Three weeks had passed since the entrance ceremony, and today was the day of the new students welcome ball. Other than the new students, all students of all grades also participated in this ball. The ball was held at the hall where the entrance ceremony took place, and it was held in full grandeur that you would doubt that this was actually inside an academy.
It began with a welcoming speech by the studentâs representative, Al and then the ball kicked off.
For the new students, they all had ribbons on their chest with the academyâs symbol colourâgreen. But, that was all. There was no specific dress code, so all the girls wore all the glamorous dresses they could find.
Since this was a ball organized by the academy, wearing school uniform was also acceptable. Commoners like Sara and some girls from lower nobles who couldnât prepare a dress could be seen wearing school uniforms.
However, wearing a school uniform at this venue would make one stand out, and it was like telling everyone that they were from a poor household; so probably, it would not make them feel good. They would rather not participate at all, but this was a school eventâparticipation was compulsory.
The dance session would start in a while, and by now people were gathering in small groups, chattering. Well, as for me who just enrolled in the academy, I had no idea who was who.
For the record, I was a son from the nobility, but there was the poisoning, and later my engagement with Al despite being a male; a lot happened that resulted in me having almost no contact with people other than my childhood friends. Other nobles normally formed a lot of connections since they were little and they could be seen having a lot of acquaintances. Especially the higher their nobility was, the higher the tendency for that to happen, but I was the exception among the exceptions.
On top of that, presently I belonged to Class 3, so none of the people there thought of me coming from a high nobility. Anyway, everyone in Class 3 were getting along well, so I was not particularly bothered by that.
âBlurgh, Iâm dying, this is so much hassle, Iâm dying.â By my side, Sara was leaning her back listlessly on the wall.
âYou alright?â
âI donât think I can do this heroine thing from this otome game anymore. Just to get to this venue, how many events do you think I was forcefully pulled into?â Sara slumped down just like that, sitting down in a so-called âyankee squatâ1. To see such a dainty miss to be in a peevish state, it was quite surreal in a way.
âReally, just let me be already. Firstly, it was that villainous noble daughter, Lucrecia-sama who made a fool of me by saying âI see youâre participating in the ball in that uniform. Ohohohohohoâ. Next, I almost tripped at nothing and got saved by a ministerâs son who said âIâm glad this dainty little you is not injuredâ and kissed the back of my hand.
Even after all that, when I was about to enter the venue, there was a big guy blocking the entrance, so I tried forcing my way in. Then a grandson of a grand duke suddenly remarked âCute little kitten, youâre so energeticâ as he grabbed my waist and brought me in together with him.â Sara was staring into space as she explained.
Urmmm, should I say âGood jobâ? I was at a loss for what I should say to console her.
âIâve had enough. I canât take it anymore. I wonât move at all from here. I donât have energy for anymore events or whatsoever.â The ball had barely just started, yet Sara was grumbling and remained sitting like she wouldnât even budge an inch.
âFania, get me something. Thereâs food, right? Iâll just eat to let off steam.â
âWhy are you using me? Go by yourself.â
âI donât want to get involved in anymore events. Fania-sama, please do me this favour.â Being revered by Sara, I reluctantly went towards the table where the food was.
Truthfully, I wanted to go where Al was. Even now, it was hard for me to meet Al. Al told me he wanted to decrease his official duties, yet it didnât go as he wanted, so he remained busy as ever.
When I couldnât meet him, the feeling of timidity again appeared in my heart. Anyhow, the story of BL game would come haunting me. I would be reminded of the figure of Louie smiling next to Al. Now they were classmates, would Louie be by Alâs side?
Hmph. I sneered at myself for thinking something that obvious. Al was a royalty. Other than people permitted by Al, no one could get close to him. If Louie was smiling by Alâs side, it only meant that Al allowed it to be so.
Al and I were engaged, but as we were both males and also the reason how it came to be, not many people knew about the engagement. The top-ranked people might be informed, but their children mostly didnât. Thus, Al who was seen as single was popular. Very popular.
âFaniaâ in the BL game spread around the fact that he was engaged to the Second Prince Alfred. I, on the other hand, found it hard to say it out⌠We were different in that aspect.
I picked up some food from the table to a place, and darted my gaze around the venue. Probably it would be crowded around Al. Even then, I wanted to catch even a glimpse of him. I wanted to be close to Al.
Actually the tuxedo I was wearing at the moment was the one gifted by Al. Overall, the colour was light cream, only the lapel and pocket was highlighted with Alâs eye colourâblue. I liked this tuxedo very much. So I wanted Al to see whether this suited me or not.