My Ruin to You - Chapter 144

At the protocol officer’s announcement, the large doors swung open. As the delegation in exotic attire appeared, music began to play, and the academy students lining both sides of the pathway raised their wands high. Starting from the area closest to the door, the luminescent stones burst, dyeing the delegation’s entrance in a brilliant light. It was a simple task—just channeling magic through the wand—but carelessness often leads to mistakes.

Just as Roseline was barely ignoring the unsettling gaze and observing the raised wands, an attack-affinity magic burst from the opposite side. It seemed like magic that should have been gathered into a wand had instead ricocheted. Without a moment to hesitate, Roseline instinctively cast a protective barrier toward that direction.

The magic, having absorbed the attack affinity, spread out in waves, simultaneously igniting all the surrounding luminescent stones. Dozens of wands flared up at once, their bright light reflecting from the ceiling to the floor, adorning the pathway. As the brilliant radiance unfolded, the Belhar delegation stopped in their tracks to admire the spectacle. It didn’t take long for applause to erupt.

“We are at a loss for how to respond to such a magnificent welcome.”

The delegation, unaware of the details, was simply delighted.

“This year’s Manifestors must be more skilled. How could it be so beautiful?”
“Indeed. I think this is the most splendid ceremony I’ve ever seen.”

Even among the nobles, exclamations of admiration poured out. The reactions of the academy students, mere freshmen, weren’t much different. They looked puzzled, tilting their heads in confusion at the luminescent stones that had lit up against their will.

Only the Manifestors and professors attending the banquet breathed a sigh of relief, belatedly patting their chests over the situation that hadn’t escalated into an accident. Their wide eyes naturally turned toward Roseline. Her precision, range, and control over the wave were at a level no freshman could dare to imitate.

“…….”

Roseline, too, realized this belatedly. She subtly lowered her wand and pretended as if she had done nothing.

Despite her indifferent expression, she was fuming inside. They say you can’t change a person’s nature, and here I am, proving it right. If she had just stayed still, someone else would have handled it—why did she have to step forward like some kind of hero? Really, her meddling is a disease.

“……Goodness.”

Schnitzel, who had noticed the ricocheting attack magic but hadn’t dared to try blocking it, looked at Roseline with admiration.

“Seems like all that running around wasn’t just for nothing. Well, I admit it. You were pretty incredible just now.”

Schnitzel, having quickly composed her expression, raised her chin and clapped. Clap, clap, clap. As the other students, still unaware of the exact situation, turned their heads at the sound, Roseline quickly pointed at Schnitzel’s shoe.

“Huh? Young Lady, your shoelace is untied.”
“Ah, really?”

While Schnitzel looked down at her shoe, Roseline swiftly slipped away. By the time Schnitzel realized her shoes had no laces and chased after her, grumbling about what she was doing, Roseline just laughed. Though Schnitzel scolded her, asking what was so funny, she made no further mention of it.

“You’ve endured a long journey. The stars of the Empire have led the way in welcoming you, so please enjoy today’s festivities to the fullest.”

As the Emperor’s voice, welcoming the delegation, spread calmly, the attention gathered on Roseline quickly dispersed. Except for one pair of eyes.

When she casually glanced back, pretending to scratch her forehead, as expected—their eyes met again. She quickly averted her gaze, but this time, too, she failed to control her expression. Half of her wanted to confront him and ask what he was looking at, while the other half wanted to flee somewhere his gaze couldn’t reach. Since the former was hardly feasible, there was only one thing to do: remove herself.

“Let’s go.”

It was just as the lines formed along the pathway for the ceremony began to disperse. Roseline blended in among her similarly uniformed classmates and moved to a corner of the banquet hall.

“If the Grand Duke opens the first dance today, this banquet would become truly special.”

The Emperor looked at Valen with a mischievous smile. He knew his indifferent brother wouldn’t readily agree and had made the remark half in jest, expecting a disgusted reaction as if to say, Why are you asking me to do such a thing? But instead of outright refusing, Valen leisurely scanned the banquet hall—as if choosing a partner for the first dance.