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The regal woman pulled Selene close as she helped her upright.
‘I saw your face back there,’ she whispered conspiratorially. ‘These occasions can be so dismal, gorgeous. Keep your head up. And leave at your very first chance.’
Selene’s eyes widened, but the banquet organisers were already ushering her along by then.
But not before Selene spotted a devilish twinkle in the Queen’s eye. Which helped to whisk away some embarrassment at her near faux pas, especially after she caught a few mortified looks from some of the guests and staff nearby.
Selene gave a quick contrite smile and shame-sidled away, easing into the crowded banquet hall.
It was a typical Rhesian affair.
Lavish. Extra in all ways possible. Over. The. Top.
A grand and elaborate gathering filled with glamour, sophistication, and elegance. A dazzling, gem-studded affair attended by the System’s glamour elite, royalty, dignitaries, and influential individuals.
The palace ballroom she’d walked into was a large, ornate ballroom with high ceilings, chandeliers, and intricate architectural details. It featured champagne towers and chocolate fountains. Aerial silk choreographers and dancers floated past. A never-ending stream of cocktails accompanied an indulgent food bar. It was an event designed to titillate even the most cynical of party-goers.
The fabulous women and men in the room were there to see and be seen in the latest Rhesian fashion. Their accessories and shoes were the showiest and most ostentatious possible. And they all dripped with jewellery.
Except for Selene. She was all about keeping it simple.
She’d brought out her old striped black and white floor-length dress that had never let her down. It hugged her curves in the right places. Accentuating the right amount of skin without sacrificing her cleavage. Paired with a pair of sensible black heels, it was the perfect ensemble for a Government Undersecretary attending a banquet at the Enian residence of Prince Occaro.
The second eldest royal brother was a notoriously persuasive individual. As Foreign Minister of the Rhesian Realm of Nations, Prince Occaro had perfected the art of quid pro quo and atonement. So when he sent out birthday party invitations, no member of the ton, diplomatic corp, nor the establishment could refuse him.
Selene had been unable to wriggle out of the obligatory appearance, no matter how much she’d protested. She had a low tolerance for parties, small talk and flattery, even though they were a significant prerequisite of her working life. As a result, she often found herself escaping from the endless rounds of diplomatic festivities, and her visit to Rhesia was much more of the same.
Yet her father, the Prime Leader of Dunia, had insisted on her presence. Stating that a renegotiated xentium supply deal with Rhesus was paramount. It all depended on her bargaining skills and showing up strong this evening. It would help secure the funds needed for their planet’s future development.
He’d been unable to be there himself, for he’d had to remain in Dunia to deal with a few vital policy votes in his own Parliament. Crucial ballots that could not be delayed.
Thus Selene’s reluctant attendance.
Once the ball got underway, the guests waltzed to the music of a live band before servers led them to the longest serving table Selene had ever seen. Sandwiched between a dour Countess and a simpering Minister from Falasia, Selene tucked into a sumptuous feast of eclectic dishes and desserts. Served on fine china and silverware, accompanied by the System’s finest wine and beverages.
She shook hands, answered questions and made the requisite promises on deals yet to be signed. She clapped politely for the dancers whirling above them on silken ropes as they ate, furtively watching to ensure none would tumble from the air and onto her plate.
Likewise, she joined the rounds of applause when the Prince was presented with his birthday cake.
As soon as she’d nabbed a slice, Selene escaped. Her head ached terribly, and she wanted out - not of the event itself but its suffocating atmosphere, for to exit the party this early would be a diplomatic misstep—no one left before the royal family.
So stay she did, wandering alone to the only place she could find peace and solace within the grand house - the deserted terrace outside.
She slipped through the large doors that led to the quiet mezzanine wrapped around the banquet hall and the neo-Rhesian palace.
Breathing in the fresh air as she leant on the edge of a balustrade, she wished she could instantly transport herself back to her planet, Dunia. A week of glad-handing and endless meetings with her Rhesian counterparts had been draining, to say the least.
That said, the planet was beautiful, Enia even more so. For the first time that evening, Selene relaxed, taking in the views of the extravagant city laid out before her.
The capital took pride in being Pegasi’s bauble. It shone. From its self-illuminating walls, sky-glows, giant panels of strobed surfaces and radiant orbs. To its genetically modified trees and plants that glowed at night with bio fluorescence.
Nearly twenty million people lived in this city that glimmered from space, appearing as a giant mirror ball on the planet’s luminescent emerald surface.
Yet despite all of its bright lights and big dreams, Rhesia was an empire in decline. Overextended, its resources were stretched, especially its energy reserves. The state coffers were also dwindling fast. As a result, its imperial, strong-man image was eroding. Moreover, from what she’d read between the lines at recent negotiations, Selene sensed that Rhesia was beginning to get alarmed by their contenders, seen or unseen.
The old empire was feeling vulnerable to the other ascending planets in the System. Events like this party, grand and over the top, were an attempt to embody the realm’s self-perceived values. Yet they did little to avert the inevitable. New powers were rising in the System. Trailblazing leaders were taking hold of the social order. The underclass was beginning to make its mark. And Rhesia was increasingly being left behind in moon dust.
She shivered. She felt at the precipice of a historic moment - the dusky end of one empire and the dawn of an entirely new era.
