After Elias and Olivia entered the grand, glittering royal banquet hall.
Elias noticed the hall was buzzing with guests mingling in small groups, chatting and laughing.
They were late, but being the fifth princess, Olivia's tardiness didn't raise any eyebrows.
The attendants courteously ushered them in.
Upon Olivia's arrival, Elias felt a wave of gazes shift their way.
After all, Olivia had been declared "recuperating" away for so long and rarely appeared at such events.
People were naturally curious about this mysterious, beautiful princess who had recently regained the Emperor's trust.
As Elias and Olivia chatted quietly, a man with a genial smile approached them.
Elias looked at him – a military officer in his thirties, handsome, with a striking resemblance to Olivia but with the same dazzling blond hair as the third prince.
Clearly, this had to be the second prince, the one in charge of the city's defense forces.
