The air inside the Main Banquet Hall of Tianhua Palace felt frozen and rigid. The invisible pressure from the Death Authority that had briefly leaked from a crack in Sylvia's soul made the atmosphere in the hall extremely heavy. The Second Prince, Hua Tianming, stood stiffly in the middle of the red-carpeted aisle. As a Rank 5 mage, he had originally intended to use his royal status and the support of the Main Noble Council to pressure Sylvia. However, before he could take another step, his instincts suddenly screamed hysterically, causing his saliva to catch in his throat.
Before the tension could erupt into open conflict, the sound of a magical golden trumpet from the main gate resonated loudly, shattering the choking silence.
"His Majesty the Emperor of the Tianhua Kingdom and His Highness the First Crown Prince enter the hall!" the royal herald proclaimed with a voice amplified by resonance magic.
