The ballroom was large and filled with various nobles and aristocrats of all races socializing and dancing with each other. The room had gorgeous marble floors with intricate patterns on it. The room was lit up by crystal chandeliers using special crystals that can light a room just as well as a light bulb back in Irene’s world. Red velvet curtains hung by the window giving the room a very glamorous look and a lot of the columns were all decorated with flowers wrapping around them like vines. Irene may not like to go to balls often, but even she admitted that the room looked gorgeous, like the ones in her old fairytale book. 

One by one, some people in front of the family were introduced as they entered the ballroom. Soon, it was the Ironblood’s turn. 

“Duke Charles Ironblood and Duchess Magnolia Ironblood.” The couple walked in smiling as a lot of people bowed to them, the children were next. 

“Lady Jessabelle Ironblood.'' Gesabelle walked in with pose and grace. 

“Lady Irene Doyle Ironblood.” Irene was nervous, but walked in with confidence and style. Doyle was her original last name when she lived in her old world. When she was adopted by the Ironbloods, Irene asked to keep her last name so now it is her middle name. 

“Lady Ella Ironblood.” Ella walked in with such elegance that it made a few heads turn. One unfortunate waiter accidentally ran into a pillar due to being distracted by Ella’s beauty. 

“And introducing for her first debut, Lady Violet Ironblood.” Violet had a huge smile on her face when Lucas escorted her into the ballroom, her bright smile could outshine the sun itself. Once inside Jessabelle and Ella wasted no time in socializing with their friends. Irene stayed behind with Lucas and Violet. 

“Everything looks so beautiful!” Violet smiled as she took in her surroundings. 

“I think I can see your friends over there,” Lucas pointed towards the table full of food and younger children going at it. 

“I think I see Zelda!” Violet said excitedly as she let go of her brother’s arm. “See you later!” she said before rushing off to greet her friends. 

“I thought for a second I needed to get a crowbar,” Irene jokes. 

“I don’t think a crowbar can stop that girl,” Lucas joked back. “Well I have to go and parole the grounds now,” he said, bowing to his sister.

“Do you have to go?” Irene asked, feeling uneasy. 

“I gotta make sure the castle is safe,” Lucas pointed out. He then placed a comforting hand on his sister’s shoulder. "I know these events make you feel uncomfortable, but don't worry. Your best friends are here, so it won't be so bad," Lucas reassured his sister. Hearing that cheered Irene up a little. Her brother had always been good to her and her siblings. It's no wonder that he’s the perfect candidate to take over the family one day. 

“Thanks,” Irene smiled. “Now get your butt out there or I’m reporting you to the king,” she then jokes. 

“Alright! Alright! You got me!” Lucas laughed as he left the ballroom. 

“IRENE! YOU CAME!” someone practically shouted. A girl with long, curly brown hair that was half-tied into a bun and green eyes wearing a gorgeous light blue and yellow ball gown with short wrist-length gloves and yellow flowers in her hair ran up to Irene and gave her a big hug. 

“Anabelle, it's so good to see you!” Irene happily greeted while hugging back. The girl hugging Irene is Anabelle Romonovy, the second princess of Artamita. She is the sweetest and most energetic, eccentric girl you will ever meet.

“I’m so glad you made it to the ball!” Anabelle happily smiled. 

“I’m always up for hanging out with you” Irene smiled as well. “Now all we need is Zetian and the trio is complete.” 

“You called?” a gentle voice asked. Both girls turn to see a Chinese-looking woman wearing a mixture of green, purple, and red Hanfu dress with a Zhongshan-style cardigan with intricate Chinese knots on them. Her eyes were like chocolate and her raven black hair was tied into two bun pigtails and decorated with flowers, jade stones, and silver hair clips and accessories. On the chest was a golden-embroidered, proud-looking crane. 

“Oh Zetian, you look amazing!” Anabelle complimented her friend’s attire. 

“You’re too kind, your Majesty,” the lady named Zetian said as she bowed to Anabelle. “And Lady Irene, I’m happy that you came to the ball” she then bowed to Irene.

“Well, more like my family dragged me,” Irene jokes, causing both Zetian and Anabelle to laugh. 

“That definitely sounds like your parents,” Anabelle laughed.

Zetian, or rather, Ambassador Song Zetian, came from a neighboring country called Jin Long, or The Land of the Nine Dragons, as dragons are so common there. They were often worshiped as the people who believed them to be gods who brought rain and protection to the land. Zetian was one of many children of the current emperor who asked her to represent their country because of her good manners, intellectual mind, and negotiation skills, and thanks to her Artamita and Jin Long have a great relationship. 

“By the way, how is your mother doing?” Irene asked, remembering that Zetian’s mother was having a difficult pregnancy. 

“She has given birth to a healthy baby girl and are both doing well,” Zetian smiled with pride. 

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Irene squealed with delight as she loved babies. 

“And my mother sends her thanks for those kind gifts that helped her through her difficult pregnancy.”

 “All I did was send her some sweets, medicine, and a nice scarf. I didn’t do much” Irene blushed in embarrassment. 

“On the contrary, your small kind deed helped my mother through a very difficult moment. I feel lucky to have such a kind friend that would go to all the lengths to help out my family,” Zetian bowed feeling grateful to Irene, who was still blushing like a tomato from being the center of attention, which she didn’t like. 

“Well, well, well, if it isn't that commoner trying to pretend to be nobility,” a rude voice spoke up. Irene recognized the voice anywhere and turned to see a blond elf woman wearing a pastel green ancient greek style dress with a low v-neck with strings of pearls connecting them. A silver choker was around her neck with sapphires on it and teardrop pearls hanging down from it, there were silver armlets and silver bracelets with pastel see-through fabric connecting the armlet and bracelet on each arm. Her saddles were silver with pearls hanging, and her blond hair was in a high ponytail and separated into three parts with silver clips separating them, she also had a silver crown with a sapphire in the middle of it and silver earrings with teardrop pearls hanging down from them.

“Beatrix Lightwood, why am I not surprised that you’re here?” Irene said, rolling her eyes in annoyance. 

“That’s Princess Beatrix Lightwood to you, peasant!” the elf rudely reminded Irene. 

“Beatrix, stop being rude to Irene!” Anabelle snapped, stepping in to defend Irene. 

“Why would you defend a commoner that’s lower than you? I’d be embarrassed if I ever hung around them!” Beatrix sneered.

“First of all, Irene was adopted into nobility, therefore she’s of nobility just like the rest of us,” Anabelle pointed out. “And second, even if she wasn't, I’d rather hang out with her than a pompous, bratty, prideful elf who looks down on anyone not her equal.” 

This ticked off Beatrix “How dare you to talk to me like this! I am of royalty, so I should be treated with the utmost respect!” she shouted at Anabelle, who scoffed.

“Royalty? You're acting more like a spoiled child.” Now the elf was really pissed. But before she could Zetian stepped in between the two ladies. 

“Now ladies, there’s no need for useless insults,” she said, getting the two to stop. 

“What are you doing?” Anabelle asked, confused. 

“Hold on” Irene said, holding her shoulder to prevent her from moving. 

“But Beatrix’s insulting you!” Anabelle complained. 

“I know, but I think Zetian’s planning something,” Irene whispered into the princess’s ear. 

“How can you tell?” Anabelle whispered back. 

“The evil look in Zetian’s eyes” Irene pointed out. Anabelle looked and noticed that Zetian’s eyes looked sharp along with a sly smile on her face, making her face look scary and disturbing. When Zetian is angry, her face contorts like this while still remaining calm and collected. 

“I must say, Princess Beatrix, that green dress suits you quite well,” complimented Zetian. 

“Why, thank you! This dress was made from the finest silks from a high-quality silk farm,” the elf began, loving the attention she was getting, completely unaware that Zetian had grabbed a glass of red wine from a passing waiter. “And these jewelry are made by the best silversmiths in Evergrove. They always make the best in the world!” 

“My mother is a fan of elven jewelry and I can see why she loves them,” Zetian smiled, continuing to flatter Beatrix while secretly spilling the wine on her dress. Both Irene and Anabelle’s eyes widened in horror upon realizing what Zetian was doing

“Indeed, you look marvelous tonight, your Highness. But… I’m not so sure red wine goes with your dress” Zetian pointed out. 

“Red wine, what do you mean?” Beatrix asked, confused. When she looked down she screamed in horror at her wine-stained dress gaining the attention of everyone nearby. “What did you do to my dress!?” the elf princess shrieked. 

“Punishing you for insulting my friend” Zeitan glared down at the elf with fury in her eyes. 

“You insult my friend again and my father would make you wish you were never born” That threat was enough to scare the elf princess, but not before she turned to Irene.

“Just wait, you're going to pay!” she shouted to Irene and she left while complaining over her stained dress. 

“Wow… sometimes I forget how scary Zetian can be,” Anabelle whispered into Irene’s ear. 

“Yeah, remind me not to piss her off,” Irene whispered back. 

“Well, it serves that arrogant princess right,” Zeitan scoffed, turning back to her friends. 

“Don’t you think that was a little extreme?” Anabelle asked.

“She wouldn’t leave Irene alone, I had to do something,” Zeitan said in defense of her actions. 

“I appreciate that you were trying to help me. But maybe next time try to handle Beatrix without the risk of war between the two kingdoms?” Irene pointed out.

“I guess you got a point, Duchess Irene,” Zetian said upon thinking about her past actions. “But still, why does that elf bully you?”

“I would like to know as well! What does she have against you?” Anabelle asked as well. 

“I’m afraid it has been going on since I was a little girl. Around the time Magnolia and Charles adopted me,” Irene sighed, she did not want to go down that bad memory lane. Still, her friends deserve to know the truth. “My siblings and I were invited to Beatrix’s birthday party and Mother decided this was the perfect opportunity for me to get out and see the world since at the time I was just so afraid of nearly everything.” 

“I’d imagine anyone would be afraid if they suddenly ended up in a strange new land.” Zetian sympathized with Irene. 

“At the party, I met Beatrix and we got along alright at first until I accidentally got my dress ruined thanks to a maid that tripped and spilled the drinks all over me. Beatrix’s mother helped me out by lending me one of her daughter's dresses. But when everyone saw me in the dress they all could not stop complimenting me, which angered Beatrix. And ever since then, she’s been bullying me,” Irene finished.

“All because you looked good in her dress?” Anabelle asked in disbelief. “That elf has issues.” 

“I think Beatrix is just under a lot of pressure from her family to take the throne resulting in low self-esteem” Irene theorized. 

Both princesses looked at Irene confused. 

“What do you mean?” Zetian asked. 

“Well, she is the only child of the king and queen of Evergrove, so she’s the next in line to rule the city-state. I’d imagine with that kind of pressure on her shoulders she’s probably worried she’s not good enough and no one to talk to without the fear of being judged, so she takes her anger out on everyone just to feel better” Irene spoke.

“Some people put others down just to feel better because it’s hard for them to pick themselves up” Zetian quoted, remembering those woods she once read. 

“Wow, I never thought about it like that,” Anabelle admitted, now feeling more sorry for the elf than angry for her attitude.  “Isn’t there something we can do for her?” 

“I doubt it, elves are very prideful and stubborn to ask for help as many see themselves as above humans and other creatures,” Zetian pointed out. “Sometimes, I wonder how the elves function as a society with all that arrogance in the air.” 

“Not all of them. Beatrix’s parents are very kind and respectful people,” Irene reminded Zetian. 

“Yeah, sometimes I wonder if Beatrix is even related to her parents,” Anabelle admitted. 

“Better not say that in front of her,” Irene warned, causing the three girls to laugh.

”How in the world do you do that by the way?” Anabelle asked. 

“What do you mean?” Irene inquired. 

“You seem to have a gift for seeing things that other people are blind to see,” the princes explained. 

“Just something I’ve always had a knack for,” Irene shrugged her shoulders, not wanting to make a big deal about it.

“A very useful knack if you ask me,” a male voice said.

The three ladies turned and saw a very handsome man walking up to them. His hair was white as snow, eyes green as emeralds, and was wearing a white formal military uniform much like Lucas’, only his was decorated with medals that were mostly rose symbols. He also had white gloves on and fine black leather shoes. The man looked like a prince right out of Irene’s old fairy tale book. This man was none other than the crown prince Dimitri Romonovy.