The Extra's Rise-Chapter 401: Empress Adeline (1)

Luna's magic granted me the first peaceful sleep I'd had in months. When I woke, sunlight filtered through the curtains of my bedroom, casting a warm glow that felt almost foreign after nearly a year in darkness. For a moment, I simply lay there, savoring the sensation of safety.

The peace was short-lived. A message awaited me downstairs—I'd been summoned to the Imperial Palace by the Empress herself.

"The Empress?" my father questioned, brow furrowed as he examined the formal imperial summons. "Not the Emperor?"

"This is unusual," my mother added, worry etching lines around her eyes. "What could Empress Adeline want with you specifically?"

I shook my head. "I'll find out when I get there."

My parents exchanged concerned glances. They couldn't accompany me—the summons was explicit about that. After my mysterious eleven-month absence, the thought of me disappearing into another powerful institution clearly unsettled them.

"I'll be fine," I assured them, though I understood their concern. The imperial family wasn't known for subtlety when displeased. "I'll be back before dinner."

The imperial car arrived precisely at the appointed time—sleek, black, and humming with protective enchantments. Standing beside it was a face I recognized immediately.

The same Imperial Knight who had accompanied Cecilia yesterday. Likely her personal guard, and the one who had "retrieved" me during the Sophomore Ball incident. Our history wasn't exactly friendly.

"Mr. Nightingale, please get in," he said, his voice carrying unexpected respect. I nodded and slid into the luxurious rear compartment while he took the front passenger seat.

As we pulled away from my family's penthouse, I studied the knight through the privacy partition. His posture remained perfectly rigid, a testament to his training.

"You speak with respect," I remarked, breaking the silence.

He met my eyes in the rearview mirror. "You are worthy of such respect," he replied simply. "I am Nate McMillian, fortunate enough to serve as an Imperial Knight. We met during the Sophomore Ball under less than ideal circumstances."

"I don't blame you for that," I said, watching his reaction. "You were following orders."

"Thank you," Nate responded, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "I must say, I'm amazed by how much you've grown these past months." He hesitated before adding, "Whatever happened beyond the Northern border... it changed you fundamentally."

His sincerity was evident, but I only offered a curt nod in response. The Well of Miasma wasn't something I cared to discuss with anyone, least of all an Imperial Knight with direct access to the royal family.

Nate didn't press further. Silence settled between us as the city transformed around us—residential towers giving way to governmental districts, then to the heart of Avalon where the Imperial Palace dominated the skyline.

I'd visited once before for Cecilia's sixteenth birthday with my family. The palace remained just as I remembered—a sprawling complex of traditional and modern architecture, surrounded by gardens that defied the natural seasons.

Guards stationed at precise intervals watched our approach with calculated indifference. Their uniforms marked them as regular palace security. That was something, at least.

"We're to visit the Empress's Palace first," Nate explained as we passed through multiple security checkpoints.

The Imperial Palace wasn't a single structure but a collection of connected palaces, each dedicated to different functions. The Empress's Palace sat in the eastern quarter, designed to catch the morning light.

We arrived at a vast garden that sparked immediate recognition. This was where the Empress had tea with Lucifer in the novel—her favorite garden, carefully temperature-controlled to maintain perfect conditions year-round. Cherry blossoms bloomed alongside winter roses, an impossible coexistence made reality through imperial magic and technology.

At the center of this botanical impossibility sat Empress Adeline, sipping tea with regal poise.

Cecilia's mother.

The resemblance was unmistakable—the same delicate features, though Adeline's carried the subtle marks of maturity. Where Cecilia's eyes burned crimson like fresh blood, her mother's gleamed silver, clear as mountain crystal.

By sovereign standards, she wasn't particularly powerful—only peak Ascendant-rank, likely the weakest among the continental rulers. Yet Emperor Quinn had married her purely out of love, if the stories were true. In a world where political marriages were the norm, their genuine affection had become something of a romantic legend.

"Come, sit," Adeline smiled warmly, gesturing to the chair opposite her. Nate bowed deeply and withdrew without a word, leaving us alone. I noticed the absence of guards—unusual for an imperial meeting.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," I bowed formally before taking the offered seat. The table between us held an ornate tea service, steam rising gently from a pot painted with scenes of ancient battles.

"Hmm," Adeline hummed, her silver eyes studying my face with undisguised interest. "I understand why my daughter fell for you. Your appearance certainly meets the standard, though that's rarely enough to capture Cecilia's attention so completely."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," I replied evenly, accepting the cup of tea she poured.

"Not even flustered by imperial attention... she must have quite the time with you," Adeline remarked, seeming more like a playful mother-in-law than the Empress of Slatemark.

'Mother-in-law?' I caught myself before that thought could fully form.

'Bold thinking there,' Luna teased in my mind.

The Empress wasn't wrong about my appearance, though. Arthur was handsome—not at Lucifer's level, nor even matching Ren, Jin, or Ian, but certainly well-regarded in this world. I'd inherited those features along with his body.

"May I ask why I was summoned?" I ventured after taking a polite sip of the tea—floral with a hint of something more potent beneath.

"I wanted to meet the boy who captured my daughter's heart so completely that she threatened to invade both the Umbravale Covenant and the Shadow Seekers," Adeline stated matter-of-factly, watching for my reaction.

My eyes widened before I managed to compose myself. The cup nearly slipped from my fingers.

'Did Cecilia really almost start a war over me?' The thought was staggering, though not entirely surprising given her reaction when Rachel had prevented her from visiting me during my coma. She had admitted then that she nearly invaded the Creightons.

"My husband had quite the headache over that," Adeline giggled, the sound strangely youthful from the Empress. "I knew my daughter was strong-willed, but I never imagined she'd find herself so attached. Still, as her mother, I can't help but feel happy for her."

I nodded as she sipped her tea, uncertain how to respond to such a revelation.

"But," Adeline continued, her eyes sharpening like silver blades, "I know she's not the only one, correct? My sources tell me there are three others with similar... claims on your affection."

"Yes, Your Majesty," I admitted. There was no point lying to the imperial intelligence network.

"An honest response," she acknowledged, meeting my gaze directly. "Refreshing."

In that instant, I felt it—pressure. Immense, crushing pressure that descended without warning.

I could almost hear the metaphysical beat of her Sword Heart as my body was completely suppressed under her power. My muscles locked, my lungs struggled to expand, even my blood seemed to slow in my veins.

'Even now... I can't hope to match her,' I realized. Despite everything I'd gained in the Well of Miasma, the gap in mana rank remained too vast for this to be anything resembling a fair fight.

"You've grown remarkably strong," Adeline noted, her voice unchanged despite the pressure she exerted. "In the span of eleven months, you've progressed farther than most mages achieve in decades. In terms of potential, you more than deserve my daughter's attention." The pressure eased slightly. "But Arthur, I don't care about that. My daughter isn't a prize to be claimed simply because you 'deserve' her and the other three."

I remained silent, listening carefully as the pressure gradually receded. My hand trembled slightly as I set down my teacup, the only visible sign of the strain I'd experienced.

She opened her palm, guiding mana to her fingertips. It coalesced into a perfect red rose, vivid and delicate—a demonstration of control rather than raw power.

"Love is beautiful," Adeline said softly, her expression softening as she gazed at the flower. "You taught my daughter true love, not the obsessive fixation I feared she would develop. For that, I am grateful. However..."

She crushed the rose in her hand, petals crumbling to dust that scattered in the artificial breeze.

"I cannot allow her to be harmed," she stated, her eyes dangerously bright. "And you hurt her deeply when you left. It pained me to see my daughter crying night after night while she waited for you. For her, you are everything."

"What does Your Majesty wish?" I asked directly, straightening my posture despite the lingering heaviness in my limbs.

"Break up with her," Adeline said, her voice gentle but firm. "Before she falls deeper. Rip the bandage off now, while she can still recover."

"I apologize, but I cannot," I replied with a respectful bow.

As I looked up, I found a sword hovering at my throat.

Not wielded by the Empress, but by a Nighthawk—one of the imperial assassins—who had materialized from the shadows. His blade wrapped in astral energy, humming with lethal intent.

I stared at the glowing weapon without flinching, feeling its heat against my skin.

"Is it because you want the Empire?" Adeline asked casually, taking another sip of tea as if discussing the weather rather than my potential execution.

"No," I shook my head, careful not to move against the blade.

"Then why refuse?" she pressed. "Why risk your life for this?"

"Because I love her," I answered simply. "With all my heart."

Adeline paused, then waved her hand. The Nighthawk vanished as quickly as he'd appeared, like a shadow dispersed by sudden light.

"So what if you love her?" she challenged, tilting her head. "Cecilia doesn't understand yet, but eventually, her possessive nature will resurface as you continue divide your time among the four. Can you truly keep her happy when she sees you with children from your other relationships? You cannot. Love fades with time, Arthur. She's young—a teenage girl blinded by emotion. I understand that. But I won't let her experience the pain that inevitably follows."

I pressed my lips together, considering my response.

What could I possibly say to convince the Empress?