227 Showtime

(Planet Gaia- Imperial Palace)

(Grand Hall- Waiting Room)

There were numerous side rooms and passages connected to the grand hall where the banquet was being held.

Each noble entering the grand hall was the heir to a powerful family in the Federation so the palace attendants were required to make announcements for each one and treat them with the utmost respect.

This did slow down the process to enter the hall, so these noble heirs were granted access to the side rooms while they were waiting.

These rooms were not uncomfortable by any means as they contained several lounge chairs, couches, refreshments, and plates of light snacks.

A few hours has passed since the banquet had begun so the nobles waiting to enter the grand hall had significantly decreased.

This was good news for Sophie and her group as they had arrived quite late due to a schedule mix up by one of the boys travelling with them.

"Are you all clear on your roles for the night?" Leona asked quietly as she checked her communicator.

"Sophie will be in the center of our formation and we need to maintain a polite but distant attitude with the other nobles in the hall."

"Yeah, that doesn't seem like a problem," a young boy no older than twelve cheerfully spoke up.

"Don't get too caught up in the details, the most important thing is to project an attitude of confidence," Sophie leaned back against the chair she was sitting on and spoke.

Luna smiled nervously and tucked her shaking hands in her pocket. She had never been to a noble gathering before and was quite happy when Sophie sent her a message.

"Look's like after that group goes in it will be our turn," Sophie remarked as she noticed some noble heirs being escorted into the banquet hall by a palace attendant.

Sophie was currently waiting patiently with the other nobles in her group. There were six of them in total and on the way to the palace, they had bonded quite a bit.

There were two boys in the group and they both seemed pleasantly surprised to find another male to talk to.

Chase Morechild was the second youngest of the group and his innocent child-like smile and sunshine demeaner made Sophie want to pamper him.

Chase was the only son of Duke Morechild so despite his young age, he was forced to attend the banquet as the family's representative.

Alexander Nightland was around Sophie's age but had yet to take the university entrance exam, so he was still in high school.

He was a tall, lanky boy with skinny arms and legs that fit surprisingly well with his scholarly image and intelligent aura.

The girls in the group that Sophie was familiar with before the banquet were Leona Braveheart and Luna Valenburn.

Leona was wearing a fiery red dress that highlighted her arrogant temperament while Luna had decided to wear a cerulean blue evening gown that matched her sapphire necklace.

Her first interaction with the remaining members of the group was a little bit awkward but Leona had managed to get the conversation going so soon that feeling melted away.

Clara Obsou had the appearance of a woman in her early thirties but the way she talked and behaved made Sophie suspect that she was much older.

She tried to recall the information sheet that her father had given her before the banquet and soon her eyes subtly widened with shock.

Clara was over five hundred years old!

Sophie made sure that the shock this news gave her was not visible on her face as she continued to make small talk with the mature woman.

Lily Blackait was only eight years old and was wearing an adorable pink princess outfit complete with a tiny crown on her head.

Sophie had completely fallen in love with this precious girl, so she was currently holding the child on her lap and playing with her hair.

"Announcing the entrance of…." 

The palace attendant had finally reached the last members of the group that had gone ahead of them, so it was nearly time to make an entrance.

The plan was simple.

Do not antagonise or fight with any nobles inside the hall but make sure to win any confrontations that might happen.

It would be unthinkable for a physical brawl to occur in the royal palace and Sophie had never been afraid of any verbal spar.

Unfortunately, she would not be able to use her special ability which was to curse like a drunken sailor.

"I still can't get over how beautiful you are in that dress," Luna spoke softly as she gazed at Sophie with reddened cheeks.

Luna was completely straight but that did not prevent her from appreciating the great beauty before her eyes.

Sophie's calm and indifferent temperament was something that could only be described as innate.

The gorgeous narrow fit dress that shifted colours to mesmerizing hues could draw the attention of anyone who glanced in her direction.

Sophie smiled gently and replied, "Thank you."

"Your dress is very pretty and suits you well."

"Big sister what about me?!" came the sullen voice of Lily who was currently happily sitting on Sophie's lap.

"You are the most adorable creature here," Sophie laughed and rubbed Lily's cheeks with her right palm.

There was a warm atmosphere between the girls as they teased and played with Lilly until the little girl chased them away angrily.

"Excuse me but it is time for your entrance," a short man wearing the imperial palace ceremonial robes walked over with a humble attitude.

He was clearly trained very well as there was not even a hint of surprise in his eyes when he realised that one of the noble girls was a hybrid.

"Okay I'll take Lily and you make sure to be in the center of us," Leona picked up Lily in her arms and gestured for Sophie to take the lead.

Sophie's warm demeanor immediately changed to a more serious one and she nodded back in affirmation.

It was showtime.