The 'Burning of Rhatica' marked a significant turning point in Granvayl's campaign into H'loren lands. The city of Rhatica, previously the trading town called Sassara, was originally part of a H'loren elves' greater territory. Its inhabitants were once servants of the evil woodland elves for over 200 years, until the War of Contested Forest erupted and they saw the light that they thought they would be forever denied. Crown or Tiara Chapter 5 By Shinieris

The 'Burning of Rhatica' marked a significant turning point in Granvayl's campaign into H'loren lands. The city of Rhatica, previously the trading town called Sassara, was originally part of a H'loren elves' greater territory. Its inhabitants were once servants of the evil woodland elves for over 200 years, until the War of Contested Forest erupted and they saw the light that they thought they would be forever denied.

Excerpt from 'War of Contested Forest: The Compilation'.

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"As I told you time and time again, I have an invitation!" Seo said to the guard in front of him. He was at the main gate of the royal palace of Vel-Farnikk. He had arrived at the castle gate late after noon, and he had been at that same exact spot until dawn, trying to convince the guard that he was expected. At this moment, he was slowly losing patience.

"And I have also told you time and time again, no one enters the palace," the guard countered unmoved.

"Look, I've been waving this..." he waved a piece of paper in front of the guard's face, "...for so many times, I think the paper has already started to turn into dust. You've read it too, does this look like a fake?"

"As I said, no one enters the palace," the guard said, standing stiffly and with a tone of impatience.

"And why in Vastramach's pit is that so?"

The guard's tone turned rough. "You would do well to avoid mentioning the dark god's name in Vel-Farnikk, Mr. Seo. We are all religious people and hearing the dark god's name mentioned so freely is an assault on our beliefs."

"Alright, I'm sorry about that. But still, can't you at least tell me why I can't go in?"

"It's the crown prince's welcoming feast. All official matters for today are cancelled, by order of the favoured prince. Now go, come back tomorrow," the guard said as he shooed Seo with a gesture of his hand.

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"Urgh," Princess Feska grumbled at the sight of so many guests in the Great Hall. She was wearing the dark green dress she was forced into, and her hair was extensively styled by Lady Frenia. As a result, she could feel the large curls at the sides of her face tickling her as she walked.

While the original Great Hall in the Imperial Palace was much smaller, later dynasties had improved it, either by annexing the nearby rooms or by making additions to it. King Athista Razen, the late king, connected the Great Hall with both the Gold Palace and the Silver Palace, through the addition of two staircases at the sides. Each of these staircases led to the highest floor of the Gold Palace and the Silver Palace respectively.At the moment, the princess was standing at the bottom of the staircase leading to the Gold Palace. She was looking into the Great Hall and suddenly felt very afraid. She slowly inched backward.

She was stopped from retreating any further by a pair of hands on her back. "Where do you think you're going, Your Highness?" The princess turned around, edging to the left, but she was stopped from running away when Lady Frenia blocked her route.

"Don't even think about running away, Your Highness," Lady Frenia smiled with her eyes closed, "I took great pains in ensuring that your hair looks perfect for this occasion.

"But Lady Frenia..." the princess whined with a glance at the Great Hall behind her, "There's A LOT of people in there!"

"Of course, Your Highness, it is your brother's welcoming feast after all. But do remember, when the crown prince ascended the throne, he will be expecting a lot more of your presence," Lady Frenia said as she took the princess along an adjoining hallway.

"Thanks to Therion, he thinks I'm King Vorik Strongblade's daughter. Why would Mikhal want to see me then?" the princess asked as she was led along to another, bigger entrance.

"Oh, you didn't know?" Lady Frenice said as the princess shook her head.

"Not only are you King Vorik Strongblade's second daughter, but you're also Prince Fridrick Hamdall's bethrothed."

"WHAT?!!!" Princess Feska exclaimed, drawing odd looks from passersby.

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"The arrival of, Princess Nefeskaya Falana Talranic, Favored Princess of Granvayl," the palace crier announced.

"Princess," said a knight in shining breastplate and bracers who was bowing with his right arm on his chest.

"Nice to see you here, Duke Rashtall," the princess smiled, and in her heart, she said, I can do this, I can do this. "How goes the army of the west?"

"Disciplined and ready to take down any of the crown's foes, Your Highness," the duke banged on his breastplate with his steel bracer.

"Good day, Your Highness," curtsied an elderly lady with lots and lots of jewelry on her self.

"Good day to you too, umm..."

"Baroness Mirin of Ikreet, Your Highness," the elderly lady curtsied again, apparently unaffected by the fact that the princess had no idea who she were.

The princess nodded. "Ah right, pleasure to meet you, Baroness Mirin."

"The pleasure is all-" the old baroness was interrupted when a man in flamboyant shirt with peacock feathers and a hat apparently covered in swan feathers pushed her aside.

"Count Virtis, Your Highness. I am in charge of the reconstruction of the Imperial Way."

"Count Virtis, good to see you here," the princess nodded.

"Yes yes, everyone loves to see me," he said with an air of arrogance, "Oh and since you're here, I have a favor to ask of you, Your Highness."

"A favor?"

"Yes, can you please persuade the favored prince to cut me some slack? It's bad enough to have to actually pay slaves for carrying slabs of marbles. Now I can't even make curves for the Imperial Way, or make roads that are steeper than 20 degrees."

"I don't think I-"

"Please, Your Highness, the prince is being unreasonable," Count Virtis said as he was also shoved aside by a man in a somewhat normal court clothing.

"Your Highness-" he was also shoved aside by another man.

"Good evening-"

"How do you do-" came a voice from her left.

"Pleased-" came a voice from her right.

"Enchante-" she had no idea where that voice came from.

The princess' head spun at the seeing the throng of nobles and officials surrounding her. She noticed that the longer she was there, the more people came and crowded around her. She knew she should escape, but she was already surrounded. The princess was starting to hyperventilate.

"Pardon me. I'll be borrowing the princess for a while," said a voice that broke through the noise around the princess. A moment later, she felt someone grab her hand and pulled her out of the crowd.

*As always, feedbacks and comments are very appreciated.