The next day, the grand banquet hall of Solaria's castle had been transformed for the evening's diplomatic dinner. Crimson tapestries adorned the walls, their rich hues reminiscent of freshly spilled blood. Candelabras cast a flickering, intimate light across the long table, which was set with the finest silver and crystal. The air hung heavy with the scent of exotic flowers and a subtle, metallic undertone that made Elara's skin prickle with unease.
The princess stood before her full-length mirror, smoothing the folds of her gown. The dress was a masterpiece of diplomacy in itself – a deep burgundy silk that shimmered between red and black as she moved, embroidered with silver thread in patterns that subtly echoed both solar and lunar motifs. Around her neck, the mysterious pendant she had discovered in the archives pulsed warmly against her skin, hidden beneath the high collar of her gown.