Under the guidance of Dean Saires, the large procession from the Astoria and Flamort academies walked together entering the main hall of the immensely vast and grand Victoriaz academy building. The gleaming white marble floor reflected the light from the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
However, there was one odd sight amidst the procession. Kylen, the fifth prince of the Flamort Kingdom, was still loyally walking by Arvin's side. Even though Anna, Ziona, Tania, and Vian had repeatedly called and asked him to rejoin their own team's formation so as not to cause a commotion, Kylen stubbornly refused. His reason remained the same and was repeated over and over: he did not want Arvin to run away and escape from their bet.
Seeing the prince's stubbornness, Vian could only let out a long sigh from a distance.
Good grief, this person... Vian complained in his heart, shaking his head slowly. Does he really like Arvin Vedegra? In my entire life, this is the first time I have seen him acting this ridiculously and unwilling to stay away from someone using such a fabricated excuse.
Feeling uncomfortable for constantly being tailed, Arvin turned his head toward the prince's friend.
"Vian, can you pull this prince back to your formation?" Arvin asked in a flat yet firm tone. "He is on a team with you guys, not with us! His presence here is only blocking the way."
Hearing Arvin's request, Vian raised both of his hands, a sign of surrender.
"It's useless, Arvin. My strength won't be enough to drag him if he is already that stubborn." Vian answered resignedly. He then glanced at Kylen with the intention of teasing him. "Besides... it seems he is indeed very attracted to you."
"What do you mean?!" Kylen exclaimed angrily.
Vian ignored his prince's protest and continued talking. "Because just so you know, Arvin... since we were kids until now, this is the first time I have seen him clinging and unwilling to stay away from someone. Even though he is a prince who is very against being approached by strangers. He would never let someone he doesn't trust approach him even a single step, let alone him voluntarily continuing to cling and wanting to approach someone."
Vian smiled mischievously. "He is indeed a prideful person and the hardest to speak honestly about his feelings. Sometimes I even have to—"
Before Vian could finish his sentence, a solid blob of water suddenly darted forward and directly gagged his mouth.
"Mmphh! Mmphh!" Vian struggled, his eyes widening in shock because his mouth was suddenly silenced by Kylen's water magic.
"Stop talking nonsense about me, Vian!" the prince snapped with a face that was already perfectly flushed to the tips of his ears because his secret was exposed.
Having already become panicked and embarrassed, Kylen lost control over his words. He instead returned the attack by exposing his own best friend's secret.
"Do you think you're better than me?! You are just as cowardly, right? Haven't you secretly liked Anna for a long time? Why didn't you just honestly tell her your feelings a long time ago, you loser!"
Silence instantly engulfed the area. Everyone's eyes, especially the members of the Flamort delegation, were immediately fixed on Vian and Anna.
This time, it was Vian's turn whose face turned as red as a boiled crab. He was still struggling with his mouth gagged by water, not expecting Kylen to retaliate in such a cruel way in public.
Meanwhile, Anna, the blonde young woman whose name had just been mentioned, fell silent. She turned her body slowly and looked, staring right into the eyes of the panicking Vian.
"Vian..." Anna called softly, her tone sounding very serious. "Do you really like me like he said?" Anna asked, confirming the truth of the secret that had just been exposed.
Damn you, Kylen! Vian cursed, flailing inwardly, wishing he could drown Kylen to the bottom of the ocean. You actually said something that was supposed to be my biggest secret! Now, with Anna looking at me directly like this, I can no longer lie or dodge it. Damn you!
Feeling there was no way out, Vian finally surrendered to fate. Very reluctantly, accompanied by a heart beating so fast it felt like it would jump out of his chest, he nodded slowly with his mouth still gagged by water. His face was very red because he had to hold back tremendous embarrassment and a deep fear of rejection from the woman he loved.
Seeing that nod, Anna fell silent for a moment.
"Is that so?" Anna exclaimed with a facial expression that was very difficult to interpret, making Vian's heart beat even more erratically.
Then, a sweet smile bloomed on Anna's face. "Why did you never tell me directly? Honestly, I have also actually liked you since the first time we met at my older brother's wedding ceremony party a few years ago."
Kylen, Tania, Ziona, and even some Astoria students who were eavesdropping, were incredibly shocked to hear what Anna had just said in front of everyone. A very honest mutual confession of love in a public place.
Hearing that confession, Vian instantly forgot his embarrassment. Quickly, he channeled mana to his face and activated his earth magic. The blob of magic water gagging his mouth was instantly absorbed by the dust and dirt particles he created, turning it into a clump of dry mud that immediately crumbled and fell to the floor, allowing him to speak freely again.
"S-So... you also have the same feelings for me?" Vian asked stammeringly, not daring to believe his own hearing.
Anna nodded without hesitation.
"Then... can I officially become your lover now?" Vian asked again, stepping forward.
Anna chuckled seeing the youth's nervous behavior, then nodded again. "I have absolutely no reason to reject a proposal from a man I already like."
The answer that came out of Anna's mouth successfully made Vian, whose love had been accepted, directly jump and shout in joy, completely ignoring the bewildered stares, laughter, and teasing from everyone around him.
Seeing the romantic moment that suddenly happened due to his own doing, Kylen stood stiffly, feeling a bit awkward.
"Well, His Highness Prince Kylen..." Ziona suddenly chimed in, breaking the prince's awkwardness with a highly sarcastic tone. Her expression looked cynical as she stared at Kylen's face. "At least, Vian has the guts and is brave enough to express his own feelings when pushed, rather than only having the courage to approach someone and keep clinging to that person using ridiculous excuses like a child."
Kylen, feeling utterly slighted, instantly had his emotions ignited. "What is the meaning of your words, Ziona?!" he exclaimed, refusing to accept it.
"Oh, it's nothing!" Ziona replied casually while waving her hand, intentionally provoking the prince's anger. "I'm just speaking facts. But well... the brain of a fool will indeed never be able to properly filter and grasp the meaning of someone's words."
"What did you say?!" Kylen's jaw hardened. "You dare call a royal prince a fool? Do you want to be punished?!"
"Did I mention your name earlier?" Ziona replied, shrugging her shoulders. "Or could it be... you yourself feel that you are indeed a fool, huh?"