The ringing silence that usually followed a high-society performance never lasted long in the imperial capital. The moment the final, dramatic chord of the orchestra died down and the physical tension on the main floor broke, the grand ballroom erupted into a low, vibrating hum of overlapping whispers. To the high nobility standing on the fringes of the court, the dance that had just occurred between the two bitter rivals was nothing short of an absolute, unbelievable spectacle.
Philia smoothed down the cuffs of his immaculate silk doublet, stepping away from the center of the room with the effortless, practiced grace of a seasoned performer. He could feel the collective eyes of the court tracking his every move, heavy with a mixture of curiosity, intense judgment, and awe.
