Chapter 1: The Ball

**Silence**

The music stopped suddenly, leaving a deep stillness in the air. Every eye in the hall turned to me, their expectant gazes piercing through my calm facade. I stood by the bar, a drink in hand, probably having had a bit too much.

"You shouldn't have said that," said the person standing a few feet away. I knew the weight of my words and the possible fallout, but I kept my cool. Sometimes, the truth has to come out, no matter the consequences.

Step by step, the person approached, exuding confidence. The tension in the room grew with each step. The young man had a striking blue mane and sapphire eyes that gleamed. Though shorter than me, he walked with an assured grace.

*Fuu*

I took a deep breath, my resolve firming up. This was a familiar story, but this time, I was determined to change the ending. I would break the cycle of doom.

As the blue-haired youth got closer, the tension thickened. I embraced the calm within, the calm before the storm. I stayed composed, a mask of tranquility facing the impending conflict.

When he finally reached me, his eyes locked onto mine. We stood as equals, calm amid the storm. The clash between us was inevitable, but it would be met with poise and clarity.

The hall fell into a deep stillness, anticipation thick in the air. This wasn't just a physical confrontation but a clash of ideologies. The calm was a testament to our strength and resilience, hinting at the extraordinary tale about to unfold.

...meh, whatever, I don't think I care that much anymore.

"What I said wasn't far from the truth, right... What was your name again? I tend to forget the names of commoner filth," I spat the words at Alex's face.

'Uh-oh, he looks pissed,' I thought.

"Whatever you said about Aurora is wrong. She's not like that," he said. It's true, she's not like that with everyone else. What about me?

I sighed and picked up my drink. "Whoever you are, I don't care. It's not your place to interfere with us nobles. So back off," I continued. "Isn't her behavior indecent? She left her fiancé hanging and went to have the first dance of the night with a complete stranger..." I looked past Alex to see the auburn-haired girl behind him. She had that scared look on her face again.

'It's my third time seeing it, and it's never the same,' I mused.

"Oh! I don't think you're a stranger to her. Is your name Alex? I've seen Aurora writing a few letters to you before. She looks happy," I lied, though I knew she wrote to him. How? I read it.

"I am her... friend, and she's important to me. Take your words back," Alex said. He's not like those naive novel protagonists. He's arrogant and rightfully so because...

'He's the only commoner who came first in the academy entrance exams,' I thought. I used to like his character, but now I just saw him as a powerful kid caught up in this mess.

"And what if I don't? You gonna cry and call the headmaster, or maybe your lovely Aurora will write a letter to her father? Quite a whore, isn't she?" I said. I never liked saying these things, but today I felt calm saying them to Alex's face.

Clench.

Alex clenched his fist, and...

'Oh.' I thought it's different this time. He snatched the glass from my hand.

Splash!

He threw the red wine in my face.

"?" I had a dumb look on my face. Usually, it's just cursing or a punch. Once Aurora slapped me for beating up this kid.

'Well, that was entertaining,' I thought with a hint of amusement. 'It's still easy to beat him, but the consequences would be regrettable.'

"This is what you get for cursing someone important to me," Alex declared, making Aurora blush slightly.

'I can't believe I once loved this girl more than my own life,' I mused, disappointed I wasn't the one to capture her heart.

"Looks like the party is over," I sighed, my anger simmering beneath the surface. I managed to keep it contained, though it took effort. Glancing at the women flocking to Aurora for support, I muttered, "Have fun, bitches."

Alex looked surprised. Did he think I'd fight him? Hell, no.

Alex's eyes widened in surprise, his expectations shattered. Did he truly believe I would curse or engage in a physical altercation with him? Hell, no.

I pivoted on my heels, slowly making my way towards the imposing doors, the grand exit from the lavish ballroom.

"Asher!" Suddenly, a voice called out my name, causing me to pause. How unusual.

Without a word, I turned back to see who had spoken. To my astonishment, it was Aurora.

She stood there, petite and fair-skinned, with waist-length auburn hair cascading down her back. Her slender nose and bright green eyes held a captivating allure.

'Every single person here envied me for having such a breathtaking beauty as my fiancée, even with the vast gap in our societal standings,' I reflected, the realization dawning upon me. 'They were right. The divide between us is too substantial to bridge.'

Silence enveloped the hall, akin to the hush of a pin dropping. Not a single lip dared to utter a sound. Why would they? A grand spectacle was unfolding before their very eyes, and they were determined not to miss a single scene.

"What? If you have nothing to say, don't waste my time," I retorted, unleashing my crude yet unfiltered thoughts.

Aurora gazed at me, her delicate hands trembling ever so slightly. Was she genuinely afraid of me? I had done nothing to harm her, after all.

In the end, she remained silent, refusing to speak a single word. With a resolute air, I turned away and exited the banquet hall.

As I stepped outside, a refreshing breeze greeted me, as if sobering me up from the tumultuous events within. Pulling a vial of healing potion, cleansing myself of its intoxicating presence.

Taking a deep breath I shouted at the top of my lungs and said,"I AM FREE NOW!!"

With this I hope I'll be out of the loop of this story.

THIS FUCKING STORY!!