As time passed, it was time for the ball. It was evening, the sun had set, and the chairs and poles in the huge garden of Shadowfall Palace were covered with lamps.
Everyone had dressed in their finest clothes and attended the ball.
Nearly three hundred members of the nobility were gathered at Shadowfall Palace. Many were chatting, the nobles standing in groups, most of them gathered around Emperor Aether and Empress Aelia.
Atlas, meanwhile, was in his chambers with Cassandra. Cassandra had chosen Atlas's clothes as usual and was waiting to make the final touches to his hair.
'You have one more year to reach marriageable age,' Cassandra said suddenly.
Atlas rolled his eyes and teased, 'Thanks again for sharing what a terrible adult you are.'
After finishing all their preparations, the two left their room; it was time for the ball to begin.
