This was a lavish dinner meant to demonstrate a political stance.
The Volkov family had ruled Latveria for centuries, using wealth extracted through relentless exploitation to turn the castle into a place worthy of being called a palace. Every piece of tableware in the dining hall came from venerable European porcelain manufacturers such as France's Sèvres National Porcelain Manufacture and Germany's Meissen Porcelain Manufactory, as well as renowned tableware suppliers such as Paris's Christofle and Germany's Robbe & Berking.
Lavish was not enough to describe this banquet; perhaps bizarre would have been more fitting—though that certainly did not include the receptionist at the entrance, whose nameplate bore the surname Volkov and who rolled her eyes at every official, including the Regent, without discrimination. As if to flaunt the Yugoslav Federation's advances in applied science, every ornamental plant around the hall was enclosed beneath a glass cover, displayed atop white marble columns, and illuminated by a faint glow shining up from beneath the pots. No two plants were alike. The guests saw white ornamental trees that slowly unfurled and contracted in the air like living coral, mimosa plants with golden shell-like leaves, and flowers as still as black stones.
The Emperor's and Praetorian Guard's Baroque-style Power Armor displayed extravagance and elegance to the fullest, but the martial severity exuded by the Sisterhood's combat personnel, clad in black Power Armor embossed with golden fleur-de-lis patterns, clashed sharply with the hall's luxurious style. Yet no one objected. Regent Victor von Doom rose and changed seats, while Diana and Dinah, clad in Power Armor and carrying a massive Chainsaw Sword, swiftly brought over a chair suited to the Emperor's stature. Everyone set down their glasses and turned their gaze toward the center of the long table—everyone knew the Emperor would not appear before them