“It is my first time to attend a glamorous ball.”

I nodded. I never imagined I would witness the glamour of this lavishing event.

Multiple chandeliers on both sides lit the arched hall. They placed the 4 seater purple tables. The unoccupied space in the middle became the stage for the greatest dancers as they meandered along with the tune of soft music played by the Imperial orchestra.

Everyone glimmered in their finest outfits when in reality they were walking null values.

“Oh, what a splendid night!”

Speaking of a null value, she approached us.

Her reddish hair resembled a twisted pair of cable I crimped in my networking class, her nose was like an angle bracket when viewed sideways, and the nauseating floral scent of perfume matched with her stenchy personality.

Cora Atkinson, Marquess Atkinson’s daughter. The die-hard president of Reyner and Frederick’s fan club and clung to them like a koala on the eucalyptus tree.

The lady, together with her small army of lackeys, marched towards us. The party hasn’t started, but this woman already pestered us. I held my friend’s stoned hands. Her face was like scribbles. I told her minding the witch was unnecessary. Chill my dear Miuerella. Your Prince would save us soon.

“Two birds of the same kind, who taught they could fly high. In reality, there were penguins. Especially the bird who has a fractured wing.”
She referred to me. Everyone was born with elements. An identifier of how valuable and powerful you are.

There were 6 elements. Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Light and Purification. If I’ll list the characters and their respective elements, it would be like this:
Fire - Frederick, Duke Klein, Marquess Grimaldi, the Emperor
Water- Reyner, Duchess Le Merck, Marchioness Grimaldi, James
Air- Charlie
Earth- The Empress, Cora Atkinson,

Light- Miuerella, Adrian and Nora

Bethany suited the side character role because she didn’t have an element. Hence, her insignificant presence.

Fortunately, she was a noble. If not, this poor frail girl spent her time digging leftovers in the dumpster looking for decent leftovers than attending the Emperor’s ball. What’s worst was, she has died already if we would consider her weak physique.

Reyner, where were you? The novel said he meddled when Lady Atkinson berated Ella.

My neck turned three hundred sixty degrees until it almost unfastened to my body. Yet I haven’t found traces of his presence.

“Oh, Poor Lady Miuerella and Lady Bethany.”

“It was their first time to attend a ball and yet, they already got Lady Cora’s attention.”

I would chop off their mouths if I could. No one dared to stop this woman because she is there current flower of high society.

I gave her my greetings, so Ella did the same.

“Birds of the same kind flock together. When the charming lady like yourself approached us, I cannot stop thinking if maybe the three of us belonged to the same kind.”

After she received words of appreciation from mine, everyone witnessed how she turned into a human kettle. Vapor came out from her flared nostrils, her slim body trembled because of pressure, strands of her hair coiled upwards.

“Lady Grimaldi had a point. Why would Lady Atkinson waste her time for them?”

“Look, at the light coming from those two!”

Two overlapped bubbles emitted electricity cocooned us from her resentment. Violence may cross her mind enough for the magic to sense it as a potential danger.

In a fit of pique, she mumbled the word ‘no’ five times while shaking her head before she left the scene.

It wasn’t our fault. She held her head so high, thinking she would be in a reverse harem with these guys!

This was one reason I hated social interaction. Whether I am in the game world or even the real world, temperamental people were like waves in the sea.

The party hasn’t started yet; I aspired to be ice cream and melt away from the eyes of these pompous creatures.

Tasks:
- Make sure Reyner would be Miuerella first dance.
- Dance with Duke Frederick.
Rewards: + 4000 XP Points + 3000 Dynastic Points

What perfect timing! It was too late to back up from this since I received another task!

What was the relationship of the Cupid from Duke Frederick? Did they make me a red herring?

Another thing was the time when Miuerella received Reyner’s blessing. In the novel, that scene took place when the crown prince was about to go on war and expedition. These past few days, I observed that... No, my energy should be for task accomplishments only. Answers would resurface at the right time.

“Emperor Reuben and Empress Daisy have arrived!”

We made way for them, and said, “May the Sun of Daria shone upon you!”

The male lead’s entrance followed and of course; they attacked us with their blinding golden aura.

Why do characters have these kinds of effects when entering a scene? As far as I know, all of us were Homo Sapiens, or was I wrong?
The party officially started after the Emperor’s speech. An awarding ceremony was next.

Young ladies shrieked when the king awarded the empire’s hottest bachelors for their effort in cracking the mystery in Count Viscar’s case.

These men discovered the Count’s illegal businesses and freed hundreds of children they kidnapped.

“The Crown Prince was amazing, isn’t he?”

When I looked to my right, she was in her old world, stretching her face into an elbow macaroni shape while she drifted into the own fantasy land with her significant other.

When will this surreal nightmare end?

“We also like to award an exemplary young lady who helped us retrieve one of the Empire’s cultural assets.”

I tilted my head at the exit door; I couldn’t reach it before anyone noticed me. The fastest hiding place, for now, would be under this table.
First step: lift the edge. Thankfully, the length of the tablecloth reached the floor—enough to hide a small body like mine.

A wise decision to choose the seat far away from his Majesty’s throne so no one would notice my absence.

“I would like to call Lady Bethany Grimaldi.”

Well, except if the Emperor called for your name.

“Beth! The... Where are you?”

I got out from my hiding place, straightened, and dusted off my crinoline dress while walking towards the Emperor.

I gave him a curtsy and said, “May the sun of Daria shone upon you.”

He held a sword given by his aide. So, I knelt and bowed my head.

The Emperor tapped the flat part of the knighting sword on my shoulders and said, “Because of your significant contribution in the retrieval of Madeline’s Ruby, I Emperor Reuben Necius Ivrea, is appointing you as Dame Bethany Milea Grimaldi from this day forward,”
The sound of applause roared inside the hall.

Soon, the accolade ended. People whom I didn’t know congratulated me. My siblings almost broke my bones out of pride and released me when they heard a familiar tune.

Spring in Daria—the infamous waltz song in this world. An urban legend stated that your dancing partner when this music played would be your spouse.

It was time for this Cupid to strike again.