As evening descended, fancy carriages began to arrive in front of the royal ballroom. The delegates from the ten kingdoms and the high-ranking members of nobility began to gather within the elegantly adorned grand hall of the Royal Palace of Othinia, the lords and ladies clad in various extravagant attires symbolizing the culture and heritage of their respective kingdoms.
Laughter and animated conversations filled the air as the guests greeted one another with warm smiles and exchanged pleasantries. The tinkling of glasses and the gentle clinking of silverware resonated from the tables where refreshments were artfully arranged.
At this point, Arlan and Cian were left on their own after receiving the greetings of some nobleman and his wife.
"Your brother-in-law is still not here," Arlan commented.
"Single men like us have the freedom to arrive early without being delayed by a lady companion," Cian spoke as he took a glass of wine from a passing servant.
