The hall was then engulfed by half jovial half imposing orchestral melody, as the many hundreds of musicians in the hall began their enchantingly slow, yet elegant and forceful serenade, which prompted the three emperors, other than me, to take to the center of the room, to begin the customary opening dance.

Emperor Octavian and Mikhail obviously, took to the stage with their wives in hand, but since the eastern emperor's wife had passed many years ago during child birth, his daughter, princess Ziyi took her late mother's place; a very sweet act, as thought by most who saw it.

While I merely abstained from it, which even though many found it a bit odd, or possibly slightly rude to our hosts, I neither cared, nor would anyone dare speak of it. For I had no interest in dancing with any woman other than Eve; and besides if that prideful woman were here this evening and saw me dancing with another woman, she would think ill of me if I try to flirt with her later on, thinking me a womanizer.

The three emperors and their partners then began their elegant sway to the music, bedazzling many with their expert skills and the mesmerizing air they birthed with their movements.

Especially that of Octavian and Roxana, who were literally shining in the spotlight, and not just because of their extravagant attire, but due to the practically perfect way they maneuvered around each other, as if they were able to predict each other's movements in advance and adapt to them without even a hint of a flaw.

Which made a great deal of sense, since even though the two of them had a very boorish introduction to each other, and their early relationship could be called anything but harmonious, these two were still practically born for each other, as the two had always possessed this uncanny ability to communicate without the need for words, which was later on the basis of their carefully cultivated love and respect for one another.

A story that is still to this day spoken without end, especially among the social circles of the young Luminous noble maidens, who yearned for such an unlikely fate, since the two of them were an anomaly.

Meanwhile, the other two were also very much enthralling in their dance, maybe not as much as the master and mistress of the west, but enthralling none the less.

Principally Emperor Tianlan and his most beloved daughter, who caught the eye because of their warm and joyful smiles to each other, which fully showcased the love they held one another as father and child; it was a warm scene of familial fondness.

All of which helped to only exacerbate the flaws of the northern emperor and empress, who despite performing excellently, they failed to to elicit a comparable response from the audience, as it was fairly known that the two were not an especially loving couple.

Nadia greatly respected her lord and husband, and Mikhail appreciated her kind nature, and was eternally grateful to her for giving him his long awaited heir, but that was the extent of the depths of their feelings for one another, which simply paled in comparison to Octavian and Roxana's unparalleled passion and steadfast devotion, while utterly lacking a comparable sensation to Tianlan and Ziyi's warm patriarchal bond.

The opening danse soon ended, and the they stopped their movements just as the hall erupted in cacophonous applause, mostly of which was due to Octavian and Roxana's spectacular display, before the made their back to their seats, as a great many others rose from their seats and onto the dance floor, most of whom being from the younger generation, bar those from the four great powers, like my brothers and the other royal scions.

We had a certain air and position we must keep in mind at such times, so we all remained in place for a while, silently beholding the festivities, but that did not mean we were without a purpose, as I calmly called out "Isaac."

"Sire?" He answered.

"Your mission is going to become more difficult, but you can not fail, understand?" I commanded, nonchalantly combing my fingers through my hair, to obscure the movement of my lips, from any unwanted eyes.

"Of course, my lord. The empress will be found, no matter the cost." He said, as he deeply bowed, for the same reason as me, before he turned around and made his way to the southern door, seemingly going to casually perform some menial, unimportant task.

Yet at that moment, two familiar figure approached our table, before they both deeply bowed, saying "We greet the Ruinous Dragon."

"Eleonora, Sophia." I replied, while nodding once in greeting. "Odd to see a dragon's wings unattached to the body?" I asked with a cocked brow, genuinely surprised by their appearance here without Maximillian.

"Our husband has been busy as of late, but worry not for our sake my lord, for he remains near to us at all times." Eleonora said in seeming sentimentality, as I felt as though her words conveyed more then she let on, but I couldn't make sure of it just yet.

"But he did bid us come here in his stead while he is preoccupied for the moment." Sophia then continued.

'Busy? Preoccupied? Why are they emphasising his unavailability so much?' I thought in further scepticism and growing doubt, since what could possibly keep the War Dragon himself occupied when no wars significant enough for his care are at play at the moment.

That is of course, unless you count our own southern conquests against the Murathicus tribes, but that's still a whispered rumour for now for now; a secret that was slowly unravelling, but still one none the less.

"Not another secret invasion into my lands I hope?" I then lightly asked, using it to both cloak my slight concern and probing curiosity, all the while gently pushing them to reveal more.

Lightly giggling in response, Eleonora said "Of course not, my lord. In fact, my husband has vowed that the next you two play against each other again, he will do it head on, with a letter of intent in hand."

"Is that so?" I replied with a small smirk. "Then I await his next challenge, I too after all... have been itching to properly decide the victor between us."

"Your words alone will be enough to elate him, my lord." She replied with a pleased smile.

'Seems like her first goal has been achieved.' I silently noted, as I continued trying to guess her real goal in approaching me.

"Sister... Darling's present." Sophia then seemingly reminded her sister-wife, but I could also tell that this was nothing more than a rehearsed play.

"Oh, yes of course. Silly me." She said, as she gestured for a nearby servant to bring forth a relatively large square shaped object, that was covered by a large white piece of cloth, which then very quickly attracted a few people's attention.

Halting my guards in their place after they forward to inspect the gift with a slight raise of my hands, I gesture for her to bring me it, knowing full well that no foul play would be done in these halls.

Offering me a grateful nod in return, Sophia placed the object on the table before me and then removed the covering, to reveal one of the beautiful chess boards I had ever seen in either of my two lifetimes. Even though it was made of several simple kinds of wood, not even the premium kind of timber either, but the ones you'd find in any old shop; it was still absolutely exquisite, a true testament of it's creator's skill.

"How gorgeous." Nizam absentmindedly muttered.

"Indeed." I affirmed, still looking at the exquisite handicraft, of whoever built it.

"We're glad you like it, my lord." Eleonora said with a happy smile, one that wasn't as performative this time.

"Our husband spent many a sleepless nights crafting that." Sophia then added with a hint of pride, as if his achievement were her own.

"Maximillian made this?" I asked in complete shock, having never before heard even a whisper of this peculiar hobby of his.

"Yes he did. Our husband is a man of many talents after all." Eleonora then affirmed, her tone carrying that same hint of pride as Sophia.

"Indeed he is." I had to agree with them, but then I pointed out "But why is the white king missing?"

An even more pronounced smile then stretched across their lips, and I realized that they had finally reached the main point of what they wanted to achieve by approaching me, as Eleonora answered "The white king is in our husband's hands, and it will remain so, until the soon to arrive time, when he is able to use it in a game against you."

'The key word in her speech was soon.' I thought, as I understood the hidden message she was wanting to convey, and keep away from the ears of others.

Yet before I could continue this game of hidden meanings in obtuse words, to better understand what has them so cautious and careful, a cold voice came from behind them saying "Pardon the interruption, my lovely ladies. But would you mind terribly if I spoke with the Ruinous Dragon for a moment."