Editor : Amethyst00



On the Day of the Dance Party

There was still plenty of time before the party began.

But some students were already heading early to the venue.

"Whoa, whoa. Those two became partners?"

In the garden of the Clock Tower Dormitory, a group of students sat huddled together, watching the couples heading to the party. They wore curious and slightly shy smiles.

Some of the couples were already known, while others were totally unexpected.

Eliana, who was watching the students from the garden, spotted someone and waved her hand.

"Hi, Carl!"

At her greeting, Carl plopped down in front of her and said,

"Have you cooled off a bit?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"About pushing Juen and Mylia together."

At Carl's words, Eliana gave a bright smile.

"You knew?"

"They told me."

"Oh ho! So who won?"

"Juen."

"Then are you going with Juen?"

"Nope."

"What?"

"I turned her down politely."

"……."

Eliana widened her eyes in surprise.

Then she asked seriously,

"Are you going with Mylia then?"

"No. I'm not going with anyone."

"That's unexpected. You looked so pleased when the girls were all over you."

As Eliana tilted her head curiously, Carl let out a deep sigh.

Seeing him like that, Eliana's eyes sparkled in surprise.

"Oh! It's Elena-sunbae!"

At those words, Carl quickly flattened himself onto the lawn.

Eliana burst out laughing.

Realizing he'd been tricked, Carl scowled and sat up again.

"I'll forgive you for this. Because the class president is going with Eliza after all."

Eliana laughed in satisfaction while Carl slumped into his seat.

Just then—

"Hey! Hey! Did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"I heard the student council president bought Eliza a party dress!"

"Seriously? That's so lucky!"

"Are those two really, like, that kind of couple?"

Hearing the students chatter, Eliana made a strange face.

"The class president himself? Wow, lucky Eliza."

"……Doesn't it bother you that Leo is going with Eliza?"

Carl asked, and Eliana burst into laughter.

"Leo and Eliza? That's about as likely as you and Eliza dating."

Eliana stood up after answering.

'Do Eliza and I really not suit each other that much?'

"Anyway, I'm heading off!"

Carl watched the sunset sky, sighing deeply.

'……He's even helped her with the dress coordination?'

Leo would never try to steal someone else's partner.

But that didn't mean Eliza couldn't fall for Leo.

'Well, Leo is cool, after all.'

Of course, Carl was certain the two wouldn't become lovers.

But would Eliza even see him as a rival to Leo?

That thought made him feel depressed.

"Maybe I shouldn't go……"

Carl muttered quietly to himself.

"Oh my? The star of tonight's party can't be talking like that."

At the voice from behind, Carl flinched and looked up.

Seeing Mel standing there, he gave an awkward smile.

"You're here?"

"Yes. I just finished the last bit of cleanup."

The "cleanup" referred to the reflection letter Leo had made her write.

"By the way, Carl, don't you have a partner?"

"Ha ha. No, it turned out that way."

As Carl laughed sheepishly, Mel tilted her head and smiled.

"Then want to go with me?"

"Pardon?"

"But your outfit's a little worn."

Mel scanned Carl from head to toe.

His tuxedo, which he'd bought second-hand in Lumeria City and kept in good shape, was still a bit worn.

"Shall we go buy clothes first?"

"W-what?"

With a smile, Mel grabbed Carl and teleported away.

bl

Sorcery Department Girls' Dorm Lounge

Freyna clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling.

'My sister became the student council president's dance partner!'

It meant she officially became the partner of the strongest student at Lumene.

Moreover, Leo's status wasn't just about being the strongest.

He was the King of Arhi, the Hero Kingdom, and the successor of the Wise Queen, Lysinas—a true King of the World.

He was a man who could truly lead this era.

'President Leo and my sister! They're so perfect together!'

Freyna let her imagination run wild.

A perfect heiress of the Hergin family.

A flawless partner for the King of Beginnings.

'No! Even as his wife, she's perfect!'

Before she knew it, Freyna imagined Leo and her sister getting married and having two children who would respectively inherit Arhi and Hergin.

If Eliza knew, she'd have been horrified.

At that moment—

Eliza came down to the lounge.

"Oh! Sister, you're he—"

Freyna paused when she saw Eliza's attire.

She was wearing a shabby dress.

Freyna didn't even know Eliza owned something like that.

She wore no makeup, no accessories—completely plain and worn out.

"Eliza. Are you going like that?"

Lyl, passing by, stopped with wide eyes.

"So what?"

"This isn't like you. You're the main character today."

"So are you, Lyl."

"But still……"

"I just didn't think I needed to dress up so extravagantly."

Elena made a tired face and tried to leave the dorm.

"S-sister! This isn't right! You have so many prettier dresses!"

"Too much trouble."

"Ah! Sister!"

Freyna stomped her feet in frustration.

"Elena-sunbae. Leo-sunbae is outside waiting…"

Shasha, the top second-year summoner, tried to deliver the news of Leo's arrival, but froze upon seeing Eliza.

"You're really going out like that?"

"Yeah."

Giving a curt answer, Eliza left the dorm.

Freyna hurried after her, looking distressed.

Leo, who was sitting on a bench reading the newspaper, looked up and laughed when he saw Eliza.

"You're going like that?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

They hadn't agreed on a dress code, so Eliza had just thrown something on.

"Ah! President! Wait!"

Panicked, Freyna tried to say they'd go change.

Leo, smiling gently at her, folded the paper.

"Come."

"Pardon?"

He opened a nearby door.

"Let's go get a dress fitted. Freyna, go in with your sister."

"Oh! Okay!"

"W-wait! I'm really okay with this—"

Eliza tried to protest, but Freyna pushed her into the doorway.

A moment later—

They were in a different space.

A huge dress room.

A secret location somewhere in the Clock Tower Dorm.

There, Enkinas, Melina's successor, was waiting.

"Hello. How should I style her?"

At her question, Leo smirked and answered.

"As prettily as possible."

"Understood."

Enkinas took Eliza to the fitting room.

"W-wait a minute!"

"Sis! You're the star tonight—you have to look your best!"

"I told you, it's a pain—"

Eliza tried to resist, but Enkinas and Freyna held her down.

Leo calmly unfolded his newspaper again and waited for her to finish.

bl

The Party Venue

Students and professors had all gathered.

A grand party to celebrate the subjugation of the Erebos fragment.

"Duran and Nella?"

"They look good together."

Students watched other couples while enjoying the festivities.

Meanwhile—

Elena sat in a corner, resting her chin on one hand, swirling her wine.

"You got here first, senior."

Lyl approached and sat beside her.

Unlike usual, Lyl was elegantly dressed and stood out.

Elena scoffed.

"You seem irritated?"

"I shouldn't have believed Carl."

"But you didn't even scold him, did you?"

When Lyl asked curiously, Elena clicked her tongue.

"He looked like he lost the whole world. How could I?"

"Hm… true. I'd be shocked too if I were Carl. Hyung is cool, after all."

Elena chugged her wine with a bored face.

Elsewhere—

Chloe looked puzzled as she saw Chelsea clinging to Abad and glaring at everyone.

"What's up with Chelsea?"

"Hm… maybe it's just a little sister not wanting to lose her big brother?"

"Lose him? To who?"

"Oh, you know. Stuff like that." Xia giggled.

Meanwhile—

At the entrance, Celia crossed her arms as she saw Eliza walking in with Leo.

She looked baffled.

"You're super dressed up!"

"I didn't do this. Leo Plov did."

Eliza twitched her eye as she replied.

Celia looked at Leo.

'Leo did?'

The cousin she knew wasn't the type to care about this stuff.

Beside Eliza, Freyna was gushing about how pretty she looked.

Watching them, Celia whispered to Leo,

"Leo. Do you really like Eliza?"

"Nope."

"Then why—"

"You'll understand. Now just go inside."

Leo pushed her forward.

Celia entered the hall looking confused.

Freyna followed shortly after.

With only the two of them left, Leo held out his hand.

"Shall we go in, my lady?"

"……."

Eliza stared at his hand and asked,

"What are you doing?"

When she took his hand, Leo said,

"Eliza."

"Yes?"

"You never know how things will turn out."

"What do you mean—"

"Instead of overthinking, shouldn't we follow our feelings?"

"……."

Eliza's eyes widened.

"In life, you'll always have regrets, one way or another."

"……."

"The best you can do is stay true to the present."

"You sound like an old man."

Eliza sighed deeply.

And she thought of Carl.

The reason Carl had been so passive—

It was because of her.

He must've hesitated to ask her to the dance, trying to be considerate.

"Carl's a great guy. If you hesitate too much, someone else might take him."

Eliza's face twisted with emotion.

"I won't let that happen."

Leo smiled at her answer.

Just then—

With a flash of teleportation, Carl and Mel appeared, both dressed to the nines.

"Whoa! Was this really necessary— Wha?!"

Carl looked so sharp that Eliza was momentarily dazed.

Carl, seeing Leo and Eliza, also froze in awe.

Leo gently passed Eliza's hand to Carl.

Carl hesitated, unsure what to do.

With a sigh, Eliza firmly grabbed Carl's hand.

"Isn't this the guy's job?"

"S-sorry."

Carl looked sheepish under Eliza's exasperated gaze.

Watching him with a blank face, Eliza suddenly giggled.

"Well, I am the older one. Guess I have no choice."

Saying that, she walked forward, and Carl hurried to follow.

"Eliza, are you okay?"

"With what?"

"People will gossip."

"Hmph. Let them."

"Huh?"

Carl looked bewildered.

Watching from behind, Mel smiled brightly.

"They look good."

Leo nodded.

"Yeah."