Before they knew it, a month had flown by. New Year's Eve arrived, and the palace glittered with festive decorations, bathing all of Valkaris in warm holiday cheer.
Elvis found himself assisting Empress Vallier and his siblings in preparing the traditional pepper-steeped wine—a simple concoction of peppercorns soaked in wine. Though the process was straightforward, the royal family's size and the Empress's insistence on personal involvement meant Elvis was kept busy filling countless cups.
"Mother, must I drink the pepper water? It makes my whole mouth go numb!" Elvis whined, rubbing his tongue for emphasis. "Can't I have proper wine just this once?" The Empress's decree was clear: no alcohol for underage royals, no exceptions.
"Next year," the Empress said with practiced patience, her
