despite the weight of the world's attention, she was unaffected.
Her expression remained unreadable, cold but flawless, as though she had stepped out of a painting of the divine.
But before she could move further, two figures stepped toward her—her parents.
Lucian Vasiliev, the head of the Vasiliev Conglomerate, the man known as the richest and most powerful in the world, stood beside his wife, Valeria Raventhorn, a woman feared by all.
The cameras zoomed in immediately.
They wanted to see their expressions, to catch every movement.
This was history.
This was the moment when the world's most powerful rulers welcomed their only heir into the throne of absolute dominance.
"You've finally arrived," Lucian spoke, his voice smooth, a whisper of authority woven into every syllable.
Anastasia nodded once, her posture straight, exuding nothing but control.
Valeria, standing beside her husband, tilted her head slightly, observing Anastasia the way a queen would assess her successor. Her blue eyes gleamed.
"Are you ready?" she asked, her tone low but powerful.
She wasn't talking about the ball.
She was talking about the moment Anastasia officially took the first step into the empire her family had built.
Anastasia met her mother's gaze, her own ice-cold blue eyes reflecting unwavering confidence.
"I was born ready."
she said, the words falling like an unshakable decree.
The cameras caught everything.
The moment she spoke, the billions watching felt chills.
"SHE'S SO SCARY. WHY AM I TREMBLING?!""Her parents are terrifying, but SHE feels even more dangerous!""She was born to rule. No one can match her."
The air around them shifted, heavy with power.
Lucian and Valeria shared a brief glance, and for the first time, something almost approving flickered in their expressions.
Their daughter was ready.
And the world would soon witness her reign.