Once downstairs, Irene was greeted by a woman in a gorgeous aquamarine dress, whose brown hair-streaked with some gray in them- was tied into a high bun with a silver greek wreath crown on her head with a small veil behind it, walked up and hugged Irene tightly.

“Oh Irene, how beautiful you look, my dear!” the woman said in a giddy tone, acting like a kid with a new present.

“Mother, can I breathe please?” Irene asked, sounding like she was being smothered.

“Oh… sorry, dear,” the lady said, letting go of Irene. 

“Magnolia, dear, you need to be more careful when hugging your daughters,” a man said walking up to Magnolia. He had ginger hair that too was streaked in gray that was neatly combed and tied in the back in a low ponytail with a dark green ribbon. He had violet eyes and was wearing a fancy 18th-century green suit attire, white, long stockings, and brown buckle shoes.

“But I can't help it if my daughters look adorable, Charles,” Magnolia whined a little while looking at the man with puppy dog eyes.

“Must you give me those eyes?” Charles cringed.

“I know you love it when I do this” Magnolia responded smiling as she began to hug and kiss the man lovingly while he both cringed and kissed back. This made Irene laugh.

“Those two never change,” she thought. 

They were Duke and Duchess Magnolia and Charles Ironblood, the couple who adopted Irene when she came to their world. They, along with the maids, butlers, and friends of theirs, taught her everything about their world such as the customs, cultures, dancing, edicts, and history. 

“Mother, Father, would you two stop making out with each other? We’re going to be late for the ball!” a girl wearing a purple dress decorated with pearls, a pearl necklace, gold earrings, and short white gloves complained. Her ginger hair was up in a low net bun decorated with pearls and a bow and tiny pearls in the front of her bangs and her violet eyes were staring at Charles and Magnolia annoyed. 

“But Jessabelle, it’s always good to be fashionably late. Nigel himself taught us that,” Irene reminded the angry-looking ginger. 

“I prefer to be punctual than fashionable,” Jessabelle scoffed.

Jessabelle Ironblood, the 2nd born of the noble family. She acts mean and scary, but it’s only because she cares about appearance and one little slip-up can ruin the family name according to her. But Irene believes Jessabelle is taking too much of the family burdens on her shoulders. Guess that’s what happens when you hide your big heart under all that stubborn attitude. 

“You know, with an attitude like that, it’ll be hard for you to find a husband,” Another girl that showed up teased Jessabelle. This girl had brown hair in a braided low bun with purple bows on each side of her head, purple choker bow, pearl earrings, and a simple and elegant grayish blue dress with lace embroidery with flowers on them and elbow-length white gloves. 

“You’re dead, Ella!” Gesabelle said as she began to chase the girl named Ella Ironblood, the third born in the family. She’s usually the quiet type, preferring to keep her nose in a book or scroll, basically an average bookworm. But she has a witty, charming side to her that she likes to show every now and then, mostly around Jessabelle as she can be fun to tease. 

“Girls! Behave or I’m whooping your butts to kingdom come!” Charles shouted at the girls and they both halted immediately. 

“Sorry Father,” they said with nervous looks on their faces. Duke Charles is usually a timid guy, but he can be scary when it comes to disciplining his children. His looks alone can give any child nightmares. 

“Can we go now?” another girl asked impatiently. This girl was shot with violet eyes, and brown curly hair with two in a pigtail with sunflowers and green ribbons in them. She wore a bright yellow dress with a green ribbon sash with a sunflower on it along with sunflower earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. 

“Calm down, Violet. We're going” Irene reassured the girl. Violet Ironblood is the fourth born in the family. She’s a very energetic preteen that loves to be active, whether it is socializing or sports, basically an average tomboy. Today is her very first time at the anniversary ball since she turned twelve last month.

Magnolia began crying as the family headed out to the carriage waiting on them. 

“Mother, what's wrong?” Violet asked concerned.

“All my girls have grown up!” Magnolia cried. 

“Calm down dear, you're going to ruin your makeup,” Charles said trying to calm his wife down. All the girls including Irene just facepalmed in embarrassment. Sometimes, their mother can be a bit overly dramatic, especially when it comes to her family. That’s life in the Ironblood family, and Irene could not be happier to be a part of it.  

The Palace looked amazing shining in the night, the white marble walls almost looked like diamonds. Irene remembered thinking that when she first came to the palace as a child a long time ago. Tonight the palace looked even more dazzling with all the lights and decorations all over it. 

The royal family went all out for this anniversary ball. Who wouldn’t when your country is three hundred years old? Irene remembered the story hundreds of times of how a lot of countries were suffering from famine and civil wars and all gathered in what was considered a wasteland where food was scarce and fighting for food was not all that uncommon. 

That is until a brave man stood up and got everyone to knock it off and work together to help everyone. Thanks to teamwork and a little bit of magic and ingenuity the wasteland became a paradise for all to live whether they’re human or not. 

That’s just a sum of how the country of Artamita, there were other things going on like fighting for independence from other countries but in general, those hardships made this kingdom prosper for three hundred years.

Once the carriage stopped at the entrance Irene got out and looked around at the gorgeous lights and decorations all around. But no one was as excited as Violet, who practically flew out of the carriage and began wandering around looking more excited than a kid in a candy store.

“Wow! Everything looks so beautiful!” she nearly shouted with joy.

“Grace and poise, Violet. Don’t forget,” Magnolia reminded her daughter after getting out of the carriage. 

“Sorry,” Violet said feeling a little embarrassed. 

“Oh, let the girl have her fun. This is her first ball after all” Charles said as he followed not far behind his wife. 

“Reminds me of my first ball,” Ella smiled as she got out after Charles. 

“Yeah, you were like a fairy on a sugar rush,” Jessabelle teased her as she got out, earning her a jab in the gut by Ella. 

“You two behave yourselves now,” Charles reminded the two girls while giving them the death glare. 

“Yes father,” both girls responded. 

“Greetings, my beautiful sisters,” said a man in a black formal military uniform with a cape and a simple rose pen on his uniform, the symbol of the country of Artamita. He was a handsome fellow with ginger hair and brown eyes. He kind of looked like a younger version of Charles.

“Big brother!” Violet shouted as she ran into the man's arms. 

“Violet! Don’t you look gorgeous in that sunflower dress?” the man smiled at Violet. 

“Thanks, Nigel the dark elf tailor-made it for me” Violet smiled as she let go and twirled around in it. 

“I can tell, that elf I swear has magic hands when it comes to clothes,” the man smiled. 

“Good evening, Lucas,” Irene greeted as she ran to hug the man named Lucas and the other girls joined as well, hugging their older brother. Lucas Ironblood is now the captain of the royal guards after years of hard work and perseverance. Both Magnolia and Charles could not be more proud of their first born child and look forward to the day that Lucas would take over the family.

“It’s so good to see you all!” Lucas smiled after hugging all his sisters. 

“Will you be joining us for the ball?” Violet asked excitedly. 

“Violet, Lucas is the captain of the royal guards. He’ll be busy keeping everyone safe,” Jessabelle reminded Violet. 

“Safe from your wrath,” Ella joked, causing Jessabelle to growl at her sister.

 ‘Well you two haven't changed at all '' Lucas laughed at his sister’s antics. Irene followed suit as she loves it when her sisters are like this. They reminded her of that one cartoon she loved to watch back in her world involving a cat and mouse chasing each other. 

Violet meanwhile was a little disappointed about her brother working. Lucas noticed this and grabbed his sister by the arm. “I may not be able to spend time with you tonight, but I can escort you inside,” Violet cheered up and grabbed her brother’s arm with delight. 

“Prince Charming like always,” Irene complimented. 

“I do try,” Lucas joked. 

“That is so sweet of you, Lucas,” Magnolia smiled, feeling very proud of her eldest son for doing that.

“Mother, Father, I hope you two are well this evening,” Lucas greeted his parents. 

“We’re doing fine thank you son” Charles smiled at his son, just as proud as his wife. 

“Come on, let's go inside!” Violet said impatiently. 

“Now Violet, behave,” Charles scolds his daughter. 

“Let’s not let the poor lady wait, let’s all go inside,” Lucas suggested. 

‘Yes let’s” Violet said as she practically dragged her brother to the entrance with the rest of the family not far behind.