The Extra's Rise-Chapter 752: Avalon’s Grand Ball (2)

The relief that washed over me when I saw their expressions was immediately replaced by confusion. Cecilia’s crimson eyes held the determined gleam I recognized from her most ambitious political maneuvering, while Rose’s brown eyes reflected the strategic focus she employed when managing particularly complex guild operations.

"Arthur," Rose began, her voice carrying the same tone she used when explaining why a particular business decision was absolutely crucial, "we have a serious problem."

"How serious?" I asked, still trying to reconcile their dramatic entrance with the apparent lack of any actual crisis. "Scale of one to ten, where ten is ’the empire is under attack’ and one is ’Stella drew on the walls again.’"

"About an eight," Cecilia replied without hesitation, causing my alarm to spike once more before she continued. "You cannot attend the Grand Ball looking like you just walked out of a guild meeting."

I stared at them both for several seconds, waiting for the actual emergency to be revealed. When none came, I felt a different kind of tension building. "You burst into my bedroom like the world was ending because you’re worried about my clothes?"

"Arthur," Rose said with the patience of someone explaining basic mathematics to a particularly slow student, "this isn’t just any social event. This is the Grand Ball—the most important gathering of international powers in decades. Representatives from all five continents will be there, and you’ll be representing not just yourself but all the guilds in the Empire and, by extension, everyone connected to you."

"More importantly," Cecilia added, settling onto my bed with the casual authority that came naturally to crown princesses, "you’re attending as the partner of three princesses, a marquis’s daughter, and Reika. The fashion coordination alone is a diplomatic nightmare."

That gave me pause. In my focus on the political implications of the ball, I had completely overlooked the social complexities that would be just as important for maintaining the relationships that gave me my influence. "Coordination?"

"Your suit needs to complement all five of our dresses simultaneously," Rose explained, producing a tablet that displayed what appeared to be a complex color-matching application. "Cecilia will be wearing Slatemark royal colors, Rachel will represent Northern continent traditions, Seraphina will be in Eastern formal wear, I’ll be in Springshaper house colors, and Reika will be wearing something that reflects her position in your household."

"The challenge," Cecilia continued, "is finding a combination that works with all of those different color schemes and cultural expectations without making you look like you’re wearing a rainbow or, worse, favoring one of us over the others."

I was beginning to understand why they had approached this with emergency-level urgency. At an event where every detail would be scrutinized for political meaning, any perceived favoritism could create diplomatic incidents that would echo for years.

"Where are the others?" I asked, noting the absence of the remaining members of what Stella had once innocently called my "princess collection."

"Reika is visiting her family for the first time in months," Rose explained. "She insisted on getting their blessing for attending such a major event as your official partner. Rachel is dealing with some crisis in the Northern Continent that requires saintess intervention, and Seraphina is handling Eastern diplomatic preparations for the ball."

"Which means," Cecilia said with obvious satisfaction, "that we have been entrusted with ensuring you don’t embarrass yourself or us at the most important social event of the year."

"I see." I considered the implications of letting these two take charge of my wardrobe, weighing the benefits against the potential for complications. "And I assume you already have a plan?"

"Of course we do," Rose replied, standing and moving toward my closet with obvious purpose. "We’ve made appointments at Avalon’s premier boutique. They’re expecting us in an hour."

"An hour?" I glanced at the time, noting how efficiently they had organized this intervention. "How long have you two been planning this?"

"Since the invitations were announced," Cecilia admitted without shame. "We’ve been coordinating with the others through encrypted messages to ensure everything works perfectly. This is too important to leave to chance."

What followed was a whirlwind journey across the city to a boutique that epitomized the strange blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern luxury that characterized Avalon’s high-end fashion district. The building itself was a study in understated elegance, with floor-to-ceiling windows displaying garments that probably cost more than most people earned in a year.

"Grandmaster Nightingale," the boutique manager greeted me with professional enthusiasm that suggested my reputation had preceded me. "Your Highness, Lady Springshaper, we’re honored to serve you today."

The next several hours became a lesson in the complexities of high-society fashion that I had never fully appreciated. What I had assumed would be a simple matter of selecting a well-tailored suit turned into an intricate process involving fabric samples, color wheels, cultural significance charts, and what appeared to be a minor degree in international diplomacy.

"The base needs to be classic black," the head tailor explained while taking measurements with precision that would have impressed my magical research assistants. "But the accents are where we create the coordination you’re seeking."

Cecilia and Rose worked with the boutique’s designers like generals planning a military campaign, each decision carefully considered for its broader implications. The waistcoat would incorporate subtle threads that complemented Cecilia’s royal crimson, while the cufflinks would feature gems that echoed Rachel’s Northern sapphires.

"The boutonniere is crucial," Rose noted, studying various options with obvious intensity. "It needs to reference all five without being ostentatious."

"What about a composite design?" the designer suggested, producing a sketch that showed a small arrangement incorporating elements from each girlfriend’s cultural traditions. "Slatemark roses, Northern winter berries, Eastern cherry blossoms, Springshaper autumn leaves, and something unique for Miss Reika."

"Perfect," Cecilia declared with obvious satisfaction. "Arthur, you’re going to look magnificent."

As the measurements and fittings continued, I found myself genuinely impressed by the level of thought they were putting into every detail. The suit they were designing would be a work of art that managed to honor five different cultural traditions while maintaining the sophisticated elegance expected at such an event. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"The girls are getting their final fittings done in the private salon," Rose informed me as we concluded the initial measurements. "Would you like to see the preliminary designs?"

"I think I’ll be surprised," I replied, trusting their judgment completely. "But I do have one question."

"Which is?" Cecilia asked, pausing in her discussion with the accessories specialist.

"How exactly are we handling the logistics at the ball itself? I can’t exactly escort five different women simultaneously."

The smile that crossed Cecilia’s face was both predatory and amused. "Oh, Arthur. You have so much to learn about high-society events. We’ve already worked that out too."

"You will not escort all of us since we will be with our parents, except for Reika," Rose said, "Reika is technically your plus one after all. The four of us will join after that."

"And the dancing?" I asked, beginning to appreciate the choreography involved in navigating such an event.

"Rotation schedule," Cecilia replied cheerfully. "We’ve already coordinated with the orchestra to ensure appropriate music for each transition. By the end of the evening, you’ll have properly honored all five relationships without creating any diplomatic incidents."

Looking at these two extraordinary women as they continued planning every detail of the upcoming ball, I felt a profound appreciation for the complexity of the relationships I had built. Each of my girlfriends brought unique strengths and perspectives, but when they worked together like this, the results were genuinely impressive.

"One more thing," Rose said as we prepared to leave the boutique. "We’ll need to schedule a final coordination meeting before the ball. There are still some details about the overall strategy that require all five of us to discuss together."

"Strategy?" I asked, though I was beginning to suspect I knew what she meant.

Cecilia’s crimson eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Arthur, you don’t think we’re approaching the Grand Ball without a comprehensive plan, do you? This is going to be the most important social and political event any of us have attended. Every move needs to be calculated."

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