The carriage ride was filled with tense silence, broken only by the rhythmic clattering of our carriage wheels on cobblestone.

Inside, I was running through the rules of etiquette and the dance steps inside my head. Mother sat calmly with her eyes closed, as if catching some rest. While Leila was as still as she usually was in carriage rides.

After what felt like an entire week, the carriage rolled through the iron gates of the Royal Knights Academy. The sound of the capital's residence slowly faded, replaced with the sound of countless students and academy staff going about their night inside the academy.

Warm, yellow light coming from high-grade Luminite lanterns shone through our carriage windows as we rolled through the southern sector. I caught glimpses of sturdy, practical buildings with many windows, almost like a city of its own. I guessed these must be the student dorms.

But the carriage didn't stop. It rolled even deeper into the academy until we reached its central sector. There, it finally slowed down to a halt before a structure that caught my eyes nearly instantly it went into frame.

It was like a cathedral. Gothic marble pillars soared high, framing massive stained-glass windows with intricate patterns that glowed from the bright light within, casting colorful patterns onto the stones below. This was our destination.

The powerful hum of conversations, music, and heartbeats hit me all at once, all of them mingling together in that single grand structure.

The door swung open. Leila was the first out, turning to offer a steadying hand to Mother, who descended with no words said. Then it was my turn.

As Feyt, I hopped down first, the formal shoes I wore felt strange, probably because it was the first time I ever wore it. I turned, offering a hand back into the open carriage door. It felt slightly surreal, as always, as I placed my other hand in Feyt's and stepped down. My night-sky dress flowed gracefully over the carriage steps without getting hitched.

The moment my heels touched the road, I felt a sudden wave of attention. Glances, murmurs, gasps.

Others who had just arrived or were hanging around on the outside, their attention was all drawn onto me. It didn't help that the light from the open grand doors before me illuminated me like a spotlight.

I tried not to let my focus waver. I lifted my chins slightly, as practices, to keep up an image of composure.

Mother, without even looking back to make sure we would follow, began to walk. I followed closely behind her as Carine, a small number of paces behind and a little to her side. I then followed myself as Feyt with a similar distance and pace. Then there was Leila, who was at the rear.

The moment we passed through the grand archway, it felt like I had entered a new world. The dance hall was breathtaking, even for Carine. The high vaulted ceilings with marble pillars, glittering chandeliers with carefully crafted Luminite casings casting a warm yellow light all over the room, and the polished floor that could be a mirror if set upright.

It truly made the dance hall we have back home feel like the "dance hall we have at home," if you know what I mean.

The air was coated with the combined scent of various perfumes. A sea of people awaited in front of us, milling about. Through the variety of vibrant tapestries of dresses and suits, it was clear to spot the divide.

As expected, many of the gilded track girls wore dresses bursting with frills, laces, or combinations of accessories that almost felt too much on some of them.

It made my simple-in-principle dress stand out among them.

The standardized track girls, those who made it here anyway, wore simpler designs with more subtle frills, fewer laces, and similar details, much like mine.

However, the fabric I had was clearly much more eye-catching than theirs.

The effect of such contrasts was immediate. The outside had merely drawn glances and mumbles, but the inside delivered a full-on silence. It didn't hit the whole room at once, just those who happened to glance upon me; it all happened in a wave as I passed through. Conversations died, heads were turned, and eyes were widened.

I know, I know, my dress is gorgeous! Please stop staring~

An academy staff member hurried his way to our group, led by Mother.

"G-Greetings, Your Grace," he said. "Shall I take you to your seating arrangement?"

Mother lifted her head. "Arrangement?"

"Yes, Your Grace," he said with a smile. "If you would please follow me."

And so, we made our way deeper into the hall before eventually settling in an alcove by a raised dais, a rather exclusive little space. It had a soft-purple sofa with a panoramic window behind it, almost like a private room without the walls.

"Please enjoy the ball, Your Grace," the staff said, dipping into a bow before leaving the scene.

"Hmm," Mother pondered. "Either this is their way of apologizing for their mistake, or this is a benefit from having an Honors student."

Those were my guesses exactly.

We settled into our seats, facing the crowd before us. It gave us a good view of the dance floor, which was currently still crowded because the ball hadn't officially started yet.

This good view should've been a benefit. But it also gave the crowd a good view of me, which made me stand out even more.

I… already knew I was going to stand out, with or without this magnificent, almost over-engineered dress. The ranking, the fight with Instructor Cornellia, and my family name… it was all but guaranteed.

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But still, being stared at by countless other people like this, it still felt alien. I found myself fidgeting, as Feyt, of course. I kept my composure up as Carine.

"Honored guests, families, and newest members of our academy," a voice rang out.

All heads turned toward the raised stage at the far end of the hall. A single figure stood, a middle-aged woman with dark red braided hair. She wore a formal robe with a similar design as most other staff, but more refined.

"Greetings, my name is Mayarre Leinenseid, the headmaster of our beloved Royal Knights Academy," she started. "I would like to thank you all for coming today as we welcome the new generation of students of the Royal Knights Academy."

Everyone was silent as she continued. Proud smiles spread across the students and their parents.

"To officially welcome you all, I shall yield the floor to our most gracious patron, whose… innovative… vision has helped this academy reach heights never thought possible. His Royal Highness, Prince Julient."

He's here too?

A ripple of excitement went through the crowd. The director stepped back, and for the briefest second as she turned, I noticed a faint sense of annoyance as she seemingly narrowed her eyes at the approaching figure.

That approaching figure soon revealed itself.

The Third Prince, Julient, burst onto the stage with a flamboyant gait. He had a wide and genuine grin as he faced the sea of people before him.

"Welcome, everyone!" his voice boomed across the hall. He spun his arm into a deep bow before straightening himself. "I would like to offer my congratulations to you all for passing this year's entrance exam! This ball is a celebration of your achievements!"

He spoke with an infectious enthusiasm. His eyes scanned the crowd, and then, they landed squarely on our alcove. It was as if a spark had ignited within him, and I swear his grin got wider.

"But of course, while many of you have earned your place here tonight, we must pay tribute to the one who truly outshines us all."

My blood ran cold.

Oh, no. Don't you dare…

"Carine Sareid," he announced loudly, his voice ringing through the hall. "The top scorer of this year's exam, and perhaps, ever! Stand, if you would! Let us give her a round of applause!!"

A metaphorical spotlight had shone upon me, as countless pairs of eyes fell upon me in a creepy, united movement.

My eyes darted to Mother in a moment of panic, seeking guidance. Her response was a single, imperceptible nod. The message was clear: Accept the applause.

Well, that was helpful.

For a terrifying second, I was frozen. Then, years of training took over. As Carine, I rose smoothly from the plush sofa, my starry dress shimmering under the chandeliers. I offered a small, graceful curtsy in the direction of the crowd, my face a placid mask of silence.

Just as the Third Prince commanded, a thunderous wave of applause erupted, filling the grand hall. The sound was deafening, especially to Feyt's ears. I tried to ignore it as I offered a gentle, practiced wave to the crowd, my gaze sweeping over the sea of strangers.

And then I saw them.

Familiar faces stood out in the sea of strangers. Eveliana, Kyro, Clarissa, and even Phil—I mean, Villius. They were there, standing together, clapping along with everyone else. But seeing them, the people whose scores had suffered for my own goals, it cut through the noise of the crowd like a spear.

This spotlight, this victory, all of it was possible mostly because of them.

I finally knew what I would do next, before any networking or pleasantries, was to walk right over to them and apologize properly. It was the least I owed them.

…

The moment the welcomes were done away with, the crowd was free to move again. Leaving Mother, Leila, and Feyt sitting in the alcove, I excused myself as I made a beeline to the corner where my four allies stood.

With every step I took, the guilt continued to tighten its grip. I was preparing myself for cold shoulders, forced smiles, and even requests for compensation for the public shame. I had my offers ready for such an occasion.

I reached them. The four of them stood in a small circle, and in a unified motion, turned to face me. But before I could even open my mouth to begin my apology, Eveliana, wearing a striking red dress, her usual confident smirk worn with genuineness, approached me.

"Lady Carine!" she said, her voice upbeat but soft. "Congratulations on your ranking! We were actually hoping to catch you, but it seems you got to us first."

My apology evaporated at her warm, playful tone.

Kyro, wearing a tight-fitting suit that really accentuates his build, stepped forward with a firm nod. "Congrats on the ranking, Lady Carine! Seeing your name at the top was a shock, but with our help, anything less would've been disappointing, right?"

"C-Congratulations, Lady Carine!" Clarissa, with a modest dress, timidly approached with a smile. "I-I'm amazed! You got a near-perfect score on the written exam. How long have you studied to get that many points?"

"My congratulations as well, Lady Carine," Villius finished, his cheeks faintly flushed as his eyes briefly dipped to my gown. "And if I may… your dress is truly breathtaking."

I could only blink, my mind scrambling.

Where are the cold shoulders? The resentment? The "I demand at least 50 gold" comments?

My gaze swept over them. Their smiles and warmth didn't seem fabricated. I briefly suspected my eyes were starting to become faulty.

Eveliana let out a soft chuckle. "By the way, we got your letters. And with all due respect, Lady Carine, the apology was entirely unnecessary."

"Unnecessary? But… your scores…"

"It was our own decision," Kyro continued. "We chose to follow you and pool our flags. Sure, we didn't expect the Prince to publicize our scores, but we don't regret it one bit!"

"He's right." Eveliana placed a hand on her hip. "Seeing your name at the very top, knowing we had a small part in that, kind of made it all worth it in the end."

"...But," I tried to push out my apology once more.

"If you're worried about our reputation," Villius interrupted. "There's no need to worry about that, Lady Carine. I already told my family regarding the matter, and they respect my choice."

"S-Same here," Clarissa echoed. "My parents were even proud that I helped you."

Eveliana and Kyro nodded in firm agreement, their circumstances clearly the same.

Was my favor… really worth this much to them?

Or do they see me as more than just my name?

The way they spoke, no, the way they helped me back in the forest. I had given them the go-ahead to leave me behind in that pithole to score points for themselves, but still, they chose to turn back to try and save me behind the instructor's back. That act bought me the much needed time for me to free myself of the hole.

If they had left me, I would've still honored my part of the deal and owed them a favor or two. Still, they went through the extra effort… Could they see me more than just my title?

I wasn't sure if that was the case, but the thought of it warmed my heart. It eased the tension within me.

"...Then, allow me to thank you," I said, before dipping into a deep curtsy. "Without you, I wouldn't be where I am tonight."

Genuine ease settled over our group. For a few moments, the ball truly felt like a celebration.

But before we could settle into a conversation, a voice echoed loudly in the hall once more.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" an academy staff member shouted from the stage. "The opening dance is about to commence! Would the attendees please clear the center floor?"

The moment the announcement ended, a subtle shift occurred in our circle. Villius cleared his throat, his earlier composure replaced by a nervous gulp. He took a step forward, his gaze fixed on me as he began to formalize a bow, his hand starting to rise.

"Lady Carine, may I have the honor—"

"—Ahh! The star of the evening herself!"

A flamboyant, familiar voice sliced through the air, effortlessly silencing our group and drawing every eye in the vicinity. The Third Prince, Julient, appeared as if from nowhere, his smile blinding.

He stopped before me, doing a flawless, theatrical bow before extending his own hand.

"Lady Carine, would you do me the honor of the opening dance?"

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