Chapter 348: Dance Session (2)

“Are you nervous?” Merlin asked, wearing a playful smile.

Luna, standing in front of him, looked shy, yet she tried her best to remain calm.

“Nervous? How could I be?” she snorted. “On the contrary, I’m excited. I want to prove that I’m the best among your dance partners tonight.”

Her expression was serious and earnest. She knew it was impossible to have Merlin all to herself.

The boy before her was extraordinary and destined for greatness. Her ancestor, Crystal Tharot, had once said that Merlin’s journey would be difficult and that he would need many pillars of support by his side.

At first, Luna hadn’t fully understood what that meant. But as she grew older, she began to realize it.

Those pillars were girls of high status or exceptional power—like Margaret, Catrine, and the others.

Even so, Luna wasn’t willing to give up so easily. She might not be able to have Merlin all to herself, but she could become his greatest and most prominent partner.

That way, most of Merlin’s love would belong to her.

Merlin chuckled, about to respond, when a system notification suddenly rang out in his head. A blue panel appeared before him.

“[Ding! Side quest triggered! Dance with the heroines! Completion: 0/5. Reward: 40,000 system points!]”

“[Will you accept it? Yes/No.]”

“Oh?” Merlin’s eyes sparkled. “You’re truly amazing, System! I’ll definitely accept this mission!”

Without hesitation, he pressed “Yes,” and the panel vanished.

Soon after, the sound of dance music began to fill the previously silent hall. The new students, each with their partners, stepped onto the floor and began to dance.

However, since not all of them came from high-society backgrounds, many lacked the skill to dance properly.

Furthermore, dancing required harmony between partners to create perfect synchronization.

Unfortunately, most students failed to achieve that harmony, making their movements look awkward and messy.

But there was one couple that stood out—Luna and Merlin.

The two were like stars in the night sky, shining brilliantly and captivating everyone in the hall.

“Wow! Their dance is so perfectly in sync! It’s on a whole different level from the other students,” one student exclaimed.

“You’re right. But considering Merlin Clay and Luna Tharot come from noble families, it’s not too surprising,” another replied.

Suddenly, a girl interjected, “What do you know about dancing? It’s not just skill—it’s experience and the connection between partners. Even if you’re talented, without that emotional harmony, the dance will still look stiff.”

The students from noble and wealthy families nodded in agreement.

Why did so many others look awkward and clumsy on the dance floor?

Wasn’t the answer obvious?

The compatibility between partners was key to creating a perfect dance.

In this case, Merlin and Luna had that harmony—and it was what made their dance so breathtakingly beautiful.

“Ugh… I’m so jealous! How can they look so perfect when they dance?”

Margaret bit down on a tissue, her eyes red.

She had already imagined herself being the best at this dance party.

Who would have thought Luna and Merlin would dance so beautifully?

Although she didn’t like Luna, she had to admit that the two of them were a perfect match.

Catrine remained calm, nibbling on the cookie in her hand.

“Why be jealous? Isn’t it obvious?” she said, her tone indifferent. “Luna has been with my brother for two years. After that long, isn’t it natural for them to have grown close?”

Even as she spoke, the jealousy in her voice was impossible to conceal.

Her training had kept her apart from her older brother for a full two years, and it remained one of the greatest regrets of her life.

If only she hadn’t accepted her master’s invitation, she wouldn’t have been separated from him for so long—and Luna wouldn’t have won her parents’ favor so easily.

But what could she do?

It had already happened, and nothing could be changed. Besides, the training she went through was what made her as strong as she was now.

In the end, that old saying was true: “To gain strength, one must sacrifice something.”

This time, the thing she had sacrificed was the time she could have spent with her brother.

Margaret slowly calmed down. Catrine’s words made sense, but still, seeing Luna’s bright smile was incredibly irritating.

Five minutes later, the music stopped, and the first dance session ended perfectly… at least for Merlin and Luna.

“Hah… hah… hah…” Luna panted, but the smile on her face betrayed her happiness.

“What do you think?” she asked, as if waiting for praise. “Am I much better than before?”

Merlin chuckled softly and pulled out a handkerchief to gently wipe the sweat from her forehead.

“Yes, you’re much better than before. I’m really impressed. Have you been practicing in secret?”

Luna didn’t answer. She just looked away, hiding her expression.

Merlin let out a quiet chuckle.

“[Ding! Congratulations on dancing with one heroine! Four more to go! Keep it up, Master!]”

The system’s enthusiastic voice echoed in Merlin’s mind.

After that, Luna walked over to Liora, Catrine, Margaret, and Monica.

With a smug smile, she flipped her hair and said casually, “Go ahead, Catrine. It’s your turn now.”

Catrine bristled at the expression but forced herself to stay composed and walked over to her brother.

The second dance session began immediately. Compared to Luna’s earlier performance, the chemistry between Merlin and Catrine was slightly weaker.

Still, the two drew attention—especially because of their striking faces and their status as the famous siblings among the first-years.

“Damn…”

Lucius gritted his teeth as he watched them dance.

He desperately wanted to tear Merlin to shreds right then and there. His original plan had been to ask Catrine to dance.

But before he could even act, Catrine had already stepped onto the dance floor with Merlin, causing his plan to fail instantly.

Rosaline observed her younger brother’s expression and found it intriguing.

She followed his gaze and realized Lucius was watching Catrine, Merlin Clay’s younger sister.

’Could he like her?’ she wondered silently.

It was truly rare to see her younger brother show any interest in the opposite sex.

The royal family had arranged five engagements—each with a girl from a high-ranking noble family. Yet Lucius had firmly rejected them all.

At the time, Rosaline assumed he was just going through a rebellious phase and didn’t care for any of the girls.

But now, he finally seemed to have someone he liked—and that was clearly good news for the royal family.

“Maybe I should ask Father to propose an engagement to the Clay family of the Holy Kingdom of Aldoria,” she murmured.

“[Ding! The system detects danger approaching Heroine Catrine Clay! Be on guard, Master!]”

The system’s warning suddenly echoed in Merlin’s mind.

Merlin was startled. “What’s going on, System?”

“[Heroine Rosaline Hexaris has set her sights on your younger sister, Master! It seems to be related to Lucius Hexaris,]” the system explained.

Merlin’s gaze instantly locked onto Lucius. And sure enough, he saw an expression full of envy and hatred directed at him.

’Could he be jealous?’

The thought popped into his head, and Merlin’s lips immediately curved into a wide grin.

He had been itching to tease Lucius Hexaris, and this was the perfect opportunity.

“What’s wrong, Brother?”

Catrine’s curious voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

He smiled and shook his head. “Nothing. Just… come closer.”

Without asking further, Catrine stepped closer. Their bodies pressed together, and with each passing second, their dance grew smoother and more graceful.

In the distance, Lucius nearly crushed the juice glass in his hand. His eyes bulged as if they might pop out at any moment.

’Damn… damn… damn!’ he growled. ’What the hell is he doing? Is he doing this on purpose?’

He didn’t know why, but seeing the two of them so close made his blood boil.

It was as if Merlin were deliberately provoking him—but he had no proof.

In the end, all he could do was swallow his anger and curse Merlin Clay in his heart.

After the second session ended, it was Liora’s turn. The professors were surprised to see Merlin continue dancing and switching partners.

But since there were no rules against it, they said nothing.

Even so, the sight made most of the onlookers envious.

Even Trigard couldn’t help but clap in admiration.

“Truly extraordinary. He managed to win over all five of those beautiful girls, and none of them even fought with each other. I have to learn from him,” he remarked with envy and helplessness.

Among the second-year students, Trigard was known for his good looks and had a devoted fan base of his own.

As a result, he carried a certain arrogance, believing no one could surpass him.

But the scene unfolding before him completely shattered that confidence.

The new student had managed to win over five extraordinarily beautiful girls—each with her own charm—and get them all to get along.

Trigard knew he could never pull off something like that.

“Tch!” Geran clicked his tongue, his cold, mocking eyes fixed on Merlin from a distance. “Let him enjoy it for now. Once the dance ends, I’ll humiliate him in front of everyone… including those girls.”

Trigard merely smiled, saying nothing.

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