Appearance [II]

The grandeur of Dining Hall 12B, with its high vaulted ceilings decorated with silver constellations that shimmered softly against the light of crystal chandeliers, was simply breathtaking.

Each faux star on the ceiling shifted ever so slightly, casting faint patterns of light across the hall.

At the center of it all stood a towering fountain made of crystalline glass, glowing gently with a silver light.

Around it were large banquet tables set up in perfect arcs, their silk coverings embroidered with golden trims and the sigil of the Academy.

Each table was a feast in itself, laden with a variety of exotic dishes and goblets of wine.

A well-known band was playing trendy songs at the far end of the hall. They had been hired on extremely short notice and were paid three times their usual fee for it.

Fortunately… for them… they were doing a good job.

The room was filled with murmurs.

In this setting, it was easy to distinguish between the nobles and the commoners.

The nobles and gentry moved in small clusters, dressed in lavish outfits and adorned with ornate jewelry. Their laughter was loud and sharp, as if they belonged at this high-class event and knew it.

The commoners, on the other hand, stood with wide eyes and mouths agape.

Their dresses were not as extravagant, their jewelry not as expensive, and most of them moved with a stiff awkwardness.

Regardless, the party was lively.

In formal events like this, there are always a few individuals who stand out among the crowd — the center of everyone's attention.

Such was the case here as well.

A few noble guests had effortlessly drawn everyone's eyes to them.

The most noteworthy among them were the royal twins — Willem Vic. Draken and Alice Vic. Draken.

They were the children of the Central Monarch, Seraphina the Flame Queen.

As genuine, pure-blooded royalty, the twins were surrounded by a throng of admirers.

Those not gathered around the twins swarmed the next closest thing to royalty — the heir to one of the Western Ducal houses, Thalia Kaizer Theosbane.

She was a young woman with long, dark hair that fell to the curve of her back, styled in a high bun held in place by golden ornaments that glistened like embers in the dim light of the hall.

Her features were sharp, and her face was so enchantingly perfect that it seemed sculpted by the hands of the gods.

But it was her eyes — twin pools of molten gold, burning with a smoldering intensity that seemed almost otherworldly — that truly mesmerized all who laid eyes on her.

Dressed in a silken black gown with red accents, she carried herself with regal elegance. Her gaze flickered like flames, seemingly burning away anything beneath her notice.

Truly, she was just as striking as the rumors had made her out to be.

"Lady Thalia! It's a pleasure to meet you!"

"Lady Thalia, would you like to join our Collective?"

"Now that we've officially met, Lady Thalia, can you give me a moment of your time?"

"Lady Thalia…"

The future duchess couldn't help but sigh inwardly. 

She appreciated her high status and every single perk that came with her title, but she loathed dealing with the pathetic noblemen and women who flocked around her every time she went out of her estate. 

However, unlike her younger twin brother, she was expected to maintain proper decorum.

And so she did.

There could be no flaws in her appearance.

And so there were none.

The world was a stage, and she was at its center. So, she smiled and laughed and played her part to utmost perfection.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well," she greeted.

"Send me an invite to your Collective, and I'll check you guys out!" she nodded amiably.

"I'm a little busy at the moment, as you can see! Haha! But let's talk soon!" she beamed again.

Most of these people wanted to form a connection with her or have her join their Collectives. 

After all, she was a Theosbane. 

And Theosbanes, aside from being arguably the most powerful ducal family, were known to be very generous toward those they favored. 

But she couldn't care less about it.

So, with a smile forced upon her face, Thalia groaned inwardly and continued to act as she was expected… until the party calmed down a bit.

When it finally did, she stepped away from the suffocating crowd and retreated to a relatively secluded corner of the hall.

"Urghh," she grunted, picking up a wine glass and finally losing her smile. "So boring."

All these high-class events were tedious.

She would never admit it out loud, but she missed her twin brother in situations like this.

There were many things Thalia disliked about Samael, but he certainly knew how to create a scene at a party and make it entertaining.

"Haa," she was about to sigh again and return to the party when…

"Lia?"

A familiar voice called out to her.

Thalia turned to the sound and spotted a striking young woman standing just behind her. 

With long red hair, piercing crimson eyes, and draped in a flowing vermilion ball gown, the young woman looked like beauty personified. 

Right beside her stood a young man whose sharp features were undeniably similar to hers. His fiery hair was artfully tousled, and his intense red eyes sparkled like gems.

Dressed impeccably in a tailored suit with a glass of wine resting casually in his hand, he exuded an air of effortless charm.

Thalia recognized these two almost immediately.

The Draken twins — Alice and Willem.

"Oh, it is you!" said Alice Draken, the redheaded beauty. "I saw you from afar and thought I should come say hi."

Thalia smiled one of her perfect smiles, though she couldn't hide the exasperation in her eyes. "Right! Ali, how are you? And you too, Will. It's been so long since we met."

No one else, not even other high nobles, would ever dare address a prince and princess so casually.

Except for Thalia.

The three of them were close childhood friends, after all. Formality among them would feel strange.

Okay, maybe calling them friends was a bit of a stretch.

She was their… acquaintance? Rival? Future supporter for their claim to the Central Throne? Yeah, maybe the last one.

"We've been good," Willem greeted with a smile next. "Well, at least we were until we had to attend this stupid party."

Thalia rolled her eyes and dropped her smile again. "I've been surrounded since the moment I stepped foot in this hall. I thought that with you two here, people would come to you instead of me."

"You're underestimating yourself, then," Alice chuckled. "It would've been a bit calmer if the Ace had been here. Speaking of which, where is your brother?"

Her brother.

Thalia couldn't help but grit her teeth.

Her brother had secured the title of the Ace.

When he dueled with their father, Samael promised he would rank first in the entrance exam.

He promised he would reclaim the honor he had lost.

He stood by his words.

He proved he was worthy of being called a Theosbane.

And it irked her to no end.

"Who knows?" she shrugged. "He's probably late… as usual."

"Right. Not a very responsible man, is he these days? I heard he turned up to be quite a troublemaker. Who would've expected? He was so... innocent, back in the day." A light smirk twisted on Alice's lips. "But honestly, even if he won the Evaluation Exam, how could the Academy award the title of the Ace to a… delinquent? Isn't that right?"

But instead of joining her, Thalia merely glared at her with unspoken ferocity. After a moment of sharp silence, she said, "We are not children anymore. Do not berate my family in front of me."

The smirk on Alice's face grew wider. "Aww. You always look so cute when you're angry. Anyway, it doesn't matter. Your brother won't hold the title of Ace for very long. I'll take it from him soon enough."

Now was Thalia's cue to smirk. "Yeah, sorry, Princess. You'll have to wait in line because I'm ahead of you on that."

Once again, silence settled over the trio as the two young women continued to glare at each other, the air between them snapped with tension… and the sound of Willem sipping on his drink.

The bastard was enjoying the show!

Unfortunately, before their little bickering could escalate into a real argument, a commotion spread through the hall because…

"Oh! Look! He's here!"

"So he's really the Ace? My goodness! He could have never earned that title if I had participated in the exam."

"He's a thief! The Ace is a thief! He stole my sword!"

"And my dignity!"

Samael Kaizer Theosbane finally made his appearance.