“Fine.”

The baron smiled. His plan was a success! “Are you sure?”

Ethel was peeved but waved her hands dismissively. “Yes, yes, now what do you want me to do?” She was very sure that she was going to regret this decision. But looking at the baron looked at her with hopeful eyes made it hard to refuse.

Damn it! Was this really that demon instructor in the North? He was like a father persuading his daughter.

“The promissory note I gave you is for your attire. As I recall, the ball recommended a summer gown to wear. But since the ball is to be held in the late afternoon till midnight, I suggest you pair it with a shawl to keep you warm.”

She fiddled with the promissory note in the pocket of her pants and sighed. She was already starting to regret this decision very much. A gown? The last time she wore a dress was before her enrollment in Agora, did that count?

Much less a gown, she didn’t have any knowledge about dresses! Of course she couldn’t just up and buy a gown from some clothing boutiques. She had to be aware of the trends in the capital. If she showed up dressed in some horrendous colors and styles, it was inevitable she’d be the laughing stock.

Ethel got up. “Yes, well i’ll keep all of that in mind. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go now.”

“So soon?” The baron was hoping to take a short break while she stayed and chatted. But it hadn’t even been 10 minutes and she already wanted to leave?

“Yes. I have to go somewhere.”

“Take care.”

“Of course, lord.” Ethel smiled and soon left.

Soon after her departure, she somehow ended up in the central plaza. There were a lot of bustling people and carriages on the road that it was crowded. Not to mention the banners hanging up and the lively atmosphere.

Ethel thought about the upcoming ball two days before the actual event. That was roughly five days from now. From her knowledge, it wasn’t easy to make a ballgown so suddenly. Time had to be taken into account unless you had your own dressmaker. Not to mention shoes and jewelry, she didn’t think a single promissory note was enough to cover those expenses.

The only noble she knew of was Vyron and Fleur, but Vyron was a male and it wouldn’t look good on the both of them if she visited out of the blue. She might even be kicked out because of her mysterious origins.

As for Fleur… her family was pretty nice and they treated her as their own but they were a bit suffocating. Not to mention how nice the Duchess was, she even wanted to buy her clothes! As for the old Duke, he always made sure that they trained.

She got teary just thinking about her pitiful self being dragged around the huge estate. But they were the only ones who could help her figure out a way to get her attire for the ball.

Ethel needed to suck it up and bear with it if she wanted to fulfill the headmaster’s wishes.

At the Cyprus Estate.

“I’m getting terribly bored,” Fleur replied as she laid down on the grass in the gardens.

“Cheer up, sis. The ball is only four days away and I heard the Crown Prince will be there!”

“Apien, I know you mean well but I don’t like the Crown Prince. He’s too lofty and… nice. Something about him feels off, I’m sure of it.” Fleur sighed and rested her head on one of the roots of the old willow tree.

Apien, her younger brother who was a mage at Yllion, had just returned yesterday after training for a week with the other mages. He was half a head smaller than Fleur and majored in spellcasting.

His talents were recognized by the institute and he left the estate around the same time Fleur did.

He rolled his eyes. “You, who love men and flirt with them, dislike the Crown Prince, who’s the very definition of handsome by all the ladies?”

“I never knew you found him attractive, brother. Don’t worry, I won’t touch him if you want him. He’s all yours.”

Apien knocked his staff on his sister’s head. “Your brother also has no interest in the Crown Prince.”

“Yeah, okay. Whatever you say,” Fleur rubbed the spot where she was hit. Her brother could get a little violent sometimes that it was no longer funny.

Before they could continue their conversations, a maid rushed in.

“Young mistress, young master, someone is causing a ruckus at the front gates!” She was panting for air as she collapsed on the ground. It was quite a ways from the gate. She must’ve rushed here since it was so urgent.

Fleur frowned. “Then let the guards handle it, why are you calling us for?”

“The guards tried to make them leave but… but- they were too strong. Before Jhed could touch the person, they shoulder throwed him!”

“Woah, really?” Apien looked surprised. Their head knight was a retired soldier from the Imperial Knight’s first squadron. Not just anyone could attack him.

“Y-yes!”

Fleur stood up and brushed the dirt off her clothes. “We’ll go see the situation.”

As for why the maid didn’t call the head of the household, the general was busy in his study, the Duke was away in court, and the Duchess locked herself up in the office. The butler had told them that if anything were to happen, they should inform the second miss and the second master.

She sighed as she saw them head to the front gate. The household she served was strong. There was no way a troublemaker would beat them.

“Look, I didn’t mean to shoulder throw you. I was just turning around to get something from my bag and you looked ready to assault me. Is acting in self-defense such a crime now?” the person complained.

Both of the siblings could hear their argument from a few meters away. They saw two knights arguing with someone, but their huge builds covered the person’s figure. Fleur frowned even more, somehow that voice was familiar.

“And we keep telling you, miss. You shouldn’t be here. As far as I know, our young miss does not have a friend like you.” The knight explained. He felt an incoming headache.

“What is this commotion about?”