Europe / Britain / London (Royal Albert Hall): March 12th, 1993.
It was a beautiful day for the world. The birds were chirping their songs as mankind went about their daily routines with smiles on their faces at beauty of the city, but also sad looks on their faces at the horror of it whether it be financially, emotionally or physically, yet if you were to look closely in london. To be more specific, at the royal albert hall. You could see a orchestra rehearsing inside of the grand stage with very serious looks on their faces as the sound of violins, cellos, horns and piano notes filled the massive hall like heaven was trying to mind its business before hell walked in wearing diamonds.
The atmosphere was luxurious.
No.
It was royal.
Rows and rows of red seats sat empty for now, but later tonight they would be filled with old money, new money, fake money, politicians, celebrities, social climbers, royal adjacent leeches and enough rich people with secrets to make the whole building smell like expensive sin.
This was not just a concert.
This was not just a performance.
This was a statement.
A very expensive one.
Backstage, inside of a private dressing room, you could see a very beautiful chocolate skinned woman sitting in front of a vanity mirror with a calm look on her face while a makeup artist fixed the corner of her eyeliner with trembling hands.
That woman was me.
(Crystalline's POV)
"Crystal Jubilee." I said calmly while staring at myself in the mirror.
The room was silent.
Emma stood behind me with a black folder in her hand and a serious look on her face while edward stood near the door with his hands behind his back like a old war statue that learned how to breathe and decided customer service was it's retirement plan.
I looked at my reflection for a moment.
The white and silver gown hugged my body like wealth itself was trying to keep me from leaving the room. Crystal embroidery covered the chest, sleeves and waist, while the long dramatic train pooled behind me like spilled moonlight. Diamond jewelry sat on my neck and ears, my black lace front hair on a perfect styled bun with two strands falling falling over both sides of my face shoulder like I was somebody's royal scandal.
I looked expensive.
I looked untouchable.
I looked like somebody's funeral bill.
"Ma'am." Said emma calmly while opening the folder.
I lifted my left hand slightly, signaling her to continue.
"The guest list has been confirmed. Alfred samwell will not be attending personally." Said emma calmly.
I paused.
The makeup artist paused too.
I slowly looked at emma through the mirror and asked lHe is not attending."
"No ma'am. He sent two board members from samwell enterprise in his place." Said emma while flipping the page.
I chuckled softly and said "So the old bastard is scared but still wants to watch."
Emma nodded slightly and said "That is most likely the case."
"Good. Fear means his brain is still connected to his survival instinct." I said while looking back at the mirror.
The makeup artist swallowed hard and continued fixing my eyeliner.
Emma glanced down at the folder again and continued "Jonathan samwell is confirmed. Adam king is confirmed. The british royal family is confirmed. Three political figures connected to the eye are confirmed under public identities. Two foreign investors tied to project starfish are also expected to appear, though they are using false names."
The dressing room went silent.
I slowly blinked.
"So the roaches came dressed as people." I said calmly.
Emma paused for a moment and said "Yes ma'am."
Edward adjusted his throat from near the door and said "Security has been placed around all main entrances, private exits, dressing corridors and balcony access points. No one gets near you without approval."
"Good." I said while lifting my chin slightly so the makeup artist could finish.
Emma continued "There are also reporters from london, paris and america. Most of them are here because of the grammy aftermath."
I rolled my eyes and said "Of course they are."
Emma looked at another page and said "The press is calling tonight your london coronation."
The room was silent.
I turned my head slightly and looked at her directly.
"Coronation." I said slowly.
"Yes ma'am." Said emma carefully.
I smiled softly and looked back into the mirror and said "How cute. They finally learned how to spell warning."
The makeup artist froze again.
I glanced at her through the mirror and asked calmly "Why did you stop."
"N…nothing ma'am." Said the makeup artist quickly with a stutter and continued.
Emma adjusted her throat and said "Tonight's performance is expected to be broadcasted in several countries. Britain, america, france, germany and parts of asia. If you make a statement musically, it will spread by morning."
I hummed softly and thought "Good. Let london hear me before I start ripping the weeds out of its garden. I now owe queen elizabeth a favor."
Edward stepped forward slightly and said "There is one more matter, ma'am."
I looked at him through the mirror.
"What is it." I asked.
"Three men attempted to enter using forged backstage credentials twenty minutes ago. They were removed." Said edward calmly.
The room was silent. My smile vanished.
"Removed where." I asked calmly.
Edward stared at me for a moment and said "Away from the building."
I blinked once and said with squinted eyes "That was not the answer I wanted, but I will accept it for now. Being brain fucked by stupidity must be a trend nowadays."
The room was absolutely silent.
Emma closed the folder slightly and said with a sigh "They had no weapons on them. Only recording devices and one small camera."
I leaned back in the chair and clicked my teeth and said calmly "Alfred."
Emma nodded and said with her eyes closed "Most likely."
I slowly looked at myself in the mirror and said "He wants to catch me breathing wrong, blinking wrong, smiling wrong. He wants proof that I am reckless."
Selena's voice suddenly came from the corner of the room where she was sitting in a velvet chair with her legs crossed, drinking tea like she was invited to judge everybody's soul.
"Then don't be reckless." Said selena calmly.
I looked at her through the mirror and said "I did not know you were still awake."
Selena gave me a flat look and said "Bitch I'm old, not dead."
The room went silent for a moment.
Then I chuckled softly.
Selena sipped her tea and looked me up and down and said with a smile "You look good. Too good. That means somebody in that audience is gonna get mad."
"As they should. People need to learn to make way for their betters." I said calmly while looking at myself in the mirror.
Selena was silent for a moment and nodded like that was a perfectly reasonable answer.
Emma opened the folder again and said "Ma'am, your first song is still listed as the opening arrangement. The orchestra has been briefed. However, the conductor asked if you plan to follow the written arrangement this time."
I slowly turned my head toward emma.
The room went silent.
Even the makeup artist looked like she wanted to disappear into the wall.
"Did he say that with confidence." I asked calmly.
Emma hesitated. "Some."
I smiled.
"Tell him I do not follow arrangements. Arrangements follow me. If he cannot understand that, replace him with somebody who has ears and survival instincts. Also if you do choose a different person make sure the person you choose is not musically tone deaf. I hate people who think they have talent but just compensate it with a BBL." I said calmly.
Edward nodded once. "I will inform him."
Selena snorted into her tea and said "That poor man finna be conducting with fear in his elbows."
I stood up slowly from the vanity chair.
The makeup artist stepped back immediately.
I turned toward the full body mirror and adjusted the sleeve of my gown, my eyes moving over every detail. Hair perfect. Face perfect. Jewelry perfect. Figure perfect. Expression calm enough to make people nervous.
"Do I look good." I asked calmly.
Emma nodded immediately. "Yes ma'am."
Selena nodded and said "You look like you about to marry a kingdom and divorce it for ownership."
I paused and looked at her.
"That was beautiful. But off point." I said sis a shrug.
"I know." Said selena while sipping her tea.
Edward looked at me and said with a nod "You look prepared."
I looked at him through the mirror and smiled slightly while saying "That was what I wanted to hear, good answer."
*KNOCK* *KNOCK*
A stage worker opened the door slightly and said nervously "Ms knowles, five minutes."
I turned toward the door.
The poor man looked like he had already heard too much and wanted to retire early.
"Tell the orchestra not to rush me." I said calmly.
The stage worker stared for a second.
Edward looked at him.
The stage worker nodded quickly and vanished.
*Boom*
The room was silent again.
Emma stepped closer and asked softly "Ma'am, what exactly is tonight supposed to be. Why did you negotiate and accept to perform do the royal family for 50 million and now you even owe the queen a favor for using the royal albert hall."
I looked at her for a moment and smiled.
"A celebration." I said calmly.
Selena narrowed her eyes "Celebration of what."
I picked up my microphone from the vanity and turned toward the door.
"My survival." I said with my arms spread slightly.
The room became heavy.
I walked toward the door with edward and emma following behind me while selena stood up behind us, her heels clicking against the floor as she fixed her robe like she was the mother of a warlord.
The sound of the orchestra grew louder the closer we got to the stage.
Violins.
Cellos.
Horns.
Piano.
And beyond all of it, I could hear the crowd.
Thousands of voices.
Thousands of eyes.
London waiting.
The enemy watching.
The world listening.
I stopped behind the curtain and looked at the black stage floor beneath my heels.
For one second, just one, I thought about mia.
Then I thought about alfred.
Then project starfish.
My fingers tightened around the microphone.
I smiled wider.
"Crystal Jubilee." I said whispering softly with a chuckle.
Let them all celebrate while they still can.
Don't you agree alfred.
…
THE END…