“Oh, my! A radiant flower blooming in such a place! How foolish of me to have overlooked such beauty! O, fair lady, may this foolish man be graced with the honor of hearing your name?”
A man, kneeling with exaggerated earnestness, was addressing me.
His words, dripping with so much syrupy sentiment, felt like they might give me indigestion.
It was as if I were witnessing one of those public declarations of love you’d see in a melodrama.
Entertaining, right?
A person putting everything on the line, confessing their feelings without a care for the prying eyes around them.
Well, technically, this wasn’t quite a confession but more of a proposal. Still, it was the kind of gesture that drew all eyes, and the way people’s gazes shifted in anticipation of the response made it interesting to watch.
If only I weren’t the target of his affections.
Sigh… Damn it.
I shot him a frosty glare before realizing the growing attention on us and quickly schooling my expression into something more neutral. Forcing a polite tone, I replied,
“My name is Ruina…”
“Ruina… Ruina… Ruina! What a beautiful name, such a melodious sound!” he exclaimed, as if savoring each syllable. “O, lovely Lady Ruina, may I humbly make a request of you?”
“What sort of request might that be?” I asked cautiously, forcing a smile that felt like it might crack my face.
With an enthusiastic laugh, he declared, “I would like to invite you to my estate!”
Damn it.
I felt my expression stiffen and struggled to maintain my forced smile.
Finally, I managed to respond,
“Your offer is most kind, but… I am here with my companions, so…” I trailed off, feigning regret as I glanced away, hoping to convey that I couldn’t accept due to unavoidable circumstances.
“Ah, of course…” he said, hesitating for a moment before his face lit up with renewed determination. “In that case, please promise to visit someday! I will always be ready to welcome you!”
His voice brimmed with desperation, his earnestness almost palpable.
I swallowed my frustration.
How do I get out of this?
As much as I wanted to tell him to buzz off, the weight of the stares from everyone around us kept me from being too blunt.
Ugh, my miserable luck.
I clasped his hand gently, mustering an angelic smile.
“Perhaps someday… I will make the effort to visit if circumstances allow. But for now, wouldn’t it be better to enjoy the exchange meeting?”
“Thank you!” he exclaimed, practically glowing with gratitude as he walked away.
His footsteps were noticeably lighter, his mood clearly uplifted.
At least he seemed satisfied. Lying through my teeth about a potential visit turned out to be effective.
Of course, that “someday” was never going to happen.
Watching him disappear into the crowd, I let out a deep sigh.
That’s the tenth one.
Since Artorius introduced us, I’d been approached by an endless stream of people, each conversation just as exhausting as the last.
While their intentions weren’t malicious—they were simply curious or eager to make connections—it was still draining.
Glancing around, I saw my companions similarly engaged with others.
Bliss was surrounded by women, Olivia was coolly rebuffing a group of overly eager men, and Artorius…
Artorius was laughing loudly amidst a group of male admirers.
As for the hero, he was completely surrounded, so much so that I couldn’t even see him.
Popular as ever.
Typical of a hero to draw such attention.
I shifted my gaze elsewhere.
Where was Agnes?
Unlike the rest of us, she was nowhere to be seen.
I scanned the room and finally spotted her. She was leaning against a wall on the far side of the hall, sipping a drink.
No one was near her.
Whether that was because she chose not to engage or because others hesitated to approach her, I couldn’t say.
But one thing was certain—she looked utterly at ease.
While she might appear a bit lonely standing there on her own, to me, she seemed enviably comfortable.
And oddly, I felt a sense of kinship with her.
Is she the same type as me?
The type who doesn’t speak unless spoken to, making it difficult for others to approach.
Maybe I should head over to her.
It seemed like a good idea. With fewer people around her, I could blend into the calm atmosphere and maybe ward off some of the attention directed my way.
But first, I needed to find Reina.
I looked around, knowing she wouldn’t have strayed far.
Sure enough, she was close by.
Reina was happily accepting snacks from a servant.
The servant, with a warm smile, handed her a treat, and Reina, in turn, bowed her head politely before popping the treat into her mouth with a look of pure bliss.
She chewed contentedly, resembling a baby bird being fed by its parent.
“Reina!” I called out.
“Yes!”
She paused mid-bite, immediately perking up at the sound of my voice.
Her eyes darted around the room, searching for me, and as soon as our eyes met, she broke into a radiant smile and scurried over to me.
“What is it?”
“Let’s go see Agnes,” I said, taking her small hand in mine.
Carefully, trying not to draw attention, I led her toward where Agnes stood.
As we approached, Agnes noticed us coming and gave a small wave, her eyes crinkling into a smile. I returned her wave before stepping to her side.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Exactly what it looks like—enjoying a drink with this lively event as my backdrop,” she replied, lifting her glass slightly for emphasis. The liquid inside shimmered as it swirled gently.
“Hah… It’s exhausting,” I sighed deeply.
“Dealing with people usually is,” Agnes replied, swirling her glass lazily. “I’ve been watching you, you know. Your reactions were quite amusing. It seems you weren’t lying when you said this was your first time at an event like this.”
She had been watching the whole time?
Pouting, I retorted, “You could’ve helped me, you know.”
“Hahaha! But where’s the fun in that? Watching you struggle was far too entertaining. Besides, jumping in to help right away would’ve robbed you of the experience.”
This kind of experience, I could do without.
I shot her a sour look as she laughed heartily.
“So, you came here to escape dealing with people?” she asked, her voice tinged with amusement.
“Something like that… But Agnes, why aren’t you mingling with others?”
She gave a small nod. “No one’s approached me for a conversation.”
“Why not?”
She shrugged nonchalantly. “Conversations require someone to initiate them. If no one does, what can I do?”
Her casual response left me puzzled.
It didn’t make sense—Agnes was far too eye-catching for no one to approach her.
Even without a dress, her striking figure stood out—her graceful proportions, the elegant curve of her silhouette, and her long, well-proportioned limbs were captivating.
Her face was no less stunning, with sharp features, ruby-red lips, and those dazzling golden eyes that sparkled like gems.
How could someone like this not draw attention?
Maybe it was one of those cases where someone’s presence was so overwhelming that others felt intimidated to approach?
“Why would—” I began, but my words were cut off.
“Excuse me, may I have a moment of your time?”
A man’s voice interrupted us. I turned to see a stranger addressing us, his polite yet eager demeanor evident.
Of course.
I should’ve known. There was no way someone wouldn’t try to speak with Agnes eventually.
I was just about to step away to give them space when I noticed something odd.
The man’s gaze was fixed on… me.
Oh no…
The sinking feeling of dread crept up my spine. I glanced at Agnes, silently begging for help.
But instead of intervening, she leaned in and whispered with a teasing smile, “Don’t mind me. I can leave if that makes things easier for you.”
She even gave me a thumbs-up as if to reassure me she wouldn’t interfere.
That’s not what I meant!
I wanted her to stop this, not encourage it!
“I hadn’t taken much interest in the Origin Church before, but seeing you has sparked my curiosity. So, I was wondering… Would you care to take a stroll with me through the garden under this beautiful night sky?”
“Your offer is most kind, but… I am here with my companions,” I replied with a practiced smile, repeating the excuse I’d used countless times tonight.
“Ah, of course,” he said, glancing briefly at Agnes beside me, his expression growing somber. “In that case… may I ask if I could repeat my request at another time?”
No. Absolutely not.
But instead of voicing my thoughts, I found myself nodding silently.
His downcast face brightened immediately, and he smiled warmly before departing.
When will this end?
I watched his retreating figure, feeling utterly drained.
It felt like an eternity since the exchange meeting began, yet there was no sign of it wrapping up anytime soon.
Please, let this be over soon.
“Hah… Agnes,” I called out weakly, turning to her with an exhausted sigh.
Reina was happily snacking on treats provided by a servant.
The servant, wearing a warm smile, handed her another snack, and Reina, ever polite, bowed her head in thanks before popping it into her mouth.
Her face lit up with delight as she chewed, resembling a baby bird being fed by its parent.
I called out to her. “Reina!”
“Yes!”
Her ears perked up at the sound of my voice. She froze momentarily, then began looking around until her eyes met mine. With a bright smile, she ran toward me.
“What is it?”
“Let’s go talk to Agnes,” I said, taking her hand.
Together, we carefully made our way across the hall, ensuring we didn’t draw too much attention.
As we approached, Agnes noticed us and gave a small wave, her golden eyes sparkling with a warm smile. I waved back before stepping beside her.
“What are you up to?” I asked.
“Exactly what it looks like—enjoying my drink with this lively scene as my backdrop,” she replied, lifting her glass slightly. The liquid inside shimmered as it swirled gently.
“Hah… I’m exhausted.”
“Dealing with people is always tiring,” Agnes replied knowingly, swirling her drink. “I’ve been watching you, by the way. Your reactions were amusing. It seems you weren’t lying when you said this was your first time at an event like this.”
She’d been watching the entire time?
I pouted. “You could’ve helped me, you know.”
“Hahaha! But where’s the fun in that? Watching you was far more entertaining. Besides, jumping in right away would’ve robbed you of the experience.”
This is one experience I could’ve done without.
I shot her a sour look as she chuckled.
“So, did you come here to escape the crowd?” she asked, her tone tinged with amusement.
“Pretty much… But, Agnes, why aren’t you talking to anyone?”
She nodded. “No one’s approached me for a conversation.”
“Why not?”
“Conversations require someone to start them. No one’s come over to talk to me, so what can I do?”
Her nonchalant response left me puzzled. It didn’t make sense—Agnes was far too striking to be ignored.
Even without a fancy dress, her figure stood out effortlessly—graceful proportions, an elegant silhouette, and dazzling golden eyes that demanded attention.
“How is it that—”
Before I could finish my thought, someone interrupted.
“Excuse me,” a man’s voice said.
Turning, I saw a man addressing us. He carried himself with a polite yet eager demeanor.
Of course.
There was no way someone wouldn’t approach Agnes eventually.
I stepped aside to let them converse, but then I noticed something odd.
His gaze was fixed on… me.
Oh no… not again.
Dread washed over me as I glanced at Agnes, silently pleading for help.
But instead of intervening, she leaned closer with a playful smile and whispered, “Don’t mind me. I can leave if you’d prefer.”
She even gave me a thumbs-up, as if encouraging me to handle the situation myself.
That’s not what I meant!
“I’ve never been particularly interested in the Origin Church, but meeting you has piqued my curiosity. So, would you care to join me for a private stroll through the garden to discuss it in depth?”
“Your offer is most kind, but… I’m here with my companions,” I replied, forcing yet another strained smile.
“Ah… I see,” he said, glancing briefly at Agnes, his expression faltering. “Then… perhaps I might make this request again another time?”
Absolutely not.
But instead of voicing my thoughts, I nodded silently.
His face brightened slightly, and he walked away, though not without lingering regret.
“When will this end?” I muttered under my breath, watching his retreating figure. It felt like an eternity since this event started, yet it seemed no closer to ending.
“Agnes…” I called out weakly, turning to her with a sigh.
Before I could say more, another voice cut in.
“Excuse me, but may I…”
Another man. Another interruption.
And so, the endless cycle continued.
With heavy steps and Reina’s hand in mine, I finally made my way back to Agnes, silently praying the evening would end soon.