~
The palace awoke beneath a thousand lanterns.
Gold and crimson silk draped the pillars of the eastern banquet hall, cascading in soft folds from ceiling beams carved with lions and phoenixes.
Incense curled lazily into the air, perfumed with sandalwood and winter plum, while musicians tuned their zithers behind ivory screens.
Crystal lamps reflected off polished marble floors, multiplying candlelight until the entire hall shimmered as though submerged in molten gold.
It was the first banquet of the new year.
And the Queen had summoned the lot.
Emilia stood before the gold mirror in her chambers while June and Alice adjusted the last folds of her gown.
Pale moon silk flowed down her frame, threaded with silver embroidery that caught every movement of light.
Her hair was half-bound with pearl pins, the rest tumbling freely down her back, and a slender diadem rested above her brow.
Emilia arrived early at the hall as the host, and the Benetton carriage arrived first.
