***In the Main Imperial Palace of the Imperial grounds..
***In one of the numerous reception spaces for formal gatherings..
..
Despite the probing and their casual display of obvious strenght, Tamara tries to calms herself down internally as she remembers what she has discussed before her attendance to this event.
Her beautiful face shows no worry and Tamara looks to be perfectly calm and in control of everything that's happening in her space.
Internally, for every layer of her probe-proof armour the powerhouses melted through, her anxiety doubles several folds.
Tamara has never felt so powerless before. This display of strength shows that artifact or not, most if not all of the people in these has the cultivation and strenght to squash her in an even confortation.
A few slow seconds ticks by and Tamara cam bare keep her anxiety from cracking out as she feels her artifact almost out of power!.
Considering the might if some of these casual probes thrown her way, Tamara would be way worse than completely naked the instant the probe-proof barrier completely wears off.
Somehow, Tamara holds herself together through despite the extreme tension in her heart. The probe barrier wanes and just as the energetic probes are about to completely wear-down the power of her artifact,.. a very powerful and familiar aura envelopes Tamara completely.
The Imperial Emperor's aura!.
In an instant, all probing gazes are immediately withdrawn like they never existed with some of the people involved in the probings suffering mild backlash.
Seemingly indifferent about what has just happened, Tamara takes another sip of her wine though internally, she is just a little away from bursting out in panic.
If not for the Emperor's timely intervention, Tamara does not think she would have been able to hold on for even a second later.
With the Emperor's aura around her, Tamara has time to catch her breath as she internally contemplates on what has just taken place.
It was a test.
What the powerhouses all did just now is a very simple test given to Tamara in order to see just how much confidence and trust she has in the Emperor's backing.
If Tamara had shown even the slightest bit of panic or fluster as these people wore off her sheild then the people would have read her position as one where she doesn't feel much protected or cared for by the Emperor!.
No matter how powerful these peopke are on outside or even inside the Imperial Palace, none of them can ever grow the balls to truly probe at the Emperor's unprotected Consort!.
They all would have naturally stopped their probings the moment her shield wore off though by then, they would have already confirmed what they needed to.
Thinking of the intensity of her first political test, Tamara is thankful that she knows about the possible methods she could be tested before hand or else,.. Tamara would have completely messed up her under-mined social standing before she even begins the process of socialising.
Trying to clear her mind of these thoughts, Tamara circulates a wave of mana through her system as she washes off the numb feeling of dodging a close bullet.
"Your Elegance Tamara.", A noble masculine voice politely urges Tamara from behind.
Tamara tilts her head sideways as she sees a nobly robed man in a military blue-and-white suit approaching her with a small polite smile on his face.
Returning the polite smile, Tamara calmly responds with a small smile if her own. "Fancy seeing you here General Damian Fort.".
Offering a broad smile and not showing any surprise at the fact that Tamara recognises him, Lord Damian Fort offers a polite courtesy bow as he invites himself to join her around the tall table.
Smacking his lips, the General calmly picks up a glass of wine.
Immediately she's seen his face, Tamara has already recognised who the lord is..
Damian Fort, a terrifying HIGH-LEVEL Rank 6 Fire mage with unpredictable God-like combat levels as well as a distinct false Hell Domain!.
Current ruling general of the legendary flaming sword Army division with over eighty thousand and counting of the best loyal warriors at his command!.
Damian Fort is known for his ruthless and destructive nature in battle. He is also known for his vast wealth which he gets from both loots of war and martial training centres.
He is one of the Grand Chiefs of the Dragon King's tribe which is one of the seven great arms of the Imperial Court. This man has proven himself worthy of both his titles, his army and his surname time and time again in all records.
There's a feat where it records him single-handedly burning down an entire Rank 5 army unit of over twenty thousand men down to the ashes!. Other records talk of him drying out rivers, winning impossible battles and even burning down entire army cavalries of elves and demons.
Not at all fooled by his polite smile that perfectly masks a fiery monster, Tamara secretly let's her guard up. The Dragon King tribe from a political perspective aren't gaining much benefits from the Empress and so they are not fully on her side but that does not at all make them the Empress's enemies either.
After all, very few people have been recorded to be stupid enough to intentionally make an enemy of the Empress. Although any random arm of the court aren't necessarily scared of the Empress, they also aren't stupid enough to directly confront her.
Tamara isn't sure about Damian Fort motives of approaching her but she's atleast sure that as a Rank Six General, he cannot be much interested in lending an helping hand or becoming political 'friends'.
"This is the first time we are getting to exchange pleasantries. Although I would have loved it'll be in a more casual setting.. I must still say that it's quite the honour.", Lord Damian says with a small smile that looks a little too genuine but Tamara isn't planning on buying.
Any snake in here can make a genuine smile or laugh.
"An honour indeed.", Tamara says while keeping up with the general's conversation pace.
As the Emperor's Consort.. although not on a level of importance as massive as this one, Tamara has been to a lot of similar events.
The only difference this time is that Tamara is seen as a little more than just one of the Emperor's doll and she's actually being a part of the event instead of just attending the gathering.
"General Damian, would you mind giving me introductions into a circle?.. I'm afraid I'm rather awkward at giving self introductions.", Tamara asks the general with a polite smile.
Since the old snake is already here, why not use him influence for her own good in terms of socialising?.
"My honour Your Elegance, this way.", General Damian Fort replies while polite leading her through.
The general and Consort Tamara visits one table then another they stay moving. They would visit one small social circle then the other with General Damian acting as her wingman to start up short but meaningful conversations with others.
Tamara's short conversations involves flowing introductions, exchange of pleasantries and false smiles.
Most of the people here obviously do not see much in her but they were also slightly impressed with her being brave enough to attempt at making an impression.
Steadily, hours flows by with the humans and elves still in casual talks and by a stroke of luck and planning, Tamara has been able to introduce herself into an elven circle.
Surprisingly, the elves are rather polite and they were even a little eager to speak to Tamara. This positive attitude surprised Tamara greatly even though she plays along with the flow.
Through various interactions although she cannot say she's gained connections, Tamara is able to atleast gain the powerful contacts of a lot of people.
Through her interaction, she has been able to filter out organisations and people whom she has a chance of getting on her side. By the time Tamara is leaving back to her castle, she can boldly say that she has done a good job in her first event.
However perceived, she has atleast left a small mark in the long term memory of most of the powerful figures present.
Not bad of her first meeting.
Riding in a crystal dragon-horse carriage, Tamara exhaustedly transports herself back to her castle while using waves and waves of mana to stabilise her mental health. Dealing with those snake-like people and carrying out conversations with mental carmeleons is not at all a simple task.
Although she can barely feel the carriage moving, Tamara knows that she would soon be back into the wide comfort of her own quarters.
The carriage soon pauses it's movements before it's doors gets silently pulled open by two Knight with deep noble yet brutal aura's.
Taking a breath, Tamara smacks her lips slightly open as she puts a feet outside of her carriage before stepping out.
Inter starlight, Tamara silently looks around. She visually surveys her space and then she looks at her palace while feeling a deep sense of wonder.
Massive, artistic and more than worthy of the word Imperial.
The white plain grass covers the garden grounds, tens of knights robotically stands at their posts and the beautiful passage to the palace's main doors are faintly illuminated by floating mana orbs.
Her palace is massive!. Considering to holds over sixty pocket spaces then it is even more massive. Apart from her glorious palace's structure, she has enough space around for it to be declared as a small territory!.
Tamara truly has it all and under the pale moonlight, things seems to become even clearer and outstanding.
Still standing straight, Tamara looks on as her knights bow to her with their hands on-top of their hearts and she cannot help but feel her heart race a bit.
Her palace truly is a safe-haven.
One may think that absolutely nothing can beat such a paradise-like environment. An environment where she isn't restricted but rather protected yet, the sights that Tamara has seen today has washed off every bit of this kind of naive thinking.
There's something, structures much greater than!. More majestic, more ethereal and much more powerful and the Emperor and Empress's Palace were one of them.
The grandness of the Emperor's Palace architecture, the luxury in the strokes of 'casual', the arts in the halls, the undeniable aura of power flowing through the walls as well the might in the atmosphere.
Tamara has never been to the Empress's Palace before but she has been to the Emperor's Palace multiple times. She isn't just noticing most of the things there for the first time so why?,..
Why does she feel so intimidated this time?.
Tamara can be considered as very wealthy. She has an intimidating position as the Emperor's Consort yet why is it that she feel so.. poor?,..
So powerless?.
Being honest, Tamara knows that it is all in her head. She has that she has a life that's beyond reach for most of the top 1 percent and yet,.. yet she can't stop the feeling of jealousy and inadequacy rising in her.
Without showing any of her thoughts on her face, Tamara elegantly makes her way into her Palace doors which immediately opens up to welcome back its master's presence though the deed has been done.
Humans or rather people are never known for their satisfaction. No matter how much people have, greed naturally comes knocking and with it is a full dose of obsession.
The seed of greed has been planted and now, one can no longer control how deep its roots would become.
..
..