The walk to the ballroom was a gauntlet of stares—though thankfully, most of them weren't aimed at me.
Emilia glided ahead, her gown whispering against the marble floors, while Aeron and Livia flanked her like a pair of dazzling honor guards. Every head turned as they passed, whispers trailing in their wake like ripples in a pond.
Main characters. Can't take two steps without causing a scene.
Meanwhile, I lingered half a step behind, my "background character aura" doing its job splendidly. A few curious glances flicked my way—probably wondering why some rando was tagging along—but they quickly lost interest.
Perfect.
Then we stepped inside the grand hall, and even I had to pause.
The ballroom was enormous, its vaulted ceilings strung with constellations of enchanted lights that shimmered like captured stars.
Gilded arches framed the space, and the polished floor reflected the glow so perfectly it looked like we were standing on liquid gold. At the far end, a quartet played a waltz, the music just loud enough to drown out the hum of chatter without overwhelming it.
No wonder they could fit the entire academy in here.
Aeron, ever the social conductor, led us to a four-person table near our class's designated section. The hall was already half-full, clusters of students mingling in their finest attire, their laughter bright and nervous in equal measure.
I stepped ahead and pulled out Emilia's chair before she could reach for it.
"Thank you," she said, blinking in mild surprise as she sat.
"Just doing my job," I replied with a shrug. Partner duties, after all.
Beside us, Aeron did the same for Livia.
"I can—I can seat myself!" Livia's cheeks pinked as she practically dove into the chair. Aeron just chuckled, unfazed.
I took my seat, content to observe.
Over the next ten minutes, the hall filled rapidly. Only students and a handful of approved guests—faculty family members, mostly—streamed in. Then—
A hush near the entrance.
Near the entrance, Zephyr and Luna slipped inside, their arrival as subtle as a thunderclap in a library.
Or at least, they thought it was subtle.
Every head in a five-meter radius swiveled toward them. Luna's emerald-blue dress and Zephyr's stark black uniform made them look like a pair of shadows who'd accidentally wandered into a jewel box.
Then Zephyr's gaze swept the room—cold, sharp, daring anyone to stare too long—and the onlookers promptly found the walls very interesting.
The murmurs hit us before we even reached the ballroom doors.
"Look, it's the Black Viper and his fiancée..."
"Shh! You want to end up like Lord Edric's son?"
Ah, right. The rumors.
I suppressed a smile.
The infamous "Incident" had grown legs in its retelling - some claimed Zephyr had broken the noble heir's jaw with a single punch, others whispered he'd sent the boy flying through a stained-glass window.
That was also probably why there were nearly no students in the library.
While the truth was much simpler: when the arrogant third son of House Edric had tried to corner Luna in the library, Zephyr had merely... persuaded him to reconsider his life choices. The resulting one-punch knockout and subsequent transfer had become academy legend.
Not that I blame him. That glare of Zephyr's could probably kill small animals.
A fanfare cut through the murmurs.
"Announcing His Excellency, Principal Orlan!"
The principal stepped into view at the grand staircase—a tall, severe-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair and piercing eyes that scanned the room like a general surveying troops. My eyes narrowed slightly.
First time seeing him in person.
"His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Cedric von Valtheim!"
Him too...
The prince entered with regal poise, his golden hair catching the light perfectly. Handsome, no doubt—easily on par with Aeron in looks, though with an air of refined dignity rather than Aeron's casual charm.
Definitely the male lead type. Or the prince on a white horse type.
"And Her Royal Highness, Princess Sara von Valtheim!"
Behind him, our tsundere princess appeared next, dressed in a miniature version of her brother's formal attire. Her silver-blue dress bore the royal crest, and she held her chin high despite the obvious nerves in her posture.
So she changed after parting ways.
I suppressed a smile.
The budding tsundere had clearly gone all out to match her brother's presentation.
Well, good job I guess, it fits her well. She looks like a cute princess straight out of a cute fairy tale.
"Can everyone hear my voice?"
Nod.
The principal cleared his throat, tapping a sound-amplifying crystal on the podium.
"Dear students and honored guests," his voice boomed across the hall, "we gather tonight to celebrate another year of—"
I tuned out immediately.
Blah blah academic excellence blah royal patronage.
My eyes glazed over as the principal droned on about tradition and gratitude toward the royal family. Even Prince Cedric's polite smile looked strained at the edges. Princess Sara fidgeted beside him, clearly bored but trying her best to appear regal.
Cute.
After what felt like an eternity (but was probably only seven minutes), the principal finally concluded with:
"—let the annual Autumn Academy Ball commence!"
Polite applause rippled through the hall as the royal siblings stepped down from the podium. The quartet struck up a lively waltz, and just like that, the atmosphere shifted from formal to festive.
The principal led the elderly female professor onto the dance floor with stiff formality, while Prince Cedric offered his hand to Princess Sara with practiced grace.
The siblings moved in perfect sync—the prince's polished steps compensating for Sara's occasional missteps as she concentrated fiercely on not tripping over her own feet.
Adorable. I sipped my lemon juice, the tartness keeping me alert.
When the opening dance concluded, an awkward silence blanketed the hall. No one wanted to be the first to break the invisible barrier between spectators and performers.
Then—
"Let's go!" Livia suddenly declared, practically vibrating in her seat.
Emilia nodded. "We did sign up early."
Aeron blinked. "Wait, both of you?"
"Yes," they answered simultaneously, then exchanged glances.
Livia's cheeks flushed pink. "I-I mean, we both registered with you! The sign-up sheet allowed multiple partners per dancer!"
Aeron scratched his head. "That's a thing?"
Ah. I swirled my drink. So there's a sign-up system.
Not that it really mattered. The parchment slip Livia waved looked about as official as a napkin scribble. Who would actually track whether students danced with their registered partners?
Emilia rose gracefully. "Since Livia suggested it, she should go first."
Livia made a strangled noise but grabbed Aeron's wrist before he could protest.
And for the next eight minutes, Livia transformed - her usual sharp demeanor melting into focused grace as they moved through the courante's intricate steps. The crowd murmured appreciatively when Aeron flawlessly guided her through a complex spin.
As the music faded, Emilia rose smoothly. "My turn."
Aeron nodded with a smile. "Alright."
Their dance was different - Emilia's flowing elegance complementing Aeron's relaxed precision. When the music crescendoed, he lifted her effortlessly, drawing gasps from onlookers.
I sipped my lemon juice, observing the spectacle. Two dances, two styles. He must have practiced more. But that's what a romcom protagonist is.
Twenty minutes passed before two students(probably from Zephyr's class) ascended the central platform. The male announcer twirled a rose between his fingers.
"How's everyone feeling?"
Scattered cheers answered him.
"Ready for more fun?" his partner added, summoning floating letters above the crowd that rearranged into:
«THE DARING HEARTS CHALLENGE»
Gasps rippled through the hall as the letters exploded into glittering mist. The male coordinator lifted the rose in the air.
"Here's how it works! When the music stops, whoever holds this enchanted rose must perform for us all!" He tossed it to a giggling freshman. "But beware—it won't stay in one hand for long!"
Great. I slumped in my chair. Forced participation games.
The girl coordinator winked as she twirled her finger, sending the sparkling mist back into the air.
"Shy ones can't escape us now~!"
Her voice echoed playfully, but I felt it like a sentence passed.
All at once, three pairs of eyes turned in my direction.
Livia's bright with challenge.
Emilia's calm but glinting.
And Aeron—well, he just looked amused.
I slowly sipped the last of my lemon juice.
Ah. So this is what it feels like when fate points at you and says: 'You're next.'