The Extra's Rise-Chapter 755: Avalon’s Grand Ball (5)

"Is everything ready?" I asked my personal maid as she carefully arranged the final touches of my appearance. Her skilled fingers worked through the golden strands of my hair, weaving them into the intricate braiding pattern that would complement the ceremonial crown I would wear tonight.

"Yes, Your Highness, the dignitaries have already begun arriving," she informed me, her voice carrying the professional composure that masked what I knew must be considerable nervousness. Tonight’s event was unlike anything we had hosted before. "The security protocols are in full effect, and the reception areas are prepared for the largest diplomatic gathering in the Empire’s history."

This was indeed the most major political event ever organized on this scale. The logistics alone were staggering—representatives from all five continents converging on Avalon City for three days of carefully orchestrated diplomacy and celebration. Each of the other continental superpowers hadn’t just sent their heirs, but their ruling matriarchs when possible, demonstrating the unprecedented importance everyone placed on this gathering.

Queen Camila Ashbluff of the Western continent.

Queen Lyralei Viserion of the Southern continent.

Queen Helena Windward of the Northern continent

The Eastern continent’s situation was more complex. Since the matriarch of the Mount Hua sect had passed away several years ago, they had sent their Deputy Sect Leader, Li Zenith.

"Your Highness," my maid continued, her voice taking on a note of uncertainty that immediately caught my attention, "we’ve just received confirmation that the Queen of the Creightons will also be attending tonight."

My expression stiffened as the implications hit me. "What?" I asked, unable to hide my surprise. It was a well-known fact throughout all five continents that Queen Isolde Creighton had passed away over a decade ago. Her death had been one of the defining political events of our generation, reshaping the power structure of the Northern continent.

"Yes, Your Highness, the confirmation came through official diplomatic channels just an hour ago," my maid confirmed, though I could see the confusion and uncertainty in her own expression. The palace staff were trained to handle unusual situations with professional composure, but this development was beyond anything in their experience.

I pulled out my phone and opened the group chat, scrolling through the recent messages with growing concern. Now that I thought about it, Rachel hadn’t responded to any of our coordination messages for the past few days. Initially, I had assumed it was because she was too excited about meeting Arthur in such a formal setting—the first time all six of us would be together at a major political event. But considering this news about her supposedly deceased mother, Rachel’s silence took on much more ominous implications.

The messages from Rose, Reika, and Seraphina showed their usual efficiency in handling the complex logistics of tonight’s appearance coordination. But Rachel’s absence from the conversation was glaring now that I was looking for it. Something was definitely wrong.

A knock on my door interrupted my growing worry as one of my personal maids activated the magnetic door controls. My mother, Empress Adeline Slatemark, stepped inside with the regal bearing that had made her one of the most respected rulers in the world.

She looked the same as ever—impeccably dressed in the deep crimson and gold that marked her as the Empress of Slatemark, her silver eyes sharp with intelligence and her blonde hair arranged in the complex style that balanced elegance with the practical needs of wearing the imperial crown. But I could see the tension beneath her composed exterior, the slight tightening of her normally relaxed knuckles that indicated she was far more concerned about tonight’s events than she was letting on.

"Leave us," she commanded, and the maids bowed deeply before withdrawing from my chambers with practiced efficiency.

Once we were alone, my mother’s carefully maintained imperial demeanor softened slightly. She moved behind me, gently dismissing the work my maid had begun and starting to braid my hair herself with the familiar movements that took me back to my childhood.

"Mother?" I asked, studying her reflection in the mirror as she worked.

She didn’t respond immediately, her fingers moving with the skilled precision that came from years of helping me prepare for important events when I was younger. There was something comforting about the familiar routine, even as I could feel the tension radiating from her normally composed presence.

"Ready," she announced with a smile as I stood up, her hands resting proudly on my shoulders as she examined our reflection in the full-length mirror.

"My beautiful daughter," she said, her voice carrying both maternal pride and something approaching concern. "I must admit, I sometimes find it difficult to accept that you have to share one man with so many other remarkable women."

I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment as I scowled at her in the mirror. "Mother!"

"A mother can’t help but worry about such things," she pointed out with obvious amusement at my reaction. "At the same time, I should probably thank that young man for taming my fiery daughter. The transformation has been quite remarkable to witness."

"Mother!" I protested again, my face growing even redder as she chuckled at my discomfort.

"Yet you don’t deny it," Empress Adeline observed with the shrewd insight that had made her such an effective ruler. "Oh, how relieved I was when the nobles in Slatemark stopped walking on eggshells around you. Your relationship with Arthur has brought out sides of your personality that I wasn’t sure existed."

"Stop teasing me," I demanded, though I couldn’t entirely suppress the smile that threatened to break through my embarrassment. "We should be going, shouldn’t we? Father will be expecting us."

"That we should," she agreed, but I noticed how her expression returned to its previous tension as she remembered the evening’s responsibilities. Whatever was concerning her about tonight’s events, it was significant enough to worry one of the most experienced political minds in the world.

We made our way through the palace corridors toward the central assembly area where my father would be conducting final preparations. The Imperial Palace was a marvel of magical architecture and advanced technology, its halls designed to accommodate events of exactly this magnitude. Tonight, every system would be tested as we hosted the largest gathering of international dignitaries in modern history.

Emperor Quinn Slatemark was waiting in the ceremonial preparation chamber, reviewing last-minute security reports with his characteristic attention to detail. My father had always been a study in controlled power—his presence commanding respect without requiring theatrical displays of authority. Tonight, he wore the full regalia of imperial office, the deep blues and silver of his formal robes complementing the crown that marked him as ruler of the most powerful empire on the continent.

Standing beside him was my older brother, Prince Valerian Slatemark, and I felt my mood immediately darken at the sight of him.

"Cecilia," my father greeted me with obvious pride, his stern expression softening as he took in my appearance. "You look magnificent. Tonight will be a defining moment for our empire, and I’m grateful to have you representing our family’s interests."

"Thank you, Father," I replied, accepting his approval while carefully avoiding eye contact with Valerian, whose expression carried its usual mixture of resentment and barely concealed ambition.

"The arrangements for your... unique situation... have been handled with appropriate discretion," Emperor Quinn continued, referring to the complex diplomatic challenge of acknowledging my relationship with Arthur while maintaining proper protocol. "Your coordination with the other young women involved has been quite impressive."

"We understand the importance of presenting a united front," I assured him, though I was still concerned about Rachel’s absence from our recent communications.

As we made our final preparations to enter the main hall where hundreds of the world’s most powerful people were gathering, I felt the familiar thrill of anticipation that came with major political events. Tonight would test everything I had learned about diplomacy, strategy, and the delicate art of balancing personal desires with imperial obligations.

The doors to the grand hall opened before us, revealing a sea of elegantly dressed dignitaries representing the full spectrum of international power. As Crown Princess of the Slatemark Empire, I would be at the center of every interaction, every negotiation, every subtle game of influence that would unfold over the next three days.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward into the political arena where my future—and Arthur’s—would be decided.

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