The Empress smiled and indicated at the chairs opposite from her.
"Have a seat, both of you. We are about to start lunch."
Byron led her to the seat opposite of the Empress and sat down next to her.
"Father, Mother, this is Candace Farrah, Avgo Female from Earth. She will be staying with us for the duration of the Avgo Event."
The Empress smiled. Her pale blue eyes regarded Candi's face with interest.
"So you are the winner of the first contest. The criteria was 'Face and Grace' and they chose well."
Candi blinked. There was a criteria?
The Emperor roared out his laughter and pounded the Empress on the back. She coughed at his boisterous back slap, trying to keep her composure.
"Look at the girl. She didn't even know what she was supposed to be competing for." He turned back to Candi. "You got a bit waylaid after the competition so you didn't get a chance to see the scores, but it was a doozie!"
He cackled and turned to Byron.
"Show her what she missed, Son."
Byron took a sip of his coffee and placed the delicate cup back on its saucer. Then he raised his hand and snapped a finger. Instantly, a virtual screen opened up in midair a few feet away from them.
Six mini screens showed up, rolling on repeat, each woman's effort at maneuvering the Sky Walk. The scores were posted at the corner of each screen.
In first place was Candi. Second place went to Anaïse Paroles. Third was shared by Jenna Natoli and Bethany Dresden. In fifth place was Valeria Marakesh. Helene Cordera rounded out the sixth place.
Olivia Faraday was disqualified and didn't even make the visuals.
Emperor Rex cackled with hilarity and slapped the table as he pointed to the screen at Helene's attempt at walking the Sky Walk.
"Oh my Stars, just look at that first girl. She's actually crawling on her fish belly to get down the Sky Walk. Hahaha!" He turned to the Empress. "Wouldn't you like that fish girl as your daughter-in-law!"
Candi pressed her lips together trying not to laugh. Beside her, Byron's regal face was stiff as a stone. As always, he was the perfect politician.
The Empress harrumphed.
"I'm sure the girl was terrified." She touched a napkin to her lips. "It's not even safe to be up there unless you have wings or have learned levitation."
"It's not that bad, Clarissa. The best Erenveil engineers and designers created it." The Emperor said with pride.
"That is the third Sky Way that's been replaced." The Empress sniffed with disdain. "The first two shattered into pieces as people were walking on them."
She turned to Candi.
"I have to admit, Candace. Although you have no wings, you danced on the Sky Walk as if your feet were made of air."
"Thank you." Candi smiled and gave a slight nod of gratitude.
"And that outfit. I recognize my sons' creations. They truly outdid themselves. After you showed up, dancing in that dress, their Couture Houses were inundated with requests for the exact same dress, shoes, and jewelry."
"Isn't that bridal wear?" The Emperor pointed at Candi's visual as it continuously looped onscreen. He turned and stared at Candi with sparkling violet eyes.
"How is it possible for you to attempt that Sky Walk while wearing a wedding gown???"
Candi smiled.
"It's because Jared and Jason are genius designers. The dress is mostly soft tulle so it looks huge but is actually very light and airy. The shoes are reinforced within so it supports the feet and the toes which allowed me to jump in that manner."
Candi touched the base of her throat.
"Jason also glued the necklace onto my skin so it wouldn't bang up against my face as I made the jump."
The Empress laughed.
"When did they become so thoughtful?" Her eyes grew misty.
"All the girls who saw you jump and dance on that Sky Walk wants the same dress and shoes so they can do the same. More the fool they are. It takes great skill and training to do what she does. Wearing a dress is not going to do anything to improve their grace." Empress Clarissa turned up her nose.
"It won't do anything to improve their faces either." Emperor Rex howled with laughter.
"The Avgo Gem picks out the creme de la creme of the Galaxy. All others are chaff." The Empress concurred.
"Of course, My Empress," Emperor Rex smiled with pride. "You were the winner of one such Event."
Candi gasped.
"You participated in an Avgo event as well?"
The Empress gave her a curious stare.
"My Dear, are you not aware of what the Avgo Event is?"
Candi gave her a hesitant look and finally shook her head.
"Everything happened so fast, I didn't really understand what was happening."
"You cannot be serious." The Emperor rubbed his chin. "This is the most anticipated Event of the century! Everyone knows what this is about and every world who has a chance at it prepares for decades."
Byron spoke up for the first time that afternoon.
"It is true. When we first met Candace, she was merely stealing the Avgo for the organization she works under."
"But not to know what an Avgo is, why that's preposterous!" The Emperor stuttered.
"Earth has never participated in such an event before. They, and countless other worlds like them, would never know such a thing as an Avgo Gem exists."
"What is the Avgo Event about?" Candi asked, not sure if she even wanted to know the answer.
The Empress smiled. It was an enigmatic mysterious smile that caught Candi's eyes and struck a powerful emotional chord deep within.
"It is an event to choose a bride for the Crown Prince of Erenveil."
"Cro—crown prince?" Candi stuttered and turned to Byron. Her eyes widened with incredulity.
He slowly turned towards her.
"That would be me."
"Huh…I thought it was to gain the riches of the Universe."
The Empress blinked her eyes.
"My Dear. Where did you get that information from?"
Candi opened her mouth. She closed it again.
"I, well. I read it from a book."
"Book?" The Empress raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. I read in the 'Ellipsoidal Macrocosm' book that the gem is supposed to bring to the holder, the entire riches of the Universe!"
The Empress laughed. It was a pleasant tinkling laugh.
"The gem gives you the chance to be the Empress of a Galaxy. That is the equivalent of the entire riches of the Universe."
The Emperor harrumphed.
"Ahem. Pray tell. You can actually read the 'Ellipsoidal Macrocosm'?"
Candi nodded.
"That was how I knew that the pink Avgo stone was the best one. I only picked up the pink sapphire one."
"Wait—" Byron touched her shoulder. "Was there more than one?"
Candi nodded.
"I saw several in different colors. Red, teal, purple, amber. I grabbed the pink one because the 'Ellipsoidal Macrocosm' specifically stated that it was the most valuable."
The Emperor's eyes widened.
"I wonder whatever happened to the other Avgo Gems you didn't pick."
The Empress chuckled.
"It most likely went back to the other women who thought they had it in their possession."
"Indeed. We have always known that the Avgo Gems choose their holders. This is the first time I've ever heard of the Holder having a choice from among the Avgo Gems!"