Chapter 116: Chapter 116 : Dance (1)

[ A few minutes ago ]

Just as Alex, Alicia, and Evelyn made their way across the grand ballroom floor, heading toward the lavishly decorated table where Ethan, Alden, and the others sat…

A sudden presence stepped into their path, halting their progress like a drawn sword.

The air seemed to freeze.

It was Lucas Evans Avaloria — the Second Prince of the Human Empire and the apex of the second-year cadets.

He stood tall, clad in a pristine navy-blue ceremonial uniform adorned with gold trim, the crest of the imperial family shimmering on his chest.

His icy blue eyes scanned them with a gaze sharpened by years of privilege, his slicked-back white hair glinting under the crystal chandeliers.

Lucas’s lips curled into a smirk.

“Well, if it isn’t a surprise… My dear sister Alice, and Miss Eve herself, gracing the ball this year.”

He then turned his gaze to Alex, his smile turning sour.

“And to my astonishment, arriving with a commoner, no less.”

He didn’t even try to hide the disdain in his voice as his eyes scanned Alex like one would a stain on royal velvet.

Alex met his gaze calmly.

’Yep. He’s definitely pissed. Probably choking on his own pride right now,’ he thought with a mental snort.

Before Alex could say anything, Alicia stepped forward, her voice sharp and commanding.

“Lucas, mind your language. This is Zenith — here, only skill and talent speak, not bloodlines or birthrights.”

There was a flicker of tension in Lucas’s jaw, but he smoothly bowed, hand on chest.

“My apologies, dear sister. I didn’t mean it that way.”

Then, turning toward Evelyn, his tone shifted — smoother, hopeful, and oddly self-assured.

“Miss Eve, would you—”

But he didn’t get to finish.

“It’s Miss Evelyn, for you, Lucas,” she cut him off icily, her expression devoid of emotion, her eyes as cold as deep space.

Lucas’s words caught in his throat, his confident smile twitching for just a second.

Alex raised an eyebrow.

’Well now… this is interesting. So that’s why he looked ready to explode — he’s got his sights on the hero’s sister. Yikes. Buddy’s down bad.’

Lucas tried to laugh off the cold reception.

“Oh come now, Miss Evelyn, don’t be so distant. We were childhood friends, after all.”

Evelyn didn’t even blink.

“I only had one childhood friend, and she’s standing right here,” she said, looking toward Alicia.

Alicia, sensing the rising tension, quickly stepped in again.

“Lucas, let it go. We’re in public.”

But Lucas snapped, the carefully composed façade finally cracking.

“After everything I did for her… she still pushes me away? Refuses to even acknowledge me?” His voice rose with frustrated emotion as he looked between Evelyn and Alicia. “Alice, you yourself know that’s not fair!”

Alicia’s expression remained calm but firm.

“Lucas, we can talk about it later. Not here. Not now.”

Lucas took a slow breath. His composure returned like a mask being pulled back on.

“…I apologize. I lost my temper for a moment.”

He turned toward Alex one last time — eyes narrowed, lips pressed into a tight line.

’Yup, that look screams I’m going to make your life difficult,’ Alex mused dryly.

Lucas brushed past them and vanished into the crowd, but the tension hung in the air like static.

As they resumed walking toward the table, Alex sighed internally.

’Totally not worth it… Should’ve just come alone.’

Then, side-eyeing Evelyn with a sharp glare, he thought darkly,

’Looks like I accidentally made a powerful and annoying enemy. Looks like I’ll have to increase the price up to 50 million.’

Evelyn, of course, completely ignored the glare, though the tiniest smirk—unnoticeable to all—tugged at her lips.

—

[ Present ]

Just as the three reached the table, they caught the tail end of a heated scene.

“Do you want to die?”

The voice was sharp — twin threats in stereo, aimed directly at Lorenzo.

Both Ethan and Alden were standing now, eyes blazing. Chairs were half-pushed back, and the tension was thick enough to choke.

Evelyn blinked.

“Who’s going to die?”

Her voice, calm and curious, shattered the moment like glass.

Everyone at the table froze.

All heads snapped toward Evelyn, Alicia, and Alex.

Ethan, who had looked like a wrathful deity moments ago, suddenly turned pale as he spotted his sister. He straightened like a soldier caught misbehaving.

“Sis… you’re here,” he said, voice cracking ever so slightly.

Lorenzo let out a huge sigh of relief.

’Saved by the sister… Thank the Goddess.’

Alicia’s eyes narrowed as she turned to Alden, who had also stood up.

Her tone was sharp. “Alden, what was that about?”

Alden just shrugged nonchalantly, hands in his pockets.

“It’s Lorenzo. He deserved it.”

Alicia’s forehead twitched, a single vein popping with practiced elegance.

’This brat.’

Ethan cleared his throat and flashed his most innocent smile at Evelyn.

“Nothing, sis! We were just, uh… playing a game. And that guy cheated!” he said, jerking his thumb toward Lorenzo.

“Right, Lorenzo?”

Lorenzo, who looked like a man who had just been dragged out of a shark tank, nodded his head so fast it was a blur.

“Y-Yes! Absolutely! Cheated! Terrible cheater!”

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable.

“Oh,” she said simply, before elegantly taking her seat. Alicia followed, and Alex slid into his chair with the smug satisfaction of a man who had just walked through chaos untouched.

Across the table, Ethan and Alden’s eyes locked onto Alex like twin cannons. He was smirking at them, arms crossed, like a smug war general watching his enemies flail.

’This smug bastard…’ Ethan twitched.

’How is he still breathing?’ Alden narrowed his eyes.

Their mutual rage was interrupted by someone gracefully rising from her seat.

“I greet Miss Evelyn and Miss Alicia,” said Maria Lunehart, smiling with perfect poise.

Alicia returned the greeting with a gentle smile.

“What a good girl,” she said sweetly, before letting her gaze flick toward Seraphina and Charlotte. “Unlike some brats.”

Seraphina and Charlotte immediately found the ballroom floor very interesting.

As if cued by an invisible conductor, the rest of the table stood up and greeted the esteemed guests. Even Ophelia offered a courteous nod. The mood was warm… until Ethan suddenly spoke again.

“Sis.”

All eyes turned to him.

“Yes?” Evelyn replied.

Ethan inhaled like he was about to dive into a lava pool.

“Why did you come with that bast—”

He froze. “—I mean, why did you come with Alex to the ball? If you wanted to come with someone, I would’ve abandoned everyone to escort you myself!”

There was a moment of silence.

Then Seraphina’s eye twitched.

“Oh? You would’ve left me?”

Ophelia smiled, but there was a certain chill in the air.

“Yes, darling, it seems I misheard something important just now.”

Ethan looked like a man on trial. He held up both hands, panicking.

“I-I didn’t mean it like that! I meant… you’re all important!”

Evelyn tilted her head and stared at him.

“So you don’t like that I came with Alex?”

Ethan practically melted in his seat.

“O-Of course not, sis! How could you do anything wrong?! I’m the idiot here! I shouldn’t have even opened my mouth!”

Laughter erupted around the table — Maria giggled behind her hand, even Alicia chuckled softly.

But the light mood didn’t last long.

A heavy pressure descended, like a dark storm creeping in.

Everyone turned.

It was Lilith.

Her crimson eyes narrowed on Alex like a predator spotting its prey.

“So, you did find a partner to match your narcissist beauty, huh?” she said with a voice that could slice through steel.

Her gaze flicked to Evelyn and Alicia.

Evelyn met her stare, unbothered, while Alicia’s lips curled into a teasing smile.

“Yes,” Alicia said playfully. “Looks like he did.”

Then, looking sideways at Alex, she added, “What do you say, Alex?”

Alex sighed.

“Do you want me to say the truth?” he asked flatly.

Alicia blinked. “Forget I asked.”

He could feel Lilith’s glare drilling holes into him, but he refused to acknowledge her.

’Why does she keep following me?’ he thought.

Meanwhile, Evelyn’s thoughts were elsewhere.

’So this is Nyx’s avatar,’ she mused.

Aurora, she said internally, what do you think?

Aurora’s voice echoed calmly.

| This kid’s got some serious potential, Eve. |

’You think so, huh?’ Evelyn replied, still cool as ever.

Across from her, Lilith stared at Evelyn and Alicia, unsure which one she wanted to stab first with her eyes.

Suddenly, a soft chime rang across the hall, followed by a dramatic voice:

“Ladies and gentlemen,” came the enthusiastic announcement. “The moment you’ve all been waiting for has arrived! Let the dance… BEGIN!”

Mira Hart’s voice sparkled with flair as golden lights shimmered across the ballroom’s polished floor.

All eyes turned toward the center as couples began moving. Girls instinctively turned to their partners.

Alicia shot a sideways glance at Alex.

Alex blinked.

’Oh no. Nope. No way. I’m not getting paid for dancing.’

But just as he turned to make a discreet exit, two hands landed on his shoulders like executioner’s blades.

“Come,” said a voice to his left.

“You’re dancing with us,” said the one on the right.

Alex could already guess who it was without even looking.

It was Ethan and Alden. Both smiling. Neither friendly.

Alex’s mouth twitched.

’This has to be a crime… where’s my lawyer?’

He looked at Alicia pleadingly. She just smirked and raised her glass.

’The measly 10 million is definitely not worth the trouble I’m going through,’ he thought, as the duo dragged him off toward the dance floor like they were taking him to war.

———-

A/N:

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