Before I knew it, the dance was over.

The final notes of the music hung deeply in the air, and both of my bodies eased into a perfect stop. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, like a crack in a water dam, a wave of applause and cheers slowly arose, eventually enveloping the entire hall.

Without another word, not that I had anything to say to myself, we quickly parted. I had Carine give a minimal nod, and Feyt returned a professionally delivered bow before we both practically slithered our way into the safety of the crowd.

Still, I could feel countless eyes staring at my backs. Whispers trailed the both of me, and through Feyt's ears, it was practically whispered directly.

"I wanted to dance with Lady Carine, dammit!"

"So graceful. They must've trained together for years."

"I can't believe such a simple dance could be performed in such a way."

Still, I wondered. How in the world did I pull that off? I danced with myselves, in front of the entire academy, and most terrifyingly, in front of Mother as well. What was more surprising was how… perfect… it had been. I had fallen into the same synergic trance I used when fighting together, somehow implementing it into my dance.

Was it from the pressure of the crowd? Could my synergy have improved? Or were the days of training both with Mother and the instructor really worth it?

I held fingers on my nose bridges, shaking my head. I couldn't even begin to imagine what Mother would say once I returned to the alcove.

Should I stay hidden in the crowd for a while?

Honestly, I wanted to just sink and sleep this night away. I had absolutely no more energy to deal with… anything.

A gentle tap on my shoulder—Feyt's—made me jump.

I turned to see Saint Clara. Her expression was a mix of curiosity and something else I couldn't quite place.

"A-Ah, Clara," I managed, my voice a little too high.

"Hi there," she said, smoothing down her yellow dress. Her smile, a little strained, was still warm as she greeted me. "You danced pretty well for someone new."

"A-Ah yes. I did train a few times…"

"That said, you seem to dance a lot freely with… her," she mumbled, seemingly only to herself. Before I could respond, she continued. "So, how was the dance?"

"The dance?" I parroted. "It was… alright?"

Her smile subtly tightened. "Just alright?"

Oh, I said the wrong thing, didn't I? She and the rest of the student council must've poured their hearts and souls into planning and executing this whole event. Calling it "just alright" must've sounded like an insult. I needed to backpedal.

"A-Actually, it was the best," I said, lightly scratching the back of my head.

"The best?" she nearly yelped, her eyes widening. She stared at me for a second, then looked down. "Is that… how you really feel?"

Was I… not sincere enough?

I wanted to assure her that she did a pretty good job organizing the whole event, because frankly, she did. I could barely tell this ball apart from the new years party held in the castle apart, aside from the venue and lack of a feast.

So, I gave her my best cheerful, warm smile.

"Yeah, I'm sure! This is a night I'll never forget!"

Clara froze, her fingers tightening around each other. She looked simultaneously flustered and… confused?

W-Wait… what did I say?

"I… I see," she murmured, her voice soft. "So it was that memorable for you…"

I wasn't sure what to say next. But before I could even think of speaking up, she continued.

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"Feyt, tell me, was dancing with me not—"

"—President Clara?!" a sudden voice called out from the crowd. "President Clara?!"

Both of us turned to the voice.

A young man in a suit, clutching a paper board, emerged from the crowd. He looked stressed and in a hurry. His eyes widened with joy the moment she saw Clara. "President Clara, there you are!" He stopped just a few steps before her, taking a moment to catch his breath. "There seems to be an issue with miswritten names for several invitees. Could you help us mediate with them?"

Clara looked from him back to me, letting out a heavy, reluctant sigh.

"Alright…" She turned to me fully, smiling warmly again. "Well, have fun with the rest of the party, Feyt. I'll… see you some other time."

"R-Right." I nodded. "Good luck with your work!"

She gave a small nod before turning and following the other council member, disappearing into the sea of people.

I let out a breath of relief. But it seemed I wasn't up for relaxation just yet.

As soon as one conversation ended, another started.

"Lady Carine!"

A familiar voice called out my name. It wasn't Eveliana's voice or any of the others, so who could it—

"There you are, Lady Carine! I almost thought you went home after the dance!" an energetic, haughty voice cut through the crowd.

I turned to see a flash of familiar, vibrant red with flowing blonde drill-hairs.

"Miraelle," I announced to myself. I recited it almost as if presenting proof that I do, in fact, remember her name now.

She was wearing a slightly different red dress than the last time I'd seen her. It was far more refined in its cut and fabric, but still maintained a simplicity in its design if you looked past the initial, eye-searing impact. But still, that signature, violent red of hers would make her pop out in any crowd.

"Ah, how rude of me!" She stopped a few paces before me and dipped into a curtsy. "Good evening, Lady Carine."

I faced her, folding my hands in front of me to keep composure. "Good evening to you as well," I said, offering a light bow.

After we both straightened, she went straight to the topic.

"I saw your dance, Lady Carine. I must say, it was quite magnificent!" she said, her gaze beaming with adoration ."Not to mention, your dress! Not even the moon could match you in your brilliance!"

"T-Thank you," I managed, not really in the mood for flattery right about now.

She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to an almost normal tone. "Pray tell, was that young man you danced with your… fiance?"

I nearly had whiplash. Her sudden, direct comment hit me like a solid one-two combo delivered in the blink of an eye.

Was that how it looked to others?! A sense of dread filled me.

The rumors regarding the both of me were already running nearly rampant in the estate. Could the same be true in this academy, too?

Suddenly, the future looked bleak.

"N-No, he was not," I quickly rebutted, my voice sharper than I intended. I forced it back to a cool, collected tone. "He is, however, my future bodyguard. The dance was… merely practice for our future roles." I continued, spinning my own take on the situation in a desperate, probably futile, hope it could overwrite history.

Mirabelle stared in silence, her head tilted. She narrowed her eyes, as if performing complex deductions in her head. Then, as if a light bulb had lit up, she beamed. "Ah, so that's how it is!"

I had no idea what 'that' was, but her tone filled me with a profound sense of dread.

"Whatever conclusion you have drawn, please throw it away. There's truly nothing in between me and that young man other than our personal relationship." I tried to dismiss whatever notion she had in her head, fearing she might start spreading her theories, whatever they might be.

"Oh, of course, Lady Carine! I understand!"

I have a feeling she doesn't.

"Also, I must ask," I said, pivoting the topic with all the grace I could muster, "where were you during the entrance exam? I don't believe I have seen you."

"The entrance exam?" She blinked, looking genuinely confused. "I didn't participate in all that grubby fighting. I entered through Special Admission, remember? On account of my magnificent Talent. Ohoho!"

Oh, right.

I still found it hard to believe that Mirabelle, of all people, would be blessed with a Magical Talent. I was curious what her fire magic would look like, but I'd never had the chance to ask for a demonstration, at least, not in a proper environment.

I briefly wondered what the practical exam might look like if she had participated.

—All of a sudden, a vivid image of a burning forest flashed behind my eyes.

…Right. There's probably a very good reason she wasn't involved.

Mirabelle, thankfully, seemed to tire of the topic of my dancing and switched gears on her own accord. "But never mind that! I must congratulate you, Lady Carine! Not only did you pass, you did so in a way befitting of someone of your stature!" She beamed, looking genuinely happy.

She must've meant how I nabbed the first-place ranking.

"Thank you, but I wouldn't have been able to do it without a couple of helping hands."

"It's a shame, however," she grumbled.

"What is?"

"Had I been there in that forest, I would've been able to help you reach beyond a hundred points!"

"...I appreciate the thought."

I still didn't know what it was she truly saw in me to consider me her friend. My title? My prestige? Or was I just so happened to be the first person she had seen in a while? In any case, I was in far too deep to push her away now.

"Oh, I'm simply overjoyed! We'll both be attending the academy together!" She clasped her hands together, as if dreaming. "I can already picture it! Heading to the academy together, eating lunch together, learning in class together…"

My eyebrows lifted subtly. "But… aren't you in the Special Admission track? I don't think we'll be in the same class. Besides, your schedule would be vastly different than mine, as well. I doubt we'll meet much outside of our lunch breaks."

The effect was instantaneous. Mirabelle's beaming smile froze solid on her face. Her entire body went rigid, as if she'd turned into a statue. The light in her eyes died, replaced by a look of utter devastation.

"D-Different… class?"

…Don't tell me you haven't even considered that?

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