Chapter 29: Declaration of War

Lo Ran, having been pulled back to the center of the ball, felt somewhat dazed.

The music of the ball flowed into his ears once more, but it sounded distant and muffled, as if coming through a curtain of water.

He had already lost count of how many times he’d stood to salute, using the most polite and appropriate tone he could muster to refuse those noble young ladies who approached, skirts lifted, cheeks tinged with shy red, to invite him.

The words repeated mechanically, and he still had to keep up a smile. Lo Ran could see the disappointment and confusion in those girls’ eyes, but he had to steel his heart.

Of course, there were also noble young men dressed up as flamboyantly as peacocks, with charming smiles they believed debonair, who tried to bypass Lo Ran and Aelia to target Chloe at his side.

If any of them could invite this former Duke’s daughter and newly minted member of the Crown Class of the Altras Institute for a dance, it would undoubtedly be an excellent way to boost their own reputation. Even just a fleeting connection would add another story to their social circles.

But without exception, whenever they drew within three or five steps of Chloe, they were deterred by the aura she naturally emanated.

Chloe didn’t speak; she simply sat there quietly, her profile especially fair and cold under the swirling lights. Her bound hair had come loose, and her silver-white locks draped over her shoulders like a spill of moonlight.

So, the young men found excuses to leave, embarrassed.

On the other side, Ophelia sat quietly in her chair. She held a glass of wine, barely touched. Her gaze was lowered, watching the golden liquor sway gently in the cup to the faint strains of music from afar.

Her eyes were a bit vacant, indifferent to the bustle around her. The girl’s soft fingertips lightly traced the rim, as if pondering something over and over in her heart.

Out of the corner of his eye, Lo Ran caught sight of her in this state and wondered, is she still thinking about the scene where Chloe had thrown herself into his arms just now?

For Ophelia, although that scene had indeed struck her hard—like a needle piercing her heart—what actually felt more absurd and unacceptable was another, even more incredible fact.

Finally, the girl’s gaze lifted from the glass, passing over the passing figures and landing on Lo Ran.

“In the end… it’s Glorious?”

Ophelia didn’t understand.

She had been hailed as a genius since childhood, a model and leader among her peers, bearing the expectations of the Blanche family, and training herself with strict discipline—all so she could one day enter the highest hall of the Altras Institute and obtain the power to change everything.

The Crown Class was her goal, while Glorious… she had only dared to imagine it occasionally.

But now, this guy who’d suddenly appeared at Chloe’s side, whose magic circuit response had been unremarkable before her probing, and who even behaved a bit awkwardly—he’d been announced by the Headmaster himself as a candidate for the Glorious Class?

The feeling was truly terrible.

Thinking of this, Ophelia’s slender fingers tightened involuntarily. She felt an indescribable emotion welling up inside her, almost enough to drown her.

Could it be that all the sweat she’d shed over the years, the loneliness she’d endured, the persistence she’d maintained, were all just a joke? With the Headmaster’s almost cavalier public announcement, where did that leave her and everyone else?

At the center of the ball, the music was still melodious, and the young girls twirled their dresses like blooming flowers.

Whenever Lo Ran thought of the culprit behind this embarrassing situation—the one who’d returned the Magic Crystal Token to him of her own accord, thus indirectly giving the old Headmaster the chance to pull off such a stunt, Yuna—he ground his teeth in frustration.

He could see that familiar figure curled up in a soft chair, the small table before her piled high with exquisite snacks and fruit.

The young man forced down the urge to rush over, drag her out of the chair, and spank her hard, and made himself look away.

Watching the whirl of light and shadow, swirling skirts, and smiling faces in the dance hall, Lo Ran felt nothing but weariness and helplessness surge within him.

—Let me go! I want to go home! I don’t want to stay here!

But then again, Lo Ran had to admit that the old man’s move was truly powerful. In just a few words, he’d thrust him into the very heart of Valgard’s spotlight.

It was easy to foresee that everything that happened tonight would be relayed to every corner of Valgard at lightning speed. From tonight until the Altras Institute officially started its term, there would likely be no more peaceful days at the gate of the Lufinias residence.

Chloe pursed her lips in dissatisfaction, her eyes clearly reflecting yet another young girl sneaking glances their way.

She didn’t understand.

Why, when she was standing right here, at Lo Ran’s side, did those bright-eyed wildcats still keep trying to cross her and covet what belonged to her?

Those burning glances cast at Lo Ran, those invitations that ignored her presence one after another, all made her very unhappy.

Her gaze swept sharply over another girl, whose face fell with disappointment after Lo Ran politely refused her. Chloe’s fingers quietly clenched inside her sleeve.

It was as if she’d finally snapped out of her thoughts when Ophelia gently swirled her almost-empty wineglass, tipped her head back, and drank the last drop. She then turned toward Chloe, who was radiating a heavy, oppressive air beside her, and spoke:

“Perhaps, it’s because of that time when the former Grand Duke of Lufinias bestowed his surname.”

Chloe’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she turned to look at her.

“Many later guests, especially the younger generation, aren’t aware of the detailed circumstances back then.”

Ophelia’s gaze calmly swept the distance, where she saw Lo Ran being blocked by a richly dressed lady, who seemed to be chatting with him enthusiastically. The young man’s face maintained a stiff expression, but his eyes clearly searched for an escape.

“When they see both your and Lo Ran’s names carrying the Lufinias surname on tonight’s guest list, they might naturally mistake you two for siblings—or at least, very closely related clansmen.”

“After all, the Lufinias family now only has you as a direct bloodline, Vivi. And now, there’s suddenly another young male member with the same surname, about the same age, who clearly has your trust and reliance… it’s only natural that some outsiders would start to wonder.”

The ball reached its midpoint, the air thick with a faint, tipsy atmosphere.

As another gentle melody came to an end, the host’s voice once again rang out, magically amplified, inviting the young talents of the festival to lead the next dance as per tradition.

So, when Lo Ran’s name was announced, the hall stirred again.

Under everyone’s gaze, Lo Ran realized he could no longer avoid it. He sighed inwardly, turned, and reached his hand toward Chloe, who stood half a step away.

“Your Highness…”

This was the most logical choice. As the Lufinias head who was also the focus of the evening, it made perfect sense for her to accept the first leading dance invitation.

However, something unexpected happened.

When faced with his outstretched hand, Chloe didn’t gently place her own hand on his as she usually did. Instead, she lowered her head little by little.

Her silver hair slid down with her movement, hiding her face. Lo Ran could only see the blush rapidly spreading from the tip of her ear down her neck, standing out on her pale skin.

With a voice hardly louder than a mosquito’s hum, the girl spoke.

“I… don’t really know how to dance this kind.”

All the usual coolness and aloofness was gone from her voice, replaced by a rare shyness and helplessness.

Oh no, a hundred plans and I missed this!

Lo Ran froze as well, his hand awkwardly suspended in midair.

That’s right. Having lived most of her life in a northern castle, rarely attending such lavish, intricate court banquets, surrounded only by Aelia, Slude, and Yuna who joined later… it was certainly possible she’d never been trained for this.

Although Lo Ran himself had learned some in the previous round, this time he’d been so busy helping Chloe that he hadn’t even thought of setting aside time to teach her.

As Lo Ran was quickly searching for a way to resolve the situation, Ophelia, who had been quietly sitting by, stood up.

The golden-haired girl lightly straightened her skirt, putting on that flawless, gentle smile again. She walked straight up to Lo Ran, stepping between him and Chloe, her voice clear and melodious.

“It seems Her Highness Chloe is a little tired. If you don’t mind, Mr. Lo Ran, allow me—Ophelia Blanche—to stand in for her for this dance? After all, we are old acquaintances.”

With that, she lifted her hand and rested it gently in his palm, graceful and composed.

Yet even so, the moment their eyes met, Lo Ran caught a glint of sharpness deep within Ophelia’s gaze.

It didn’t feel so much like she was saving Chloe from embarrassment, but rather like she was issuing a challenge.