Thus, the Flores Festival, filled with the desires of the Sienna second-year students and the Crown Prince, was approaching.

“… When will it end?”

“Oh-ho-ho! Lady Nigel, that’s quite a joke. As expected, someone who received an invitation from His Highness the Crown Prince has a remarkable sense of humor.”

Madam Ludin, whose pride had risen higher than the northern mountains at the thought of presenting Nigel at the royal ball, burst into laughter repeatedly.

“Su, Lina, quickly, the petticoat.”

At Ludin’s command, a coat rack full of snow-white petticoats made its entrance.

“… Do I have to try it on again?”

“My lady, it’s unavoidable for a perfect ball. There’s no time to just stand around. Let’s try it on quickly.”

Nigel entered behind the screen with a frown on her face.

And Nigel’s face didn’t relax until she completely left the screen.

Regardless, everyone in the dressmaker’s shop was focused on their tasks.

“It’s done!”

Finally, three pairs of hands left Nigel’s body. Their faces were full of satisfaction and contentment.

The black hair styled by Su and Lina was braided thickly to one side, and the white flowers scattered throughout her hair added to her innocence.

The dress, which Madam Ludin had adjusted to the last detail, had light, transparent sleeves above both shoulders, and was an elegant A-line dress with a light purple background embroidered with gold thread.

Nigel, who perfectly embodied the dress according to Madam Ludin’s creative intent, stared blankly at the entrance.

Ding-a-ling.

At that moment, the bell sound that would save Nigel from the mountain of clothes and hairpin hell was heard.

“Nigel…?”

Nigel, who was stretching her neck with a bright smile, couldn’t take her eyes off the person before her.

Noah, who had neatly swept to one side the hair he usually wore down, was wearing a white jacket decorated with purple accents here and there.

He wore a ribbon with a purple brooch around his neck, and the cape laid over his jacket added weight to his atmosphere.

Noah was elegantly dressed as if he were a pair with Nigel’s dress from the beginning. As if someone had informed him of Nigel’s attire.

Nigel took her eyes off Noah and quietly stared at Madam Ludin.

“Oh-ho-ho! You truly make a well-matched pair!”

However, Madam Ludin laughed shamelessly as she escorted Nigel and Noah to the carriage.

Nigel, who had boarded the carriage, swallowed a sigh. She was worried that if she exhaled in the narrow carriage, her breath might reach Noah.

And she didn’t like that Noah had taken on the role of her escort without even being asked, pushed by their classmates.

“Nigel.”

At that moment, a voice interrupted Nigel’s thoughts.

When Nigel looked at Noah, his eyes curved gently as they always did.

“You look truly beautiful today.”

“Thank you.”

Nigel’s expression remained dark despite the compliment.

‘Well, today is….’

“Nigel.”

Once again, Nigel’s thoughts were interrupted.

“Don’t think about anything else and enjoy yourself. After all, it’s the spring ball.”

Nigel slowly nodded at the beautiful face that seemed to know what she was thinking.

As he said, today was the Flores Festival, when all the old and bad things were supposed to depart, and the whole world was to be filled with vitality and blessings under the name of Kirelia.

On the way to the imperial palace, flowers filled every place the eye could see. Nigel stared blankly at the splendid flowers.

Despite the line of carriages stretched out in front of the ballroom, Nigel’s carriage moved forward smoothly.

The imperial guards, though puzzled by Nigel whom they were seeing for the first time, quickly let them pass after seeing Noah beside her and the Crown Prince’s invitation.

Finally arriving at the ballroom, Nigel’s eyes widened.

It wasn’t because of the dazzlingly splendid decorations or the numerous celebrities including Duke Dien.

The reason was that most of the Sienna second-year students were scattered throughout the ballroom.

She knew that most of her classmates’ families held important positions in the country, but there was no reason for so many of them to be at a royal ball.

Moreover, even Jackson, who had said he was happy to miss the ball using the academy as an excuse because he was sick of balls, was there.

When Nigel stared at Jackson, Eric quickly avoided her gaze and struck up a conversation with his companions.

It was the same when she looked at other classmates; they avoided Nigel’s eyes as if they had committed a crime.

Nigel finally realized that this situation was not a coincidence but a set-up.

‘I thought something smelled fishy… Noah’s escort, these matching outfits, even the royal ball, it was all intentional.’

Even when she frowned and looked up at Noah, he simply smiled innocently at the fact that Nigel had made eye contact with him.

It was certain that Noah had also been played by those guys, and in this situation, the easiest way to extract their purpose was to shake Allen by the collar.

Nigel quickly rolled her eyes searching for Allen, but the light brown curly hair was nowhere to be seen in the ballroom.

It was Allen’s move, anticipating Nigel’s anger.

At that moment, the Crown Prince’s invitation she was holding caught Nigel’s eye.

‘Yenica…?’

She couldn’t predict whether even this was part of their plan or not.

As Nigel was letting out a deep sigh, a blue glass filled her vision. Beyond that glass, Noah’s upturned lips could be seen.

“Drink, Nigel.”

Nigel instinctively drank the beverage in one go. The cold liquid cooled her excited head.

Noah naturally returned the empty glass in Nigel’s hand to a waiter, then spoke to her.

“It seems our classmates are up to something, doesn’t it?”

“I wonder if this was also planned?”

Nigel waved the invitation with the golden wax seal.

“If you give me the invitation, I’ll ask Cal… I mean, His Highness the Crown Prince when I get the chance.”

Noah grinned as if to say not to worry.

Nigel felt a sense of discomfort at how easily he used the Crown Prince’s nickname, and handed the invitation to Noah.

And not long after, the atmosphere in the hall changed.

Along with weighty and elegant music, the Crown Prince and Yenica appeared on the central staircase.

Dazzling platinum blonde hair, the symbol of the imperial family, and blue eyes even deeper and colder than Meriel’s.

Looking at the Crown Prince greeting Meriel affectionately, they looked so alike that one might believe they were siblings rather than cousins.

Nigel carefully took in the sight of the two from afar.

“…!”

At that moment, Calrein and Nigel’s gazes met directly.

Before she could think, Nigel quickly averted her eyes.

‘This… I won’t be arrested for insulting royalty, will I?’

Nigel bit her lip slightly, then pretended nothing had happened under Noah’s questioning gaze.

Then the atmosphere in the ballroom changed once again.

The light and fresh melody of string instruments, befitting Flores which heralds a new beginning, calmed everyone’s hearts that had been in an uproar due to the Crown Prince’s appearance.

Starting with Yenica extending her hand to the Crown Prince, ladies in beautiful dresses began to request dances one after another.

It was tradition for ladies to request the first dance at the Flores ball.

At that moment, Amber Sinclair, wearing an elegant silver dress, approached Nigel from afar.

Or to be more precise, she was aiming for Noah standing next to Nigel.

Although a corner of her heart began to ache, Nigel didn’t forget the seal ring hidden in her dress pocket.

So Nigel couldn’t step forward.

As Nigel silently didn’t stop Amber from approaching, she felt heated gazes from around her.

When Nigel glanced around slightly, she could clearly feel the seemingly reproachful gazes of her classmates.

‘What on earth is their purpose for acting like this?’

And Nigel tried not to look at Noah’s face beside her.

For fear that if she looked at Noah’s face, she might unknowingly extend her hand to him, no, she definitely would.

At that moment, Noah’s hurt face entered Nigel’s vision. Noah had deliberately made eye contact with Nigel.

She couldn’t misunderstand the meaning that he wanted to have the first dance together.

Just as Nigel’s hand was about to reach out to Noah, breaking her firm resolve, someone’s footsteps were heard.

“Lord Beselion, would you grant me the honor of opening the beginning of spring with me?”

The owner of the footsteps was Meriel.

Meriel, wearing a voluminous light pink dress that made her look as if she was surrounded by large flowers, extended her hand to Noah.

Meriel, who winked and grinned brightly at Nigel and Noah, looked just like a flower fairy.

…Once again, Nigel’s chest throbbed.

Nigel slowly nodded, trying not to make eye contact with Noah, who was only looking at her.

Noah bit his lip hard and took Meriel’s hand, stepping onto the dance floor.

And Amber Sinclair, who had been approaching Noah, gave up and turned back, as if she had no choice due to Meriel’s appearance.

There were many people on the dance floor, including their classmates.

Just as the music was about to start, a black shadow fell across Nigel.

“…Mr. Kyle? Or should I call you Count Cromwell?”

Kyle Cromwell smiled kindly towards Nigel.

It was a smile she couldn’t have imagined when she first met him.

“Although it’s called a succession ceremony, I’ve only passed the preliminaries. It’s too early to be called a count when my mother hasn’t even passed on the title.”

“Then what brings you here, young count?”

“Well, I saw you were alone and remembered my brother’s advice.”

“What was it?”

“He said to treat you well when we meet next time? Said you’re a close friend.”

Nigel chuckled, imagining Sid’s embarrassed face as he admonished his older brother.

“So, my lady, are you in the mood for a dance?”

“Well, sure.”

Nigel, having no reason to refuse, extended her hand to Kyle.

And as soon as she stepped onto the dance floor with Kyle, Nigel received Noah’s gaze, looking like a puppy who had lost its owner, and the angry glares of her classmates.

Noah was one thing, but why have they been acting like this since earlier?

Nigel’s face tilted to the right.