Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Queen’s Ball
Two days had passed since that cursed dance class.
Two days of pure torture disguised as academy life.
Ava had been clingy always finding excuses to sit next to him, brush against him, ask him questions she clearly already knew the answers to. Her smiles were sweet, her touches casual but deliberate.
Celestia, on the other hand, was subtler. She didn’t flirt. She didn’t seduce. She simply existed in his orbit, making it clear through small gestures—a saved seat, a shared glance, a precisely timed comment that she had staked some kind of claim.
And Kai? Kai was Kai. Loud, stupid, endlessly optimistic, and somehow always managing to say the exact wrong thing at the exact wrong time.
Jax had been bored out of his mind.
But today was different.
Today, he was excited.
He stood in his dorm room, adjusting the collar of his suit. The fabric was expensive—tailored perfectly to fit his frame. Paige had it delivered that morning
He looked at himself in the mirror.
Dark suit. Crisp white shirt. Silver tie that caught the light just right. His hair was styled neatly, his face clean-shaven.
’Not bad,’ he thought, tilting his head. ’This handsome face has charmed most of the twisted and important women in this world so far.’
He paused, then smirked. ’Or forced them. Depends how you look at it.’
His mind flashed to Paige. Jennifer. Zinnia. Elara, Lyra....
On realizing the last name he thought ’’Yeah I have been forced too".
He adjusted his tie one last time.
Today was the birthday celebration of Queen Calista Sterling ruler of Solaria, one of the five great nations. And more importantly she would be there.
Beatrix Steele.
Kai’s mother. The woman at the top of his mental ranking. The one he’d never seen in person but had heard endless stories about. The actress, the singer, the artist, the icon.
’Will I get the pleasure of farming points with her?’ he wondered, grinning. ’Let’s see.’
He straightened his jacket and headed out.
Outside the academy gates, students were still heading to their morning classes. But Jax had taken leave for the day. Special invitation. Royal event.
He spotted her immediately.
Kiera stood near the curb, scrolling through her smartphone. She wore a sleek black dress—elegant, formal, but with a slight edge that suited her cold personality. Her hair was pulled back, showing off her sharp features.
She was waiting for Paige.
Jax walked over casually, keeping a few meters of distance. He leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, and started whistling.
Kiera glanced up briefly, then went back to her phone.
Jax whistled louder.
She didn’t react.
He shifted his weight, tilting his head to look at her directly. The moment her eyes flicked toward him, he turned away, staring at the sky like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
Kiera’s jaw tightened. "Tssk."
Jax grinned but said nothing.
A sleek black car pulled up moments later, smooth and silent. The door opened automatically.
Paige sat inside, dressed in a sharp navy suit that screamed power and wealth. Her expression was calm, composed, as always.
Kiera climbed in first, sitting beside her mother. Jax slid in across from them.
The car started moving.
Paige glanced at Jax, her eyes scanning his outfit. "You really look well."
"Thanks. You paid for it."
"I did. So don’t ruin it."
Kiera scrolled through her phone, pretending not to listen.
Jax leaned back. "So, Mother. How does you feel knowing that one of your kid are is doing so well?"
Paige’s lips curved faintly. "It really feels good"
She raised an eyebrow. "You haven’t done anything yet except make a spectacle of yourself."
"Hey, I won a race. I saved whole damn family. I—"
"You also humiliated yourself on live broadcast multiple times potraying yourself as a scoundrel," Kiera cut in, still not looking up from her phone.
Jax smirked. "At least people know my name. What about you? Still the boring Rayne nobody talks about?"
Kiera’s eyes snapped up, glaring. "Shut up."
"Make me."
"Children," Paige said calmly. "Behave. We’re representing the family today. Try not to embarrass me."
Jax grinned. "No promises."
Kiera went back to her phone, muttering something under her breath.
The car ride continued in relative silence, the city slowly giving way to countryside.
Solaria was different from Neo Veridia.
Where Neo Veridia was all glass towers and neon lights, Solaria was green fields and flowing rivers. The nation had refused to modernize too heavily, preferring to balance nature with technology. The roads were smooth, but the buildings were designed to blend with the landscape—stone and wood instead of steel and concrete.
It wasn’t old-fashioned. It was intentional.
Jax stared out the window, taking it in. ’Beautiful. Different. I like it.’
The castle came into view, rising from the hills like something out of a fantasy. Tall spires. Massive stone walls. Flags bearing the Solaria crest fluttering in the wind.
’Now that’s how you show wealth.’
The car pulled up to the entrance. Guards in formal armor stood at attention. Other vehicles lined the drive—sleek, expensive, some even hovering slightly above the ground.
Paige stepped out first, followed by Kiera. Jax climbed out last, adjusting his jacket.
They walked toward the main hall. The doors were massive—carved wood, intricate designs, polished to a shine.
Inside, the hall was breathtaking.
Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting warm golden light. The floors were marble, polished so smooth they reflected like mirrors.
Tables lined the walls, covered in food and drink. And at the far end, a grand staircase led to a raised platform where the queen herself stood, greeting guests.
Queen Calista Sterling.
She was tall, regal, with blonde hair styled in an elegant updo. Her gown was deep blue, shimmering like the night sky. Her presence commanded the room.
Beside her stood Celestia, dressed in a similar style but in pale silver. Her face wore a polite, practiced smile as she greeted each guest.
Until she saw Jax.
The fake smile melted into something real. Her eyes lit up, and she touched her mother’s arm lightly, nodding in their direction.
Queen Calista turned, her gaze landing on Paige first. She smiled warmly and stepped forward.
"Paige Rayne. A pleasure as always."
Paige bowed her head slightly. "Your Majesty. Thank you for the invitation."
"Of course." Calista’s eyes shifted to Jax. "And this must be the young man I’ve been hearing so much about."
Jax bowed politely. "Jax Rayne. It’s an honor, Your Majesty."
Calista’s smile widened. "The honor is mine. My daughter has been telling me about you for days now. And since she arrived here, it’s escalated even more."
Celestia’s face flushed slightly. "Mother, don’t embarrass me."
Calista chuckled. "I’m simply stating facts, dear."
She turned back to Paige. "Actually, I have a proposal I’d like to discuss with you. Privately, of course. When we’re both free later, would that be acceptable?"
Paige nodded. "Of course, Your Majesty."
Jax leaned slightly toward Kiera, his voice low. "Did you see that, Mother? I got the introduction. The greeting. The personal acknowledgment." He glanced at Kiera with a smirk. "Not everyone is that blessed."
Kiera’s jaw clenched. "Shut up."
"Just saying."
They moved deeper into the hall, mingling with the other guests.
The hall was packed.
Nobles. Politicians. Business tycoons. Artists. All dressed in their finest, talking, laughing, drinking.
Jax scanned the crowd, his eyes moving from face to face. Some he recognized. Most he didn’t.
And then his gaze stopped.
Kai.
Kai stood near the far side of the hall, dressed in a sharp suit. He was grinning like an idiot, waving his hand slightly.
But Jax wasn’t looking at Kai.
He was looking at the figure behind him.
A woman with her back turned, talking to someone Jax couldn’t see. Her hair was dark, cascading down her back in perfect waves. Her dress was black—a ball gown that hugged her waist before flowing out elegantly.
Kai said something to her, gesturing toward Jax.
She turned.
And Jax’s world stopped.
Beatrix Steele.
She was... unreal.
Her face was flawless—sharp cheekbones, full lips painted a deep red, eyes that sparkled even from a distance.
Her skin glowed under the chandelier light. Her dress clung to her curves perfectly, emphasizing every line, every curve, every inch of her goddess-like figure.
Her chest was full, the neckline of the dress plunging just enough to tease without being scandalous.
Her waist was slim, cinched by the dress. Her hips flared elegantly, the gown flowing around her legs like liquid shadow.
She moved with grace. Confidence. Power.
Jax felt his body react immediately. His cock hardened, pressing uncomfortably against his pants. Heat flooded through him. His throat went dry. He would feel the precum its stickyness.
’Shit,’ he thought, his mind blanking. ’My balls are going to drain just from looking at her. And my stupid ass thought I could farm points with her?’
Beatrix’s eyes found his across the hall. She smiled faintly, then started walking toward him.
Kai followed beside her, grinning like a proud son showing off his mother.
Jax stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest.
She was coming closer.
Step by step.
Her hips swayed slightly with each movement, the dress flowing around her like a dream.
And all Jax could think was one thing.
’I’m fucked.’