They're calling us one by one. Judith isn't among the first, which I'm glad about.

In fact, the great Octavius Laltiery with his partner Melly, who had the highest score in his third-year class before the trials, enters long before Judith. His chin is held high and his attitude is one of sparing us a favor just by letting us admire his magnificence. No comment. That guy is ridiculous. And it seems his twin abandoning his group threw him off so much that he wasn't able to choose other missions to earn points.

As for my roommate, considering she was one of the eligible protagonists, she has the potential to get good grades with her water magic. Sure, she didn't party up with the prince like you could in the otome game, so she's not among the first-year students with the most points, but at least she's ended up in a respectable position. In fact, Caroline and Ashe enter quite a bit earlier, hand in hand with two guys I think are sons of a count and a baron, respectively.

Judith goes alone, though. I watch her trying to walk with determination when, shy as she is, having everyone stare at her as she enters the great hall must be really hard. She looks beautiful in her dark green dress that matches her eyes and, together with her brown hair and the yellow ribbon tying it back, reminds me of trees in autumn—when their leaves start to fall and the paths are carpeted in different shades of brown and yellow, while there's still some green left on the branches.

Marco, who's near me, waiting for them to call us, seems lost in thought. I'm so tempted to give him an elbow to the ribs to make him open his eyes and look at her, but we're not close enough. It's a shame.

When it would be Lily's turn based on points, they don't call her, so I imagine her partner has more points than she does and that's why they'll announce her together with him. Or her, but so far all the couples are mixed.

They don't call Theodore either, but I already know that's because he'll enter with Mary, whom Ronan and I have boosted juuuust a bit.

"Making their entrance, the son of the Marquess of Astor, His Lordship Lord Alistair Astor. Accompanied by Her Royal Highness, Second Princess Lily Draycott, daughter of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Alverdan."

Oh! I definitely didn't expect that.

I mean, I knew they were childhood friends and that Alistair had gone off with her and her party one day to help her with the trials. I'd even seen them walking together in the gardens just earlier. But I hadn't gotten any vibes from them indicating they liked each other.

I hear soft clapping to my right and see Mary watching them with a huge smile, both hands together as if she'd just applauded.

I get it.

Lily and Alistair are good people—they deserve to find a good partner, and honestly, they work well together. Her being so scared to enter combat and him being so bold with a weapon. It's not that they're opposites, but in that aspect they can really complement each other.

And there they are, arm in arm. The princess with her dark hair pulled into a bun that lets jet-black waves fall at the sides, decorated with jewels and flower-shaped pins. I'd already noticed her emerald dress, and I realize the lapels of Alistair's dress coat and his sash are the same color. The guy is strong, tall, and broad-shouldered. He makes a very good match with the delicate princess.

And by the way, this kingdom was also called Alverdan in the otome game. Honestly, taking me out of the equation as a variable that could change everything, this world fits the video game really well. If its title was "Ilisea Kingdom and Hearth", it's because, after the third-year games, the best ending was one where all the kingdoms unified under the name of Ilisea and the protagonist—of course—ended up crowned queen (whether she got engaged to the prince or one of his friends).

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A few more couples pass, and next they call Darius:

"Making his entrance, the son of the Count of Veylore, His Lordship Lord Darius Veylore."

He goes alone and, unlike Judith, you can tell he doesn't care. He enters with his confident warrior's stride and his muscles completely fill the shoulders of his formal dress coat, just like in Alistair's case.

With Vincent I already know it's not the same. My prince wields a sword very well, but he also practices his magic more than those two redheads do. He's more of a knight type, fighting with sword and shield instead of a heavy two-handed weapon.

Knowing Darius, I imagine he must have asked Karina, like he said, and when she rejected him, he decided it was better to go alone than with some other young woman.

Is his thing for Karina just a crush, or something more? Or maybe it was simply that he didn't have a partner and she, since she was doing the trial dungeon with them, was the most convenient option.

"Making their entrance, the son of the Baron of Thornbrook, His Lordship Lord Thalor Thornbrook. Accompanied by the daughter of the Count of Lokl, Her Ladyship Lady Elisabeth Lokl."

They're not from our year. If I'm not mistaken, he's a third-year and I'm not sure if she's third or second year.

"Making their entrance, Miss Mary. Accompanied by the son of the Marquess of Dravenholt, His Lordship Lord Theodore Dravenholt."

I hold back the urge to applaud, because no one applauds here. But Mary looks gorgeous in her golden yellow dress, matching her braided hair and the pendant with a delicate gem peeking from her neckline. She's also wearing the ribbon Theodore gave her. Yes, they're a lovely, perfect couple. Mary fits on the slender water mage's arm as if they were made for each other. They walk slowly, both calm, both smiling.

However, I can't help imagining her next to a young man who's no longer pale or slender, but whose skin is still quite white, contrasting with his dark hair. One with an even darker aura that, nevertheless, I'd swear seems to caress Mary's white one when it approaches her and treats her with that tenderness he practically only shows with her. Well, and with the small goblins, and with the village children.

"Making their entrance, the daughter of the Duke of Laltiery, Her Ladyship Lady Erika Laltiery. Accompanied by the son of the Count of Laom, His Lordship Lord Ashen Laom."

It's striking to see Erika walking with short, confident steps, her back straight, her dark hair loose, without the armor, in a very elegant black and white dress that accentuates her slender waist. Yes, I know, I've seen her before around the academy, but here, in her ball gown and with such exquisite manners, in my mind she contrasts even more with that tank wrapped in iron with a street thug's taunt.

She gracefully places her gloved hand on the arm of her party's healer.

"Making their entrance, His Royal Highness, Second Prince Vincent Draycott, son of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Alverdan. Accompanied by the daughter of the Duke of Morven, Her Ladyship Lady Karina Astor."

The blonde happily clings to my prince's arm. At least she didn't choose dark red and doesn't match him. I have to give her credit for that elegance—not like Sol, who must have ordered several dresses in that shade from the dressmaker months before the event.

Either that, or dark red didn't go well with the vivid gold of her hair, which the vibrant yellow dress she's wearing does.

Or the prince decided to go with her so late that she didn't have time to order another dress.

In any case, though I feel some jealousy, I don't let it show. Besides, it's absurd to feel it since Vincent is mine.

The one who does look at her badly is the next guest, who starts walking when she hears her name.

"Making their entrance, the daughter of the Duke of Vassilea, Her Ladyship Lady Sol Vassilea. Accompanied by the son of the Baron of Greylark, His Lordship Lord Kai Greylark."

Honestly, Kai seems like too little for Sol. The villainess looks like a woman of high nobility—beautiful, intelligent, and powerful. He, however, looks like a hesitant young man who doesn't even know how to move without looking out of place beside her.

Oh, the things blackmail or hush money can do...

I smile. This must have been humiliating for Sol. For sure.

"Making his entrance, the son of Baron Velbrun, His Lordship Lord Ronan Velbrun."

For a moment, I think I see him entering through the hallway, but no—just my wishes and imagination. Well, at least, since they didn't announce any companion, he hadn't planned to come with Joe dressed as a woman. With him, I expect any kind of weird thing.

When he doesn't appear, murmurs start among the students, who, except for me, are all already inside the ballroom, waiting for us two ball royalty.

"Making his entrance, the son of Baron Velbrun, His Lordship Lord Ronan Velbrun," the master of ceremonies repeats.

If he's surprised, it doesn't show. He behaves very professionally.

But Ronan doesn't appear.

Ronan? I ask mentally once more, without much hope.

I don't know how long I've been calling him in vain.

Except this time he does answer.

My heart races.

Will he make it in time? Is he alright?

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