Book 1: Chapter 21
The empire held a ball today in the Emperor’s Palace thanks to that fat chief officer of the treasury. Normally, this palace isn’t open because it’s usually reserved for the empress to hold banquets. However, this time it was a ball specially held to “welcome the prince home.”
Her majesty lent out her favourite palace without any hesitation as soon as she heard I was attending.
The fat man didn’t say anything with substance. He just told me how many streets and markets he owned. He then told me I could just take what I wanted when I went to so-and-so. He also told me stuff pertaining to women, which included him having several elf-girls…
Forget kissing up to me or carrying my shoes, he was virtually on all fours kissing and licking my shoes. My mood turned very sour after that…
This place must be specially used for balls. The large hall was empty. The torches used to light the hall were covered with a crystal cover, illuminating the entire hall. The floor was floored with luxurious marble tiles. Treasured works of art were hung on the walls. I think you could have several hundred people dancing in here all at once. All sorts of foods were placed on the two long tables along the two sides.
Several people dressed in gorgeous evening dresses quickly went their ways. The men with glasses of wine in their hands were chattering. Conversations over their drinks were about money and power. The women revealed their warm backs and shoulders. Their fragrances silently carried the scent of their hormones. The reasons people were mingling and lingering around at this ball were because money, power, women and the things men wanted were present.
I bowed to her majesty from behind and said: “Your majesty…”
The empress didn’t dress in any sort of evening dress for the ball. She chose to dress in a military uniform instead. Her long cape dragged along the floor. Several maids beside her helped her adjust her belt and shoulders. She had her back facing towards me, but when she heard me she said: “You’re here, my son.”
“Yes.”