Owen found that he was enjoying himself far more than he had expected to. He had come here to meet important people. What made the evening pleasant was finding out that the important people joked and complained and argued about nothing, exactly like the friends he already had.
Before long, the group broke into smaller conversations. Clara had drawn Helena into a serious discussion about the dancing, and Elise had fallen into talk with Beatrice. William and Dorian were still arguing about hammers and spears, though more quietly now.
Owen found himself beside Julian again. The prince had been content to watch for most of it.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Owen asked.
Julian considered the question. "More than I expected," he said. "I still prefer smaller conversations to standing in the middle of a crowd."
"You’ve had quite a few conversations tonight."
"You keep collecting people," Julian said. "It makes it easier."
Before Owen could answer, the music softened.
Attendants were moving toward the great doors at the far end of the ballroom. One by one, the guests began to turn in that direction.
Owen looked toward the doors. Beside him, Julian followed his gaze, and his expression shifted in a way Owen was beginning to recognize as amusement.
"My sisters," Julian said. "Finally."
The herald’s voice carried across the hall.
"Her Imperial Highness, Princess Adelaide Staufen. Her Imperial Highness, Princess Katarina Staufen."
The doors opened.
Adelaide came in first. She wore pale gold, with her hair pinned high, and she moved with the ease of someone who had been hosting rooms like this one for years. She greeted the guests nearest the doors with a warm, composed smile, giving each of them exactly as long as they deserved.
Beside her walked Katarina.
Owen could see at once that she was Julian’s twin. She had the same dark hair and the same fine features. But where Julian’s face gave almost nothing away, hers was never still. She smiled at one guest, raised her eyebrows at another, and leaned over once to murmur something to Adelaide that made her elder sister press her lips together to keep from laughing.
The room bowed and curtsied as the two princesses came forward. Adelaide stopped where everyone could see her.
"Welcome, all of you," she said. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it reached the back of the hall. "I’m so glad to see so many houses represented this year. Please enjoy yourselves. That is the only thing I ask of anyone tonight."
Laughter went around the room, the music rose again, and the formality eased out of the hall.
Adelaide began moving among the guests, greeting them personally. Katarina went with her for the first few groups. But Owen noticed that she kept looking out over the room, as though she were searching for someone.
Her eyes found Julian, and her face lit up.
Julian saw her looking. He gave a small smile that seemed to Owen like the smile of a man who already knew what was coming.
Owen remembered what Julian had told him about the sister who had dragged him here. He found that he wanted to meet her.
After a few more greetings, Katarina slipped away from Adelaide and came straight across the floor to them.
"There you are," she said to her brother. "I was sure I’d find you behind a pillar."
"I was standing in plain sight."
"Behind a pillar in spirit." She looked him over, then glanced at the people around him, and Owen saw how pleased she was to find her brother in company. "You’ve been talking to people."
"That is what one does at a ball."
"Not you." Katarina turned to Owen with open curiosity. "And who is this?"
"Owen Ferrers," Julian said. "Grand Duke Edmund’s younger son."
Owen bowed. "Your Highness."
"Lord Owen." Katarina gave him a bright smile and looked at him as though he were a puzzle she had just been handed. "So you’re the one he’s been talking to. How did you manage it? Most evenings he says three words, and two of them are ’excuse me.’"
"I’m standing right here," Julian said.
"I know," Katarina said, without looking away from Owen. "That’s what makes it fun."
Owen laughed. He could see it now, how someone as outspoken as Katarina could be so close to someone as reserved as Julian. She talked enough for both of them, just as Julian had said, and he plainly didn’t mind at all.
Adelaide came over to join them a moment later.
Julian and Katarina greeted her with the ease of siblings, though Owen noticed that even Katarina straightened a little in her presence.
Owen bowed. "Your Highness. Owen Ferrers, representing House Ferrers."
"Lord Owen." Adelaide’s smile was warm. "I’m glad House Ferrers is with us. I had hoped it would be."
"Thank you for the invitation, Your Highness."
"Are you enjoying your first imperial ball?"
"More than I expected to," Owen said, and meant it.
"Then I’m very pleased."
Owen introduced Clara and Elise. Both sisters curtsied deeply.
"Lady Clara. Lady Elise," Adelaide said. "Welcome. I hope the capital has treated you kindly."
Clara and Elise exchanged a very brief look.
"It has, Your Highness," Elise said. "Since we arrived."
Adelaide turned to exchange a few words with a guest who had come up behind her. Katarina stayed exactly where she was, beside Julian and Owen.
"He must be unusually interesting," she said to Owen, with a glance at her brother, "if Julian has spent half the evening with him."
"I am perfectly capable of making acquaintances," Julian said, "without my sister’s supervision."
"Since when?"
"Since always."
"That isn’t true, and you know it."
Owen laughed. "I’ve enjoyed talking to him too."
Katarina looked at him approvingly. "Good answer."
"Katarina," Adelaide said, without turning around. "We still have guests."
"I’m coming." Katarina sighed, then pointed at Owen. "I’m not finished with you, Lord Owen. I’ll find you again before the night is over."
Then she followed her sister toward the next group.
Julian watched her go, looking faintly amused. Owen found that he was already enjoying Katarina’s company, and he had known her for less than five minutes.
On the stage, the musicians were shuffling their sheets and settling into their places. The first formal dance of the evening was about to begin.
Owen turned back toward Julian and the others. The night had only just begun to loosen up.
He had met the heirs of the Empire’s great houses, crossed paths with the de Clares and been welcomed by three members of the Imperial Family. More than that, he had begun to make friends he hoped would last well beyond tonight.