The Grand Duchess of Night, Lumiere

The Empire of Eisenrick.

A banquet the Empress had hosted, calling it a day of tremendous celebration.

Many high-ranking nobles sat along the long tables.

Their faces were pale, and cold sweat ran down them despite being indoors.

Gone were the leisure and elegance befitting high-ranking nobles; they kept glancing toward the entrance like thieves caught in a trap.

“Is that really true?”

“Does this sound like a joke to you? Look even now. Hasn’t Duke Halbel left his seat? He was supposed to arrive first and bluster around as though he were the Empress herself!”

“Gnnngh!”

The seat of Duke Halbel sat empty.

As he said, Duke Halbel had used his lofty rank to lord it over nobles as though he were king...