47: The ball and the return of Aoi, Arcane and Cassey!

The ball was dazzling, reminiscent of those in the capital. All the students were having a grand time, mingling despite differences in rank. It was a beautiful sight, especially the girls charming even the commoner boys.

Well, I can't deny how sissy boys are in this world… All of them are wearing soft, light-colored attire. I don't have a problem with it; they look amazing.

But I love wearing strong-colored clothes. Even a lavender formal shirt looks amazing with white, grey, or black. But what's with the whole dress converted into pink and its shades? I hate the makers for keeping everything so dead and letting only the leads have all the charm.

"Void! There you are," Luna called out, her tone playful as ever. She approached Void, wearing an elegant dress with an ivory-shaded blue rose pattern, and quickly gave him a tight hug.

"Luna..! You're here…" Void started, but his voice faltered as Luna pinched his waist.

"Where were you yesterday? I was waiting for you, you know!" Luna said, releasing the pinch.

"I'm sorry, I mistakenly went on deck at night again," Void said, taking Luna down from the hug.

"Yo cupcake! Just how much are you going to make us desperate to taste you?" Meisheng, wearing a lavender wolf-patterned Qi Pao, approached with Zoe, Anette, and Alfrin.

Alfrin, in a beautiful apple red silk asymmetric top and fit-and-flare bottom, took selfies with Void while drooling. "A new collection! Heehee," Alfrin said. Zoe, in an illusion neckline and trumpet bottom deep blue dress adorned with silver patterns, came close to Void and closed the upper two buttons he had left open.

"Honestly, how many times have I told you not to expose yourself in public like this!" Zoe planted a gentle kiss before stepping back. Anette, unexpectedly wearing a royal blue gothic suit-like attire matching Void's, stood out with her unique charm.

"How am I looking, Darling?" Anette asked with a bright, confident smile.

"You look amazing, but why aren't you wearing a dress for the ball?" Void asked, smiling warmly. Anette came close and punched both his cheeks.

"Aww! You want me so bad?" Anette teased. "Well, this ball is just for the students, and I can't join in as I'm not a student," she said, stepping back.

"Ehh? Then who are you?" Zoe and Meisheng asked in unison.

"The Phantom Hive family has many businesses on Elysian Academy's island, and if I'm correct, she usually doesn't go there, but recently she changed her mind and decided to go there," Alfrin said seriously.

"Wow Alfrin! You sure know many things. I'm glad you're by my side!" Void said, causing Alfrin to hold her head high with pride while others narrowed their eyes.

"This new girl sure knows a lot. Are you scared, Honey?" Anette asked, revealing her teeth.

"Of course not. I'm just surprised how easily you came aboard this cruise," Void said with a warm smile.

"Ahh! I just forgot for a moment that you're Void, not some regular guy!" Anette said, putting a hand on her head. As they indulged in their fun chat, a sudden voice reached Void's ears, sending chills through his body.

"Hi Sir. Middletown, I'm sorry to suddenly barge in…!" The voice was Eliza, one of three nightmares in Void's life.

Let's get a quick recap of the nightmares in Void's life currently!

First is Vannessa, whom Void avoids meeting but is recently trying to calm down, and things look cool for now.

Second is Rubianna, who is currently in her villainess arc, and Void just wants to survive somehow and save his people.

Lastly, there is Eliza, who is way more obsessive, possessive, and delusional as per her acts in the real game. Thanks to Shuri becoming Lux's adopted daughter, she's no longer the heroine; instead, she's into Void. Thank you.

Now let's get back to where we were....

"Miss Eliza, it's nice to meet you again, and thanks for helping me get back to my room!" Void said, thinking, "I fear to admit it, but she literally helped me big yesterday. If she weren't there, I don't know what would've happened!"

"No…no, it wasn't something to recall, hehe!" Eliza said, shaking her hands nervously, thinking, "He called me by my name! He remembered me! Void…Void…Void…ahh!"

"Ohh! So you were the one who helped him! Hehe, nice to meet you. We're his fiancées!" Zoe and others said in chorus, giving murderous gazes.

As they were at it, Aoi, Cassey, and Arcane bumped into Void, making all fall, and the three of them started crying in his arms.

"Void, how are you? I missed you!" Cassey said, her head buried in his chest, her hands clinging to his left arm.

"Master, is Alfrin taking good care of you? You look weak, but don't worry, Arcane has finally reached Master!" Arcane said, her hands clinging to Void's neck.

"Void!...Void… I love you! I'm sorry…I can't live without you! I've reached Senior Master just to get back to you! It hurts a lot to stay away from you, you know," Aoi's words cracked, hinting at her suffering, clinging to Void's right arm.

"I missed you three too…Damn! You made me cry…you made me cry…" Void said, genuinely happy with this reunion. Zoe and others might be his new and most devoted fiancées, but Aoi, Arcane, and Cassey had been with Void since childhood.

There was a strong bond between them, which Void couldn't name yet, but he knew it had romance and romantic desires. But of course, Zoe, Luna, Meisheng, Alfrin, and Anette weren't going to let themselves fall behind in finding space in Void's embrace.

"This is not good, Void!" Zoe said, clinging to his left side of the waist.

"Yeah, we tried to take care of you well!" Anette said, clinging to his right side of the waist.

"Yeah, cupcake, that's unfair! You were the only one who said we have equal space in your heart!" Meisheng said, taking Void's head on her lap, wiping his tears while pinching his cheek a little.

"Void! I don't have space! I want to get in too!" Luna clung to Void's neck from the left while Arcane shifted to the right side.

"Sir Void, is it okay if I…get a little space there?" Alfrin asked. She had a duty and role to never let her guard down, but she wanted to enjoy these moments. Arcane and Luna gave her some space to cling to him from the center.

"Alfrin, have you decided to make me whine like a child at this ball? Come on, join in. It's really embarrassing to say this, but don't let these seven get ahead of you, okay? And it's an order!" Void said, smiling. Alfrin nodded and melted into his embrace.

"How many fiancées does Sir Middletown have?" Eliza muttered, receiving a reply from behind.

"Don't ask how many he has! Ask how many he is planning to have!" Vannessa said, approaching from behind.

"Your Highness…!" Eliza bowed her head slightly.

"It's alright! I'm a student here, not a princess, so leave the honorifics. You have my permission," Vannessa said. Eliza nodded and raised her head again.

"He's the Paragon of the West after all. Many want him, but sadly not everyone is allowed to get engaged to him. Firstly, they must have a big status or fame in the country to even talk to him. You're lucky, you know!" Vannessa continued.

"After that comes the elders of Middletown, and lastly, Maria Middletown, the head of the family and Void's mother," Vannessa turned her head towards Eliza.

"Pretty long procedure, isn't it? And trust me, it's just going to increase as time passes—both Void's rank and his number of fiancées. Maybe in the future, he will become the first man to have the biggest harem!" Vannessa finished with a smile.

But when things were looking normal, a loud voice of Rubianna surrounded the ball. Everyone stopped.

"Char! Have you lost your mind!" Rubianna yelled, her voice spitting venom, filled with anger, rage, and frustration.

The arc begins, the quest for the duel of promises has started. Will Void be able to win, or will things go wrong? Who knows?