"Is everything ready?" I asked my personal maid as she carefully arranged the final touches of my appearance. Her skilled fingers worked through the golden strands of my hair, weaving them into the intricate braiding pattern that would complement the ceremonial crown I would wear tonight.
"Yes, Your Highness, the dignitaries have already begun arriving," she informed me, her voice carrying the professional composure that masked what I knew must be considerable nervousness. Tonight's event was unlike anything we had hosted before. "The security protocols are in full effect, and the reception areas are prepared for the largest diplomatic gathering in the Empire's history."
