The palace buzzed with an unusual energy that morning. Lilian, oblivious to the latest gossip swirling around, sat in her favorite sunlit corner of the garden, petting Celeste, who was curled up in her lap in her cat form. She sipped her tea contentedly, enjoying the rare moment of tranquility. The air was fragrant with the scent of blooming flowers, and the gentle hum of bees provided a soothing soundtrack to her thoughts.

Natalie, her ever-loyal maid, approached with an uncharacteristic haste. She carried a stack of letters and a worried expression that made Lilian’s curiosity spike. “Lilian, you won’t believe what’s happening!” she exclaimed, breathless from her hurried walk.

Lilian raised an eyebrow, taking another sip of her tea. “What’s going on, Natalie? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Natalie dropped the letters onto the table, scattering them across the polished surface. “Rumors, Lilian. There are so many rumors going around about you. Everyone is talking about you being the most beautiful girl in the empire!”

Lilian blinked, stunned. “Most beautiful in the empire? That’s absurd. I’m just an eight-year-old girl.”

Celeste, her dragon, purred contentedly, seemingly unperturbed by the news. Natalie continued, her voice rising with excitement and worry. “It’s true! People are saying you outshone everyone at the tea party, and now, there are rumors that the Emperor and Empress themselves have taken an interest in you.”

Lilian’s eyes widened. “The Emperor and Empress? That’s impossible. They don’t even know I exist.”

Natalie nodded fervently. “Apparently, they do now. You’ve been invited to the upcoming ball at the imperial palace. The letter from the Empress was very clear. You’re expected to present yourself in front of the imperial family.”

Lilian’s heart pounded. The idea of standing before the Emperor and Empress was daunting. “What else does the letter say?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Natalie picked up the invitation, reading aloud. “’Lady Lilian of the First Dukedom is hereby invited to attend the imperial ball. Her presence is required to present herself to the Emperor and Empress. Failure to attend will be seen as an affront to the imperial family.’”

Lilian groaned, burying her face in her hands. “That sounds like a demand, not an invitation.”

Celeste nudged her gently, her purring intensifying. “You’ll be fine, Lilian. You’ve faced worse than this.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Natalie wasn’t finished. She waved a few more letters in the air. “And that’s not all. You’ve received a flood of marriage proposals from noble families all over the empire. Everyone wants to secure a connection with you.”

Lilian nearly choked on her tea. “Marriage proposals? I’m eight years old!”

Natalie shrugged. “Apparently, your beauty and your family’s standing make you a highly sought-after match. And there’s more.”

Lilian sighed, bracing herself. “What now?”

Natalie’s expression grew serious. “There are rumors about what happened at the tea party. People are saying that all those who offended you faced harsh criticism from your father and the entire Dukedom. It’s being said that your father is fiercely protective of you, and no one wants to get on his bad side.”

Lilian frowned, the memory of her father’s reaction to her recounting of the tea party flashing through her mind. “I didn’t mean for that to happen. I just told him the truth.”

Natalie nodded. “Well, the nobles are all terrified now. No one wants to cross you, and that’s adding to the mystique and rumors about you.”

Lilian leaned back in her chair, feeling overwhelmed. “This is all too much, Natalie. I just wanted to live a quiet life and make friends. Now it feels like the entire empire is watching me.”

Natalie reached out, placing a comforting hand on Lilian’s shoulder. “You’re handling it well, Lilian. And you’re not alone. We’re all here to support you.”

Lilian smiled weakly, grateful for Natalie’s unwavering loyalty. “Thank you, Natalie. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Celeste stretched lazily, her golden eyes glinting in the sunlight. “You’ll handle this, Lilian. You’ve faced challenges before, and you’ve come out stronger each time.”

Lilian nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. “You’re right, Celeste. I can do this. We’ll face the imperial ball and everything else that comes our way.”

Natalie started organizing the letters, placing them in neat piles. “We’ll need to start preparing immediately. The ball is only a week away, and there’s so much to do.”

Lilian stood, gently placing Celeste on the ground. “Let’s get to it, then. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

As they walked back to the palace, Lilian couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. The idea of marriage proposals and imperial balls felt like something out of a storybook. Yet, here she was, at the center of it all.

The week leading up to the ball was a whirlwind of activity. Dresses were chosen, etiquette lessons were intensified, and Lilian found herself constantly surrounded by advisors and well-wishers. The palace seemed to buzz with anticipation, everyone eager to see how she would fare at the imperial court.

One evening, as Lilian and Natalie sat in her room, sorting through the endless stream of letters, they stumbled upon one particularly audacious proposal. Natalie read it aloud, struggling to keep a straight face. “’Dearest Lady Lilian, your beauty is said to rival that of the sun and moon. I humbly ask for your hand in marriage, promising to shower you with jewels and riches beyond your wildest dreams.’”

Lilian burst out laughing. “Jewels and riches? Does he think I’m a magpie?”

Natalie giggled. “Apparently so. Should I add him to the ‘maybe’ pile?”

“Absolutely not!” Lilian said, still laughing. “Throw that one in the ‘definitely not’ pile.”

Despite the humor, the pressure was palpable. Lilian knew that her appearance at the ball would be scrutinized by everyone. She had to make a good impression, not just for herself, but for her family and the entire First Dukedom.