But having resolved to live differently, and knowing such mockery was nothing compared to the pain of losing everything and being driven to a miserable death, Vivian remained unfazed.

“Our family fortune isn’t so small that I must choose between dresses and books. So I think I can be beautifully adorned without being foolish.”

Adelaide smiled with crescent eyes at Vivian’s refreshingly honest acknowledgment of her new direction in life without lengthy excuses. Though it appeared angelic at first glance, Vivian clearly read the contempt in her eyes.

“Aha, is that so? I look forward to seeing your new self. But, Luciel approached you quite intimately as soon as he arrived at the hall…… Was that also part of your new image?”

At those words, Vivian’s polite smile vanished.

“It wasn’t me who rushed over as soon as he arrived, but him. Since you must have been watching Sir Evanhart along with the other ladies, shouldn’t you know that much?”

Irritated at the insinuation that she had been flirting with Luciel, Vivian snapped back sharply before she could stop herself. But Adelaide took the hit without flinching and playfully retorted:

“With all due respect, why would Sir Luciel approach you first unless he was desperate? Don’t lie just to save your pride.”

“That’s too absurd to dignify with a response.”

Vivian turned away from Adelaide with a genuinely bewildered expression. It was obvious she would go to her followers and complain about Vivian’s rudeness, but Vivian didn’t want to exchange any more words with her.

No matter what explanation she gave, she would certainly be cast as the villain in anything related to Luciel. It had always been that way.

‘Sigh…… This is a failure. At this rate, I’ll be completely at odds with the girls throughout the Grand Fête.’

Vivian pressed her throbbing temples and tried to smooth her furrowing brow.

A man approaching a woman at the Grand Fête carried different connotations than a male student speaking to a female student at the Academy. This was the most splendid gathering where all families assembled, and the occasion when the most couples formed throughout the year.

Luciel would surely know this, making her wonder if he had deliberately approached her to make her uncomfortable. After all, she couldn’t even tell what he had intended to say. As Vivian sighed, the sky visible through the window gradually darkened.

“The Sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!”

A loud fanfare sounded as a clear-voiced attendant announced the imperial family’s entrance. A majestic piece began playing, and as everyone stood and bowed their heads, Emperor Auguste Tolein Jeremiah of the Caliburn Empire and Empress Eldris Jeremiah, followed by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, two princes, and two princesses, appeared in the banquet hall.

As the Emperor stood before the throne and the imperial family members took their places in succession, the Emperor spoke:

“It brings me immense joy to meet my loyal subjects gathered in one place as the year draws to a close. May the blessing of the goddess Naren be with you all.”

“May Naren’s blessing be with the imperial family!”

All nobles blessed the imperial family in unison in response to the Emperor’s greeting. At the gesture of the chief chamberlain attending the Emperor, the orchestra began playing a bright tune, and the nobles could finally raise their heads to behold the Emperor’s countenance.

What followed was a tedious round of greetings. Each family from the duke, marquis, and count ranks approached the Emperor in turn to pay respects and offer greetings. Viscount and baron families, being numerous, were grouped together and merely bowed before withdrawing.

After about two hours of greetings, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, substituting for the Emperor who had been unwell recently, performed the first dance to signal the start of the ball, and noble couples flooded the hall. Meanwhile, unmarried men approached unmarried women to request dances.

Everyone explored potential matches by dancing with multiple partners several times, and no one took offense if someone who had just danced with them was now whispering with someone else.

For young people, the Grand Fête was essentially a mass matchmaking event arranged by the state. The music continued endlessly, with people joining mid-song and returning to their tables when tired.

‘Wow…… They all have such stamina. How can they dance without rest like that?’

Vivian had stuck firmly to the wall with no intention of dancing at her Grand Fête when she was fourteen. Only now was she carefully observing the behavior of young men and women for the first time, noticing that most people danced the waltz without pause, constantly changing partners. Vivian couldn’t imagine exerting herself all night.

But soon she too received a dance request.

“You’re like a fresh wildflower, Miss. Would you honor me with a dance?”

It was a familiar face. Dan Hanover, a year ahead of her at the Academy and the second son of Count Hanover. His dull blonde hair was already stuck to his forehead with sweat from several dances, and his dance invitation sounded like a memorized recitation, which didn’t appeal to her at all.

Though she thought she should experience dancing with someone since she had made up her mind to attend, this sweaty man certainly wouldn’t be her choice. Vivian smiled reluctantly and declined, saying, “I already have a commitment for my first dance.”

She was anxious he might become angry at her refusal, but he simply said, “I understand. Have a pleasant evening,” and immediately disappeared to find another woman.

“Phew……”

While it was a relief, she began feeling increasingly awkward as everyone around her was busy finding partners and dancing, while no one approached her. In fact, just as she had intended, her dress was barely noticeable in this brilliant ballroom.

‘No, Vivian! How is this any different from when you were fourteen? Next time someone asks, I’ll dance with them no matter who it is. Whether it’s a sweaty pig or a skinny thornbush.’

Vivian firmly resolved to wait for the next dance invitation. But no one took her hand. Even as she gradually moved around to different spots, the result remained the same.

Nor did she have any male friends close enough to ask for a dance herself.

Despite her two months of grueling practice, Vivian stood awkwardly alone in this vast hall where everyone else was busy dancing.

But was the goddess of fate a prankster? Just as Vivian was glancing toward an empty spot by the wall, thinking she should give up and stand there rather than continue this embarrassment, someone grasped her hand.

“It would be a shame for a flower like you to be pinned to the wall when you’ve made the effort to attend. May I have this dance?”

“Lu-Luciel?”

Of all people, the man she most wanted to refuse was leading her away. It was so unexpected that she forgot even to add his title, she was so startled. But she had no legitimate reason to refuse him now.

If she dared reject Luciel Evanhart’s hand, she might be devoured by his followers.

Then again, dancing with him would likely result in the same fate. Her suspicion grew stronger that Luciel was deliberately trying to isolate her from the other noble daughters.

While Vivian was flustered, Luciel had already led her to the center of the hall and naturally placed her right hand on his left, bringing his right hand to her waist.

Though she truly didn’t want to, her feet began mechanically following the steps she remembered as she caught the rhythm of the continuously flowing music, her body having been eager to dance for some time.

“I was prepared to have my feet stepped on, but you dance better than I expected.”

Even words that were clearly teasing could sound like playful whispers of love when spoken by a man with an angelic appearance. His followers would have only heard “you dance well,” but to Vivian, the first part was much more emphasized.

“What an honor to dance with the Academy’s most popular person. Despite my lacking dance skills, I’ll try not to step on your feet.”

Though she twisted her trembling facial muscles into a forced smile, her tone was nothing but sharp. Of course, she was also planning to step on his foot hard at the first opportunity.

As if seeing right through her thoughts, Luciel chuckled. His fine silver hair, grown down to below his collarbone, swayed and rippled with each strand, and his body, firm as a knight’s, held Vivian steady without wavering despite the jostling of other couples around them.

His subtly smiling lips were attractive, but those red eyes that no one could resist remained fixed on Vivian’s face. For an ordinary noble daughter, such beauty—closer to magical enchantment than mere charm—might have caused her to collapse from breathlessness.

But his partner was Vivian Raine, the impregnable fortress he himself had acknowledged.

Far from being captivated by Luciel’s beauty, she didn’t even look at his face, dancing half-heartedly as she waited for the song to end.

It was clear she would release his hand and flee the moment that obligatory dance ended. Sure enough, as the song drew to a close, Vivian’s expression brightened, and with a fake smile, she tried to withdraw her hand from his.

“……!”

But Luciel gripped her hand tightly and wouldn’t let go. Not just her hand—he firmly embraced her waist so she couldn’t move at all and began following the steps of the next song.