The Extra's Rise-Chapter 561: A Blue Rose Blooms (3)

The musicians continued playing, and I knew what was expected of me next. It was time to dance with the other three princesses, each dance carrying its own significance and sending its own message to the assembled guests.

Cecilia approached first, her red eyes bright with anticipation. "My turn?" she asked with characteristic directness.

"It would be my pleasure, Your Highness," I replied formally, offering my arm.

Dancing with Cecilia was like partnering with controlled fire. Her movements were precise and powerful, reflecting the strength that had made her such a formidable ally. Her golden hair seemed to glow under the lights, and her red eyes held mine with an intensity that spoke of deep affection tempered by political awareness.

"You look happy tonight," she observed as we moved through the steps of a more contemporary dance.

"I am happy," I replied honestly. "All of us together like this, celebrating Rose’s birthday—it feels right."

"It does," she agreed. "Though I suspect the real celebration will come later."

Her meaningful glance toward Rose made her implications clear, and I felt heat rise to my cheeks.

"Cecilia," I warned, though my tone was more amused than disapproving.

"What? I’m simply observing that eighteen is a very significant birthday," she said with mock innocence. "Especially when one has been waiting so patiently."

When our dance ended, she squeezed my hand gently before releasing me. "Take care of her tonight, Arthur. She’s been looking forward to this for a very long time."

Rachel was next, gliding toward us with the fluid grace that characterized all her movements. Her deep blue eyes were warm with affection as I took her in my arms for what turned out to be a more traditional waltz.

"You’re quite the popular dance partner tonight," she observed with gentle teasing.

"I’m simply fulfilling my social obligations," I replied, spinning her gracefully under my arm.

"Is that what we are? Social obligations?" Her tone was light, but I caught the underlying question.

"You know better than that," I said seriously, pulling her closer as we moved through a particularly complex sequence of steps. "You’re all far more than that. You’re..."

"We’re what?" she prompted when I hesitated.

"You’re my heart," I said simply. "All of you. In different ways, but completely."

Her smile was radiant. "That’s exactly what I needed to hear."

As our dance concluded, she stood on her tiptoes to press a brief, chaste kiss to my cheek. "Don’t let Rose wait too long tonight," she whispered. "Some things are worth the anticipation, but only to a point."

Finally, Seraphina approached, her silver hair seeming to shimmer with each step. Her ice blue eyes held mine with characteristic intensity as I offered my hand. freewebnøvel.com

Dancing with Seraphina was like partnering with winter itself—beautiful, powerful, and carrying an otherworldly grace that never failed to captivate me. Her movements had a flowing quality that made it seem as though she were floating rather than walking.

"This has been a lovely evening," she said as we moved together across the floor.

"It has," I agreed. "Though I suspect it’s far from over."

"Indeed." She paused, her expression becoming more serious. "Arthur, I want you to know how grateful I am for everything you’ve done. Not just for me, but for all of us. You’ve given us something precious."

"What’s that?"

"The ability to love without reservation," she replied. "To trust in something beautiful without fear that it will be taken away."

Her words carried weight that went beyond simple gratitude, touching on the deeper transformations we had all undergone during our time together.

"You’ve given me just as much," I said honestly. "All of you have."

As the music ended and I escorted Seraphina back to the edge of the dance floor, I noticed that the crowd was beginning to thin. Some guests were making their polite farewells, while others had gathered in small groups for quiet conversation. The formal portion of the evening was clearly drawing to a close.

I found Rose speaking with a elderly couple who were family friends, her manner gracious and attentive as they shared stories about her childhood. When she saw me approaching, she politely concluded the conversation and turned toward me with obvious anticipation.

"How are you feeling?" I asked quietly, noting the way her eyes sparkled with excitement and perhaps a touch of nervousness.

"Perfect," she replied without hesitation. "This has been everything I hoped it would be."

"I’m glad." I glanced around the room, noting that her father was engaged in conversation with several political allies near the refreshment table. "Would you like to step outside for some fresh air? It’s been quite warm in here."

Her smile was answer enough.

We made our way through the remaining guests, accepting final congratulations and birthday wishes, before stepping out onto the estate’s main terrace. The night air was crisp and clear, filled with the scent of the garden’s prize-winning roses and the subtle magical energies that always seemed to hover around the Springshaper estate.

"Thank you," Rose said softly as we walked toward the terrace’s edge, where we could look out over the moonlit gardens.

"For what?"

"For making tonight perfect. For dancing with me first, for treating this like the important milestone it is, for..." She paused, seeming to search for words. "For making me feel like I’m worth celebrating."

I stopped walking and turned to face her fully, my hands finding hers in the moonlight. "Rose, you are absolutely worth celebrating. Not because of your birthday, not because you’re eighteen now, but because of who you are. The woman you’ve become."

"I couldn’t have become her without you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "You showed me that I could be more than just my mother’s daughter, more than the shame I carried for so long."

"You always had that strength inside you," I corrected gently. "I just helped you see it."

She looked up at me, her brown eyes luminous in the moonlight, and I saw in them the same love and trust that had been growing between us for months. But now there was something else—a mature certainty that hadn’t been there before.

"Arthur," she said quietly, "I know we’ve been waiting, all of us, until tonight. And I know that what happens next changes everything."

"Are you ready for that?" I asked, though I thought I already knew the answer.

"I’ve been ready for months," she replied with quiet conviction. "The only question is whether you are."

Looking at her—this remarkable young woman who had overcome so much, who had grown from uncertainty into confidence, who loved me with such complete trust—I knew there was only one answer I could give.

"I’m ready," I said simply.

Her smile was brilliant enough to rival the moon itself.

"Then let’s go inside," she said, her hand finding mine with perfect certainty.

As we walked back toward the estate, I reflected on the journey that had brought us to this moment. The careful patience, the growing trust, the deep affection that had developed between not just Rose and me, but all of us together. Tonight marked more than just Rose’s eighteenth birthday—it marked the true beginning of something that would define the rest of our lives.

The formal celebration was ending, but the real celebration was just about to begin.