An Imperial Ball - Friendship Eternal

[Mestra]

The Mestran Imperium

By the grace of his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Edward II of the House of Menra, the leaders and nobility of the world are cordially invited to an Imperial Ball to be held in honor of the coronation of Valerii Quintilus II.  It shall be that Valerii Quintilus, Avktokrator of Drahen, shall be granted the title and privileges of Arch-Duke of Drahsia.  The Imperium and the Imperial family mark this occasion as continued friendship and commitment between the nation of Drahen and the Imperium.  By grace the Imperial family hopes you might attend this Imperial Ball.

1581 CE
Imperial Palace
I'valis, Imperial Capital
Mestran Imperium

The invitations were be readily sent out across the four corners of Siora.  Foreign leaders, dignitaries, nobility, and prominent people were all on the guest list.  It was an important occasion after all.  The granting of titles of nobility to a foreign head of state was always an important moment.  Though it was expected and routine for the Emperor of the Mestran Imperium to grant the title to the reigning Drahen monarch it was not as easy as Edward would have hoped.  In general, the two monarchs were not related to each other.  In fact it would be slightly strange for Edward to grant the title to his brother-in-law but ceremony must be maintained.  It was an important gesture after all.  In this one moment the Imperium would affirm its continued support of the Drahen royal family, and subsequently its support for Drahen itself.  It was a matter of pride in a way for the Imperium.  It showed they were committed and steadfast allies of their former colony.  It was indeed an important measure of the value of the good faith of the Imperium.  Only two other nations stood ahead of the enduring relations between Mestra and Drahen; Gallia to the east was a long time friend, but even it could not compare to the longest alliance in history, the Angrisian-Mestran friendship at withstood against many hardships for over a millennia.

Though while Angiris and Mestra were close, no relationship was as close as Drahen and Mestra.  Many commitments had been made, investments, and cultural exchanges when there was some. It was difficult sometimes to distinguish the two national cultures but they were distinct in their own way and this made the two strong.  Now here it was the time was nigh.  It was a month following Valerii's coronation and the Imperial Palace was busier than usual.  Empress Ivette commanded the Imperial household with vigor.  Everything had to be perfect before her brother arrived.

-The next day-

Edward and Ivette awaited the arrival of the Drahen imperial family at the Imperial Palace.  Chancellor Marcus Salrio had the great honor of meeting the foreign monarch at the airport with a full brigade of the Imperial Guard, members of the media, a local high school band who would dutifully play the Drahen national anthem when Valerii stepped off the plane.  The fanfare would be grand, and the long parade route from the airport to the Imperial Palace would be lined with thousands of citizens to cheer and wave flags.  The moment had finally arrived.