The royal castle of Araulia was alive with activity.
Servants hurried through the halls, carrying trays of food and arranging decorations. Musicians tuned their instruments, and the air was filled with the scent of fresh flowers. It was the grandest event of the year—Princess Flora's 10th birthday.
Inside one of the guest rooms, Yuuya frowned at his reflection in the mirror.
The formal butler uniform felt stiff and uncomfortable. The neatly tied bow, the polished shoes, the elegant coat—it was too much.
"This is ridiculous," Yuuya muttered, tugging at his collar.
Lena, standing behind him, placed her hands on her hips. "Stop fidgeting, Yuuya-sama! You need to look presentable. You are Princess Flora's personal butler—you can't attend the party looking like a mess."
Yuuya sighed. "Who decided I had to be a butler again?"
"The king," Lena said sweetly, giving him a smug smile.
Yuuya groaned.
A soft knock came from the door.
"Yuuya?"
Flora stepped inside, dressed in an elegant white and gold gown.
She looked beautiful. The dress, adorned with delicate embroidery, made her look like a true princess. Her golden eyes sparkled, but her expression held a hint of unease.
Yuuya immediately noticed.
"...You okay?" he asked.
Flora hesitated, looking down at her gloved hands.
"Yuuya… do you think people will like me?"
Yuuya blinked. "Huh?"
Flora bit her lip. "I know I'm the princess, but… sometimes I feel like I don't fit in with the nobles. I don't know what they expect from me."
Yuuya stared at her for a moment before exhaling.
"Flora, you're already the princess. You don't have to try to be one."
Flora's eyes widened slightly.
"You just have to be you," Yuuya continued. "And if they don't like that, that's their problem, not yours."
For a moment, she looked stunned. Then, slowly, a small smile formed on her lips.
"Thank you, Yuuya," she whispered.
Lena clapped her hands. "Alright, time to go! The party is about to begin!"
Yuuya groaned again, but this time, Flora giggled at his reaction.
The grand ballroom was filled with noble families from all over Araulia. Elegant chandeliers bathed the room in warm light, and an orchestra played soft melodies in the background.
At the front of the room stood King Alfred, greeting the arriving guests.
The most anticipated guests of the evening finally arrived—the Royal Family of Paldia.
The moment Chris von Paldia spotted Yuuya, he smirked and marched toward him.
Chris was dressed in a finely tailored suit, the fabric of deep navy accented with gold trim. Despite the sharp cut of his attire, his slender frame and the graceful way he carried himself gave him an almost delicate air. His slightly long, fiery red hair framed his face softly, and his features—clear skin, refined jawline, and striking brown eyes—were sharp enough to make more than a few nobles glance twice.
It wouldn't be surprising if someone mistook him for a noble girl at first glance.
Yet the confident stride, the sharpness in his eyes, and the smirk tugging at his lips quickly dispelled any such assumptions.
"Yuuya!" Chris called, drawing the attention of many nobles.
Yuuya, who had been standing quietly in the corner of the room, sighed. So much for staying unnoticed.
Chris stopped in front of him, arms crossed. "Let me introduce you properly."
Behind him stood a tall, imposing man with short crimson hair and sharp brown eyes—King Cain von Paldia. Next to him, a graceful woman with warm hazel eyes and auburn hair—the Queen of Paldia.
Cain studied Yuuya before speaking. "So, you're the boy my son won't stop talking about."
Yuuya blinked. "He talks about me?"
Chris scoffed. "Of course not! I just—"
The queen giggled. "Don't be shy, Chris. You admire him, don't you?"
Chris turned red. "T-That's not—!"
Yuuya smirked. "Good to know I have a fan."
Chris glared. "I take it back!"
Cain let out a deep chuckle. "I've heard some interesting things about you, boy. I look forward to seeing your skills myself."
Yuuya didn't like the way Cain's sharp gaze lingered on him.
Before he could say anything, the music changed.
A hush fell over the room.
The grand doors opened.
Princess Flora entered the ballroom.
The room fell silent.
She was stunning. The white and gold gown shimmered under the lights, and the small tiara on her head perfectly suited her.
For a brief moment, everyone in the ballroom forgot to breathe.
Even Yuuya felt a flicker of surprise.
(…She looks like a real princess now.)
King Alfred stepped forward, raising a glass.
"Thank you all for attending tonight. Let us celebrate the birthday of my beloved daughter, Princess Flora."
The nobles applauded enthusiastically.
"And now," Alfred continued, "we shall begin the first dance."
All eyes turned toward Flora.
Her first dance belonged to her chosen partner.
Flora turned to Yuuya.
Yuuya sighed inwardly. (Great. More attention.)
Still, he stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Princess, may I have this dance?"
Flora's hand trembled slightly, but she placed it in his.
Yuuya led her to the centre of the ballroom.
The orchestra began playing.
Yuuya moved smoothly and confidently, guiding Flora through the steps.
At first, she was stiff, but as he whispered, "Relax. Just follow my lead," she began to ease into the rhythm.
By the time the song ended, Flora was smiling brightly.
The ballroom erupted into applause.
Whispers of admiration filled the air.
"She's truly a princess…"
"The way they danced… so elegant!"
Flora beamed with happiness.
Yuuya, however, took the first chance to slip away from the spotlight.
The party was in full swing. Laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses filled the grand ballroom.
Yuuya, however, stayed near the edges of the room, avoiding unnecessary attention. He had done his duty—dancing with Flora—and now he just wanted the night to pass quietly.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
"Hey, you."
A sharp, mocking voice cut through the cheerful atmosphere.
Yuuya turned to see a group of noble boys standing before him.
The leader—a blond-haired boy dressed in an elaborate noble's outfit—stared down at him with an arrogant smirk.
"You really think a commoner like you belongs here?"
Yuuya's expression didn't change. He had heard this kind of insult before.
The boy sneered. "Not only did you dance with the princess, but you walked around like you actually deserve to be by her side."
Another noble chuckled. "Seriously. What are you, her pet?"
The boys laughed.
Yuuya's fingers curled into a fist.
(…This again.)
The words, the laughter, the condescension—it reminded him of his past life.
He had experienced the same kind of treatment before.
Back then, he couldn't fight back.
Back then, he had been powerless.
But now?
Yuuya breathed in slowly, suppressing the urge to react.
The noble boy smirked. "Why don't you crawl back to whatever slum you came from, commoner?"
Before Yuuya could respond—
Chris stepped forward.
"Shut up," Chris said, his tone sharp.
The noble boys flinched.
Chris folded his arms. "Yuuya is worthy of being Princess Flora's partner. More worthy than any of you."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
The noble boy's face twisted with anger.
"Tch. I don't need to hear that from a foreign prince."
Then, he smirked.
"If he's really so great, then he should prove it. I, Cedric von Verne challenge you for a duel"
The boy is the son of the royal doctor, Isaac Von Verne
With a dramatic motion, he pulled off one of his gloves and threw it at Yuuya's feet.
A gasp spread through the room.
"A duel!" someone whispered.
"He formally challenged him…"
Yuuya stared at the glove.
The blond noble crossed his arms. "Fight me. Right here, right now."
The room grew silent.
King Alfred's brows furrowed. He considered stopping the fight, but—
"Let them fight."
A deep, amused voice rang out.
All eyes turned toward King Cain von Paldia.
Cain smirked; his sharp gaze locked onto Yuuya.
"I want to see what the boys is capable of."
Alfred hesitated, but after a moment, he nodded.
The servants quickly cleared space in the ballroom.
Two wooden swords were brought.
Chris leaned closer to Yuuya. "Make him cry," he whispered.
Yuuya smirked. "I'll think about it."
Cedric gripped his sword tightly, stepping forward with arrogance.
"This will be over in seconds," Cedric said.
Yuuya exhaled. (You have no idea.)
Yuuya picked up the wooden sword, rolling his shoulders.
His opponent—a noble trained in swordsmanship—smirked confidently.
"Don't cry when you lose, commoner."
Yuuya didn't react.
A knight stepped forward to officiate the match.
"Begin!"
Cedric rushed forward immediately.
He swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming straight for Yuuya's ribs.
Yuuya sidestepped effortlessly.
Cedric stumbled slightly, caught off balance.
The crowd murmured.
"Fast… he dodged without effort?"
Cedric growled, gritting his teeth. "Tch!"
He recovered and attacked again.
Swing.
Dodge.
Swing.
Dodge.
Every single attack missed.
It wasn't just that Yuuya was dodging.
He wasn't even trying.
He moved with complete ease, sidestepping as if the attacks were slow and predictable.
Chris watched with a smirk. (He's toying with him.)
Cedric frustration grew. "STOP DODGING!"
He lifted his sword for a downward slash—
Yuuya finally moved.
SMACK.
A sharp, precise strike to the Cedric's wrist.
"Ah!"
Cedric yelped as his sword flew out of his hands, clattering to the ground.
Gasps filled the ballroom.
Everyone had seen it.
The duel had ended in a single strike.
Yuuya stood there, relaxed, his wooden sword pointed at his opponent's chest.
"You lost," Yuuya said flatly.
Cedric's face turned red. "You—!"
He clenched his fists and lunged at Yuuya in rage—
WHACK.
Yuuya swept his legs out from under him, sending him crashing onto his back.
The crowd burst into whispers.
"He completely humiliated him…"
"He didn't even try."
Cedric lay there, humiliated, his face burning with shame.
Cain von Paldia, who had been watching closely, suddenly grinned.
"HAHAHAHA!"
His booming laughter filled the ballroom.
The Knight King's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"That was incredible!" Cain declared. "Such precision, such control! This boy is something else!"
The nobles whispered amongst themselves.
For the first time, they looked at Yuuya with something other than contempt.
Even King Alfred seemed slightly impressed.
Chris walked up to Yuuya; arms crossed. "Not bad."
Yuuya exhaled, rubbing his forehead. "Can I go now?"
Cain laughed again. "I like this kid."
Cedric lay on the floor, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His face was twisted in humiliation, his fists clenching against the marble floor.
The laughter from King Cain, the murmurs of the nobles—it was unbearable.
He gritted his teeth, his pride refusing to let him accept this.
Yuuya hadn't even broken a sweat. He had been mocking him.
Cedric forced himself to his feet, trembling with rage.
"You think this is over?" he spat, his voice laced with venom. "You're just a filthy commoner! No matter what tricks you pull, you'll never be one of us!"
The ballroom grew silent.
Yuuya tilted his head slightly. His expression was unreadable, but the way his blsck eyes stared at Cedric made the boy flinch.
(…He's not even angry.)
That realization made Cedric's blood boil even more.
He turned on his heel, storming toward the exit.
From the shadows of the ballroom, a pair of cold eyes watched the duel's outcome.
Isaac von Verne—Cedric's father and the royal doctor—stood in silence.
His grip on his wine glass tightened.
His son, humiliated.
By a commoner.
Isaac's expression darkened.
(That boy… I won't let him get away with this.)
As the ballroom erupted in conversation, Isaac silently walked away.
The party eventually came to an end.
Guests left one by one, but Yuuya remained behind.
He found Flora sitting in the garden, gazing up at the stars.
"Flora."
She turned, blinking in surprise.
Yuuya held out a small box.
She took it, opening it carefully.
Inside was a delicate flower necklace.
Flora gasped softly. "Yuuya, this is…"
"I bought it with the money I earned from treating you," Yuuya said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Flora's golden eyes shimmered with emotion.
"...Thank you, Yuuya. I love it."
She held it close to her chest, smiling.
Yuuya yawned. "I'm going to bed."
Flora giggled. "Rest well, Yuuya."
As Yuuya walked away, his body felt heavy with exhaustion.
(What a day...)
The moment he reached his bed—he collapsed.
And just like that, the longest night of his life finally ended.