The day of the celebration banquet finally arrived.
The royal palace was bright and full of life. Red carpets covered the long halls. Golden lanterns hung from the high beams. Nobles from every region filled the grand hall, dressed in their finest robes. Music played softly as servants moved back and forth with trays of wine and food.
Everyone was talking about one name.
Ernest.
At the front of the hall, a special seat had been prepared for the king. Beside him was an empty space where a queen would normally sit.
But it remained empty.
Elizabeth was allowed to attend, yet she no longer had the right to sit beside King Edward. Instead, she sat among the noble ladies. Her seat was only good because she sat next to her mother, Duchess Anita. Without that, she would have been placed even farther back.
Whispers followed her wherever she looked.
She kept her chin high, but her fingers gripped her sleeve tightly.
