[Bonus chapter]I never like her

Sparkling dresses looked like blossoming flowers under the warm chandeliers in the great hall of the Lazuli Palace. The giggles and festive talk filled the air as ladies flaunted their extravagant dresses adorned with as many flowers and pieces of jewelry to show off their wealth. 

Men, on the other hand, carried themselves with a more respectful air. A banquet held in the imperial palace was one of the best places to make connections. 

Although aristocrats who only had this privilege found it insulting how families with newfound wealth and affiliated with commerce could now attend such a gathering. But no one had the audacity to voice it out since the empire acknowledged these people in trades and their contributions to the economy.