7:45 P.M.
We were late.
And I knew exactly who to bla.
"Urgh! We’re late because of you!" I hissed, glaring at Gawain as we hurried down the corridor.
"I told you not to rush !" he shot back, dodging slightly when I raised my hand. "And don’t hit ! You’ll crumple my outfit!"
I froze mid-swing.
"Oh, so now you care about your outfit?"
"Yes!" he snapped. "Do you know how expensive this looks?!"
"I paid for it!"
"Exactly! Which is why you should treat it with respect!"
I clicked my tongue, resisting the urge to wrinkle his perfectly ironed collar out of spite.
"Unbelievable," I muttered. "You were whining five minutes ago, and now you’re acting like a noble."
"I look like a noble," he corrected smugly.
"You look like soone I’m about to trip."
"Don’t you dare—"
Before our argunt could escalate into physical violence and financial regret, we stepped inside the Function Hall.
The hall was breathtaking.
It reminded of the grand banquets I used to attend—but this...
This was sothing else entirely.
The ceiling stretched high above us, adorned with intricate chandeliers that cast warm, golden light across the entire space.
The floors glead like mirrors, reflecting the movent of elegantly dressed students who looked like they had stepped straight out of a noble gathering.
Music drifted through the air—soft, refined, and smooth, the kind that made everything feel slower and noble.
Tables lined the sides, filled with food that looked too expensive to touch and too perfect to eat.
And the students were dressed even more elegantly.
"...Wow," I muttered.
Beside , Gawain went unusually quiet. "...We’re underdressed," he whispered.
I imdiately turned to glare at him like he had just insulted my entire existence. "You were the one who said to keep it simple."
"And it worked," he said without missing a beat, flashing a satisfied smile like he had just won an argunt I didn’t rember agreeing to lose.
I sighed in defeat.
"Co on," I said, grabbing his arm and dragging him forward. "Let’s go try the foods!"
He resisted like a child being forced into responsibility. "...Do we have to?"
"Yes."
"...Can we just stand here for a while and then leave?"
"I’m hungry."
"I can cook you—"
My eyes widened.
"—sothing later—"
"No! Hell no!"
He blinked at like I had just rejected his entire bloodline. "...What?"
I straightened imdiately, clearing my throat. "What I an is—no. I can’t wait. I have to eat. Right now. Imdiately. Urgently."
He stared at .
"...After you’ve had your fill then we can leave?" he tried again cautiously, like he was negotiating with a wild animal.
"Of course!" I said instantly.
"Let’s go fill our stomachs then," he was now the one dragging excitedly.
"Wait—why are you excited now?" I asked, trying to keep up.
He didn’t even look back.
"Because if feeding you is the fastest way to leave this place," he said, voice full of determination, "then I will personally make sure you eat everything in sight."
Sure enough, the mont we reached the buffet, Gawain transford into a starving nace.
He grabbed a plate and started piling food onto it like he hadn’t eaten for a whole year.
at, pastries, fruits, things I couldn’t even na—nothing was spared.
"I’m not sure I can eat all of this while standing," I said, watching in mild horror as the plate reached structural instability.
"Go find us a seat then," he ordered, not even looking at as he added more.
I slowly turned to him. "...Are you ordering right now?"
"N-No...?" he said, suddenly very aware of his tone. "Why would I My Lady?"
I stared at him for a second longer then clicked my tongue. "Fine. But be quick."
I marched off, scanning the hall for an empty seat, already imagining the mountain of food I was about to conquer.
Unfortunately fate had other plans.
I bumped into soone soft, light, and pink.
...Pink?
’Vivienne?!’
Ti slowed for exactly half a second.
Before she could fall, I reacted on instinct—one hand catching her waist, the other grabbing her hand to steady her.
"Are you alright, Miss Vivienne?" I asked smoothly, as if I hadn’t just internally panicked at running into the female lead.
"Y-Yes, I’m sorry, I didn’t notice you—"
She didn’t get to finish because she was suddenly yanked away from causing to lose my balance from the sudden movent.
Before I could embarrass myself and kiss the ground, a hand steadied from behind.
I sighed in relief. "Thank you—" I turned around and imdiately regretted existing.
"Be careful," Ravian said lightly, his voice carrying that sa amused tone I absolutely did not trust. "You seem to run into trouble quite easily."
I straightened imdiately, stepping away from him like proximity alone was dangerous.
"Hey, new student," Stephano snapped, his voice sharp with irritation. "Can’t you see where you’re going? You almost tripped Vivienne."
I raised a brow.
’Is this guy blind or just plain stupid?’
Because from where I was standing, I had literally just saved her from face-planting into the floor.
Vivienne, bless her conscience, looked a bit flustered. "Stephano, it wasn’t her fault, I—"
"You’re too kind, Viv," Stephano cut in imdiately, glaring at like I had just committed a cri punishable by exile.
I almost rolled my eyes.
’Oh, please.’
She was the one walking like she owned the floor while I was literally slowing down to find a seat. If anything, I should be the one offended.
Not that this was new to since I’ve dealt way worse scenarios than this but it still gets on my nerves.
I exhaled quietly, smoothing my expression into sothing... civilized.
If he wanted drama then I will give him class.
"Pray, forgive my intrusion," I said, turning my full attention to him, voice calm and refined, "but might I inquire if you were the one involved just now?"
Stephano blinked like his brain needed a mont to catch up.
A small, polite smile ford on my lips as I continued, every word carefully chosen like I was threading a needle.
"Kindly allow Miss Vivienne to elucidate the matter first, before you proceed with your accusations and claims of my culpability."
"..."
Even I was impressed.
’Did I just say all that?’
I think I just used every single brain cell I had left.
Vivienne gently tugged on his arm, clearly trying to de-escalate the situation. "I-I was the one not paying proper attention and accidentally bumped into her, Steph."
Stephano stiffened, his grip loosening slightly and for a mont, he didn’t speak.
Ravian, anwhile, was definitely enjoying this. I could practically feel his amusent radiating from behind .
And ?
I was already regretting leaving the buffet table.
Stephano finally clicked his tongue, looking irritated—but now with no solid ground to stand on.
"...Tch."
The universal sound of soone who lost an argunt but refused to admit it.
I gave a small nod. "Then I shall take my leave," I said smoothly, stepping back. "Do enjoy your evening."
’I refuse to stay here any longer than necessary.’
I turned around, only to make eye contact with Ravian.
’Why is this man still here?’
"If you’ll excuse—" I started, taking a sidestep to move around him.
He stepped at the sa direction.
"...Excuse—" I tried again, shifting to the other direction.
He took a step too.
I stopped.
He stopped.
I moved again.
So did he.
At this point, we weren’t even trying to pass each other anymore—we looked like two idiots accidentally rehearsing a dance neither of us signed up for.
"What do you want?" I hissed, glaring at him.
He smiled.
"May I have this dance with you, Miss Blanca?" he asked, holding out a hand like he had just stepped out of a romance novel and not directly into my personal nightmare.
My eyes narrowed at him. "...How did you know—"
"I rember your friend saying your na."
That was oddly annoying and also slightly flattering but mostly annoying.
"That’s touching," I replied flatly. "But no."
He tilted his head slightly. "No?"
"No. I will not dance with you."
"...Ravi?"
Vivienne’s voice floated toward us and I imdiately regretted every choice that had brought to this mont.
She and Stephano were clearly watching us now, probably wondering why Ravian was still standing there talking to like we were old acquaintances instead of accidental enemies.
Ravian leaned closer, his voice dropping just enough to make my eye twitch.
"Dance with ," he murmured, "or I’ll spread rumors that you were watching a live docuntary."
"..."
I stared at him. "Are you threatening right now?"
He didn’t even blink.
"No," he said lightly. "I’m just stating your choices."
"..."
This man.
This shaless man.
I forced a sweet smile that probably looked more like a warning sign.
"Just this once," I muttered, "and we bury that secret to our graves. Got it?"
His smile widened at once. "Of course."
Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned towards Vivienne and Stephano with that sa charming expression. "I simply asked this lady for a dance so you two can go first."
Vivienne looked startled. "What? No, Ravi, we still have—"
It was already late because the mont the music shifted, he pulled straight into the center of the hall.
I barely had ti to process anything before his hand settled at my waist, the other holding mine, positioning like he’d done this a thousand tis.
Even the music shifted—slow, sweet, and elegant—like the entire hall had collectively decided to make my life more difficult.
And just like that, we started moving against my will in front of everyone.
I could already feel the eyes, the whispers, and the attention.
’The attention I was specifically trying to avoid.’
I glared at him. "What is really the reason why you wanted to dance with ?"
He chuckled softly, completely unbothered. "I just wanted to dance with the most beautiful person here right now."
"Cut the lies," I flatly said and without warning aid for his foot but unfortunately—he turned around smoothly—like he already expected it, missing my shot.
"I’m hurt you think so little of ," he said, tone light, like we weren’t engaged in a silent war.
"I think exactly enough of you," I shot back and tried again.
Missed.
Again.
He let out a quiet laugh. "Are you trying to step on my foot right now, or are you just bad at dancing?"
"How lowly you think of ."
Stomp!
My attempt number three failed effortlessly.
At this point, I wasn’t even sure if I was dancing or participating in a very elegant assassination attempt.
He twirled and before I could regain balance, I ended up right back in his arms.
"...I hate you," I whispered.
"You’re doing quite well for soone who didn’t want to dance," he replied casually.
I glanced up at him but he was already looking at that sa amused, knowing look like he was enjoying every second of this.
"I changed my mind," I said flatly. "I still hate you."
He laughed quietly.
anwhile, sowhere at the edge of the room, I could practically feel Gawain’s soul ascending from witnessing this.
Stephano? Probably plotting my murder.
Vivienne? Sohow... anxious? But why?
And ? Trapped.
In the middle of the dance floor with a blackmailing nace.
’...Fantastic.’
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