At the appointed time in the late afternoon, Lorelai arrived at the ballroom. She walked gracefully down the aisle between the rows of guests, who were already seated. Her father, Duke Ashburn, was already waiting for them at the end of the hall. Lorenzo was already seated in the front row, which was designated for relatives and descendants of the Ashburn family. Sitting beside him were their paternal cousins, Irene and Claude Ashburn.

Carlyle, the infamous prince, must also be sitting among the guests somewhere, but Lorelai didn’t care enough to seek him out.

Reaching her father, she knelt before him, her movements flawless and impeccable. She started her oath, something she had practiced over and over until Lorenzo jokingly complained that his ears were bleeding.

“I, Lorelai Ashburn, do solemnly swear before the eyes of our god Solarius and in the presence of our people, to uphold the values that have defined our legacy for generations.

“With unwavering loyalty, I pledge my allegiance to our family and our realm. I shall stand by our people in times of joy and adversity, never faltering in my commitment to their well-being.

“I acknowledge the weight of my duty as an heir. I promise to govern with integrity and justice, to protect our land and its citizens, and to honor the trust that has been placed upon me.

“I solemnly commit to the protection of our realm. I shall defend our people, our borders, and our sovereignty from all threats, both foreign and domestic. The peace and security of our land will be my foremost concern.

“May Solarius bear witness to this oath, and may our people find solace in the promises I have made. I pledge my life to these values and the protection of our legacy, for as long as I am called to serve.”

Then, it was her father’s turn.

“I, too, bear witness to this solemn oath made by our heir. It is with a heart both heavy and elated that I see the weight of responsibility being taken up by our beloved daughter. The commitment to our people and our empire has been spoken with the utmost sincerity, and I know that the values we hold dear will be upheld with unwavering determination.

“Loyalty is the cornerstone of our family and our realm. Your allegiance to us is the embodiment of what it means to be an Ashburn, and I trust that you will stand by our people, just as we have for generations.

“The duty you embrace is no small matter. I have every confidence that you will govern with the integrity, wisdom, and fairness that befits an Ashburn heir. Our people have placed their trust in you, and I know you will not disappoint them.

“Responsibility, as you rightly acknowledge, is a heavy mantle to bear. Yet, it is one you have chosen willingly. Your promise to guide our realm toward prosperity and equality fills my heart with hope for a brighter future.

“Our ancestors, those who came before us, will look upon you with pride. Their legacy lives on through you, and by remembering their wisdom, you honor their memory and the traditions that have shaped us.

“May the will of Solarius guide you, and may the wisdom of our family be your constant companion. As your father and as the Duke of the Ashburn Duchy, I am honored to stand beside you as you embark on this noble journey. With your oath, you have secured the future of our empire.”

With these words, Duke Ashburn draped a dark mantle adorned with the family's crest over Lorelai's shoulders and slid a ring onto her finger – the heir's mantle and the heir's ring.

Lorelai looked up at her father’s face, which was unmistakingly smiling and full of pride.

She stood, beaming.

“Now, it's time for the vassals and knights of Ashburn to pledge their oath of loyalty to the new heir.”

One by one, they stepped forward, ordered by their ranks, kneeling before Lorelai and solemnly reciting their oaths. The proceedings flowed smoothly, without any objections or disruptions. It was something the people of Ashburn had anticipated for many years, as Lorelai grew older and proved herself to be a smart and competent lady, capable of leading the duchy one day. Her anointment as the heir was all but confirmed when Lorelai was knighted at the age of sixteen, a prerequisite to being named official heir. 

Secretly, Lorelai had hoped to lead as the captain of one of the imperial knight squads for a few years to gain more experience in combat, but her application had been rejected, to her disappointment. 

But it didn’t matter much to her. The rejection only sped up her anointment ceremony, which would have undoubtedly been postponed for a few years if her application had gotten approved.

As the ceremony finally came to an end, all the guests stood up and applauded. Even the commoners of Ashburn Duchy were celebrating. There were festivals in the street and most businesses were closed as if it was a holiday. 

After the ceremony was the reception, where Lorelai and her father greeted the guests, and after that, a brief interlude where the guests could recuperate before the evening's main event: a grand ball.

Outside the ballroom's entrance, Lorelai and Lorenzo joined Duke Ashburn. The three were clad in matching ash-gray attire. Lorelai had discarded her heavy mantle, as it was ill-suited for dancing.

“How was I, Father?” Lorelai inquired, ever so dutiful as always.

“Perfect,” her father replied with a proud smile. “I wish your mother were here to witness this.”

At the mention of her mother, Lorelai's heart warmed. Despite never having met her mother, her father frequently spoke of her with pride and joy, especially during moments like these.

“It's time for us to make our entrance,” Duke Ashburn noted. “Fashionably late.”

As the announcer called out their names and titles, Duke Ashburn, accompanied by his heir Lorelai, entered the ballroom. Lorenzo followed behind the two, and they made quite the spectacle with their coordinated outfits and vibrant red hair.

The moment they stepped inside, guests swarmed to greet them, including some of Lorelai’s friends from her inner circles in high society. Lorelai was undoubtedly popular, due to her charisma and high standing. 

“Congratulations, Lady Ashburn, on becoming the heir!” one guest exclaimed, sentiments echoed by others who wished her a happy birthday.

Lorenzo, sharing the same birthday, received less attention, but he didn't seem bothered by the relative lack of fuss. In fact, he appeared relieved not to be bombarded with as much attention as his twin sister.

The ball was already in full swing, with music serenading the attendees. Food was served at a long banquet table, and as the main character, Lorelai's arrival temporarily halted the dancing as guests converged to greet the host.

Servants wheeled out carts laden with glass flutes and bottles of wine, particularly the Ashburn winery's red wine, a fitting choice for the occasion. Another servant brought out the gold chalices that were used by the Ashburn family on special occasions.

“Let's raise a toast,” Duke Ashburn proclaimed as he accepted a gold chalice from a servant.

Lorelai was offered a tray with two golden chalices, and she took one while Lorenzo took the other.

“To my daughter, the future duchess of Ashburn, and her bright future!” Duke Ashburn raised his chalice, and Lorelai mirrored the gesture with a beaming smile.

As she lifted the chalice to her lips, a voice rang out, “Stop!”

Something struck the chalice from her hand.