With the ball well and truly over, the first order of business was a polite but quick retreat.

Attila was still standing before me, idly chatting about the weather, when I finally brought it up..

“I’m gonna have to head back,” I said. “My instructor has quite the low tolerance for tardiness.”

“Ah, of course!” Attila nodded vigorously, her simple blue dress rustling. “Make sure to train well, you hear? I can’t wait to spar someone of your caliber.” 

She’s… rather insistent about sparring me, isn’t she?

“I should probably go too. My sister rented me a carriage, and I’m pretty sure the driver starts counting extra the second he waits too long, haha.” She let out a chuckle.

“Well then, you should definitely get going! See you at the academy.”

“See you!” she waved back, her figure fading away as we both turned and disappeared into the crowd.

One down. Now for the more complex extraction operation. I cleared my throat before my group, where the tension between Eveliana and Mirabelle still sparked in the air like an occasional thunder.

“Forgive me, but I must return to my Mother now,” I announced, my tone leaving no room for debate.

“S-So soon?” Mirabelle cried, having thawed from her frozen state.

“I still have training at dawn,” I stated. 

I didn’t really know what my schedule for tomorrow was. But with Mother, it was always a safe assumption that there would be something.

“A shame we cannot enjoy your company a while longer,” Eveliana said, her regret sounding quite polite. “However, we wish you safe travels, Lady Carine.”

“Same here!” Kyro gave a hearty thumbs-up.

Clarissa offered a timid, sweet smile. “Have a safe journey, Lady Carine.”

My gaze then fell on Villius. He was silent for a beat too long, his usual calm seeming strained. He took a quiet breath, as if steadying himself, then gave a deep, formal bow. “Until next time, Lady Carine. May your path be safe.”

I offered a hefty nod. “Thank you, and I shall say the same to all of you.”

“I wish you safe travels, too, Lady Carine!” Mirabelle beamed, reclaiming the spotlight. “And I’ll see you in the academy soon!”

“Of course,” I replied.

“And I,” Eveliana added, her voice smooth, “will see you in class.” She offered a graceful wave and a gentle, triumphant smirk aimed directly at a certain twirly-haired noble.

I saw Mirabelle’s eye twitch.

Then, like a light bulb switched on, Mirabelle’s face lit up. “Oh! How could I have forgotten!” she declared. She turned her own brilliant, pointed smile back at me. “I shall see you much sooner at your birthday celebration, Lady Carine!”

These two… what are they even competing for?

I offered a final nod to each of them, offering my best attempt of a smile. “Thank you all for your kind words. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Turning, I began the long, dread-filled walk back to the alcove, where Mother awaited.

Once again, I wondered if I should slow my pace down to prolong my survival, but then I realized I was just delaying the inevitable. 

With every step Feyt took across the polished floor, and every graceful, measured step Carine took through the crowd, I was preparing myselves for the upcoming cold silence that could pierce my gut.

But fate, it seemed, had one last twist for me tonight.

Just before I could reach the relative safety of Mother’s presence, a figure stepped smoothly into Feyt’s path. A figure with a rather flamboyant attitude for someone of his stature.

The Third Prince.

My blood ran cold. 

Why? Why is he here? 

And why is he looking directly at Feyt?

I instinctively slowed my pace on the other end, my focus shifted to handling this new, unexpected guest.

“Pardon the interruption,” the Third Prince said, his voice as charming and easy as it had been when he’d asked me to dance earlier. His eyes, however, were sharp and analytical, scanning me from head to toe. “I know it is rude of me to ask you this without my own introduction, but I must ask this first. You are Feyt, are you not?”

I was so stunned I almost forgot to bow. My body jerked into a quick, slightly clumsy, respectful nod. “Y-Yes, Your Highness.”

A smile formed on his lips. “The same Feyt who placed sixth overall, and highest among the Standardized track students?”

Dammit, don’t tell me he now has his eyes on my other self, too?!

“T-The one and only, Your Highness,” I managed to get out, my smile ever-so-confident while my mind racing. 

What does he want??

But the Third Prince’s next words weren’t a command or mind games. Instead, his eyes lit up with a genuine, unadulterated spark of discovery, as if he’d just found a rare and priceless gem hidden in the dirt.

“My, quite prideful, aren’t you?” A fittingly flamboyant chuckle escaped him. “I must admit, I’ve been curious. How is it that you made Carine so smitten with you?”

Had I drunk wine, I would’ve spewed it out of shock all over the Third Prince’s clothes by now.

I placed a hand on my chest as I explained, “Lady Carine is my future employer, Your Highness. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“I’m not doubting your position at all, Sir Feyt.” His smile remained unwavering. “Your efforts and struggle to reach where you stand today mustn’t have been easy, and I would like to see for myself someone who has endured those struggles.”

What does he know about struggle?

“Now then,” he continued. “If you would indulge my curiosity. From your perspective, how do you see Carine Sareid?”

“Huh?”

What’s up with the sudden question? And why ask that of all things?

“What do you mean, Your Highness?”

“Simple, I would like to know your thoughts about your ‘future employer’.” He took a quick glance at the crowd around us; most were flowing toward the exit. “Ah, but it seems our time is running short. A brief impression will suffice.”

Okay, at least I won’t have to self-glaze myself too much.

 He leaned in slightly, his eyes glinting with mischief. “What is the one thing you like most about her?”

This question again?!

In the end, I’d have to praise myself after all. But perhaps this was a good chance. 

The Third Prince still hadn’t fulfilled my request, and frankly, I’d been getting slightly impatient. Until then, I couldn’t exactly push him away, so perhaps by giving myself, Carine specifically,  a stronger impression, perhaps I can push him to follow through with his end of the deal faster.

…but what was I supposed to glaze myself about? If I said something too specific, it might not make a good impression, but anything too personal would fuel the rumors, and anything too generic would seem insincere.

A moment of silence passed through us, unbothered by the passing crowd.

The Third Prince’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “Oh my. Don’t tell me you can’t think of a single thing?”

“N-No! It’s not that!” I said, a little too quickly.

His smile returned, wider and more deliberate. “Ah, then perhaps there is so many, you cannot possibly choose just one?”

That’s even farther from the truth!

I wanted to scream that. But in the presence of a Royal, I had to keep myself contained. Thus, I could only stammer, my mind basically blank.

Another chuckle escaped him. “I’ll take your silence as a yes, then!”

No, it’s not!

But the words were stuck in my throat due to the sheer pressure of his presence. 

“Do not worry. I, too, have a list of things far too long regarding Carine Sareid,” he added. Then, he widened his eyes in another mock surprise. “Ah, but don’t worry, I’m not trying to steal her from you or anything!” he said with a gentle, worried smile.

I felt my eyes twitch a little. But I kept myself composed. 

“Y-Your Highness, as I said, I harbor no such feelings for Lady Carine.”

Instead of apologizing, he just nodded in agreement. “Yes, yes, I agree. Such relationships have to be kept discrete!”

Why are you like this?!

He then straightened his posture, his smile relaxing to the non-mischiveous kind. “That said, I’m also curious about you specifically, Sir Feyt. Tell me, what’s your goal that pushes you to achieve such a feat?”

Ah, good. A change of topic. But considering where we were going with the previous one, I wasn’t sure that was the best place to end it. 

“My goal, Your Highness?” I parroted. “It’s… to get stronger. Strong enough to not just protect myself, but also everyone I care about,” I answered in conviction.

The Third Prince’s expression remained unchanging. Then, in a quiet mumble, I heard his voice.

“How small…”

Before I could wonder what he was talking about, he gave one final nod before turning. “It is a pleasure to be your acquaintance, Sir Feyt!” he said with a flamboyant tone. “I shall see you and Lady Carine again soon, farewell!”

He disappeared into the moving crowd, his breath and steps slowly fading in between them.

I wondered what made the Third Prince suddenly so interested in Feyt. 

The answer was, admittedly, obvious. 

I placed sixth in the rankings.

I scored the best out of all Standardized examinees.

Feyt and Carine’s fight with that instructor was also livestreamed to him and the spectators.

On top of that, I had danced with myselves, pretty elegantly at that!

Let’s just hope this doesn’t balloon out of proportion.

—

The carriage rattled in silence as we made our way home.

The warm, enveloping golden light of the ball was slowly swallowed by the cold, dark night. The only light now came from the occasional Luminite post flashing past the window. 

But unlike the calming yet nervous silence that coated us when we were heading to the ball, this time, it was as cold as a knife’s edge.

The cold both of my bodies felt emanated from none other than Mother, whom I sat next to as Carine, and across from as Feyt. Even so, it somehow felt like she was keeping a close eye on both of us at the same time.

Leila’s presence next to Feyt did little to ease the tension. She had closed her eyes, swaying gently with the carriage. She was totally silent; even Feyt’s ears could barely hear her breathing. It was as if she were trying to detach herself from the inevitable talk.

“You two.”

Mother’s low and calm voice jolted both of us in our seats.

She didn’t look at either of us, her gaze fixed on the passing darkness outside. “How was… the dance?” she asked, the words drawn out reluctantly, as if she were forcing herself to ask.

“With His Highness?” I added as Carine. “He was an adequate dance partner, I would say.”

Mother’s head turned slowly. Her eyes locked onto me like an eagle spotting its prey. “You know perfectly well what I meant.”

I wasn’t dumb. I knew she totally meant about me dancing with myselves. I surely hoped she would let it pass, though. I’d danced with a prince, for god’s sake! Shouldn’t that overshadow everything?!

With heavy reluctance, I answered her question. “It was… alright.”

“…I see.”

The silence that followed was colder than the night outside.

In fact, the silence stretched on and on. It was as if the conversation had ended right then and there. No reprimands, no comments, no warnings… nothing. I kept myself expectant for any of that, but they never came.

…There’s no way that’s it, right?

I kept myselves tense, waiting for the moment her words would stab me unawares, but it never did come. The carriage rolled to a halt at our estate. We made our way back in silence through the garden, and after a brief exchange of farewells, Mother simply retired to her chambers.

I slowly pieced together my conclusion. The lack of anger or reprimand, replaced with cold silence, could only mean one thing.

…Don’t tell me. 

She’s not mad at me. 

She’s disappointed in me?!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep