Chapter 133: Chapter133-A little chat with Lia

Lia's POV *** "Nice to meet you, Miss Lia. I have a few things I'd like to talk about." "Miss Lia, it's an honor to have you here. Can we talk for a minute?" "Miss..." The room was buzzing with voices, each one calling my name with varying levels of urgency and friendliness. All the "Miss"es mixed together into a constant, buzzing sound, with everyone trying to get my attention and their faces becoming a blur of smiles and eager expressions. It was overwhelming. The endless requests and greetings made it hard to focus on any one person. Even though I felt a bit lost in the chaos, I did my best to engage with each person, responding politely and thoughtfully. "Hello, I'd love to chat with you, but not right now." Events like this always made me uneasy. It felt like people were drawn to me as if I were bait, each one wanting somethingwhether it was a partnership, support for their projects, or just a favor. Their intentions were clear; their needs and desires were evident in their enthusiastic requests. But I didn't feel angry with them. After all, wanting things is a natural part of being human. I also have my own goals and ambitions that sometimes feel endless. "...I'll most certainly find the time later to discuss the matters with you." "Haha~ Is that so? Thank you so much." The man I was talking to was quite handsome in appearance. With short brown hair and deep green eyes, he stood out from the rest. Although he wasn't from a notable household, his magic was strong. He would certainly make for a good connection. But... 'The smell.' I felt my nose scrunch up with each breath. 'This guy is so...' His entire body was clouded with a thick plume of perfume. A very powerful one at that. The smell was so overbearing that I had a hard time keeping my face straight. "....But is it possible to talk about it now?" Boundaries were being crossed. Instead of getting angry, I chose to clearly state my rejection. "Unfortunately, I am busy." I shook her head and made her rejection clear. "Haha, it won't take long. Please hear me out." "I'm sorry." He insisted. "It really won't take that much time. I insis-" Just then, an announcement for the dance was made, and I seized the moment. I quickly cut him off. "Sorry, but I need to find someone before the dance starts." "But, Miss" I ignored him and began scanning the room for a potential savior. 'Sis...' She was already tied up with someone else. Approaching her would only add to her workload. 'No, no, no...' Who could help me? "Miss, can..." Great, now he's starting too. I needed to find someone who wasn't surrounded by people. As I looked around, I spotted someone. 'There he is...' The perfect person to help me. He was sitting alone in a chair, dressed in a black outfit that fit him perfectly. With his strong features and composed demeanor, he exuded a sense of nobility. His dark, wavy hair framed his striking face, and his intense gaze left a strong impression on anyone who looked at him. He was watching me, seemingly unaware of the many girls glancing in his direction. 'Michael Frostburne.' He was someone with greed like many others here, but he also had a softer side.... Since we first met and became friends, he's always been kind to me, even if he might have a bit of a perverted side. Every time I see him, my heart skips a beat for some unknown reason... He was like a rose with many thorns. It was a trait that made me envious of him. But I wasn't like the rest. Tak! My heels clicked on the marble floor as I walked forward. All eyes turned to me as I advanced. The distance between us closed. "..." Soon, I was standing right in front of him. His expression barely changed. He simply stared at me, his gaze feeling almost oppressive and intimidating. 'As expected of a rose filled with thorns.' Just standing next to him was daunting. That said... "I've been waiting for you." I smiled and extended my hand. ".....Would you do me the honor?" *** Should I take her hand? I looked at the hand stretched out in front of me, aware of all the eyes on us. Slowly, I lifted my head to meet Lia's gaze. What is she thinking? Why me? Out of all the guys here, why did she pick me? Maybe she really does like me. I have saved her a few times from danger, so maybe her feelings have changed. Still, I had to be cautious. Accepting her hand could make people jealous, especially those who are interested in her. But saying no could also be risky. I might anger her suitors or make things worse with those same people. Either way, it feels like trouble. "Hmm." Therefore... "...It would be my pleasure." I accepted her offer and took her hand. Her expression subtly changed to one of surprise, but she was quick to hide it. With a thin smile, she lowered her head. "It's settled, then." The two of us walked toward a more secluded area. Though there were still eyes on us, they were significantly less than before. None of them seemed keen on approaching us. I glanced at her as she walked alongside me. Apparently understanding my gaze, she pursed her lips to reply, "I needed a little break." "Oh." I figured that much. Hmm... It makes sense, given that she had to speak with so many people. But was that all to it? "That's all." It felt like Lia understood my inner thoughts. Ahh... I expected something more... Lia smiled as we walked through the quieter part of the courtyard. After a moment, she tilted her head and asked, "By the way, when did you get here?" I blinked, slightly surprised. Wait, she didn't see me? I had only arrived a few minutes ago. With the crowd being not so large, I figured she would've noticed me. Then again, she'd been busy talking to a lot of people. "Just a few minutes ago," I replied casually as we finally stopped upon reaching the quieter part of the courtyard, a bit out of sight from the others. However, I still noticed occasional glances from many people but chose to ignore them. Her expression softened. "Oh, sorry. I didn't notice," she said, her voice quieter now. I shrugged with a small smile. "No worries. It's fine, I get it." We walked in silence for a while. It wasn't uncomfortable, but there was something I couldn't quite shake. Clearing my throat, I finally spoke up. "By the way," I began, hesitating slightly, "don't you think you might be causing some trouble for me?" Lia stopped and looked at me with raised eyebrows. "How so?" I sighed, trying to explain. "Well... you walked straight up to me. And... everyone was watching." She shrugged, still unfazed. "Yeah, so?" I stared at her for a moment, feeling a bit frustrated. Is she serious? Doesn't she see the problem? "There are a lot of Elite society kids here," I said, a little more seriously. "Some of them are probably interested in you." Lia raised an eyebrow and repeated, "So?" She waited for me to go on, and it was clear nowshe was definitely playing with me. There was no way she didn't get what I was saying. I sighed, pressing on. "What if they get jealous and, you know, cause trouble for me later?" Lia chuckled softly, shaking her head like my worries were nothing. "I don't think that's going to happen." Her calmness threw me off. I frowned, confused. "How can you be so sure?" She glanced around the courtyard, her eyes sharp, as if she was sizing up the place. Then she turned back to me with a confident smile. "Because no one would dare," she said, casual but firm. "Not with me around." I looked at her, unsure whether to feel reassured by her confidence or more anxious about what might happen when she's not around. "What about your big sister?" I asked. "Do you think she'll be okay with you being here with me right now?" Lia's expression was thoughtful. "Maybe, maybe not. It's hard to say." I raised an eyebrow. "I figured you'd have a better idea." She laughed softly. "Oh, I also wanted to ask you something. Are you going to participate in the Deulos competition coming up?" Hmm? Deulos? The Deulos competition is a major event, much like the Cannes meeting, but for dueling instead of meeting. It takes place every September and is a massive event. Each year, 192 competitors participate in the tournament, which features seven rounds. To enter, you must be between 18 and 30 years old, with no rank requirements. The Deulos competition is a key event for associations, families, and guilds to showcase their skills and maintain their prestige. The top three winners receive impressive prizes, though the exact rewards are kept secret. I took a moment to respond. "Yeah, I am." Lia's eyes widened a bit. "Really? I haven't seen you compete before. This will be your first time, right? Do you think you can handle it? There will be a lot of strong competitors, including me." Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention... This will be Michael's and my first time competing in the tournament. Yes, you heard that correctly. Michael, who has always been laid-back and not particularly interested in fighting, has never participated before. Unlike other elite society kids who began competing at 18, this is a new experience for me. Regarding the strong contenders, I'm confident in my skills and can handle anyone, even platinum rankers will find it difficult to defeat me. However, I'm at a disadvantage when it comes to experience. I met her gaze, trying to stay composed. "I'm sure. I know it'll be hard, but I'm ready." Lia's eyes sparkled with curiosity and challenge. "Well, I'm looking forward to it. It should be an interesting competition with you in it." I hope so... I nodded, feeling a mix of unknown excitement and nerves. "Yeah, it should be." Maybe for the competition... Lia smiled, clearly intrigued. "Good luck. You'll need it." "Thanks," I replied softly. "One more thing, will you" Before I could finish my sentence, a loud announcement echoed through the room, drowning out my voice. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?" What? Lia and I immediately turned our heads toward the source of the voice. When I saw the person who said those words, I was just like... "..." Is that...