OHNIR – Chapter 80
Chapter 80: Reason
“If you would grace me with your presence, I will have an invitation sent to you immediately,” Satrick added courteously. “And, if you wish, you may certainly request two from me—that would make it easier for you to invite a partner of your choosing.”
“…”
Kelusta stared at the hand, silent.
You’re just giving me an invitation, why the gesture? Trying to seem more sincere?
So dramatic. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were asking me to be your dance partner.
But complaints aside, to be honest, this sudden curveball still caught Kelusta somewhat off guard.
She hadn’t expected Satrick to choose such a direct way to invite her… In her original prediction, she would at most receive a trivial invitation, which she could simply return as it was. There would be no need to refuse the prince to his face.
Because such an ungracious act would definitely do Kelusta more harm than good.
But now, her luck had run out. She could run into major trouble just by taking an exam, and in a single moment of distraction, the man’s hand was right under her nose…
Fine. It seemed she couldn’t avoid making Satrick lose a little face after all.
—Fortunately, no one would see it here.
At this thought, Kelusta felt a little more at ease, no longer so worried about the potential drawbacks of refusing his invitation.
She raised her eyes, her gaze shifting from the slender, white-gloved hand to Satrick’s gentle face. After a moment of thought, she said, “For a momentous occasion like the Royal Ball, it’s best for a commoner like me not to cause a disturbance. Thank you for your kind offer, Your Highness.”
But Satrick just shook his head with a smile, his hand still extended. As if afraid Kelusta didn’t understand the current rules of the ball, he explained thoughtfully, “Several years ago, a Palace Outer Dance Floor was established for the entertainment of the capital’s citizens. It’s located in Brilliant Plaza… If you truly don’t wish to enter the Royal Palace, you can just invite a few friends to have some fun outside. That is also perfectly acceptable.”
Kelusta discreetly pursed her lips, rolling her eyes inwardly.
As expected of the prince, he certainly has a way with words.
He was being stingy, only wanting to give out a few invitations to the outer dance floor, yet he framed it as Kelusta herself having reservations and refusing to go to the palace ballroom… This move made him appear generous while simultaneously blocking her excuse. It was truly killing two birds with one stone.
—After all, even if Satrick was the King’s most favored child, he wouldn’t have many invitations to the palace ball where the nobles would be in attendance. Upon sensing Kelusta’s hesitation, the shrewd heir immediately decided to save one if he could.
But Kelusta had already decided to accept Gloria’s invitation. She had to stick to her story of “not wanting to attend the ball” and absolutely could not give Satrick any opportunity to bestow a favor upon her.
This way, even if Kelusta changed her mind later and “suddenly wanted to go,” it would still be her own decision.
“I must thank you again for your invitation, Your Highness,” Kelusta said with a smile, taking a step back with clear intent to refuse. “But as you said, the Palace Outer Dance Floor was established specifically for the entertainment of the capital’s citizens… I am neither a good dancer nor a resident of the capital. How could I have the cheek to accept your invitation and take up a spot for no reason?”
“…”
Satrick narrowed his eyes slightly.
As an heir, the most crucial skill to hone was the ability to read people. After this much back and forth, he could of course see Kelusta’s firm refusal.
Normally, he should choose to back down now and stop trying to invite her, lest she mistake his intentions as “coercion” and lose even more favor with her.
However, in Satrick’s view, this was a golden opportunity.
The Royal Ball was an event of the highest caliber, and every year people would fight tooth and nail to get in. Many believed that even just making an appearance on Brilliant Plaza was a definitive symbol of status and ability.
Because even at the outer dance floor, influential commoners and certain noble liaisons who needed to make connections among the populace would often be present… It could be said that for a “poor student” like Kelusta, a ball invitation from the prince himself was already a very sincere recruitment tactic.
And in Satrick’s opinion, he had extended an olive branch to Kelusta for so long with no response. Wasn’t it because she felt his sincerity was lacking?
Therefore, after some consideration, he decided to try again.
After all, as long as Kelusta accepted this invitation, she would naturally owe him a rather large favor—
And as everyone knew, “owing a favor” was an important start and foundation for building a closer relationship in the future.
“The successive kings have all wished to see their subjects enjoy equal treatment, and the concept of ‘subjects’ is certainly not limited to the small area of the capital,” Satrick said. “Every human standing on the continent’s soil is a subject of Nobili and is qualified to participate in the kingdom’s ball.”
“If the dance floor were limited only to the citizens of the capital, wouldn’t that be putting the cart before the horse and fostering a new kind of ‘regional discrimination’?” the prince said faintly. “So, Miss Kelusta, you need not be bound by such a baseless ‘unwritten rule’ that only capital residents are qualified to attend. —As for ‘not being able to dance,’ that’s even less of an issue. If you need, just say the word, and I believe the court dance masters would be more than happy to be of service to you.”
“…”
The brown-haired girl pressed her lips together, remaining silent for the moment.
—Satrick really was a major pain.
Kelusta thought this, lowering her eyes, her lashes hiding the impatience about to burst forth from her gaze.
She had thought her second refusal would make him back down, but he had countered both excuses, making it clear he wouldn’t let her easily refuse this favor.
And Kelusta herself couldn’t make her reasons for refusal too harsh. After all, she was still waiting for an invitation from her Lux… If she made her refusal absolute now, only to run into the prince at the ball, it would surely displease him. It might even lead him to have more prejudice against Gloria, who was already closer to Starangui.
She subtly shifted her eyes, pondering for a moment, when her peripheral vision happened to catch sight of a nearly collapsing wall not far to her side.
This path was buried deep in the woods. Aside from a few students like Kelusta who were too lazy to walk an extra step, it really didn’t attract any attention.
Even the surrounding wall was in disrepair, with bricks scattered on the ground. The entire wall looked like it was about to fall over.
But it wasn’t very high, and there weren’t many bricks, so the danger level was low. It didn’t look at all conspicuous. Even the students who used this shortcut probably saw it and felt it wasn’t necessary to report to the school.
But right now, it had caught Kelusta’s attention.
If this wall completely collapsed, the bricks could fall right on them; but because there were so few, they wouldn’t be enough to truly injure them…
She decided it was the perfect prop to create a reason for refusal on the spot.
Thus, the brown-haired girl’s fingertips, hidden behind her back, moved slightly, but she restrained herself from curling them into the gesture that would “summon water elements.”
And even while casting the spell, she was multitasking, continuing to chat and laugh with Satrick as if nothing was wrong.
“I was too shallow to have misunderstood the love His Majesty and Your Highness have for the people. I am truly ashamed,” Kelusta lamented. “As a commoner, I am more sensitive to the subtle class discrimination that exists in the academy… Now that His Majesty is willing to personally improve this situation, we are naturally the greatest beneficiaries. There is no reason not to show our support and love—thank you to the Royal Family, long live Nobili.”
While she delivered this long string of compliments, the water magic on the other side continued to draw streams of water from the trees and soil, causing them to gather and condense rapidly. Separated from the two by the wall, a powerful ball of water gradually swirled and grew.
On this side of the wall, Satrick, unaware of her little trick, smiled, clearly pleased by Kelusta’s praise.
Didn’t the Royal Family go to all this trouble precisely to win the vast support of the common people?
Thus, the prince, who had been so accurately flattered by Kelusta, was in a good mood. His gaze towards her grew kinder, but the arm he held out seemed to feel no fatigue, remaining raised and even extending a little further.
“I am very grateful for your understanding of the Royal Family’s measures,” Satrick said with a smile, refusing to give up. “In that case, if I cannot invite you to this ball, I would truly feel I have failed His Majesty the King, whom you have praised so highly.”
Kelusta: “…”
I give up. As expected of a master of flattery. How can this troublesome person say something like that?
Did I just dig a hole and bury myself in it?
Kelusta forced a dry smile, her eyes shifting slightly. While her mind raced for a reply, her fingertips did their best to channel all the magic in her body.
And the water ball hidden behind the wall was growing larger and larger as her magic intensified—
“I truly cannot find the words to express my gratitude right now, Your Highness,” she said in a humble tone. “But I still hope you can give me some time to consider. After all, the ball is a matter that requires careful…”
Timing her words to trail off, she suddenly curled her finger. The massive water ball, pulled by its magic source, trembled violently and shot straight towards the teetering wall!
Splash—
CRASH—
The wall, unable to withstand any external force, gave way like a floodgate, and gray bricks poured down like a torrent!
The tremendous sound of the collapse masked the sound of the water ball bursting. Hearing the commotion, Satrick and Kelusta whipped their heads around, only to see bricks hurtling towards them!
Startled, Satrick’s fingertips crackled with lightning. He reacted with extreme speed, striking at the bricks. The powerful magic instantly turned them into grayish-white dust that scattered in mid-air.
Kelusta’s acting was also quite convincing. She put on a horrified expression, gasped, and a solid yet soft water barrier instantly appeared before her palm. It deflected the bricks one by one, some even flying back towards the prince.
Satrick: “…”
Now, he had to deal with gray bricks falling from all directions, so busy he wished he could unleash a whole row of lightning bolts at once. For a moment, he couldn’t spare the energy to even glance in Kelusta’s direction.
Because of this, Satrick naturally did not see that while the magic barrier Kelusta had erected firmly protected her upper body, the fair calf exposed beneath her skirt was struck hard by a brick, scraping it open. A large, bloody, and horrifying wound immediately appeared.
And at the same time—
“Ah!”
A sharp cry of pain from a girl came from behind Satrick. The unlucky prince, having just dealt with the trouble in front of him, spun around abruptly. He saw a familiar, petite figure lying on the ground not far away, blood trickling from her forehead. A few gray bricks were scattered beside her. She was clearly another victim of the wall’s collapse.
Her wine-red hair was splayed on the ground, her eyes were shut tight, and she was completely still, apparently knocked unconscious by a falling brick.
“Avia!”
Satrick froze, shouting his fiancée’s name in surprise. His face was slightly anxious, but when he turned his head, he happened to catch sight of the shocking wound on Kelusta’s leg.
His eyes widened. He looked up sharply, his gaze meeting the brown-haired girl’s.
“…Your Highness, you should go check on Miss Charles. My injury isn’t serious,” Kelusta offered a helpless smile and shrugged. Although her expression couldn’t quite hide her pain, it was mostly filled with a resilient nonchalance. “It’s just—I’m sorry, my leg is freshly broken. I’m afraid I won’t be able to accept your invitation to that rare ball anytime soon.”
Hearing this, Satrick frowned slightly, glancing thoughtfully at the low wall that was now a pile of rubble.
…The timing of this wall’s collapse was truly too coincidental.
But the girl before him, with blood streaming down her leg, looked completely innocent, and his unconscious fiancée was waiting for him to rescue her. Satrick clearly had no time to ponder what had caused this accident—
Therefore, he also missed the patch of damp soil nearby, soaked with water and now as soft as a mud puddle.
“…It’s alright. It’s a shame that such an accident occurred,” he pursed his lips, finally giving up on the invitation. He said with great concern, “But Miss Kelusta, are you really okay? The wound on your leg looks quite—”
“I’m fine, Your Highness,” the brown-haired girl interrupted him with a slight smile. “I have a potions exam next, so I obviously don’t have time to fuss over this… Miss Charles, on the other hand, seems to have been hit quite hard. Don’t worry about my minor injury. Shouldn’t you hurry and take her to the medical room?”
Satrick hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “Alright, I suppose so… I’m very sorry, Miss Kelusta. I believe your last exam is Potions? Please be sure to ask the professor for some hemostatic potions during the exam—use my name—and please don’t let your injury worsen.”
“I will,” Kelusta nodded sensibly, smiling through the pain. “Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness.”
Satrick nodded and, without further delay, turned and ran towards Avia, who looked to be in very bad shape.
After the prince lifted his fiancée into his arms, he turned his head and stared deeply with his azure eyes at Kelusta, who was standing in place, giving him a polite little wave goodbye.
As she watched him go, Satrick offered a faint smile, and holding Avia, he walked quickly in the direction of the medical room.
“…”
Only after his figure had completely disappeared at the end of the path did Kelusta lower her hand, the feigned calm on her face vanishing. She grimaced and let out a heavy sigh.
“What bad luck.”
She said to the System, “I have no idea how much Avia Charles saw or heard, or what kind of trouble she’ll make for me—ugh, the more I think about it, the more my head hurts. I knew nothing good would come from running into Satrick.”
“Alright, temporary host, you can complain when you have time,” the System said helplessly. “Such a serious injury… Unbelievable. You really are ruthless.”
“I had no choice. If I didn’t create a convincing enough reason, Satrick would never have easily given up on his plan to invite me to the ball,” Kelusta shrugged and smiled. “Since it solves the problem once and for all, I think this injury was well worth it.”
Besides, the only one who can invite me to dance is Gloria.
She thought stubbornly, I am only willing to be her sole invitee, her only dance partner.
Although the System didn’t know what she was thinking deep down, it guessed about eighty or ninety percent of it. It couldn’t help but sigh in anger, “I really don’t know whether to praise you for your devotion or curse you for being a madman.”
“Hmm… then let’s just say I’m a devoted madman,” Kelusta’s eyes curved into a smile. “After all, as the heroine, I have to have some special qualities.”
Author's Notes
A status check on the four male leads:
Satrick (Heir Apparent) → A troublesome person of such high status that you have to avoid him at all costs.
Musen (Future Demon King) → A little double agent to be sent to the Demon Realm as a spy once he’s properly raised.
Kevit (Gentle Childhood Friend) → ???
Wend (Aloof Young Noble) → The perennial tool man with excellent performance who comes when called and leaves when dismissed.
A sight that saddens the beholder, a story that makes the listener weep.
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