"Mom, I'm scared. I don't know what to do. There's so many people."

Akane looked at her 10 year old daughter, still a bit confused at the amount of people in the palace. There's so many attendants and people tall as skyscrapers. With classical music aloft in the room and words lobbed no one could understand. Yan clenched her adopted sister's hand tight, and saw her siblings ready to enter, nervous with a hint of faux confidence. Akane knew that as The Peony she needed for everyone to become a host, and someone who could entertain the visitors of the country as a show of goodwill and power.

She then got down a bit to Yan, behind the doors, before the announcement.

"My princess, when you're older you are going to feel the pressure to that of being a host. Even if your siblings are the one that hosted you'll be seen by all as the princess of Huawan."

"Yes mom, I just don't think I'm good enough. I can't be as charming as you."

"Beautiful girl, you're me and more. You'll have the full weight on your shoulders, all of us do, take it with poise, grace and a smile. You will be alright my sweet."

Akane kissed Yan's cheeks and told Rin to accompany her sister. Yan saw the light that emerged from opening the doors, it was blinding, and only heard a noise that they are introduced. Upon the end of the light, she walked towards the throne, where The Peony sat down, her grandmother, smiling at her.

---

That was almost twenty years ago, no one had thought she'd take the title of The Peony of Huawan from her mother, so no one had bothered much to train her as the perfect host, let alone the perfect head of state. She didn't take classes to manage the Peocracy like her brother, nor was she enrolled in a lady's etiquette class like her sister. As such it's completely understandable that she feels immensely anxious, and it is her curse to hide her inhibitions and lock them up under her smile.

A couple of meets with heads of states, she could do, but to commandeer an entire international event with her as the host? That's certainly a tall order. She stood there in front of the mirror, with her makeup and her dress ready for her. A silent face where a typhoon of emotions inside, but she can only stare at her reflection to not ruin her makeup.

She took her arm and checked for the pulse. It's rhythm is fast, a bit too fast.

"Easy Yan, relax.....There's no room for error." The Peony remarked, no room for error indeed..

"Allah help me." She prayed as she exited her room. Rin waited outside with Sebastian Lister, and the latter was certainly quite enchanted by his employer.

"Permission to speak My Peony."

"Yes Mr. Lister?"

"You look gorgeous, my Peony."

"Thank you Mr Lister."

Rin then took The Peony's hands and clapped them under hers, then clamming them like a strong two-way slap to the hands.

"You'll be fine, let's go, the others are waiting."

---

The venue for the party would be an ancient Chinese treasure ship, an immense one that legend speaks is so large it could support an entire city over its deck. The outside are furbished to look like a Chinese street fair, with its kites, paper dragons and festivities. A special hall is prepared for the party guests to eat, to converse and to dance, if the outer Japanese garden was too quiet for them to discuss.



Note: Check OOC thread to attend or the rules.