Chapter 530: Grand Ball 3

“Hm~ Hn~ Hn~…”

A soft melodic hum floated through the air, delicate and almost ghost-like in its tone.

It intertwined with the gentle orchestral music playing throughout Evergreen Hall’s open venue, drifting like smoke between the starlit leaves of the great mana tree that stood tall and proud at the center of the courtyard.

Trisha Dues stood beneath that tree.

Her crimson eyes glimmered faintly in the soft ambient light, locked onto the shimmering foliage above her.

The tree’s leaves glittered faintly with mana, catching the moonlight and reflecting the stars above as though the heavens themselves had descended to earth.

But even in the midst of such celestial beauty, she stood out.

Her long jet-black hair, which seemed to absorb the darkness of the night rather than reflect it, swayed gently in the breeze. It cascaded down her back, like shadows made manifest.

Her elegant dark gown, trimmed with intricate silver patterns and subtle layers of silk, whispered of something old, something forgotten.

It hugged her frame with refinement and subtle sensuality, like nobility from a time no longer remembered.

She was, in every sense of the word, breathtaking.

Like the night itself—beautiful, eternal, and unknowable.

And yet…

No one approached.

It wasn’t fear.

Nor disdain.

It was as if she simply… wasn’t there.

Students walked nearby, some even passing directly beside her—laughing, dancing, flirting beneath the open sky—but none looked at her, none spoke to her, none acknowledged her existence.

Almost like the world itself had chosen to forget her.

Or worse… like reality was being forced to forget.

But Trisha didn’t mind.

If anything, she looked pleased by it.

Her lips curled faintly at the corners as she kept humming, short quiet verses that matched the rhythm of the orchestra playing nearby.

She tilted her head slightly, as if listening—not to the music alone—but to the echo of something else.

Something beneath the notes, beneath the earth, beneath everything.

How long had it been since she’d heard music this beautiful?

How long had it been since she felt the soft caress of air on her skin?

The firm support of ground beneath her feet?

The quiet, weightless gaze of stars above?

How long had it been since she’d felt… alive?

Trisha couldn’t remember.

And frankly, she didn’t care.

What mattered now was this moment—this brief sliver of existence—where she could pretend to feel like everyone else.

Where she could savor it.

Because she knew all too well…

None of it would last.

Not the music.

Not the laughter.

Not the smiles.

Not the students.

Not even the stars.

Everything ends.

And she, above all, knew how to be patient.

Because time had always been on her side.

After all,

She was the inevitable end.

Turning around she made her way towards the enclosed venue’s entrance.

Unnoticed from her, was the gaze of a golden-haired beauty looking at her with an apathetic gaze.

…..

I knew the party was going to be grand.

But this…

This was on a whole different level than I ever expected.

Opulence dripped from every corner of the hall—chandeliers glistened like captured stars, the floor polished to a mirror sheen, and the music that flowed through the air felt as refined and deliberate as a royal court performance.

The decorations alone could bankrupt a mid-sized noble family, and the sheer grace and glamour of the entire venue made me feel like I had accidentally stumbled into someone else’s high-budget fantasy.

Maybe I should’ve listened to my mother and attended more parties growing up.

Mingling, she’d called it. “Build your network, darling. Even a sword can’t defend you from isolation.”

Yeah… maybe she had a point.

But then again, with Liyana constantly glued to my side back then, I doubt I could’ve even looked at another girl directly without said girl mysteriously disappearing the next day.

Still, walking through the crowd now—through the swirling fabrics, noble perfumes, and restrained laughter—I could see why people romanticized these kinds of events.

The academy, home to the best and brightest across all departments, was already teeming with nobles and elites.

So, the lavishness wasn’t surprising.

What did surprise me, though, was how far everyone had gone to dress their absolute best.

Every hairstyle perfectly sculpted.

Every gown tailored with meticulous care.

Even the familiar faces I’d grown used to seeing in uniforms or training gear looked… almost unrecognizable in their elegant attire.

It really brought home the fact that this was more than just a school gathering.

This event wasn’t part of the original storyline.

So, I was treading blind here.

No pre-written flags to rely on.

No foreshadowing.

No branching paths to anticipate.

It was all new.

Raw.

Unscripted.

Dangerous.

Snow had already briefed me on the “general flow” of the night.

“Eat. Drink. Talk and Dance.”

A bit of an oversimplification, but essentially accurate.

Just a ball to let the students unwind and mingle.

Still, watching the nobles casually sip their wine while strategically placing themselves in conversations like a game of chess, it was clear there was more going on beneath the surface.

This was a battlefield of silk and smiles.

I could see it in their eyes.

Some of the young nobles—sons and daughters of dukes, viscounts, and powerful merchant houses—scanned the room not just for potential dance partners, but for future allies. Connections. Leverage.

All under the pretense of social grace.

Some even looked at me.

But none of them approached.

’Guess I should be thankful for my somewhat… questionable reputation.’

As expected, some people couldn’t help but draw attention the moment they stepped into the venue.

Lucas and Janica.

The moment the two walked in, a noticeable ripple spread through the gathered crowd—quiet gasps, curious glances, subtle whispers.

Eyes naturally gravitated toward them, as if their presence itself commanded it.

It was inevitable.

They were icons—superstars among the second years, known throughout the academy regardless of department.

Their names carried weight, whether through admiration, envy, or idle gossip.

But it wasn’t just their reputation that had people whispering behind jeweled hands or glancing over the rims of champagne glasses.

They were simply too good to look at.

Lucas looked every bit the dashing protagonist from a storybook.

Dressed in a sleek, tailored black suit—eerily similar to mine in base color but far more refined in its accented design.

His usually messy hair had been tamed and styled back slightly, loose strands falling across his forehead in just the right way to seem effortlessly charming.

That confidence, mixed with a boyish arrogance he didn’t even try to hide, only amplified his appeal.

He was handsome. Objectively.

Even without noble blood, he exuded charisma that outshone most of the upper-class sons walking around the room in designer suits and forced smiles.

Some of the noble girls—especially the curious first-years—were clearly struggling to keep their stares subtle.

A few couldn’t help but whisper.

Some of their escorts noticed and did not look pleased.

’But it’s not like they can do anything to Lucas…..’

And then there was Janica.

Her beauty had always been striking, even in her casual uniform or sparring gear.

But tonight, she seemed to have stepped out of a dream.

Her dress—a deep crimson red—clung to her figure with elegant restraint, flowing like silk with every measured step she took.

The color matched her vibrant hair perfectly, emphasizing her natural warmth while still maintaining the poise of a noblewoman.

Light makeup adorned her already flawless features, just enough to highlight her sharp eyes and high cheekbones, giving her a regal air that made others instinctively want to step aside.

And the fact that they were holding hands…

Well, that certainly set off another round of murmurs.

It looked like they had made up after that unnecessary drama Evelyn tried to stir between them.

Speaking of Evelyn…

That manipulative, conniving clone of mine was somewhere in the crowd tonight as well.

She’d mentioned she’d be attending—vaguely, of course, in her usual cryptic way—but hadn’t given me any details about where or when she’d show up.

Still, I was mildly relieved she wasn’t currently crashing Lucas and Janica’s spotlight.

For once, it seemed she was content lurking in the shadows without stirring unnecessary drama.

A rare, welcome peace… while it lasted.

Though the attention those two garnered was considerable, even their glow began to pale—no, completely fade—when the goddesses entered the ballroom.

Snow and Alice.

The second they stepped through the grand entrance, it was like the world collectively forgot to breathe.

The shimmering mana lights hanging overhead dimmed in comparison to the brilliance they exuded.

Time didn’t stop, but it certainly slowed.

Conversations died mid-sentence, glasses halted mid-sip.

Even the musicians missed a few notes before regaining their composure.

My heart skipped—not out of nerves, but something deeper.

A kind of overwhelming pride and admiration I couldn’t quite name.

They’ve always been beautiful to me.

But tonight…

Tonight, they were breathtaking.

Snow—with her composed, frosty elegance—moved with grace so ethereal it felt like she floated.

Her pristine white gown, laced with silver threads and frost-like embroidery, complemented her hair and eyes perfectly.

She didn’t demand attention.

She simply commanded it by existing.

And Alice…

Alice, with her warm golden eyes and soft pink hair woven into a delicate braided bun, wore an elegant dress of whites and rose-gold accents.

She looked like a princess out of a fairytale—romantic, radiant, and heartbreakingly lovely.

Together, they looked like opposing forces of nature made flesh—Winter and Spring, Snow and Rose.

Their mere presence threw the entire hall into a reverent silence.

Not out of fear, but awe.

Like everyone was standing in front of divinity itself.

I couldn’t help but wonder what sort of delightful chaos would erupt if Rose and Seo were here too.

Four apex-tier beauties, all with their eyes on one man?

The ballroom would probably implode from sheer envy.

As the soft music shifted into a slow, waltzing rhythm, couples began making their way to the center of the dance floor, hands extended, smiles hesitant or bold.

Meanwhile, I had quietly excused myself toward the refreshment side tables, pretending to study the small, beautifully arranged desserts while watching everything unfold from the corner of my eye.

My lovers were both out there, gliding between people, their heads subtly turning as they scanned the crowd.

Looking for me.

Desperately.

Am I hiding?

…Yes.

And no.

Well, technically, it wasn’t entirely my idea.

I remembered the conversation from a few days ago:

“Wear this on the day of the Grand Ball, Riley.”

I had looked at the item handed to me: a silver ring etched with fine celestial markings, faintly glowing with mana.

“This is…?”

Snow smiled mysteriously.

“A concealment ring. Temporarily hides your presence. Your mana’s a bit too dense, so it won’t be perfect—but it’ll buy us a little time.”

“Time for what, exactly?”

Alice giggled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Let’s just say… there was a bit of disagreement over who gets to dance with you first.”

I looked at the ring again now, absently rotating it with my thumb.

I could feel the magic already beginning to crack under the weight of my own aura.

It wouldn’t last much longer.

So this was their solution.

Hide me.

Let them both have a fair chance at finding me.

Did the first dance even matter that much?

Girls can really be complicated at times…

But honestly?

I didn’t hate it.

If anything, it was kind of adorable—watching them both float across the hall like radiant hunters, trying not to seem obvious while their eyes darted from face to face.

Seo and Rose…

They were probably at the open venue right now—Evergreen Garden, or whatever poetic name the school branded it with.

The quieter part of the celebration, under the great starlit tree.

I wondered if they were part of Snow’s little game, too.

But Snow hadn’t told me everything.

Just the basics.

Enough to keep me on my toes, but not enough to spoil whatever theatrical twist she had planned.

Knowing her, though… whatever it was, it wouldn’t be subtle.

She did mention—almost too casually—that something grand would happen after the ball.

Her exact words?

“The world might shift tonight, Riley. Make sure you’re wearing something comfortable for the fallout.”

Still cryptic.

I bit into a small slice of cake with my fork, savoring the soft, sweet cream and trying to distract myself from the rising sense of unease creeping under my skin.

The ballroom’s energy was steadily climbing.

The music had just transitioned into a brighter, jazzier tune—lively brass and playful piano echoed through the chandeliers, paired with a shifting glitter of soft lights projected upward, forming an artificial night sky above the dance floor.

Magic lights twinkled like stars in motion, shimmering in sync with the melody.

People gasped and clapped.

Some pointed upward with wonder in their eyes.

The mood was lifting, festive, dreamlike.

And then—

[WARNING!!!]

[WARNING!!!]

[ERROR.]

[ERROR.]

[ERROR.]

[User is in the Pre#!@#!!#]!.]

[SYSTEM INTERFERENCE: DISABLED.]

[BLESSINGS AND SKILL ACTIVATION: AUTO MODE ENABLED.]

[ULTIMATE SKILL: DIVINE WILL — ACTIVATED.]

[BLESSING OF CHANGE — ACTIVE.]

[BLESSING OF DEATH — ACTIVE.]

[ADVICE: USER IS RECOMMENDED TO IMMEDIATELY EXIT THE AREA.]

My eyes shot wide open.

The fork slipped from my fingers and clattered onto the porcelain plate.

A rush of system windows filled my vision, bleeding into each other like corrupted code.

Symbols—half-familiar, half-wrong—flashed in red and gold, some glitching into static.

My entire body tensed.

Mana surged in my bloodstream like wildfire.

My divine power reacted instantly, as if it had been waiting for this signal.

The air grew heavy, thick with pressure.

Something ancient in me stirred, whispering instinct, screaming warning.

And then—

everything stopped.

Not just slowed—stopped.

The music cut mid-note.

Dancers froze mid-step.

Glasses, mid-toast, hung in place as if the world forgot about gravity.

Even the flickering lights overhead halted like a paused animation.

Time had just been put on pause.

A single tick.

A second, stretched into eternity.

Tick… Tock…

The sound echoed inside my skull like a grandfather clock in a cathedral.

Then, soft footsteps.

Graceful.

Measured.

Heavy not with sound, but with presence.

I turned.

Slowly.

And standing there, under the pale light and frozen glamour, was a girl.

Trisha Dues.

But…

I could feel it.

Every part of me screamed it.

My soul knew.

“…You, Trisha?”

She tilted her head, her lips curling into a soft, knowing smile.

Then she chuckled.

A sound that felt like velvet and void. Beautiful. Empty. Eternal.

“Not quite, little light~”

I didn’t need the system to tell me what I already felt—but it did anyway.

[NOTE: You are in the presence of a Divine Being.]

[Darkness swells within your soul.]

[An Evil Goddess is staring directly at your soul.]

My lips moved before I could think.

“…Erebil?”

’How was she here?’

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