Arabel couldn't help but laugh, and it burst out of her mouth.
The crowd couldn't help but pay attention to her laughter. No one knew what they were talking about, or even suspected the existence of the system. From the outside, it might seem that the girl was laughing at the clumsiness of a young man who did not know how to dance. Idan's displeased and sour expression perfectly matched this image.
Irene, looking at them, clenched her fist and glared at Arabel with hatred. She thought that the girl was laughing at his younger brother, even though she was the one who invited him to dance.
Arslan, in turn, was surprised to see his sister in such a state. Due to the strict upbringing and demands of their family, Morgan Arabel was always serious and depressed. He had rarely seen her like this. With even more interest, he looked at the young man in front of her.
Some viewers felt sorry for the young man, while others gloated over his failure.
Arabel realized that she had attracted attention with her laughter and looked at Idan with regret.
"I'm sorry," she said softly, as if asking for forgiveness.
Idan, of course, did not like the way Arabel laughed at him, but when he saw how she apologized, he decided to forgive her.
"Then you won't refuse me if I ask you out?" With these words, Idan bowed gracefully again, extending his right hand. He said it softly so that others couldn't hear them.
Hearing the question, Arabel wanted to laugh again, but this time she restrained herself. She was ready for this and quickly took his hand, answering:
"Yes, I would, — Arabel said.
Idan immediately began to think about where to take Arabel on this unexpected date. He didn't know many places in the city and would have been glad if Arabel had chosen the place herself.
"I'd like to spend time with you in a cozier and quieter place so that we can talk and learn a little more about each other, don't you think?" asked Idan.
Arabel agreed with him. She also wanted to be alone to discuss some important things about the system with him. There were too many eyes here.
After Arabel completed her assignment and handed it over to Idan, she received nothing new from the System.
"Hey, System! Didn't I complete the task? Why didn't I awakening?" she asked.
[The host is right, you have completed your task. To achieve awakening, you must wait for your partner to complete his. You are not the only user of the System, Host. I have already told you that the System is a paired system that requires two Hosts. Therefore, in order to fulfill the conditions of awakening, it is necessary for both Hosts to complete their tasks,] The system replied to Arabel.
Arabel did not know what task Idan had received, and she tried to find out its contents from the System. However, the System refused to provide this information without the partner's consent.
Arabel snorted inwardly at the response.
Meanwhile, Idan was thinking about when and where to invite Arabel. Although the day wasn't over yet, he could invite her over a little later to try to complete all the tasks at once without waiting for the deadline.
Arabel seemed to agree with him and made a decision about the System. But he wasn't sure how she would react to his marriage proposal.
"I do not know many suitable places in the city for a date. Do you have a place you'd like to go?" Idan asked, not knowing how to choose a place.
"Yes, I have in mind a cozy cafe where you can sit and talk quietly," Arabel replied after some thought, choosing one of her favorite places where she could retire from prying eyes.
"And when do you want to? I mean, I don't think I'll be able to find time tomorrow," Arabel said with a slight sadness, looking around at the crowd, who were still looking at them, not understanding what they were talking about.
"My family is unlikely to forgive me for this act and will probably punish me for it," Arabel said softly, making it clear to Idan that she was going against the family's will with her actions.
After hearing Arabel's reply, Idan was even more convinced of the correctness of his decision. He decided to ask her out tonight so that he could finish everything right away.
"How about we meet at this cafe in an hour or two?" suggested Idan.
Arabel was surprised that Idan had decided to invite her today. She did not notice that the timer indicating the time appeared when she received this task.
Although she didn't mind spending time with him today, she still agreed. She shared with Idan the location of this cafe and its name. Then they decided to disperse and meet there in two hours.
Arabel chose a place that was slightly away from the main part of the event. It took them a while to get there and not attract the attention of others when they left. They didn't want the guests to start making ridiculous assumptions and rumors.
However, despite their desire, Arabel's act has already become public knowledge, and various versions and speculations have begun to appear. In addition, it was quickly established that Idan is the unawakened younger brother of the heroine Irene, who has not had the best reputation in the last few months.
Soon the rumors reached the top of two families: Morgan and Hugh.
Idan returned to his family's table and noticed that his sister was looking at him with pity and condemnation.
"Why did you agree to her invitation? And why her? And not some other girl?" Irene asked questions.
Idan didn't want to lie to his sister. Instead of answering her questions, he decided to ask for help.
Their mother, having decided to leave the children alone with their problems, was happy to watch her son show interest in the girl. She didn't know which family this girl was from, but her beauty couldn't leave anyone indifferent.
"Sister, can you help me leave this place unnoticed?" asked Idan.
"What's going on? Irene was surprised. "Don't walk away from the question, answer my questions immediately."
"I'm sorry, Sister, I can't give you an explanation right now, but I promise I'll explain everything later. So will you help me?"
Seeing that her younger brother does not want to answer, but at the same time gives the floor, Irene decided not to insist and help him leave this place.
First of all, she sent Idan to a separate room, then called her trusted people and strictly ordered them to keep an eye on her mother and, if possible, escort her back home.
Only then did she go after her brother to help him leave this place. She also decided not to let him go alone and followed him. If he refuses, she will follow him secretly.
Arabel returned and found her younger brother. While she was looking for Arslan, she heard the whispers of the guests who were talking about her and Idan. From what she heard, she initially wanted to yell at them, but then restrained herself, realizing that this would not change the situation that had already developed.
"Sister, what's going on with you? Are you all right?" asked Arslan anxiously. In relation to his sister, he always became a completely different person.
Arabel couldn't help but smile at her younger brother's concern. Only he could make her feel that way.
"I'm fine, brother," Arabel reassured him.
"Brother, I know you; you won't believe me until you see for yourself. So, calm down, I'll explain everything to you later. But right now, I need your help. You've already noticed that people around you have started spreading ridiculous rumors, and I'm sure they've already reached our Morgan family and Hugh's family. They won't forgive me for that."
The seriousness of the elder sister's words immediately changed Arslan's behavior. He became a completely different person. His eyes quickly scanned over the people who were watching them, and he confirmed his sister's guesses.
"What do you want me to do, Sister?" asked Arslan.
Seeing the changes in her younger brother's behavior, Arabel began to be even more proud of him.
"Help divert the attention of the family, Christopher and his family, Hugh. Buy me some time. The more you win, the better," Arabel said.
Arslan, like a caring brother, immediately got down to business. Like Irene, he summoned his trusted people, whom he had become close to after becoming an awakened one, and began giving them orders.
Arabel lingered in the hall for a while so that others would notice her presence, then quietly and imperceptibly left it, heading for her break room. There she quickly changed her clothes and hurried away. Unlike Idan, Arabel knew well how this place worked, so it wasn't difficult for her to leave it without attracting too much attention.
She thought she had done everything right, and no one noticed her departure. However, as it turned out, she was being followed at some distance by a young man with the same red hair as hers. It was her younger brother Arslan, who decided to follow his sister to calm her nagging anxiety and make sure she was okay.
The couple that the System called "Supreme Husband" and "Supreme Wife" left the ball venue at different times and went to the designated location. Each of them was secretly followed at some distance by their relative, who couldn't help but worry about them.