Episode 103. Ball (1)
The Delinga family was a noble and ancient family of wizards.
Although his fame and prestige are not as great as those of the Ielos family today, he once held the position of Mayor of Capotini for generations.
Like Ielos, they also have ties to the mainland Empire. It cannot be denied that the ties that pull Ielos are stronger, but it also means that Delin can exert influence over Capotini.
“The entrance ball? I think of it as just your ascension to the throne.”
“You just have to smile kindly at the commoners, and when a noble of the same class comes along, you just have to dance.”
“You don’t have to dance with anyone. It’s special if the Delin family doesn’t dance. Just make sure you show everyone that you’re refusing.”
“You’ll be seeing commoners dancing for the first time that day. Don’t be surprised, and be careful. Be careful with your facial expressions. They’re a total mess. You might even spit out your drink.”
Dahlia Delin’s sisters’ words flashed through her mind.
Her older sisters, who entered magic school a few years before her, were recognized as the main characters at their respective entrance ceremonies.
It was natural, since there was no family that was even slightly famous, let alone one that could encroach on the status of the Delinga.
‘it’s annoying.’
But this year, the story was different.
This is because Eric of the Ielos family, whom I have known since childhood, entered school with me.
“Eric Ielos? Unfortunately, he can’t be the sole protagonist, Dahlia.”
“Still, it’s a good thing he’s a boy. After all, you’re the only person Eric can dance with.”
Instead of a single protagonist, a co-protagonist. Dahlia was completely convinced. Her father was also rather pleased with that.
however.
“… … .”
Dahlia, who was walking across the ballroom, was showing a gentle smile. She didn’t forget her graceful gait and elegant hand movements. All of this was a beauty that had been thoroughly trained from the family.
It all seemed useless.
‘I’m unlucky.’
Her expression remained gentle, but hostility was welling up inside her.
Dahlia looked across the hall. There was a girl who was drawing everyone’s attention. An imperial noble with flowing blonde hair.
Sensing Dahlia’s gaze, Chloe Witherspoon looked this way and smiled faintly.
Dahlia bit her lower lip. Chloe’s gaze at her seemed similar to the gaze she gave to commoners.
“… … .”
Now Chloe’s gaze was directed to the middle of the ballroom.
The common cadets who had chosen their partners early are dancing. Is this what commoners call dancing? It’s a light, dull, and even stupid-looking dance.
‘Is that strange?’
On the other hand, Chloe’s eyes were filled with interest.
‘You’re acting without any interest anyway. It’s really disgusting.’
Meanwhile, Dahlia secretly imitated Chloe’s expression. It was as if she was exuding the good-natured curiosity of a noble lady who was seeing the commoners’ wild dance for the first time.
Again, again, again.
Chloe started moving again, this time towards the table distributing drinks.
As the imperial nobles approached, the surprised children were seen splitting up and making their way to either side.
‘Are you trying to appeal to the common people by being generous?’
Now, all the children around Chloe were of commoner origin. After a while, Chloe asked in a slightly excited voice.
“This is Caponiglia. Right?”
“Uh, yeah.”
The commoner cadet who answered unexpectedly was very flustered. Not wanting to miss this opportunity, Dahlia also approached him.
“I heard it’s the most famous drink in Capotini. It’s a specialty.”
It got its name because it is made by extracting the flower Caponilia. It was a drink enjoyed by all the commoners of Capotini.
However, the nobles stayed away from it because it was exclusive to the commoners.
“I saw it in a book called .”
Chloe naturally showed off her knowledge.
Everyone was looking this way. Even some of the VIPs on the upper floor were coming towards the railing and casting glances.
“Mmm, this is really delicious!”
“When you drink, Joe, you have to be careful.”
A commoner cadet standing next to her spoke hesitantly. Chloe, who had been pondering what that meant, responded with a big smile.
“Careful? Oh, right. I almost forgot.”
The flower language of the flower Caponilia was ‘complete heart’. It was a flower language given because of the flower’s unique effect. The flower had the property of removing dye and returning it to its original color.
Because it was a drink with such flowers as its main ingredient, people who dyed their clothes or hair had to be especially careful when drinking it. If it spilled or splashed on their clothes, it would be a problem.
“Of course it won’t matter about that dress… … .”
Another common cadet spoke cautiously.
Not all fabrics showed a bleaching reaction with caponilia. The fabrics of nobles may not have bleaching reactions because the raw materials themselves were of high quality.
“Give me a glass of that too.”
Then Dahlia intervened and spoke to the commoner cadet next to her.
The child turned his head slightly and looked at the dahlia. Then, as if nothing had happened, he handed over a glass containing caponilia.
“Okay. Here.”
Dahlia was shocked.
‘You don’t recognize me?’
It’s embarrassing. Come to think of it, none of the students gathered here now have their eyes on Dahlia.
Everyone was obsessed with Chloe. They were completely captivated by the appearance of the imperial aristocrat, whose shadow they rarely get to see in their lifetime.
‘I should be the main character!’
Dahlia bit her lower lip.
We have to find a way. We have to do something that will attract attention.
With that thought in mind, Dahlia Delin looked around. Then, like a beast that has found its prey, she fixed her gaze on one side.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
On the other side of the large hall.
‘It’s just right.’
Although it was a bit far away, it was a good place to steal the attention away from Chloe.
There was a commoner cadet standing in the shade.
‘If I bump into that kid and fall towards the light… and break the glass while doing so… … .’
A clever spell was also needed. The magic was to amplify the sound of the glass breaking at the moment, so that it could be heard over the loud music and grab people’s attention.
Recently, I was able to internalize the whim, so there was no need for anyone to catch me.
Dahlia took action immediately. She walked towards her prey, leaving behind Chloe and the onlookers who were constantly admiring her while sipping her caponiglia.
Again, again, again.
I walked with elegance. As I walked, a commoner cadet dressed in a ball gown like a clown approached me, but I kindly ignored him.
“Hey, hello? My name is Oscar Tunio, and I’m not dancing… … .”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I don’t think I’m in the mood.”
Again, again, again.
He approached his prey in the shade. Black hair and a plain ball gown. Up close, he didn’t look so bad.
A commoner cadet? Or a poor noble?
Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I just need to make people pay attention to me.
Dahlia’s steps quickened slightly. The caponiglia in the glass she was holding clinked.
Maintaining a graceful smile, she prepared magic with perfect timing.
I slowly drew the whistle that amplified the sound. Then, I lost my balance slightly right in front of the black-haired boy.
Bam!
A dull thud rang out as two people collided.
however.
“uh?”
Something was wrong. The moment they collided, the boy suddenly changed direction. Then, he grabbed Dahlia’s center of gravity, which should have caused her to fall sideways.
It was a movement so restrained that it went unnoticed even by those nearby.
‘Miss! Why! Why is nothing working?’
The glass that was supposed to break on the floor was now safely in the hands of a black-haired boy.
“… … .”
The expression of a boy with an indifferent expression.
She was looking down at her ball gown. Parts of her ball gown, which had been black, were fading due to the spilled caponiglia. It was originally gray, but its color was gradually revealing itself.
Either way, Dahlia was getting annoyed.
“Oh my!”
The kids were still surrounding Chloe on that side, and no one was looking at her. It had become a real one-man show.
“after…….”
Dahlia first calmed down. She shouldn’t get too excited and ruin her honor. She decided to deal with the man in front of her first.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see it.”
“are you okay.”
“Oh, the color of your clothes is peeling off. This is a caponiglia. Tell me your name, please? I will send you a new ball gown through the servant. If you are willing to pay me, I will do so.”
“Don’t worry about it. I was just going to wear it today and then throw it away.”
Dahlia thought that was a lie. Seeing her come in such an ordinary ball gown, it must mean that she had spent all her money to get it.
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Yeah. It’s not that expensive either.”
“Yeah, that’s what it looks like… but it seems like it was hard for you to get it.”
“Really? Not really.”
The boy moved back to the shade, perhaps concerned about the faded dye on his ball gown.
Little by little, Dahlia began to feel annoyed.
“I don’t want to feel uneasy for no reason, so just tell me your name. I’ll take care of the rest. You’re a commoner, right?”
“Luden Poinen. Do as you wish.”
That was the end of it. The boy named Luden left the glass he should have dropped in Dahlia’s hands and walked away.
Dahlia, who had been watching the boy’s back as he walked away, looking for a shady spot, quickly forgot about him.
* * *
Rubin wandered around looking for Kuze. If he knew where he was, he would have sent a signal. Judging from the fact that he couldn’t be detected even with the smoke, he seemed to be nowhere near.
‘Your name is Dahlia Delin… … .’
I thought back to our earlier collision. I don’t know why he intentionally tried to collide with me, but I can guess. He must have been trying to divert the attention that was focused on Chloe to himself. All kids are the same.
Even Dahlia prepared her magic as she walked. Rubin, who was able to clearly see the mana line drawn in front of his eyes thanks to the bracelet, did not let her do as she wished.
‘Chloe… is over there.’
Chloe, who had been standing in front of the drinks table for a long time, was now separated from the group. No magic student dared approach Chloe first as she walked away.
at that time.
An interesting composition was created in front of Rubin’s eyes.
Eric Ielos approached the spot where Dahlia Delin, who had bumped into Rubin, was standing. However, Eric’s interest did not seem to be in Dahlia. Chloe was right next to them.
It seemed like there were crossed arrows.
* * *
‘Yeah, Eric was left.’
Dahlia Delin sets out to find Eric.
If it were Eric, he could restore her battered pride.
The Ielos and Delin families were prestigious families of three wizards who maintained constant contact. Dahlia herself had grown up learning magic with Eric since she was four or five years old.
Although it was difficult to accept Eric’s arrogant personality, the two men’s positions were not different in that they used each other.
“I’ll see you at the ball, Dahlia. Of course you’ll be my partner, right?”
At a social gathering before moving into the dorms, Eric said:
That day, Dahlia only shrugged her shoulders and didn’t give a definitive answer. Of course, the two of them were already certain that they were prom partners.
“Eric.”
As expected of Eric, he was walking around with a group of middle-aged nobles who supported him. Eric nodded and pretended to know when he found Dahlia.
“Oh, Dahlia? Hi. Your dress is pretty.”
“It’s been a while. I haven’t seen you in the dorms… … .”
Eric, who seemed to be approaching Dahlia, passed her by.
“… … ?”
“It was nice to meet you.”
Was it nice? Is that all?
Dahlia looked back with a look of bewilderment. There stood Chloe, Eric’s original target.
“Hi Chloe. Your dress is nice.”
He repeated what he had said to Dahlia, but his attitude was even more serious. The nobles who supported Eric simply looked at him with awe.
It wasn’t just them, but I could feel all the cadets scattered throughout the hall focusing on this side.
A meeting between the Ielos family, the standard-bearers of the Three Whispers, and the Witherspoon family, the imperial nobles at the top of all magical families.
The VIPs who had been keeping an eye on Chloe also approached the railing and watched the two people talking with interest.
‘Ha! This is how it comes out.’
Dahlia felt her pride being crushed even more painfully. From the beginning, Eric had intended to ask Chloe to dance.
Either way, Eric’s soft words continued.
“When you were young, do you remember? At the grand banquet held by the Ministry of Magic.”
“Umm… Well. What was your name?”
Eric was a little bit hurt, but he could easily tolerate this when the opponent was Witherspoon, an imperial noble.
“Eric. Eric Ielos.”
“Oh, I think I remember.”
Eric became anxious. He couldn’t be remembered as a mere speck of dust in this place where all the new students were gathered. He had to quickly come up with a clue that would make them remember.
“Then do you remember that time when you danced with me? You know, that dance?”
“ah!”
“Do you remember?”
“Pfft, now that you say it like that, I remember it clearly!”
Without missing a beat, Eric held out his hand with his palm facing upward, asking for a dance.
All the cadets watching this scene seemed to hold their breath for a moment.
“Do you want to dance now?”
“Yeah, just like before.”
Dahlia, who was right next to them, was listening to their conversation.
So I could clearly hear Chloe shaking her head with an awkward smile and the words she blurted out.
“Sorry, Eric. I don’t feel like dancing right now.”
“…uh?”
“I enjoy just watching other friends dance.”
“No, uh, Chloe… … .”
As Eric was about to stammer a few more words, someone stepped between them.
A woman approaches Chloe, pushing Eric away slightly. It was Chloe’s maid, Celesne.
“What is this… right now…?”
It was natural that Eric was taken aback by the maid’s intrusion.
The ball was exclusively for magic students. Unless trouble arose, the faculty and staff were not supposed to enter the ballroom.
It was rude, and the maid was aware of it, but she didn’t hesitate a bit.
“I’m sorry, Master Eric. It’s important.”
Then the maid whispered something into Chloe’s ear. As each word continued, a completely unexpected expression appeared on Chloe’s face.
“Really? Are you sure he’s alive? You’re not lying to me, are you?”
“Yes, Miss! It really is. And what’s even more surprising is… … .”
The maid lifted her finger and pointed somewhere. Dahlia’s eyes, as well as those of the other cadets, turned in that direction.
On the other side of the hall, in a shaded area.
Dahlia strained her eyes. But before she could see who the boy standing there was, Chloe stepped forward first.
Chloe couldn’t hide her excitement, her blonde hair fluttering. She approached him with a gait that was far from the elegance of an imperial aristocrat.
Centered around her, all the new students split into two groups.
An unexpected flow. The magic students watching tried to figure out what on earth was going on.
Eric asked Chloe to dance instead of Dahlia. Chloe, who rejected him, is approaching a boy she doesn’t even know.
“Hey, you. Do you know who that is?”
“That guy? Isn’t that the kid who was taken away by the principal?”
“Oh, I remember. My first day in the dorm.”
The voices of the children around her lingered in Dahlia’s ears.
A cold smile appeared on Dahlia’s lips as she looked at Eric, who was standing there as if he had lost his mind. Eric, who had lost interest in her in an instant and had been rejected so splendidly by Chloe, was trembling.
The excited voices of the male cadets poured out again.
“What are those two talking about? Can you hear me?”
“Hey, hey! Am I seeing this right now, right now? Chloe is reaching out her hand!”
“Why? What do you owe me?”
“You idiot! I said let’s dance! Chloe’s asking that black haired guy to dance!”
