours later after a lot of dancing Kiera made her way into the garden, wanting to get some fresh air while other entertainment took over to give the orchestra a longer break and a second course was brought out. The garden was one of her favorite places in the palace. Plants from every planet in the Empire had been brought here and were tended to by the Emperor. Each flower was in bloom and the sun was low in the sky.
“Stealing a moment for yourself?” she heard her mother’s voice.
“Mhm, I wanted to get some air and avoid Count Gremmik,” Kiera replied, turning and accepting the glass of sparkling liquid her mother offered, “He’s been hounding me all night about being sixteen and needing a ‘great first experience.’
“You can have him removed, it is your party,” Elise said, “It fills me with so much joy to see you so happy with your friends. Your aura control is very impressive, but I am afraid of the effects on that worm from Dalimar.”
“What do you mean?” Kiera asked.
“You know that nymphs can affect people in three ways: charm them to make them more willing to listen to you, enthrall them and they will defend you and follow non-harming requests, and infatuation where they are completely devoted to you and will do whatever you ask. Infatuation if used too frequently or inflicted without first charming them and moving them through enthrallment can lead to Obsession. Someone who is obsessed with a nymph will believe that she only belongs to them and will do anything to possess them. What you did could very well have inflicted Obsession on the boy. I am not condemning you, just warning you. You likely saved his life. Your father was going to kill him.”
“Does the obsession last longer than charming and the rest?” Kiera asked.
“Yes, depending on the intensity,but I haven’t heard of it lasting longer than a month.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Kiera said, “Thank you, mom. For everything.”
“All I have done is let you be true to yourself, nothing more. You have people who love you and I know you are excited for tonight. No one important will ever judge you, keep that in mind.”
“ I will,” Kiera said, taking a sip of the drink. It had a strong taste of honey, bubbles danced across her tongue, “Honeywine?”
“You are an adult,” Elise said with a serene smile.
They stood together looking over the garden, casually sipping on their wine. There wasn’t more conversation between them, there didn’t need to be any. Eventually Gargax joined them, only greeting the pair with a smile. Kinsley and Tamalyn found them as well and they stood in the cool twilight air.
“Is Isaac still too enthralled to talk to me?” Kiera asked, flashing a smile at Tamalyn.
“He and some noble’s daughter are flirting,” Tamalyn replied, returning the smile, “He’s intimidated by your beauty and your status.”
“That was a surprise,” Kinsley said, “I was wondering if you were going to tell me or not.”
“I figured you knew after you looked my brother up,” Keira said, “I figured that you would when you saw his house.”
“I suspected the first time I heard you referred to by your last name. Only the oldest have the same surname of the Emperor, the others have surnames of celestial bodies and ‘Sol’ is another term for ‘star’” Kinsley said. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the library in Adair.”
“I’m still the same girl you met on Albus. Don’t go treating me any differently just because you know that I’m a princess,” Kiera said.
“Kara sun beam,” Gargax said, putting his arm around Kiera’s shoulders.
“She’s radiant,” Tamalyn agreed.
They returned to the ballroom where the dancing had resumed, another round of dessert had been put out and the bar had opened. As the evening progressed, the nobility found Kiera to once more give their well wishes before departing. When she was ready to leave her father escorted her and her friends to the limousine that would take them to the guest palace, including the Saturians and Zax. The ride was comfortable, even if Isaac couldn’t look directly at Kiera.
-[]-
“I cannot believe you would show such shameful behavior!” Halbrecht Dalimus shouted as his shuttle lifted off of Orlan, “To insult the princess to her face at her birthday celebration, multiple times! Farbargton assured me, assured me! That this entitlement phase had passed. Are your test results a forgery!?”
Albrecht ignored his father’s ranting, fully focused on the quickly disappearing view of the Astrian Imperial Royal Palace, where his beloved was His Kiera. No one else was allowed to have her. No one else was allowed to bask in her Radiance. He needed her, desired her. Life would not be living if he did not have her. No one else was worthy of her.
“Are you listening to me, Albrecht!? You have cost us, cost Dalimar much with your outrageous display! We have ruled Dalimar for twenty-five generations! But no more, and Dalimar could lose its spot in the Peerage if the Emperor chooses to interpret my words in that way. The only way to salvage this is if my brother ascends. He owes me for making him the Duke of Sotheby, perhaps he will return the favor,” Halbrecht snarled, sending a contact request from his Imperial ID.
“We must put all of our efforts into bringing her to Dalimar,” Albrecht said idly, “All of our resources, nothing else matters. I must have her. She belongs to me and no one else.”
“What are you babbling about now?” Halbrecht snarled, “Our resources? You have nothing. Once we get to Dalimar you will be turned over to Planetary Security to complete your imperial duty. Then you’ll live the rest of your life as a peasant. You’re out of the inheritance, disowned from the family!”
Albrecht turned and faced his father. Disowned? Disinherited? He had to have Kiera at any cost! He could not do that without the wealth of Dalimar, not while being some grunt in Planetary Security. He scowled, it was unacceptable. He stood up and walked into the back of the shuttle where the guards were. One of them was sleeping and the other looked up with disinterest before going back to whatever he was looking at on his ID Band. Albrecht walked over to the sleeping guard and drew his blaster before returning to the cabin.
“--you are the only suitable choice, Balbrecht, who else would the nobility choose?” Halbrecht said. An image of a man who shared his same features was projected from the ID Band.
“Augustus Selune has the confidence of most of the Assembly, Hal,” Balbrecht said, “It will all depend on if we are removed from the Peerage or if his Excellency interprets it as your abdication. An emergency session of the Assembly is set for this afternoon, the first thing to be decided will be your successor. Ambassador Sellik is already making arrangements to meet with his Excellency in the morning. Return to the palace and we will settle everything today.” The image vanished.
“Have I been officially disinherited?” Albrecht asked.
His father looked up glaring, “No, there are still a dozen things to be done before I even get to that. It is not of particular importance.”
Albrecht raised the blaster pistol, “Good.”