Chapter 24: The Birthday Celebration
"Damn! I look good."Blurted out Mikhail with a slight smile on his face as he was looking at himself in the mirror in his room.
He was wearing a medieval black and gold embroidered jacket including a black fur collar cape that somehow hid his tall stature while his body emitted a noble aura.
His hair which was as black as the purest of velvety nights was hung loosely behind his back without being tied in any way.
His black twilight eyes contained a unique amount of attractiveness and fascination to them and seemed as if it could steal the soul of whomever.
He was handsome to the point of being a bit demonic, almost resembling a girl. People would believe if people said that he was a woman in disguise.
As Mikhail was admiring himself in the mirror, he suddenly heard a knock on his door as Martin's voice rang out."Your highness, I'm sorry to disturb you but I'm afraid we gonna be late if we don't leave soon."
"Alright, you can go outside and wait for me, I'm coming down in a few seconds." Hurriedly answer Mikhail after hearing the nervous tone of Martin.
As one of the Imperial princes of the Helios Empire, it would be ill-mannered if he were to arrive late at the Emperor's birthday celebration.
"Alright, it's go time!" Said Mikhail as he took a deep breath before leaving his room. Just like the Emperor, tonight was extremely important to Mikhail as well.
Tonight, he would get to meet all the remaining members of his new family as well as all the most powerful and influential people throughout the whole Antheia World.
This grand birthday celebration wasn't as simple as it seemed. An event like that where all those influentials people throughout the whole Antheia World gather was akin to a battlefield. Just one misstep could result in unimaginable consequences. As such, even Mikhail has to be prudent.
As soon as Mikhail stepped outside, he saw Martin was waiting for him in front of an even more luxurious carriage.
"Your Highness."Said Martin respectfully as he opened the door of the carriage for Mikhail to enter.
"Huh!" Mikhail simply nodded his head in acknowledgment as he entered the carriage. The moment he did, Martin went to the driver's seat and started drawing the carriage.
....
The moonlight tonight was exceptionally beautiful, as its soft glow caressed the entire imperial palace.
After traveling for about twenty minutes or so, the carriage finally stopped as they arrived at their destination:" Your highness, we have arrived."
At the same time, the door of the carriage was suddenly opened after which Mikhail got out and was greeted by an enormous and majestic Hall.
This hall was so huge that it was at least five-time bigger than his palace. This Imperial Hall was exactly where the Emperor's birthday celebration was to be held.
Without wasting any time, Mikhail strode forward atop a series of lotus petals which formed a path over a large pool of water as he was making his way toward the main entrance of the Imperial Hall.
When he reached his destination, all of the guards in front of the palace welcomed and bowed before him. At the same time, one of them opened the door for him.
The moment Mikhail stepped foot inside the Imperial Hall, he was deeply astonished. The entire Imperial Hall was decorated with glass tiles and golden domes.
He could also see a great banquet with countless tables prepared in the magnificent imperial hall for just as many guests; this was a spectacular scene!
The numerous big shots and high-ranking nobles of the Antheia world sat in a particular order based on their ranking and influence.
The diplomats from the other nations, the High Elves, Dark Elves, and the Demi-Humans had their own tables as well.
The atmosphere inside the Hall was extremely grand and majestic. The guests formed numerous clicks as they were talking and discussing among themselves while enjoying the sumptuous feast. All of them were in high, vigorous spirits.
"The 13th Imperial Prince of the Helios Empire, Vandal Alexi Hyperion has arrived!"
Following the shout from the guard in front of the hall, the noise within the Imperial Hall quickly quieted as numerous gazes shot towards the main entrance of the hall.
Even though the Vandal had relinquished his right to the throne, he still was an influential existence that stood above millions of people. Furthermore, he was also a rare genius with a dual aptitude for both Magic and Aura.
As such, his arrival caused all focus to shift onto him. All kinds of expressions and gazes appeared on people's faces as they were looking at Mikhail.
Others would feel greatly pressured being stared at by all those powerful people. However, Mikhail seemed to be impervious to their stares as he walked towards his table with a cold and emotionless expression on his face.
As one of the Imperial Princes, Mikhail's table was very close to the main stage where the Emperor's throne chair was located. However, unlike the other tables that were filled with people, his table was empty as he didn't have any friends in the Imperial Capital.
As Mikhail sat on his empty table, someone got up from the table not too far from him and walked over toward him.
The person was dressed luxuriously. His expression revealed an imposingness that came from someone who was naturally born above others.
From his eyes, there was a hint of arrogance, as if nothing in this world was good enough for him to look at.
"13th brother, you've finally arrived. Always late and lacking manner as usual. Why don't join us at our table? I'm sure 1st brother will be happy to have you." Said the young man with a mocking smile on his face.
This young man was the 7th Imperial Prince of the Helios Empire and also Vandal's half older brother Johann Theodore Hyperion.
Just like Vandal and many of the Imperial Princes, he had no hope of becoming the Crown Prince. However, compared to Vandal that had willingly relinquished his right to the throne, Johann just wasn't powerful enough and didn't have powerful backers to fight for it.
Johann also knew that he had no hope of being Crown Prince, so he was quite close to first prince Ragnar and became one of his supporters just some of the other Imperial Princes and High-ranking Nobles.
Out of all the Imperial Princes, only four of them were powerful enough and had the highest possibility of becoming the Crown Prince of the Helios Empire. They were the 1st Imperial Prince, the 3rd Imperial Prince, the 6th Imperial Prince, and the 12th Imperial Prince.
These four Imperial Princes' maternal families were known as the Four Pillars of the Helios Empire due to their economic and military power.
"Ohh my! If it isn't the little domesticated dog Johann. Your owner didn't feed you and now you come looking for some bones to chew on." Answered Mikhail with a slight smile on his face.
Upon hearing Mikhail's answer, Johan was shocked and his expression suddenly darkened. He was caught by surprise by Mikhail's sudden vicious answer.
Usually, Mikhail was always quiet and rarely talked even when he was being provoked. But now, not only he talked back, but his tongue had also somehow become sharp.
'What happened to this little bastard during his three years in Great Helios Pass.' Johan inwardly thought as he was trying to figure out what made Vandal suddenly changed that much. Even his eyes were filled with a sense of shrewdness now.
"The Sun of the Helios Empire, Emperor Michael Zahid Hyperion has arrived."
Right at this moment, a reverberating, earsplitting voice filled the Imperial Hall and the originally noisy grand hall immediately fell into a hush.
It was so quiet that one could hear the sound of a pin dropping. Every single person was raised there at the side entrance by the main stage.
Everyone within the great hall uniformly rose from their seats. After which, everyone present knelt on the ground, except for the diplomats from the other nations that only bowed.
As for Mikhail, he didn't truly kneel like the other subjects of the Helios Empire. He faked it by purposely dropping a gold coin on the ground while picking it up slowly which made him seemed as though he was kneeling like his half-brother.
Mikhail didn't like the idea of kneeling in front of someone, even that person was the emperor.
"We respectfully welcome the Sun of the Helios Empire."
Every single person who had to privilege to be invited to the Imperial Hall were undoubtedly high-ranking nobles and powerful people.
As such, the sound of the thousands of overlaying voices rising in reverence produced such a vastly powerful sound that it caused one's ears to reverberate, while also causing one's internal organ to churn.
And if this was just some normal hall, the power of these voices could have caused it to vibrate until it collapsed.
"Everyone, you may rise." In the second, a commanding tone, that was filled with nobility rang out as the Emperor made his entrance into the Imperial Hall.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone