The walk to the ballroom was a gauntlet of stares—though thankfully, most of them weren't aimed at me.
Emilia glided ahead, her gown whispering against the marble floors, while Aeron and Livia flanked her like a pair of dazzling honor guards. Every head turned as they passed, whispers trailing in their wake like ripples in a pond.
Main characters. Can't take two steps without causing a scene.
Meanwhile, I lingered half a step behind, my "background character aura" doing its job splendidly. A few curious glances flicked my way—probably wondering why some rando was tagging along—but they quickly lost interest.
Perfect.
Then we stepped inside the grand hall, and even I had to pause.
The ballroom was enormous, its vaulted ceilings strung with constellations of enchanted lights that shimmered like captured stars.
