The band played a cheerful tune as a nonchalant atmosphere consumed the room. The night of events had gone from the coronation to the now traditional coronation ball. Many nobles came from all over the land each with their own flashy or colorful suit or dress. The ball room was beautifully lit, and large velvet carpets adorned most of the floors. Servants quickly made way around the ballroom, offering drinks and foods to everybody around. There were also some commoners within the mix. It was easy to spot them out of the crowd due to their less luxurious outfits, and you could see they lacked many accessories. To many it seemed like an eyesore however, Baldwin of the Lionheart Company would be the first to head over to them.

The idea of commoners being introduced at the coronation ball came from a decree by King Erth "The Beloved" of Arneythia. Ertha had a distaste for the gap between commoners and nobility, and so he thought up this proposition for his coronation ball to start. A month before every coronation, royal courtiers would be sent out throughout all the lands looking for the most talented individuals in each city. There, they would be given the opportunity so that they may celebrate at the royal court itself. This gave many commoners a chance to not only talk to the king of Arneythia, but also have an opportunity to network and be recruited by a noble looking for that particular talent. This would be how many commoners could bridge their status gap and gave a mutual benefit for both parties. The most common talented individuals to be hired by the nobles were proficient fighters, seamstresses, stewards, physicians, and occasionally architects.

"I acknowledge skill, talent, and loyalty, not class," was a common phrase that had become Baldwin's motto. It was not out of character however, for the Lionheart Company general, which is the king's army, to go to the commoners first. It was almost a tradition, the general would head over first. The Lionheart Company were brothers who've bonded to a degree others would never experience, commoner and noble alike.

"Hello, I am General Baldwin of the Lionheart Company. I am looking for Erik proficient in one-handed axes and Caspian proficient in archery." Baldwin scanned deeply into the crown with his brown eyes. Two men stepped forward after the crowd of commoners began to open. Erik was a bald man with a red beard who was heavily built. Caspian, meanwhile, was so skinny he looked starved and had blond hair. Hushed whispers consumed the room, as the two quietly followed the general. Nobles were like vultures, and so any sentence could spill disaster.

"Hold on general Baldwin," a fit man with black hair and a cleft chin stated, "perhaps I am interested in Erik and Caspian."

Baldwin cracked a smile at the comment and stared directly into the man's eyes. A single thread of brown hair slid from Baldwin's head, as he replied, "My apologies Baron Albius, I had not realized you were beginning to form an army. I hope this has no correlation to the rebels we've had to subdue for you twice in the past year."

A trumpet cut off what was about to be said, as King Leon arrived at the ball. He had ordered the ball to start before his arrival, as he had a few affairs to tend to before the ball. Leon donned a black and white suit, that cost the average soldier's yearly pay. It was luxurious however, it gave off a sense of humility to the rest of the nobility. It was not the most expensive outfit in the ballroom, and he didn't want it to be. "Why spend money on suits, when you can invest it into the Lionheart Company?" were his thoughts.

"Introducing, his majesty, King Leon Arneythia!" a royal courtier exclaimed.

Leon walked down the gilded, velvet carpet and finished his royal entrance. He understood what was to come. Soon many nobles would come up to him in an attempt to curry favor, yet he simply stood there in cold silence. Another trumpet blared, which caught everybody's attention once again.

"Introducing, Count Oswald accompanied by Countess Leah of Muringia!" exclaimed the royal courtier.

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The two were adorned in the most luxurious of scarlet outfits. They wore emeralds the size of a baby's fist and had golden rings on every finger. Count Oswald had grey hair and a handlebar mustache. Countess Leah had peppered hair and ocean-colored eyes. The trumpet blared a third time shortly after they had finished their entrance walk.

"Introducing, Count Ludwig accompanied by his daughter, Evelyn of Waldstadt!" the voice of the royal courtier echoed.

The blond-haired count had decided to wear an ocean-colored suit and a ruby necklace. His daughter wore a stunning violet-colored dress matching with amethyst egg earrings.

After reaching the end of the entrance walk, Evelyn along with Countess Leah walked off to a group of fellow noble women. Gossip was a common thing to be spilled, and there were rumors of a certain baron having a mistress. There was a hierarchy in the branch of noble women in Arneythia and if you were not supported by somebody in it, then you would be torn to shreds.

The two counts made their way to the newly crowned king. The trampling of their shoes could be heard and one of them even coughed a bit after the short distance walk. Leon simply thought to himself, of the vile nature of these two counts. They had played his father like a puppet only weeks ago, and now they attempted to set their traps on him.

"Your majesty! Congratulations on your ascension to kingship! I knew since the day I met you, that you would be destined for greatness." Count Ludwig put on a smile, rubbing his hands. “Look at the fine young man the king has grown into Count Oswald! Praise the old king for granting us such a bright future!”

“Your father had been a wise man who kept our advice close to his heart. I see such wisdom in you as well, my king, and you can surely find an even brighter fate with us aiding you,” Count Oswald said in agreement with Count Ludwig.

“You speak of fate as though it’s an object to be obtained, eyeless and mindless. But I have eyes, and I have my own mind. Do you not trust me to walk on my own feet, like you’d fear to see a blind man trip on the stairs?” Leon slyly remarked.

"Well said, your majesty! I would expect no less from such a king full of character!" Count Ludwig stated trying to recover for both the counts. A fourth trumpet blared, as the final count of Arneythia arrived at the coronation ball.

"Introducing, Count Alfred accompanied by Countess Erika, and their daughter Lydia of Schwertland!" the royal courtier finished saying.

Count Arthius II had short-cut blond hair and emerald-colored eyes. He wore a white shirt with golden outlines, while his wife wore a black dress and his daughter, an apricot-colored dress. Both his wife and daughter had sapphire-colored eyes and blonde hair. The two beautiful ladies made their way to the others, as Count Arthius II headed towards King Leon.

"Congratulations Your Majesty, on becoming king, the whole of Schwertland celebrates your coronation," he said, bowing before Leon.

"Thank you," Leon replied. He held no distaste for the count of Schwertland. They have always been known to be loyal to the king and even when the other counts made his father a puppet Arthius II, to his best efforts tried to curb such an act.

"I will not take up too much of your time your majesty, however, if you would spare me one more moment?" Arthius II requested.

"I always have time for such a model count." Leon glanced at the other two counts for a moment before gazing back at Arthius.

Kneeling on one knee, he put his right hand over his heart and gazed up at the king. The ballroom got quiet as they watched the interesting spectacle, that was about to occur. Even the band stopped playing, as they watched the golden-haired count in silence.

"I, Count Arthius II son of Count Arthius I "Sleeping Dragon of Schwertland", hereby make a familial oath, just like my father did to your grandfather many decades ago. That I not only, serve you with complete loyalty, but my wife, my son, my daughter, and all of my descendants that are to come shall serve you and your bloodline, until our last breaths," Arthius finished as he kept his head looking downward. Hushed whispers came from all over the room and many including the other two counts were shocked at the words of Arthius II. It was an uncommon occurrence to even take an oath, as fealty was the norm however, to take the familial oath and it come from the same bloodline was an absurdity never heard of across the entire continent.

"You may rise, Count Arthius II. I thank you for the oath, and I hope I can lean on you, if ever in trouble." Leon offered his hand to Arthius II.