[Lavinia's POV—Imperial Palace—Dawnspire Wing—Lavinia's Chamber]
And the day has finally arrived—my coming-of-age ceremony.
The day I officially turn sixteen and get introduced to society not as some ordinary noble lady… but as the Crown Princess.
It's not a normal day for a person like me, who is the future empress of the entire empire. So… of course, it's not just the imperial palace that's buzzing—the whole empire is practically blinding itself with decorations. Golden banners, flowers everywhere, and so many shining lanterns that if anyone trips over a wire, the whole place might just look like the Festival of Explosions instead of my big day.
It's huge. It's grand. It's—
"PRINCESS!"
I gasped, jerking my eyes open. Even Marshi, usually calm as a rock, let out a startled "guh!" beside me.
"What—were we attacked?" I blurted, ready to leap out of bed swinging with a sword.