Crown Prince Manor, Imperial City
The banquet hall glowed warmly under rows of golden lanterns. Their light danced across polished jade tables and half-empty wine cups, while soft music played in the background. On the surface, it was an elegant gathering of nobles exchanging pleasantries. Beneath it, ambitions sharper than any blade stirred quietly.
At the center sat Crown Prince Darius Phoenix. His smile was perfectly composed, but it never quite reached his eyes.
Although no official announcement had been made, every powerful noble already knew the Emperor's health had been declining for over a year. It typically meant: the real struggle for the throne had already begun.
Tonight's banquet wasn't truly about celebration. It was about forging alliances.
