(A/N: I'll be switching to third-person now since it fits the story better. But Cael's thoughts will still be fairly known.)
"Is this everyone, Marcellus?"
The emperor asked, peering through one of the curtained windows overlooking the grand hall where the guests had gathered.
The Imperial Ball had always been a momentous event, but this one surpassed all previous ones by a significant margin, both because of the events leading up to it and the caliber of nobles currently in attendance.
It didn't help that the headmasters of the capital's most prestigious academies had also chosen to attend. That meant the emperor wouldn't simply be dealing with conniving, sly nobles. He'd also be dealing with people capable of conjuring the power of a nuclear bomb with a single thought.
But he had already taken enough precautions.
Marcellus.
Julius.
And more importantly, the endless procession of nobles below, whose magical lineages could give even those headmasters a run for their money.
