Exodia 118: Emperors' Ceremony

{Anastasia Kou Sabre Reishville's POV:}

And so, the banquet ended rather eventfully, yet also uneventfully. We have free time until the Emperors' Ceremony.

It's 11:57 pm right now and we have until 1:00 pm to have free time.

I have... nothing to do.

---

After an hour of inactively talking to Akane and the others, 1:00 pm came and we were asked to assemble in the dining hall once more.

This time, the tables and chairs were removed and we crowded on either side of the dining hall, not standing on the red carpet going down through the middle.

Six thrones were added to the room.

It's the Emperors' Ceremony, isn't it? Meaning that those thrones are for...

"We're going to meet the Emperors?!"

I heard Calira whisper out loud.

I think that's what it said in that one letter they sent after the invitation.

"Please, give way."

A sunglasses guy came in and told people to get off the red carpet.

Why?

It was starting.

The man bowed and people came through. The most elegant people I would ever see.

"Are those..."

"Looks like it."

"They're stunning."

People were whispering. I don't blame them.

There were three males and four females.

The tallest and most outstanding was a green-haired man. There was a faint smile pinned onto his face. His slanted yellow eyes made his glance look calculating. The man wore a green suit.

The Green Emperor...

I felt chills run down my spine.

Behind him was a beautiful silver-haired woman. Or white? I don't know. Her eyes were crimson, matching the colour of her dress and hairpin. The dress she wore looked like something a queen would wear.

"Hm?"

I saw the Emperor turn.

When she looked in my direction, she smirked.

Is she... looking at me?

No way! No Emperor would smirk at me for no reason... No Emperor would even look at me.

The Emperor gave a seductive wave and then she continued walking.

The girl behind her look at me and scowled.

The girl had lavender hair colour and a bowl cut. She wore a mini dress and had a purse in her hand.

Did I do something? No, it's probably not me but someone else.

That girl was probably the Purple Emperor while the woman before her was... the White Emperor. I think.

A grey-haired man was adjusting his tie as he entered the room, almost as if he had never worn a suit in his life.

His hair seemed messy but it suited him. Some of his hair dangled down and covered his left eye. His face looked unclean but he somehow fitted in.

The Grey Emperor, I guess?

"Wow, look at him."

"Yeah, I know. He's so hot."

They weren't referring to him, but to the boy behind him. He looked barely older than me.

The boy wore a yellow trenchcoat with orange iron padding on his left shoulder. His hair was blonde and his eyes were crystal blue.

Out of all them, he looked the most uninterested. His gaze was piercing though indifferent.

Then, the woman behind him is...

Her hair was tied up into a ponytail and was tinted like the colour of cherry blossoms. There was a satisfied smile on her face. She wore a light pink suit with a black tie.

She's the one who attacked Altheria. The Pink Emperor.

Finally, the last woman looked like a mafia boss. Her gaze was sharp and intimidating. She had black cloth around her right eye and wore a monocle on her left eye. She wore a navy blue suit and a blue captain's coat over it, on her shoulders.

The Blue Emperor.

The seven walked up the short flight of stairs and sat in their thrones in this order:

Yellow, White, Grey, Green, Blue, Pink, Purple.

Seven of the nine Emperors were sitting in front of me. Right before my eyes. Though I'm a noble, I would've never thought about this.

The large doors closed.

"Now, all seven Emperors are present."

The man with sunglasses announced to the crowd.

"Seven? Not eight? What about the Black Emperor?"

Some said.

"The Black Emperor's identity shall be kept a secret for as long as possible to avoid difficulties."

Not just anyone said that, but the blue-haired woman on the throne. The Blue Emperor.

Is it just me, or does she seem much scarier than the others?

"Now, I shall explain what will happen."

The Green Emperor said, crossing his legs.

"This event will be the final event for the day; the Emperors' Ceremony. In this event, one or more, a maximum of three, people of those invited will be gifted a reward by a respective Emperor."

There was a strange wave of surprise that travel throughout the nobles.

This was a surprise event, I guess.

"It would be cool if you could get one, Lady Akane."

Yumeko said.

"No, no, no way! I could never. Not with this many people. It'd depend on the prize too."

Getting a prize from an Emperor would be amazing for a noble. They could brag about it and those evil nobles would use it as leverage.

"Please keep in mind that these gifts are not of material desires."

The Purple Emperor began talking.

"These gifts are to boost latent abilities. For example, my gift, the Signet of Dominance increases a person's control over their mana."

She continued.

That indeed does seem useful.

That makes these gifts even more amazing. Man!

I really want one now!

"Please keep in mind that those that are gifted will have done something that we Emperors believe is worthy of a Signet."

The White Emperor declared.

The Green Emperor stood up and held his palm out in front of him.

"Now, we shall start the Emperors' Ceremony, I do ask that you all clap after everyone who has received that gift has come up."

He turned his head to the left, his right, the man seemed to be looking at the Yellow Emperor.

"We shall start with Aether, the Yellow Emperor's, Signet of Power."

Signet of Power. I'm guessing it is what it sounds like.

"Oh, I forgot to mention that one person may get more than one Signet."