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All preparations were already finished.
Now, there is only one thing I need to do: infiltrate that ball and completely ruin it.
The ball began with a speech from the host, Count Kailsen.
Count Kailsen.
He had black hair like Reina, but his eyes were not green.
[Once again, thank you all for gathering here. I hope you enjoy the ball and have a good time. But please, don’t get too drunk. hahahaha, let the glory of the West be with us.]
Applause and cheers could be heard from all around.
After light greetings and jokes, the count continued with his speech.
[And today, I have prepared another event. It’s about my daughter. I’ve just been informed that she has arrived, so I will ask her to come to the ballroom right away. Even if something strange happens during the ball, please understand and be generous.]
He finished speaking and lightly bowed his head.
Hmm.
It seems like the carriages of the cooperative factions, disguised as “Gale Family carriages,” have arrived.
And all the messengers delivering information are the ones that Alphren and Frommen have already subjugated.
Truly a perfect crime.
I need to prepare quickly as the introduction will be happening soon.
I exchanged glances with the MC, then with Count Kailsen and his wife, and quietly left the stage.
I went to the dressing room and changed into the school uniform I had prepared in advance. Standing in front of the full-length mirror, I adjusted my tie and straightened my outfit before reaching out toward the front.
Then.
Tick, tock.
As the “Flower of Ice” bloomed in the air, a cold wind blew.
A space that seemed to contain the extreme coldness was revealed, and I took out the “Staff of Elemental Tree” from there, tightly gripping it in my hand.
An item I obtained in the clear room of the Soufflé Episode.
Blizzard’s inventory.
Now.
Finally, the real beginning.
* * *
In a place that felt like a long tunnel, Reina silently looked ahead.
She didn’t know what would happen in the future. But if things went wrong, she didn’t mind breaking everything and coming out.
However, she believed.
What kind of unexpected and unimaginable event would he create to come and save her?
Whatever he did, it would become a way she couldn’t even imagine.
Thinking that way, she couldn’t help but laugh.
If… even if he didn’t come, even if he never came, she would unleash all her magic and destroy everything here before returning to the Academy.
Who could stop the top student of the Selenium Academy’s second grade in the Department of Magic?
If she explained the situation later, Lord Ebenis Sophus would surely understand.
But if she did that, she would not only be expelled from the Wolfgan family, but also lose everything—her source of information, financial power, and support—and end up sitting on the street.
“What will Adrian do with someone like me?”
Suddenly, that thought crossed her mind.
Now that I’m useless, should I just be discarded?
Or perhaps, he would smile and comfort her, saying he had been in a similar situation before.
Maybe in the past, he would have chosen the former, but now, he might choose the latter.
However, if the present him were to choose the former, he might not be able to live with a smile as he did before.
“No, Reyna. You shouldn’t think like that.”
He doesn’t entertain doubts.
When she looks in the mirror, there stands a woman so beautiful that she even doubts if she truly is herself.
Yes, it’s about trust.
If you can’t trust your fiancé, who else in the world can you trust?
[Now, let’s present her. Reyna von Wolfgang, the daughter of the Wolfgang family, who will lead the Wolfgang family in the future!]
At the announcement of the MC, Reyna took a step forward.
Emerging from the tunnel-like long exit was a grand ballroom like no other.
Everyone gazes at her, admiringly. They whisper to each other, wondering how someone can be so beautiful.
The Marquis and Marchioness standing on the stage also look at her proudly.
All of this annoys her, but Reyna suppresses her anger and forces a smile.
“I am Reyna von Wolfgang.”
She then received cheers from the crowd and turned towards the Marquis and Marchioness.
And then, the people call the next person.
[Next! The most noble one here, the heiress of the West, Lady Evniss Rothschild de Repelheit, is here!]
She walks out from the opposite exit where she entered.
When she entered, there was applause and cheers, but for her, it’s different.
A golden dress.
Hair elegantly done up.
As she walks on the carpet, everyone bows their heads in succession towards her.
Even the Marquis and his wife Kaihsen bow their heads.
Reyna does the same. She dares not lift her head.
In the academy, she might not know, but here, she dares not lift her head and look at her.
The Right Arm of the Royal Family.
A prestigious family rivaling the royal family.
She, who became the rightful heir of Repelheit, replacing the exiled eldest son.
A sword hanging at her waist sways with her confident stride, and she sits on the chair prepared for her.
Crossing her legs, chin resting in her hand, she lightly nods.
Only after the series of procedures finish can everyone lift their heads and engage in conversation.
“…You’re always so beautiful.”
“…How can you be so noble?”
There’s no need to pay attention to the conversations of the noble ladies.
Now, it’s time.
A new marriage she doesn’t desire, with a partner…
“…It’s not over yet. One more person remains.”
The MC announces.
“Oh my, I think it’s the event that Marquis Kaihsen mentioned earlier.”
“Hoho, who could that person be?”
However.
Contrary to the reactions of the crowd, the emcee’s face had turned pale blue.
Even his voice was trembling.
[Um…]
Due to the emcee’s obvious strangeness, everyone murmured.
The expression of Count Kaisen, who had been smiling kindly, also twisted.
And the gaze of Ebenis, who was sitting in the top seat, was fixed on the emcee.
And.
[The, the last person to enter…]
Silence.
Stillness.
The ballroom grew quiet.
Amidst it all, only the emcee’s voice, which seemed like it could collapse at any moment, echoed.
[Raina von Wolfgang’s fiancé and the future Earl of Re, Re, Repeleheit, Adrian Gong is here!]
“…What?”
Then.
It broke.
At first, there was doubt.
Doubt soon turned into suspicion.
Suspicion soon turned into astonishment.
The murmurs spread frightfully.
Everyone looked towards the entrance, and someone walked out from there.
The attire was simply a school uniform.
In their hand was a white cane.
But an overwhelming dignity enveloped the ballroom, overpowering everyone present.
Their footsteps, the swaying of their arms, the sound of the cane on the floor. Their gaze, and every light movement, showed that they alone were the true ‘nobility’ of this place.
No one in the shocked ballroom could speak.
Even Ebenis, who was sitting in the highest seat, had a face filled with astonishment.
It wasn’t about an uninvited guest.
He was another Repeleheit.
And.
His… ‘real’ fiancé.
“Ad…rian?”
“Raina, it seems like we suit each other.”
As he suddenly appeared and casually smiled.
Raina von Wolfgang felt as if the world was crumbling around her.
* * *
This can’t be true.
Have I gone mad? Is this finally insanity? Is this a new concept of suicide?
Evannis thought to himself,
Well, it’s impossible to do something like that without losing your mind!
The problem wasn’t that he was invited. He’s a commoner now! Even though his background was extraordinary, he’s currently a useless person without any value!
From Noble mtl dot com
And yet, he revealed himself at the party where only the nobility of the West gathers.
Evannis immediately looked at Reyna.
She also seemed clueless.
That means it’s a completely arrogant decision made by that damn bloodline.
“This crazy person….”
There’s no way this will end peacefully.
Evannis tightly grasped the armrest of the chair, ready to stand up at any moment.
If he gets caught by the guards, who knows what will happen.
Above all, Count Kaisen was already making a move.
[Guards! Do something! Immediately capture that intruder and bring him here!]
He shouted with a red face.
The guards throughout the party also stood up and rushed towards him.
However, there was no hint of hesitation on his face standing on the carpet. There was no movement either.
“What the hell is that human thinking…!”
What should I do?
Should I step forward?
He could feel some nobles looking at him.
There’s no choice. If he dies here….
Just as Evannis was about to stand up.
“Hur, hurry! My Lord, urgent news! Urgent news!”
The door to the party hall opened, and a messenger appeared, running towards the Count.
Everyone furrowed their brows at the sight of the unrefined messenger, but no one could help but be amazed by the news he delivered.
“The, the, the imperial family has arrived here!”
What?
The imperial family?
They have arrived?
“What on earth are you doing…!”
But it was too late.
* * *
Finally, he has arrived.
“Th, the imperial carriage outside… the carriage, and, I saw inside, there was no one. Th, then….”
The messenger collapsed while delivering his message.
I clapped my hands so that everyone could hear.
Clap, clap, clap.
“That was an excellent delivery, unnamed messenger.”
“….Adrian, you bastard! Where do you think you are appearing from! Are you here to choose death yourself!”
It was the moment when the enraged Count Kaisen drew his cane.
It was then.
There was a resonance.
【As long as I am here. Who dares to draw a weapon?】
Then.
From behind the tunnel I had walked out of, she revealed herself.
A dazzling white dress.
Silver hair tied up.
Eyes shining ruby red as if embedded with rubies. A black sword at her waist.
She had arrived.
I knelt down on one knee and bowed my head.
“I greet Her Highness Rizelirias, the 6th Princess.”
【Do they not know that where I am is Her Majesty’s palace? Are only such fools gathered in the West?】
“I greet Princess Rizelirias, the 6th Princess!”
Everyone bowed, and Evenis, from the highest seat, stood up, stepped aside, and knelt.
“I greet the 6th Princess, Rizelirias.”
“Hmm.”
She nodded lightly and sat down towards the highest seat.
Then she gestured.
【Adrian is my vassal. Surely no one here is ignorant of that fact. Also, merely attending a ‘noble’ ball without an invitation should not be a reason for reprimand. If one has confidence.】
She sat in her dress, drew her sword, and thrust it into the ground in front of the high seat.
【Come, draw this sword and strike me.】
Too enthusiastic, isn’t it?
“Your Highness, isn’t this a bit too much?”
【Adrian, my dear, is too withdrawn.】
“A great ruler knows the art of embracing as well.”
Saying this, with a smile, I passed by all the bowing individuals and stood alone next to the high seat.
The Princess reached out her hand forward.
【Well then, let the ball continue. Viscount Kailsen, proceed with the ball once more.】
Viscount Kailsen, his face turning pale, nodded and said, “C-continue the b-ball, y-you say…?”
It’s hard to comprehend.
You’ve already ruined everything, and now you’re told to proceed again.
【However, is there a problem?】
At those words.
Everyone present in this room would have understood.
This ball is completely ruined now.
All because of just one person.
The Princess? No.
She’s just a puppet for appearances’ sake.
“Adrian.”
#### Translation:
I turned around and saw a blood relative standing in the same position as me, looking at me.
“…When did you start planning this? Something like this…”
“From the beginning.”
He says, leaning on his cane.
So that everyone can hear.
“It was planned since the Marquis Kaisen forcibly annulled my engagement with Reina.”
Marquis Kaisen’s face turned from red to blue.
That’s right.
Why make a fool of yourself?