A few days passed, and the New Year’s Ball of Philsberg Academy began.
In the spacious hall, the sound of elegant music filled the air as students dressed in tuxedos and dresses exchanged smiles, moving here and there.
“Yawn…”
Watching the scene from the second floor, Rudell yawned with a bored expression.
As always, these extravagant banquets were not to Rudell’s taste.
“The kingdom’s banquets are truly boring. Shouldn’t a banquet have alcohol, meat, and fighting?”
“Well, it’s a bit different from a banquet, but I think you’re right this time,” Kurt nodded.
Rudell sighed a short sigh in agreement.
At least he didn’t have to follow strict formality over there.
With that thought, Rudell propped his chin up, gazing out the window.
“I wonder when she’ll arrive…”
Although the ball had been underway for some time, Leje still hadn’t made an appearance.
-Just so we’re clear, don’t even think about running away. Got it?
Since Leje had warned him, he couldn’t exactly kill time reading a book in a quiet spot.
Just then, as Rudell was glancing down at the ball happening in the hall with a blah look on his face…
“Rudell.”
“Yeah? What’s up?”
A distant voice buzzed, and it seemed Kurt had spotted something and was calling him.
Turning his head at the voice, Rudell suddenly gasped.
“Oh…”
At the bottom of the hall were two girls.
One was a lively girl with long white hair tied into a ponytail.
The other was a gloomy girl with long, dark hair like black pearls.
Despite the contrasting vibes, the two possessed an overwhelming allure that drew all eyes to them.
“Is that… Silphier?”
“Looks like it,” Kurt agreed.
Rudell nodded at Kurt’s question.
Though familiar, it was also an unfamiliar sight.
Rudell had only seen a couple of illustrations of Silphier in novels.
But the resemblance between the illustrated version and the girl in front of his eyes could be described as utterly identical.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“We’re, um, here now…”
Moments later, Leje and Silphier made their way through the crowd and greeted Rudell and Kurt.
With her stunning white hair and black dress.
And the black-haired girl in a white dress.
Maybe because of the contrast, their appearances shone even more.
“Silphier… is that you?”
“Y-y-yes… that’s me…”
In response to Kurt’s question, Silphier nodded.
Still, due to her anxiety, her onyx eyes were darting around restlessly.
“I made a bit of an effort. I can’t really wear armor at a ball, can I?”
“That makes sense.”
“So? How does it look?”
“It suits you well.”
“Th-thank you!!”
As Kurt offered a quick compliment, Silphier bowed repeatedly.
Looking on with a delighted expression, Leje turned to Rudell.
“So, how do I look? Is it okay?”
“Looks fine, but I didn’t think you’d need to ask.”
At her question, Rudell replied with a slight smile.
Clearly pleased by his answer, Leje chuckled and blushed.
“Alright! How’s everyone enjoying the ball?”
Just then, in a familiar voice, someone appeared behind them.
A woman in a stunning red dress.
It was none other than Kaylee Jane Karens.
“Hello, Student Council President.”
“Hello.”
“Oh, hi…!!”
“Sis? What are you doing here?”
While everyone, including Rudell and Kurt, greeted Kaylee, Leje asked her.
“What do you mean, what? I came to see the trending faces around here.”
“Trending? Us?”
Leje tilted her head in confusion at Kaylee’s reply.
Of course, when you think about it, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.
Unlike the attempted assassination with a small number of witnesses, the incidents surrounding the final exams involved lots of people.
Because of that, what had happened back then spread without any alterations, and by now, it was safe to say that there was no one in the kingdom who didn’t know their names.
“On another note, everyone seems to have found their partners. I don’t have a partner yet.”
“But you’ve got the Duke’s son from the Tirenis Duke’s House, right? What about him?”
“That spoiled brat? I’d rather partner up with an orc.”
Considering her status as a duke’s daughter, a suitable partner would normally be from a comparable duke’s house.
Or at least a marquess level or higher.
However, saying so, Kaylee downed the champagne she had somehow brought.
“Ugh! It’s all pointless!”
“Sis…”
With no sense of the Duke’s pride, Leje rubbed her forehead as if she had a headache, and at that time…
-♪~ ♩♪~ ♬~
The music that was filling the hall abruptly stopped, and calm music began to fill the air.
With that signal, countless students gathered in pairs to the center of the hall and began to dance elegantly to the melody.
“What? Is it already dance time? I’m gonna exit stage left so y’all can enjoy yourselves!”
Watching the scene, Kaylee stepped away, leaving the mood as if a storm had just passed, and they gazed at her receding figure.
Eventually, Kaylee disappeared from their sight…
“Well, like she said. Shouldn’t we dance a bit?”
“If that’s what you want.”
Clearing her throat, Leje reached out her hand to Rudell.
Taking her hand, Rudell responded.
*
After quite a while of dancing, the two found themselves on the terrace outside the hall.
“What? You dance pretty well! When did you learn?”
“Well, you know, I may look like this, but I’m nobility!”
Saying that, Rudell handed Leje a glass filled with champagne.
Even though he was from a low noble family, a “County,” nobility is still nobility.
Having learned etiquette since childhood, social dancing was not a difficult task for Rudell.
“Now that you mention it, you’re right.”
“You know…”
Sticking her tongue out as she spoke, Leje caught Rudell a bit off guard.
However, with Leje gazing at him with a gentle smile, Rudell paused his words and let out a short sigh of laughter.
Just then, a cold breeze swept through the terrace, causing Leje to shiver lightly.
“Wait a sec.”
“Huh? What are you planning to do?”
“Fairy Flare.”
Watching her, Rudell approached Leje, took her cheek in his hand, and, leaving her flustered, recited a short spell.
Sparkling flames appeared around her body, and the warmth from the flames began to warm the air surrounding her.
“Oh? Ooh…”
“It’s good for a while now.”
With a smile towards her awe, Rudell removed his hand from Leje’s cheek.
However…
“Leje?”
“I think I prefer it this way.”
Leje snatched Rudell’s hand, bringing it back to her cheek.
Then, resting his hand on her cheek as if it were a hand warmer, Leje closed her eyes and said,
“Alright, stop messing around… It’s cold, so let’s go inside…”
“Do I still look like I’m messing around?”
“Huh…?”
Rudell’s dazed voice met Leje’s next words.
So, did she really mean it right now?
As he pondered this, Rudell looked at her.
“Phew…”
“Leje!? That’s some high alcohol content!?”
Then, with a quick short sigh, Leje downed the champagne she had been holding.
Though it seemed harmless, it was liquor with a strength comparable to soju.
Given that she never drank a drop normally, it must’ve been quite a stretch for her.
“Ugh…!!”
Exhaling deeply, Leje placed the empty glass on the terrace, her cheeks flushed perhaps from the alcohol as she turned to Rudell.
While Rudell was at a loss with her antics, she reached out and grabbed his cheeks.
“Huh?”
“Just so you know, everything I’m doing right now is because I’m tipsy. Got it?”
Saying that, Leje leaned in closer to Rudell.
In the next moment, the first thing Rudell felt was the sweet scent of strawberries.
The sweet strawberry scent Leje loved.
Then came the soft, warm sensation from her lips.
“…!!”
With the electrifying sensation flooding his mind, Rudell’s eyes widened.
His reason struggled to comprehend the situation before him, yet instinct sent all his nerves toward what was happening in front of him.
An indescribable ecstasy filled his chest as Leje’s lips slowly parted from his.
The tangled tongues gradually untangled, and a glistening droplet hung between them, filling the air with a weird atmosphere.
“Le… Leje…”
“You always do that. Why do you always step back when I come closer?”
“That’s…”
After a long silence, as Rudell hesitated to speak, Leje’s voice turned plaintive.
At the same time, Rudell met her gaze with a perplexed expression.
The truth was, he didn’t lack feelings for her.
Despite that, he had refrained from accepting her affections due to pure guilt.
With his true identity, his first life, and the knowledge of what would happen next swirling in his mind, how could he simply accept her kindness?
“Is it because of the things you haven’t told me yet?”
“How did you…!?”
Did she somehow guess?
Rudell’s eyes widened as he uttered while Leje let out a short sigh before speaking.
“Listen, I don’t care what secrets you have. I even like that part of you. I love Rudellheit Weinstein, the very existence of you.”
“Leje…”
His gaze was drawn to her as she spoke those words.
Then, Leje moved closer, extending her hands.
Her soft hands gently caressed Rudell’s cheeks, and her azure eyes locked onto his.
“So I hope you’ll tell me. Your answer.”
“…”
In truth, the answer was as good as predetermined.
After such a declaration, which man in the world would refuse?
If there truly was a man who would turn her down, he must be the most foolish and ignorant person in existence.
“My answer is… this.”
As he said this, Rudell reached out, grasping Leje’s shoulders, and pressed his lips against hers.
Startled by his boldness, Leje’s eyes went wide, but she soon closed them, accepting the kiss.
Their tongues once more intertwined in exploration, and after some time, they finally pulled back.
“Is that enough for an answer?”
Panting heavily, Rudell asked…
“Yeah…”
In response, Leje nodded.
And so the night of the ball deepened.
