"I wanted to ask you sothing…" Elise added.
I listened to her.
"I have been aning to ask... You and Anna, when did you start dating?"
SPRUTTT!
"Cough... Cough...! What?!" Both Anna and I said in unison.
"Wait, is that true?" Julius said. "Congrats you two."
"We are not dating!" we added.
"Jeez! I'm just ssing with you. Hahahahaha!" Elise erupted in laughter.
Sigh...
How annoying. What should I do with her?
Oh! Wait, that reminds .
I turned to Anna and asked,
"How did you get permission to co here?"
"Permission?" Anna tilted her head.
Nobles had their own set of rules and ethics. They wouldn't let their children attend just any birthday party—especially a commoner's. And considering their child had just returned from a nightmarish hell…
"My brother had no problem with it since Senior Elise herself requested him," she said smugly.
"..."
That's it? And he just agreed?!
"Albert may look cold on the outside," Elise spoke, cutting into her chocolate mousse cake with a fork. "Buuut… once you get to know him, you'll see he has the softest heart."
The way she talked about Albert made rethink my opinion of him.
'Albert, huh…'
I narrowed my eyes, making a ntal note to do so digging on him later.
'Leave them alone.' Sera interrupted.
'But as her brother, I have to find out if he's any good for my sister. What if he—'
'Drop it!'
'Tsk.'
"Brother dear, you have a nasty look on your face," Elise complained, stabbing her cake a little too aggressively with her fork.
"Ugh!"
I flinched. I almost forgot—after my mother, Elise was the scariest one. I still rembered the day when I was twelve… I had a small fight with my sister. And guess who won?
Elise.
With words alone, she gave an identity crisis.
I hurriedly changed the topic, looking toward Aria, who was elegantly biting her chocolate cake, savoring its flavor.
"Aria, how about you? I am more surprised that you got permission."
Well, I do actually know the reason, but despite that, I asked.
"...My mother, she first wanted to reject the invitation, but—" Aria said slowly, cutting another small slice from the cake, "but when I said your na, she just let go."
"..."
The mont she said that, every eye turned toward .
I knew what they were thinking, so without them asking first, I answered.
"I had introduced myself to Madam Envy when we got stuck on the demon continent," I said, lowering my gaze to my plate. "Maybe by that, she must have found out how good of a guy I am."
'Don't you feel a little bit of sha?' Sera comnted, and I, of course, ignored her.
"I-Is that so." My sister replied hesitantly to my almost perfect justification.
As ti passed by, we made a little chatter about our families and the inner political stress between noble houses. They were all interesting to hear.
But the thing that was more interesting was Julius's case.
Unlike others, who imdiately got a call from their House's head after they teleported back to the Human Continent, Julius, on the other hand, simply went back to Nova's dormitory. All by himself—nobody ca to pick him up.
We didn't push him further for the reason, knowing it was maybe sothing related to his family situation. But hearing his story about this morning made my mother all riled up.
"What absurd parenting!" She slamd her hand on the table, causing everyone, including , to flinch.
"How could they not care?!" she continued. "Julius dear, if you feel too lonely, co to our little house. The doors are always open for you."
Eh? Mother, please don't. You don't know Julius—he might really co!
Not that I had any problem.
'Then why are you complaining?' I ignored the ghost's voice.
'Rude!'
"It's fine, Ma'am," Julius hesitantly waved his hand. "It's not that bad... hahaha!"
But the way he said that made it even worse.
"No!" My mother was a bit persistent. She clenched her fist and raised it over her head. "Let et them in person. I will give your mama a piece of my mind!"
"?!" That startled .
Getting tangled with nobles was the last thing I wanted.
But before I said anything, Elise cald her down. "Mother, don't bother. Julius is an intelligent guy. He ranked second in his year—he knows how to handle all of it."
That's convincing. All nobles want are results that benefit their house.
But wait... If that's the case, what made Julius's parents ignore his arrival?
"Is that so..." My mother finally cald down. "But Julius dear, you can visit us any day you want."
"Alright, Ma'am." Julius, finally giving up, agreed to her request.
Well, it's not like he will truly visit... Hopefully.
"Alright, everyone," my father ca from the kitchen, holding a large tray in his hand. "Who wants ice cream?"
"!" Julius and Anna both said in unison.
As we helped ourselves to the ice cream, the conversation between us went on further, finally shifting from Nobles to Heroes.
They discussed the battles between that faceless Nathalia and Hope. And I, on the other hand, just kept my silence and listened to all of them.
Then, at the sa ti, our wristbands buzzed.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
All five of ours—Anna, Aria, Julius, Elise, and mine.
The conversation halted as we all tapped on our notifications. And the mont we read the ssage, all our faces turned pale.
"Well... Just my rotten luck."
---
Nova Academy.
★ Important Announcent.
「Attention, students of Nova Academy.
For student safety, the governnt and board have mandated that all students, local or foreign, must reside in Nova Academy's dormitory. This rule is effective imdiately.
Further details will follow.」
Signature.
Headmistress of Nova.
Ruby Oliver.
---
Aria and Elise both gasped.
"This is ridiculous!" Elise exclaid. "How could they... This is... This is..."
"This is absurd," Anna murmured, her voice slow yet clear enough for everyone to hear.
"What happened?" my mother asked.
My father, noticing our reaction, looked at us with concern.
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