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‘You also wanted to wait for Sheba’s return,’ Rina said, giving her friend a compassionate look.
‘I did. It’d be sacrilegious to have Father’s funeral without her. Any word yet?’ Selene asked.
Rina shook her head. ‘The relief boat must be far away, past the reaches of our comms. We’ve left buoys in various parts of the System. They’re broadcasting the same message to her. I’m hoping her ship will pick it up soon.’
‘What does it say?’
‘I kept it simple. I said she needs to urgently contact you or I or make plans to return swiftly to Dunia.’
‘She doesn’t even know father has passed,’ Selene said softly. A rush of tears threatened to spill over her lids, and she blinked them back. She inhaled furiously, trying to push down the grief threatening to overcome her.
She fumbled with her purse and took out a small mirror to check that her eye makeup was still intact. She barely recognised the woman staring back at her: a sophisticated, stylish, graceful beauty with soft, sublime, understated makeup and an elegant chignon that tamed back wild, riotous curls. Her neck was adorned with a chain of rare Galician gold pearls, old-mine cut diamonds, and xentium gems crafted into a choker. In addition, it featured a three-in-one ruby pendant almost 200 standard years old—a priceless piece on loan from Dunia’s Planetary Museum of Jewels.
‘You look more than fine,’ Rina drawled from the opposite seat where she was sprawled in a Galician-styled unisex trouser suit, tabbing through her comm screen. ‘Darian and the House of M’Armin outdid themselves. From makeup to gown.’
‘You wriggled out of a gown tonight,’ Selene said, putting her compact away while running an envious eye over her friend’s more casual style. ‘Unfair. I hate you.’
‘I know,’ Rina smirked.
‘Didn’t you get the memo? Genevieve insisted that the official dress code for the Ball is white and gold glam. I thought you’d already picked out the white dress that looked killer on you during our fittings.’
‘Yeah, yeah,’ Rina mocked. ‘All attendees need to embody the grandeur of Dunia’s Paladian Age,’ she added, parroting words from the Council’s extravagant invitation cards. ‘AKA prosperity, power and progressive development. Bring on the gold!’
‘So why are you in all black?’ Selene challenged.
Rina glanced up at her from the screen. ‘Next to army green, black is my happy colour.’
‘You’re so full of it,’ Selene snapped back, nervously picking at the jewels sewn into her dress.
‘Not at all, woman. On the contrary, I need to blend in. After all, I’m your personal security guard for the evening.’
Selene snorted and looked away. To a view of a city ablaze with light and excitement. Screens in every street broadcasted the event with the entire planet glued to their vids so they wouldn’t miss out on any of the A-List arrivals.
For days now, holo stars, magazine editors, journalists, fashion designers and all manner of glitterati had all been hammering the government’s hotline for a chance to score an invitation.
However, because of security concerns, only a few civilians had received the highly coveted tickets to the Ball. So the organisers gave the rest two choices - sitting in bleachers in a nearby park to watch the evening’s events on a sizeable holo screen or lining the red carpet to cheer the dignitaries as they arrived. Which was what precisely happened when Selene’s flyer slid into position at the start of the red carpet.
‘Calm now,’ Rina urged, stepping out first. She stood stiffly beside the door while Selene stepped out, trying her best not to lurch face forward onto the glimmering red path.
Given the wave of jubilation thundering from the crowds behind her and the red carpet, she must have managed it with aplomb.
She lifted a gold-gloved hand and walked forward, smiling, waving and mouthing her thanks to the crowds and the media drones that hovered like giant flies above the melee.
Rina hovered close behind her, keeping a close watch on the crowds. Selene noticed a series of tall, silently threatening guards standing at intervals along the promenade, and she felt a rush of gratitude. The Edenites had truly gone above and beyond in their generosity. Even refusing payment for the deployment of the extra patrols they’d left on the planet after Freedom Day, who were now on duty protecting the ball’s attendees.
Selene caught sight of Paloma Mware, the foreign minister and official organiser of the evening, rushing down the red carpet towards her.
‘Excellency, you look truly divine,’ gushed the dark-haired woman, her face wreathed in smiles.
‘As do you, Minister,’ Selene replied kindly. ‘How are we looking?’
Paloma fell into step with her leader, flapping her hands about animatedly. ‘Everyone is here. Kings, queens, senators, generals, mayors, dignitaries across Pegasi - it’s beyond exciting that they’ve all made it.’
‘I guess the planets needed an excuse to celebrate,’ Selene said, smiling. She reached out her hands to greet a few individuals she’d recognised standing beside the barriers.
Paloma waited until she was done to continue. ‘Don’t underestimate the appreciation they have towards you, Prime. You helped get rid of our worst enemies from the System, and for that, they’ll be eternally grateful.’
Selene considered her words. She wasn’t as confident that The Technocracy was done with Dunia or Pegasi.
