Chapter 96

　　"Nervous?" Talha asked from where she was sitting on the couch in the living area.

　　Unlike their smaller, two-bedroom suite on a lower floor, Kal`s room was massive and beautifully furnished with a large bedroom, full kitchen and sitting area. There was even a guest bedroom in case someone wanted to stay the night with him.

　　Overlooking the sparking blue ocean of the Gulf of Mexico, a breeze blew through the open windows, filling the room with the pleasant smell of the beach.

　　"Why would I be nervous?" Kal asked from in front of the full-length mirror. He adjusted his uniform and positioned the Stag of Caledon pin on his lapel to better center it on the fabric. Dressed in Caledon`s freshly pressed black and red uniform, he studied his appearance carefully.

　　His long hair was brushed back from his face, recently cut by a hair stylist provided by the Imperial Stewards. Fresh-shaven and recently showered, he was as put together as he could possibly be.

　　"How do I look?" Kal asked, turning away from the mirror and asking his companions their opinion.

　　"Very handsome. I`m sure Mare will be very pleased with you for your date." Sylla said with a smile. He hadn`t revealed her true identity to the pair, feeling that it would be up to Mare to have that conversation and wishing to respect her desire for privacy.

　　They had finally adjusted to her after a few days, and he didn`t want to restart the process just because they learned she was a princess instead of the niece of a Duke.

　　"It`s not too late for you to come with me. I still have an open invitation to bring a guest." Kal asked, looking from Talha to Sylla. The redheaded Pilot looked like he asked her to commit murder. She retracted from him in visible horror while Sylla sported a large frown.

　　"I think we would be more comfortable here, Kal." Sylla shook her head at the thought of spending an evening with the Empire`s nobility, forced to put on airs and act appropriately. She wanted to spare herself the embarrassment.

　　"Suit yourselves. Try not to get into any trouble while I`m gone." Kal joked.

　　"No promises, we`re going out with Micah and the others to watch the fireworks. Then&.who knows?" Talha said with a sly grin, and Kal shook his head.

　　"Don`t burn the place down or start a riot." Kal replied as a knock sounded on the door. A second later, an Imperial Steward appeared.

　　"Good morning, Milord. Your transportation is here." The steward greeted him, giving a bow.

　　"Thank you. I`ll see you both later." Kal said farewell and followed the steward out of the room. Heading out to the street, an escort awaited him. Several Imperial Guardsmen snapped a salute and directed him to the end of the block, where a transport shuttle waited to take him to the palace.

　　Sitting in the air-conditioned interior of the shuttle as it took off from the resort, Kal thought of the upcoming Ball.

　　It would be held in the Imperial Palace and the grounds extending miles past the building. Even limiting the attendees to Titled Nobility, their immediate families and guests, over ten thousand people would arrive over the next few hours, making it a logistical nightmare for the Guard.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

　　Even now, Kal could see other shuttles arriving at the resort town, likely preparing to be filled with other guests.

　　As the escort for Princess Marella, he would leave early to meet her in the royal family wing of the palace, where they would enter the Ball together.

　　He was worried about what the night would hold, not only because he would be a focus of attention with his connection to Mare but putting so many of the Nobility together in a single place was a tinderbox. Millennia of bad blood and grievances, old alliances and new, it was asking for someone to make a scene.

　　Kal let out a sigh as he watched the sun in the distance touch the horizon. The further they travelled towards ancient France, the later in the day it became. The Ball would last all night, but it would still be daylight in the resort town when he returned.

　　Breaching the atmosphere, the transport glided through the silent void for a moment before it pitched down again. Arriving at the Imperial Palace, he found the buildings decorated for the celebration.

　　Imperial Flags fluttered in the breeze, and lights were draped between the trees and the pathways. The theme for Marella`s birthday was  Under the Heavenly Stars.` Staff had selected all the decorations to be either white, silver or light blue.

　　A trick of the shield over the Palace had somehow enhanced the sky. The stars were vibrant pinpricks of light, and colours occasionally swirled through the darkness, green, blue, and gold.

　　Inside, the theme continued, although somewhat muted, in order to encourage guests to go outside and enjoy the June evening air rather than the stuffy interior of the palace.

　　"Baron Caledon." A member of the Royal Family`s staff approached him as he disembarked. Rather than the white and blue of the Imperial Stewards and Guards, the woman approaching him wore a black suit with the gold Imperial Eagle with twelve stars on her lapel.

　　"Princess Marella has asked that you join her in her sitting room. She is just finishing her preparations. If you would follow me." The staff member immediately turned around and began guiding him through the maze of hallways and stairwells until they reached Mare`s palace wing. Through a set of broad, wooden doors, Kal found himself in a well-furnished sitting room. He could see a group of people surrounding a seated figure through a door to his left.

　　"Kal! Have a seat. We`re just finishing my makeup." Mare called out from the middle of the group, her body and face entirely obscured by the staff around her.

　　He had barely sat when another staff member brought him a tray of drinks, setting them down on the coffee table in front of him. There was a pot of tea, coffee and a pitcher of cold, freshly squeezed orange juice.

　　Taking a cup of coffee, he had a tiny bit of cream and sugar before stirring. Placing the spoon on the tray, he took a sip just as the staff began to exit Mare`s bedroom, followed by the Princess herself.

　　Mare was stunning. Her long black hair had been straightened and pulled over her left shoulder, leaving her right bare. Wearing a black dress, red fabric lined the inside, and it flashed with every step she took. Her makeup had been done perfectly, accentuating her features and green eyes.

　　"How do I look?" She asked, turning in place so he could see her better. Kal choked on his coffee, spilling a bit of it out of his mouth. Mare laughed at the reaction as he grabbed a napkin and cleaned himself up.

　　"You look beautiful." Kal replied, standing up from his seat.

　　"I see you clean up well." Mare added, stepping forward to fix his uniform lapels that had been disturbed. Coming close to him, Kal could smell the roses of her perfume, sweet but not overpowering.

　　"I thought I should make a good impression." Kal replied.

　　"That`s good because I have something to tell you. My parents are here and want to meet you before the Ball starts." Mare explained, finishing with his lapels and patting them gently as she stepped away.

　　"You make it sound like I should be prepared for war. Should I be worried?" Kal asked, amused. After everything he had been through, meeting Mare`s parents wasn`t a concern for him. There was nothing they could do to him that was worse than stasis or nearly dying in the Atlas.

　　"They`re still upset about my refusal of Malik Carmichael. Especially for you, they aren`t able to look past your family`s history to see you as different from your parents. Especially my father. He lost my Grandparents during the Rebellion, and he will hold that against you." Mare stated with sadness.

　　"I remember when they died, something to do with their Starship`s Engine malfunctioning. I didn`t know they had attributed their deaths to my Father. It was still being investigated when I went into Stasis." Kal explained.

　　"I researched it after we met, but the results were inconclusive. It could have been sabotage or simply an accident, but my father believes they died because of the Rebellion, and that is all that matters." Mare stated.

　　"Alright, I`ll be on my best behaviour."