The Ball (1)
The Ball (1)
The invitation I received was to a ball for first-years—the new students of the Royal Academy.
It was held before the end of the first semester to congratulate the first-years on adjusting well to the academy.
Although the ball had originally been established with that intention, its original meaning had long since faded, and it had ultimately devolved into a venue for nobles to build social connections.
Not all first-years received invitations, either; only students selected by the Academy Patronage Society were invited.
The Academy Patronage Society was a gathering of the royal family and high nobility established to support the Royal Academy.
But it had ultimately become an organization created by royalty and influential nobles to exert their power over the academy.
In the end, those invited were either the children of powerful nobles or students with inherited abilities that seemed useful to exploit.
I found it hard to understand why I, of all people, had received such an invitation.
"That's obviously because of the Princess."
Balea, seated beside me, supplied the answer.
Although liberal arts class had ended, I was still sitting in the classroom, staring at the invitation.
The other students had gone to the dining hall, leaving only Balea and me behind.
It wasn't much different from any other day.
Since we belonged to different faculties, I didn't spend much time with Balea, but whenever liberal arts class rolled around, she stuck right by my side.
If either of us had been anyone else, people would have started rumors that we were dating. Strangely, though, Balea and I never heard any such talk.
Perhaps it was due to Balea's social tact, my position as an illegitimate son, or simply the ambiguous vibe between the two of us.
Either way, although the other students found Balea and my relationship curious, they didn't pay much attention to it.
That was because there was someone far more eye-catching around me: Princess Aisha.
Balea continued speaking.
"Judging by skill alone, there's no way you wouldn't get an invitation. Everyone just turned a blind eye because you're the illegitimate son of the Duke of Gracia."
It was strange. Although she casually used the term "illegitimate son"—a term everyone else tiptoed around—her words didn't feel rude in the slightest.
"Since everyone realized you were the Princess's escort during the 'field study' and 'practical class,' they now have more than enough justification to invite you on the pretext of being her escort."
Her casual, straightforward explanation made it easy to understand. There didn't seem to be a better explanation.
But since she spoke with such matter-of-fact confidence, I felt the urge to nitpick.
"By that logic, Lady Balea should have received an invitation as well."
At my words, Balea pouted.
"Who would care about a baron's daughter with an unremarkable ability?"
"That's only because you're hiding your true strength."
"Shh!"
At my words, she playfully pressed a finger to my lips.
Balea's inherited ability was top-tier among the first-years—in fact, even compared to the entire academy.
Yet she was concealing her power.
During exams, field study, and practical classes alike, she had shown nothing but ordinary plant manipulation.
Even when someone beside her was in danger of dying, or when she herself was in peril, she never revealed her true abilities.
It was something I could never do. As expected, she was a difficult person to understand.
With a finger still pressed against my lips, Balea picked up the invitation and placed it in my hand.
"Please enjoy it on my behalf, too. There will be plenty of tough times ahead, so you should have moments like this as well."
After placing the invitation in my hand, she leaned close to my ear and whispered softly.
"This is a secret, but I can't step forward. If I stand out too much, people might come looking for me. Since you made a contract with me, Young Lord, you'll have to protect me when that happens."
Once again, Balea said something I found hard to decipher.
Since she wouldn't explain even if I asked later, I had no choice but to bury her words in my memory.
Besides, asking me to protect her? I was pretty sure there was no such clause in our contract.
Before I could say anything, she slipped out of the classroom.
After she left, the pattern on my desk looked different. It was a message she'd left behind using her ability.
"It's okay if no one else knows. Having Young Lord Alex recognize me is more than enough."
She truly was a woman who knew how to play with a person's emotions. If I were an ordinary person, I never could have handled her.
I let out a sigh and placed my hand on the desk.
My mana stirred, scattering the pattern.
Honestly, I didn't want to go, but I couldn't refuse.
Because the Princess was among the invited students.
Because the Princess had been invited, someone entirely unexpected ended up attending the ball.
Namely, her elder brother, the Second Prince, decided to attend.
Once the Second Prince joined, what was meant to be an ordinary freshman ball was no longer just an ordinary ball.
The venue was changed immediately, and all the prepared food and musicians were replaced.
Prominent nobles scrambled to attend the ball, and naturally, the invited students could no longer back out.
While the other students attending rejoiced at the news that the Second Prince was coming, I couldn't bring myself to share their joy.
"You don't even have formal party attire. I guess it can't be helped. Want me to lend you one of my outfits?"
Manuel suddenly appeared out of nowhere and offered to lend me some clothes, while—
"I'll have the maids tailor an outfit for you. If you need dance lessons, I'll assign a good instructor to you."
—the Princess, for whatever reason, was just as eager to help prepare me.
I rejected both offers.
Just as Manuel had said, I didn't have ball attire, let alone a single proper party outfit, but I wasn't worried in the slightest.
I might not have clothes, but I had an immense amount of money.
I sought out the finest boutique in the capital and ordered a custom outfit. Fortunately, they didn't ask who I was.
Hearing only that I would be attending a ball graced by the Prince, they did their absolute best to craft the outfit.
Fortunately, the clothes were finished before the ball.
The ball brought Manuel and me back to the capital mansion for the first time in a while.
I changed into the clothes I'd ordered, fastened the epaulets marking me as an academy student to my shoulders, and stepped out of the room.
As I walked down the hallway, the maids and other servants turned to look at me with wide, surprised eyes.
It was the same when I went outside to wait for the carriage.
Manuel, the butler, and the other servants all stole repeated glances at me.
It certainly was worth every penny.
"Don't tell me... did the Princess lend you those clothes?"
I shrugged at Manuel's question.
Since he was letting his imagination run wild, I saw no reason to tell him the truth.
Even after we got into the carriage, Manuel kept staring at my clothes.
Manuel's attire wasn't bad either, but it couldn't compare to my clothes, which were literally plastered with money.
That would be a different story if truly wealthy nobles or royalty showed up, but the boutique owner had confidently assured me that I would look the finest among the academy students.
Although the ball had originally been scheduled to take place inside the academy, the carriage headed for the largest estate in the capital after the royal palace itself because the Prince was attending.
It was none other than the Grand Prince's residence.
The Grand Prince had used it as his residence before declaring independence, and, thanks to his consideration, it was used for various major events.
Though it was a dark night, the Kingdom's capital was far from dark.
Streetlights shone brightly, and brilliant light poured from the windows of every house.
The Grand Prince's residence was brighter still.
Enveloped in radiant light, the estate was far larger and more luxurious than the main estate of the Duke of Gracia.
"It seems the Grand Prince's prestige is no joke."
Manuel seemed excited, too, about attending a ball with the Prince.
When I made that remark while gazing at the grand estate, he answered dutifully without raising any objections.
"He's a remarkable man. Fearing he might become a burden to the King, he separated his territory into an independent duchy and completely washed his hands of kingdom affairs."
Unfortunately, however, Manuel's answer differed quite a bit from reality.
The carriage pulled up in front of the magnificent building, and we stepped out to hand our invitations to the waiting butler.
The butler guided the two of us into the ballroom.
As the ballroom doors opened—
"Announcing Young Lord Manuel de Gracia and Young Lord Alex de Gracia, sons of Duke Andres de Gracia!"
I entered the ballroom alongside Manuel, listening to the herald call out my name.
Many people had already arrived inside.
Most of the students were present, but nobles of various ages far outnumbered them.
Far more nobles than students. At this rate, it was hard to call it a ball celebrating the freshmen.
The students' eyes widened when they saw me. Since it was the first time I'd ever dressed up so impeccably, it was only natural that everyone was surprised.
Katrin seemed immensely surprised as well, and Bria stared with her mouth agape.
The nobles nodded when they saw Manuel, but tilted their heads in confusion when they looked at me.
My status as an illegitimate son didn't seem to match my opulent attire.
Though puzzled by my appearance, the nobles approached us nonetheless.
The sons of the Duke of Gracia had arrived. Since Manuel was there, it was difficult for them to pretend not to notice.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Viscount Alexandro. I meet with the Duke quite often."
"I am Manuel. I have heard much about you from my father."
"Yes, yes."
The noble's greeting, meant to suggest familiarity with the Duke, was met with Manuel's standard response.
With so many nobles crowding around, greetings were brief, and since I was with Manuel, I had no choice but to offer my own greetings as well.
"Hmm, you are..."
Even if my attire had improved, my standing hadn't changed.
The nobles facing me wore reluctant, uncomfortable expressions.
At first, they had no interest in my greetings, but my approach—so different from Manuel's—made them look at me in a new light.
"Congratulations on the birth of your grandson. I heard he takes after you very much, my lord."
"Oh, you knew about that as well? My grandson, you see..."
"I heard you are Senior Kafuka's father. He spoke of you often, my lord."
"Is that so? Kafuka talked about me?"
"Are you feeling a bit better? It must have been difficult to make the journey while unwell."
"Haha, how did you know? Very few people know that I've been unwell."
Unlike Manuel, I offered proper greetings tailored to their personal circumstances.
It was all thanks to the information provided by the Auction House Owner.
The rumors and personal details regarding the capital's nobility proved immensely useful for making acquaintances like this.
Manuel stared at me in bewilderment, and though there weren't many of them, the nobles who exchanged greetings with me began to see me in a new light.
As we greeted the nobles and students, the sound of a chime echoed once again.
Clang.
It was the signal announcing the arrival of new guests.
"Announcing Prince Duardo de Carlos, second prince of King Graciosas de Carlos—the righteous knight and successor to Knight Carlos—and Princess Aisha de Carlos, his youngest daughter!"
The boisterous ballroom fell silent in an instant.
Everyone straightened their posture, and then the ballroom doors swung open.
Two figures walked inside, holding hands.
A young man in splendid attire and a young girl: the Second Prince and Princess Aisha.
The Prince walked in with a picture-perfect smile, while the Princess looked around with her usual calm expression.
Then the Princess's eyes met mine.
Her eyes widened, and her expression shifted for a split second.
Though she quickly regained her composure, I caught the momentary change.
It was an expression of immense delight—
—and the pleading look of a young girl begging for help.