The grand hall of the imperial palace buzzed with the energy of nobility and power. Nobles from every corner of the empire mingled beneath the towering crystal chandeliers, their laughter and conversations blending into a harmonious symphony of wealth and privilege. Nolan Anderson, still adjusting to his new reality, found himself standing amid the grandeur, feeling both exhilarated and overwhelmed by all the façades.
He had barely been inside for a few minutes before he was swarmed by young nobles—boys and girls his own age. Though they smiled and spoke politely, Nolan couldn't shake the feeling that they were studying him like a rare exhibit in a museum. Most of them knew about his recent condition, the coma, and the strange rumors that surrounded his miraculous recovery. To them, Nolan was something of an oddity, and their curiosity was palpable. He could almost imagine dark aura rising behind them.
"How are you feeling, Nolan?" asked one boy with a concerned look, though his tone felt rehearsed, as if he had already asked the question a dozen times that evening. His face full of concern like his own blood relative was on a sick bed or something.
"I'm much better, thank you," Nolan replied, trying to keep his voice steady, and stop the twitching of the corner of his lips.
Another girl, her dark hair tied up in an elaborate bun, tilted her head as she spoke, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "It must have been so frightening, being unconscious for so long. But you look so well now. How did you manage such a recovery?" Her intentions were in plain sight as she tried preying into the secret behind his recovery.
Before Nolan could answer, another voice cut in, "I heard the Anderson family had a renowned healer brought in from the far reaches of the empire. Is that true?"
Nolan smiled politely, though he was growing uncomfortable with all the attention. "My recovery was thanks to a lot of care from my family," he said, avoiding the details and just didn't bother speaking or elaborating on the topic further no matter how they asked.
But the group of teenagers around him seemed eager to pry, their gazes sharp like a beast as they exchanged glances. It was clear all of them were fishing for information, hoping to catch a glimpse of something scandalous or exciting about Nolan's recovery, most definitely put up to this task by their family. He felt like an animal in a zoo, put on display for their amusement.
As the questions continued, Nolan did his best to answer each one, though he kept his responses brief, not like he could tell them about his soul transfer. He knew Juno's advice well—be polite, smile, and don't give too much away. But as more and more young nobles joined the group, he began to feel claustrophobic.
Being a archmage in his past life, he was not known for being a party beast or his lavish life style, but a shut in who could spend a decade researching without seeing any light for all that time. There were too many eyes on him, too many voices vying for his attention.
Then, a sharp voice rang out across the hall, commanding everyone's attention, stopping all the chattering noise around the grand hall.
"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Septimus, will now give a speech."
Nolan sighed with relief as the crowd around him dispersed, their attention diverted to the dais at the far end of the hall. All eyes turned toward the emperor, who stood tall and regal, his silver robes gleaming under the light of the chandeliers. Though Emperor Septimus was known for his kindness and wisdom, there was no mistaking the air of authority that surrounded him. He was the ultimate power in the empire, and even the most influential dukes and barons bowed before his presence.
Nolan watched as the emperor raised his hand, and the hall fell into pin drop silent, while everyone bowed their heads a bit to him.
"My honored guests," Emperor Septimus began, his voice smooth and commanding, "it is a great pleasure to welcome you all to this year's royal banquet. Tonight, we celebrate not only the bonds of nobility but the strength of our empire, which endures through the loyalty and cooperation of its people."
His gaze swept across the hall, making brief eye contact with several key nobles, including Duke Alpheus. "As we look to the future, let us remember that it is our unity that allows us to face any challenge, and our shared duty to ensure the prosperity of our great empire for generations to come."
The speech was short, but every word carried weight. When the emperor finished, the hall erupted into polite applause. Nolan clapped along, relieved that the focus had shifted away from him, at least for the moment. The emperor may have looked kind, but Nolan knew from his studies and Juno's warnings that Septimus held his empire with an iron fist beneath the velvet glove of diplomacy.
As the applause died down, soft music began to play, signaling the start of the banquet's traditional dances. Nolan watched as couples began to form across the dance floor, moving gracefully in time with the music. He noticed his mother and father sharing a quiet smile before stepping out to dance together, their movements synchronized with years of familiarity and love.
Nolan, on the other hand, was left standing awkwardly by the edge of the room, watching as more and more nobles found partners to dance with. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief, grateful to be left alone for the moment. But his respite didn't last long.
Just as he thought he could retreat to a quiet corner of the hall, several young ladies approached him, their dresses shimmering in the golden light. They smiled at him, their eyes bright with interest, though their expressions were carefully measured, befitting their noble status.
"Nolan, would you care for a dance?" one of them asked, her voice sweet but calculated.
Nolan blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't expected to be asked so soon, and certainly not by more than one girl at once. He hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
Another girl, dressed in a pale pink gown, stepped forward with a teasing smile. "You've been standing here all alone, Nolan. Surely you wouldn't refuse a lady a dance, would you?"
Nolan could feel his face growing warm. He was used to formal events, but dancing in front of such a large crowd, especially after the recent spotlight on him, felt daunting. Before he could stammer out a polite refusal or excuse, a grunt from behind the group caught everyone's attention.
The girls fell silent, and Nolan turned to see the source of the sound. Nova Bright stood a few paces away, his piercing blue eyes locking onto Nolan's. The ladies who had just been hinting at Nolan for a dance seemed to melt away at the sight of Nova, their faces flushing as if his very presence had set their hearts racing.
Nova didn't say a word, but his mere appearance was enough to clear the space. The girls exchanged nervous glances before stepping back, leaving Nolan standing awkwardly in the center of the group.
Nolan caught Nova's gaze for a brief moment. There was something unspoken between them, an acknowledgment, though neither of them voiced it. They simply nodded to each other, a subtle exchange of respect. It was brief, but it left Nolan with a strange sense of calm.
Without breaking his stride, Nova turned and headed toward his grandfather, Grand Duke Joseph Bright, who was standing near the emperor. Nolan watched as Nova whispered something into his grandfather's ear, and together, they moved toward the emperor, engaged in a quiet discussion.
The sudden shift in attention left Nolan feeling disoriented. Just moments ago, he had been surrounded by girls eager for his attention, and now, he found himself alone once more. That is, until one of the girls from earlier—one who hadn't been scared off by Nova's presence—boldly approached him.
"Well, Nolan," she said, her tone playful, "it seems the ladies have left you in peace for now. But perhaps you wouldn't mind indulging me in a dance?"
This time, Nolan didn't have a chance to refuse. The girl took his hand and led him onto the dance floor before he could protest. The music swelled around them, and Nolan did his best to follow her lead, though he still felt awkward and out of place, but he would not let all the practice go to waste.
He could feel the weight of the eyes around him, watching, judging. But he forced himself to smile and go through the motions of the dance. After all, this was what was expected of him and what he's been trained on for the past few months.
As the dance continued, Nolan couldn't help but glance over at Nova, who was still speaking with the emperor and his grandfather. Whatever they were discussing seemed important, and for some reason, Nolan felt a growing sense of unease. It was as if something more was happening beneath the surface of this elegant banquet—something he wasn't yet aware of.
But for now, he was just a duke's son, dancing at a royal banquet, trying to navigate the complex web of nobility and power that surrounded him.
The night was far from over, and Nolan had the sinking feeling that this was only the beginning, to something bigger.