The emperor and empress entered, bowing to the nobles around them, and without waiting, they took their seats in the ballroom, at the very bottom of the hall, where the stairs led to the thrones.
Immediately after this, Aether looked directly at Atlas and smiled and shook her head. Atlas had done the same in a polite reply.
Immediately after this, another voice came from the door of the ballroom, and all attention turned back to the door:
"Crown Princess Minerva Epsilon and First Prince Lars Epsilon entering the ballroom!"
As soon as these words echoed through the hall, the princess and prince entered the hall, and without waiting, the knight's voice rose once more:
"Former Duchess Missy Fembe enters the ballroom!"
With those words, Duchess Fembe's mother, the former duchess, entered the hall and the knight at the door shouted once more, for the last time tonight:
