The ballroom of the Drakathor imperial castle was a masterpiece of architectural elegance and grandeur. Its vast circular shape extended over two floors, creating a harmonious blend of wealth and elegance.

The ground floor was a sprawling space filled with the nobles of the kingdoms under the Drakathor Empire, their vibrant attire adding bursts of color to the hall. Above them, the first floor overlooked the scene, its railing gilded with gold and silver.

This level was reserved for the highest echelons of society: the imperial family, the royals of the empire, the nobles of the empire, special dignitaries from other empires, and special guests from other races, if any. Every eye on the first floor had a perfect view of the activities below.

At the heart of the first-floor balcony, an elevated dais commanded attention. Three ornate chairs sat there, their intricate carvings reflecting the history and might of the Drakathor dynasty. The central seat, the grandest of all, belonged to Emperor Maurice Drakathor, a man with sap-green hair and a neatly trimmed beard.

To his right sat his wife, Empress Cassandra, her flowing blue hair and dark blue eyes giving her an air of ethereal beauty. Her elegant gown shimmered as she leaned toward her husband, her expression poised but sharp.

The third throne was supposed to be for the person in whose honor the ball was hosted or the crown prince in case it was a random celebration, but right now it was empty.

The Emperor and the Emperess exchanged laughs, talking like the lovely couples they were, but that was just what it seemed; the reality was far from it.

“Maurice, one might wonder what could be keeping your nephew,” Cassandra remarked, her tone light but layered with subtle undertones. “And Vanessa, it seems, has also found reason to delay. How… characteristic.”

Maurice maintained a composed smile, aware of the many eyes and ears trained on them. “They must still be preparing. Vanessa must have already made Alex try on several sets of clothes. Today is Alex’s day, after all.” His tone was even, though he sighed inwardly.

Maurice’s words were point-on, as Vanessa really had done what he thought.

But he sighed again as he could sense Cassandra’s growing impatience; there were other matters demanding attention after all.

Delegates from neighboring empires and the student council of Originveil Academy had already arrived, and he knew he’d need to engage with them. However, protocol dictated that the day’s honoree must appear before such interactions could commence—Maurice knew that those were the roots of Cassandra’s worries.

Those people were important figures, and although he knew that Alex wasn’t doing this on purpose, they, who came from the outside, could take this as a sign of disrespect toward them, making them believe that Alex, who was a part of the imperial family, didn’t respect them.

That could cause many problems later on, but there was nothing he could do for now. He would see to all those problems when they arrived. The protocols must be followed since they were the roots of the empire.

But it was not just the Emperor and the Empress who were talking about this delay; even below on the ground floor, the murmurs of the crowd could be heard.

A young noble—the heir of a count—voiced a question that many were secretly wondering.

“Do you think something’s going on within the imperial family?” he whispered to a companion. “Why else would Alex be so late? Maybe he’s unhappy with them.”

His friend’s eyes widened in alarm. “Shh! Are you mad?” he hissed, glancing nervously at the imperial guards stationed nearby. Their sharp eyes scanned the crowd, a silent reminder of the consequences of speaking out of turn. “If they hear you, you’ll be charged with treason. Keep your thoughts to yourself.”

Terrified, the young man fell silent, though similar speculations buzzed quietly among others.

Those imperial guards were the best of the best, and their job was to find anyone suspicious in the crowd. Who could be more suspicious than someone who was trying to spread baseless rumors?

The people nearby, who wanted to join the conversation, scattered away as well, not even wanting to engage with that heir of count now.

Still, not everyone shared such doubts. Many were eager to meet Alex, curious about the rising star of humanity. He was already renowned for his sharp intellect and striking appearance, particularly among the young women in attendance.

Back on the first floor, in a corner reserved for special guests, the student council of Originveil Academy stood in a small group. They were a diverse assembly of individuals, each representing a different race. Among them was Gurrak, a golden goblin, whose unique heritage drew countless curious glances.

“He’s definitely doing this on purpose,” Gurrak chuckled, his golden skin glinting under the chandelier’s light. “It’s just like Alex to make an entrance.”

Just like others, they were also talking about Alex’s delay. Though their talk was more fun than serious.

Rodeus, the sole human commoner in the group, the only one who, instead of receiving admiring glances, was garnering ridicule or hate, shook his head. “If he wanted to make a grand show, he’d have done it already. He’s probably running late for a mundane reason.”

Lilia, the vice president of the student council like Alex, shook her head, sighing in defeat. “He’s overslept again, I believe.”

The group laughed, but they all nodded in agreement as that scenario seemed entirely plausible to them.

But just as their conversation shifted, a sharp, rhythmic clicking echoed through the hall. The sound of heels striking marble silenced the room, drawing every gaze toward the grand doors.

On the first floor, Zahara, Alex’s girl, the student council’s Rulekeeper, and the Simharian Princess, standing beside Lilia, smiled gently. “He’s here,” she said softly.

A smile spread across the faces of others as well. Especially the girls.

The whole ballroom had gone silent by then as the constant sound of the tiptops was enough to bring down the chatter, making everyone turn to the entrance, feeling their hearts pound along with those sounds. It was as if they couldn’t control themselves.

Then, as if in a tendon, the announcer’s voice boomed, cutting through the silence. “The Grand Duchess of the Great Drakathor Empire, Vanessa Drakathor, along with the Rising Star of Humanity, and her son, Alex Drakathor, have arrived!”

The doors swung open, revealing Vanessa and Alex in their full splendor.

Vanessa’s silver hair shimmered under the chandelier’s light, her gown a masterpiece of craftsmanship that exuded both grace and power. Beside her, Alex stood tall, his sharp features framed by his snowy hair. His attire, meticulously tailored, highlighted his broad shoulders and lean frame. His piercing eyes scanned the room with calm confidence.

A collective breath seemed to exhale from the crowd as they took in the sight. For a moment, time itself seemed to pause, the weight of his presence filling the air.

Vanessa stepped forward first, her movements fluid and commanding. Alex followed, his expression steady but approachable. As they walked through the ground floor, moving toward the staircase, the murmurs began anew, this time filled with admiration and awe.

At the dais, Emperor Maurice’s smile widened, pride flickering in his eyes. Cassandra’s sharp gaze also softened, though her demeanor remained poised.

The man of the day, Alex Drakathor, was finally here, and the day’s celebration could truly begin.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep