Five years later, in Valentine City, capital of the Drakethorne Grand Duchy.

  The roads were alive with carriages rumbling by, children weaving through the streets, and vendors calling out to passersby with spirited voices.

  Today, Empress Catherine Fairwind and Princess Eva Evernight were set to arrive in Valentine to meet the members of the Drakethorne house.

  It was an especially significant day for the princess. Not only was it her first visit to Valentine, but it was also the first time she would meet her fiancé.

  Lucy, the knight commander of the Drakethorne house, stood at the main gate, inspecting each knight and adjusting their posture as needed. Once she had checked every formation, she delivered her orders with confident precision.

  The knights and soldiers wore gleaming armor and spotless uniforms. The streets were crowded with people eager to catch a glimpse of the empress and princess. Nearby, children played and chased each other, paying little attention to the excitement.

  Lucy paused, then turned to the servants standing nearby. Approaching them, she asked, "Are the flowers and magic circles all placed correctly?"

  Startled by Lucy's brisk approach, the servant nearly lost his balance. He quickly regained his composure, stood at attention, and replied, "Yes, all the magic circles have been imbued. Servants are stationed at every designated spot, ready to shower the carriage with flowers as it passes."

  Lucy nodded and walked briskly back to the city gate entrance. She had been pacing the perimeter since morning, inspecting guard posts and giving instructions to make certain the welcome for the empress and princess was flawless.

  Knights and soldiers guarded every point along the path from the gate to the entrance of the Drakethorne palace. Their duty was to keep the crowds at bay and prevent any intruders from approaching the carriage.

  A knight hurried to Lucy and announced, "Commander, the royal carriage is approaching."

  Lucy straightened her posture and instructed the gatekeeper to open the Valentine City gate to allow the entry of the royal carriage. The city was encircled by a fortified wall that repelled attackers and demons.

  Knights surrounded the carriage on all four corners atop their horses. Mages sat on their own horses, while other warriors followed from the back.

  The carriage was made of expensive material and featured a silver-and-gold pattern, with a huge emblem of the Evernight Empire at its center. A pair of huge black horses with great strength drew the carriage. The coachman, who steadied them, radiated a grandmaster's aura.

  Their entry alone was enough to inspire awe and respect.

  The carriage rolled slowly into the city. As its wheels crossed each magic circle, vibrant elemental motes burst forth, filling the air with an ethereal glow. Servants stationed at intervals tossed flowers onto the carriage, making the spectacle even more breathtaking and leaving the commoners in awe.

  Children who had been playing nearby stopped mid-motion and turned their heads toward the spectacle, some breaking into cheers and waving, while a few stood still, mesmerized by the sudden burst of color and sound, unable to look away.

  Inside the carriage, the empress sat at one end, while the princess sat at the other; they were the only ones inside.

  Empress Catherine Fairwind wore a crimson dress that accentuated her waist. She appeared to be in her twenties, though she was already in her forties. Her silver hair cascaded freely, immaculately combed. She had deep black eyes and fair, flawless skin.

  Princess Eva Evernight wore an elegant, long white dress that stopped just above her feet by a few inches. Delicate floral patterns adorned her attire. Her silvery moonlight hair, which reached her neck, was perfectly styled. Her black eyes sparkled with mischief, and her skin was luminous and fair.

  Princess Eva Evernight leaned forward and pressed her forehead lightly against the carriage window, gazing at the passing scenery. The windows were crafted so only those inside could see out; from the outside, they appeared obsidian, revealing nothing of the interior.

  "Mother, Valentine seems prosperous, almost like our city. It is not as grand as our capital, but it is lively," Eva observed, watching the children and laughing as their joy filled the air. "Look at those children. They look so happy."

  "Certainly, they're prosperous. As one of the only four grand ducal houses, they hold great power. They come close to our own powers but fall shortly behind," the Empress replied, glancing at her daughter, who was busy sightseeing.

  "They have power to rival ours? I thought you said no one in the empire could match us," Eva said, turning sharply to her mother with a questioning look. "What makes them so special?"

  Empress Catherine Fairwind gently touched her daughter’s cheek. "Eva, they have three paragon-ranked warriors. We have more, but even among paragons, there are differences. When your fiancé Alex Drakethorne was born, their house gained a new paragon, Alex’s father, Shane Drakethorne. Before that, they had only two. Now they have three. Alex’s grandfather also grew much stronger after his birth. He is now considered one of the five strongest in the empire, whereas before, he was only in the top ten."

  Eva gently pulled away. "Mother, please do not treat me like a little kid. Besides, Father is still the strongest in the empire."

  "Oh, my daughter! You are only five, yet you act so mighty," Empress Catherine said, pressing her hand to her chest and feigning a wounded expression.

  The princess huffed at her mother’s words and turned to look out the window. She saw a grand palace as they approached it in their carriage.

  Empress Catherine Fairwind laughed as she watched her daughter stubbornly cross her arms and pout. Eva, despite being only five years old, insisted, "I'm not a little kid!" Catherine could never understand why Eva hated being treated like one. Maybe Eva just disliked the cage and restrictions that come with being a child and wanted to live freely.

  Empress Catherine Fairwind sighed at her daughter’s odd behavior, then turned to look out the window at the scene outside.

  - - - - - -

  Inside the palace, Shane Drakethorne and Sera Azurestorm adjusted the small bow tie around their son, Alex Drakethorne. Shane, wearing a white suit embroidered with silver floral patterns and a small black dragon design etched near his right shoulder, carefully held the bow tie while Sera straightened it.

  Shane’s hair was combed back, his face radiated youth, and his black eyes were focused. He had long ago stabilized himself at his paragon rank.

  Sera Azurestorm wore a white dress that fit her waist closely. Hand-painted flowers and petals adorned its hem. A diamond necklace graced her neck, with matching earrings sparkling in her ears. Her blue hair was swept into a bun, and her azure eyes followed Alex as he stood nearby. Alex, uneasy in his suit, fidgeted as his parents adjusted it and smoothed his hair.

  "Mother, Father, I can do this myself. You should go ahead, and I will join you once I am ready," Alex protested, reaching for his bow tie to prove his point. His parents only smiled and shook their heads, not willing to let him off just yet.

  "So, my little son wants to dress himself now? I remember when you were four, you ran into our room at night, crying because of a nightmare," Sera Azurestorm said, reaching out to gently cup Alex’s face in her hands.

  Standing beside Sera, Shane Drakethorne smiled warmly at their son. Alex's cheeks turned crimson as the memory resurfaced. "I really did cry all night, didn't I?" he muttered, remembering how he had eventually fallen asleep in their room.

  After Alex turned three, Shane and Sera moved their bed back to their own private chambers. They felt Alex should be able to sleep by himself then. Before that, they always slept in his room and mostly tended to him by themselves.

  Sera Azurestorm finished combing Alex’s hair with gentle strokes, then gave his bow tie one last straightening. Stepping back, she examined his appearance with a nod of approval.

  Alex Drakethorne, heir to the Drakethorne grand ducal house, wore a white suit, matching his parents' outfits. His black hair, tinged with blue at the ends, was neatly combed back, and he had a fair complexion. He wore a necklace crowned with a crimson diamond, sapphire earrings partially covered with petals, a golden bracelet on his left wrist, and a black ring on his left pinky finger. These gifts were given to him during his first week's naming ceremony.

  The dragon egg was still inside his left hand in the form of a tattoo, and it was hidden by his long-sleeved shirt and suit.

  Sera Azurestorm quickly led Shane and Alex to the mirror, standing between them and holding each of their hands. Together, they gazed at their reflection. All three shared a fair complexion, and Alex was clearly a blend of both his parents. Their matching outfits made the family resemblance even more striking. Smiles spread across their faces as they admired the reflection of their loved ones.

  Have a great day!!!