(Andraus)<br/><br/>Guests were arriving now. The Queen no doubt would attend, it was after all the first and only party of the waning year. It was time for the show.<br/><br/>As the guests pilled into the court yard, as every party began, the<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F736x%2Fb9%2F92%2F31%2Fb99231c506126566d6558fef7167d5bf--ds-max-sculpting.jpg&amp;hash=7798df161dc3ac2f57379bcd354f4c64" href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b9/92/31/b99231c506126566d6558fef7167d5bf--ds-max-sculpting.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">braziers</a>lining the court-yard would light with a red fire, one by one, as Firemasters began launching fireworks into the sky, the sight awe-ing those present. They would REALLY be interested to watch as the P<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fgradypbrown.files.wordpress.com%2F2017%2F01%2F4207911-phoenix-pictures.png&amp;hash=332cc2a0abf038c7c5417f3735214140" href="https://gradypbrown.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/4207911-phoenix-pictures.png" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">hoenix</a>, The symbol of the Empire and the Immortal Bird, flew down to the front of the mansion. It would create a ball of flames, a smoldering ball of light, before finally out of the flames would emerge.....Anthony Mor-Hauser. The male would hold the staff-like sword in his left hand as he would bow. "<b>Ladies and Gentlemen.....welcome to my home. Please, enjoy yourselves." </b>He said, as he held up a hand. Servants would open up the doors, revealing the<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Ff2%2Fda%2Fe4%2Ff2dae437aaa07bd82c9cd66e79906787.jpg&amp;hash=959fc6adf1cd2ef439dbc4c4131e26d3" href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/f2/da/e4/f2dae437aaa07bd82c9cd66e79906787.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">lavish interior</a>. Like the main hall, the<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Ftantawanbloom.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F01%2F0613_Kim.jpg&amp;hash=73e051a484ce89ab5799758687c5d116" href="http://tantawanbloom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/0613_Kim.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">ball room</a>was just as equally decorated,<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Flardocelar.blog.br%2Fwp-content%2Fgallery%2Fceia_natal%2Fceia_natal_11.jpg&amp;hash=76cf6f457be014fb81af0bc8641ce52c" href="http://lardocelar.blog.br/wp-content/gallery/ceia_natal/ceia_natal_11.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">succulent dishes and fine dining </a>were available for any to partake. The<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fd0cdn.artquid.com%2Fart%2F3%2F115%2F226122.1860464746.1.1600m.jpg&amp;hash=2b395bfebc1a9c439f69ed9b26ea0b64" href="http://d0cdn.artquid.com/art/3/115/226122.1860464746.1.1600m.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">best and rarest wine</a>available would help many to forget the trails of the every day. It appeared that Lord Mor-Hauser spared no expense in taste for his guests for tonight, and many would assume it was because of the Queen, but that was just the issue.<br/><br/>Anthony Mor-Hauser looked so much like Zion.....yet it was clear he was not, at least in the aspect they didn't share all of the same features. Quite a few people started coming up with wild stories that Anthony could be RELATED to the man, but that was impossible. All of the Emperor's heirs were dead, Zion was the result of a Tribal Shaman using magic to trick an Emperor, and he was an only child, so there was no possibility that Anthony could be related. It had to be a coincidence. It was an intentional stab at the heart for the Queen on Anthony's part. He wanted the Queen to suffer, even if she was manipulated into doing so, she let Zion<i>die </i>and she needed to pay. She would experience the same pain he felt, the price of her betrayal. What wouldn't help is, as he had practiced, Anthony would flash her a smile JUST as Zion did when he was courting her, before simply stepping away, to mingle with the rest of the guests.<br/><br/>When asked about the Imperial regalia he bore around the mansion, he would make a rather flattering tale that was (honestly) not entirely false. "<b>My family had always supported the Empire. My father, his father, and his father before.....Though the Empire is long gone, I never had the heart to rid myself of these symbols- They are a part of my families history, and though we move onto brighter days and a brighter future, we must always remember the past.....lest we repeat it." </b>Anthony said, painting a picture that he was a loyal family figure. He kept close eye on the Mage, ensuring that she was never too close whenever he wasn't around other people. The way he moved and danced about the floor suggested practice in the courts.<br/><br/>Oscar would look at Anthony, and shake his head, looking down as he kept by the Queens side. Too much did this person remind him of his friend, too much of a friend he had ordered killed...Oscar believed it had to be done, Zion was a traitor and a threat to the crown, they had to do it! They had too.....But it didn't make things any easier. Oscar would stand straight as the man finally approached the Queen, gripping his blade sternly.<br/><br/>"<b>Most Beloved Queen Mirielle Zathros- I am honored and grateful you could visit my home and attend my gathering.....May your stay be enjoyable and may your lovely golden hair shine as the brilliant star, that shall lead our young kingdom to glory, as it does now. " </b>Anthony said. He was laying it a little thick, but that was to be expected, since he was greeting the most powerful woman in the land at the current time. He would then look towards Oscar and (finally) Azurine. His red eyes shone with a quiet flame, as if he was practically EXUDING power, to the young woman. Anthony would lead down and kiss the Archmages hand. "<b>You must be the Queen's Entourage.....Court Wizard Azurine and Knight-Commander Mandra......Welcome to my humble home." </b>He said to them both. "<b>Your dress reminds of the stars of the sea of the twilight sky.....the rumors of your beauty do you no justice."</b><br/><br/>If Azurine would try to probe at Anthony's mind, due to the close contact, she'd find strong mental barriers in place. Anthony would merely smirk, as he went to greet the rest of the guests at the party, to make contacts and ensure that his cover as a new merchant stayed in place. If it wasn't obvious already, Anthony was a wizard, and from the mental barriers he held, he was a powerful one at that. He carried himself with great pride and dignity, the party was of the few good things to come out of this year, given all that had happened. With a new merchant, and fresh income, coming into the city and kingdom, it appeared things were finally looking up.