The Grand Banquet Hall was filled with refined music.
Crystal chandeliers suspended from the vaulted ceiling bathed the enormous chamber in a warm golden glow, their light reflecting across polished marble floors.
Hundreds of distinguished guests filled the hall.
Star Lords.
Young Lords.
Iron Angel guards.
Influential merchants.
Representatives from neighboring star systems.
Servants moved gracefully through the crowd, carrying silver trays filled with exquisite delicacies and expensive wines.
Near one of the panoramic windows overlooking the endless sea of stars...
A young woman gently swirled a glass of crimson wine.
Long silver hair flowed elegantly down her back.
Sharp violet eyes calmly observed the bustling banquet hall before her.
She was Young Lord Celestia Valerius.
The sole heir to House Valerius.
One of the ruling Galactic Lord families.
Unlike ordinary Star Lords, whose authority extended over a single star system, the Galactic Lords governed entire sectors of Imperial space, each overseeing dozens of Star Lord families beneath their banner.
Standing beside her was another Young Lord.
She possessed shoulder-length golden hair tied neatly behind her head and bright emerald eyes that carried an unmistakable sense of pride.
She was Young Lord Miranda Solis, heir to House Solis.
Miranda glanced around the extravagant banquet before speaking.
"I must admit..."
"I’m surprised."
Celestia raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Miranda gestured toward the lavish decorations surrounding them.
"The Hollow Brood invasion left House Ashbourne in a terrible state."
"They’ve lost planets."
"Fleets."
"Billions of personnel."
"And yet..."
She looked around once more.
"They still managed to host such an extravagant coming-of-age celebration."
Celestia took another slow sip of her wine.
"I suppose..."
"They haven’t fallen quite that far yet."
Miranda chuckled softly.
"I suppose not."
A mischievous smile slowly spread across Celestia’s beautiful face.
"Come now."
"We shouldn’t expect so little from House Ashbourne."
"They are descendants of some of the greatest Iron Angels to have ever existed."
"They should at least be capable of standing on their own feet..."
She paused before softly laughing.
"...For now."
Her violet eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"But judging by the direction things are heading..."
"They’ll soon need someone to support them."
She placed a hand lightly against her chest.
"And who better than the future heir of their Galactic Lord?"
Miranda’s eyes immediately lit up.
"Exactly!"
"If anyone can save House Ashbourne..."
"It would be you, Lady Celestia."
She smiled admiringly.
"Your generosity knows no bounds."
"Most noble houses would simply abandon a declining family."
"But you..."
"You’re willing to extend a helping hand."
Celestia smiled modestly, though the pride hidden beneath her expression was impossible to miss.
"As long as their Young Master is willing to marry me, all can be arranged..."
She absentmindedly glanced down into her glass.
The crimson wine gently rippled.
For just a fleeting moment...
She imagined Arthur’s handsome face reflected upon its surface.
His black hair.
His chiseled face.
Those striking black eyes.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
She slowly licked her lips.
"My mother has already said she would be willing to accept House Ashbourne back under our protection."
"She is even willing to overlook their previous transgressions."
Her smile deepened.
"After all..."
"...we would be family by then."
Miranda smiled brightly.
"As expected of you, Lady Celestia."
"They would have to be complete fools to refuse such a generous offer."
Celestia let out a graceful laugh.
"Hehe..."
She elegantly raised the back of her left hand to her lips as she laughed, careful not to disturb the wine glass in her other hand.
"I wouldn’t go that far."
"Though I certainly believe they would struggle to find a better offer."
Not far away...
Another young woman silently observed the conversation.
Unlike the lavish gowns worn by many of the noble ladies present, she wore a tailored emerald-green military dress with subtle golden embroidery around the collar and cuffs. A white cape rested neatly across one shoulder, fastened by an ornate jade brooch bearing her family’s crest.
Her long emerald-green hair flowed elegantly down her back, complementing a pair of equally vibrant green eyes that seemed to carry little interest in the festivities around her.
Watching the two women boast amongst themselves...
She couldn’t help but sigh in exasperation.
...What an eyesore.
If Mother hadn’t insisted I attend this ceremony...
There is no way I’d willingly remain in the same room as those two entitled bastards.
Almost instinctively...
Her thoughts drifted back to the conversation she had shared with her mother before departing.
...
"Lyra."
Her mother had looked at her with unusual seriousness.
"This is a golden opportunity for you to find yourself a suitable partner."
"I’ve heard that the Young Master of House Ashbourne is one of the famed Seven Princes of the Empire."
Lyra had tilted her head in confusion.
"...Seven Princes?"
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
Her mother immediately pinched the bridge of her nose.
"The way you’re always so indifferent toward men and marriage..."
"...sometimes makes me fear you’ll be the last member of our bloodline."
Lyra visibly flinched.
"...Geez."
"You don’t have to put it like that."
"Just explain it."
Her mother let out a helpless sigh.
"The Seven Princes are the seven most outstanding Young Masters among the Empire’s younger generation."
"They are young men whose talent, lineage, appearance, and future potential are considered unmatched."
She smiled knowingly.
"And would you like to guess who sits at the very top of that list?"
Lyra sighed.
"...Let me guess."
"Arthur Ashbourne."
Her mother’s cheeks flushed faintly.
"That is indeed correct."
"The Ashbourne bloodline is one of the greatest military bloodlines in the Empire’s history."
"And on top of that..."
"He’s unbelievably handsome..."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"If he fathers children with you..."
"Our family would undoubtedly become one of the Empire’s foremost military powers within a few generations."
She suddenly walked over to a beautifully crafted wooden chest resting beside her desk.
Opening it carefully...
An object inside gave off a faint, ethereal glow.
"So..."
"I’ve decided to entrust one of our family’s greatest treasures to you."
"You are to present it to Young Master Arthur as his coming-of-age gift."
Lyra blinked.
"...Isn’t that a little excessive?"
Her mother shook her head.
"Not at all."
"Even if he rejects your proposal today..."
She smiled confidently.
"You can slowly grow closer to him over time because of it."
"I have every confidence that, eventually..."
"...you will win his heart."