The silence enveloping Luna Academy's Main Hall was so thick that even the drop of a pin would have sounded deafening.
Every noble's eyes were fixed on us.
Chloe, the pink-haired girl in an elegantly flowing silk gown, remained kneeling on the cold marble floor. Her porcelain doll-like face looked up, staring at me with bright emerald eyes—eyes that hid a subtle darkness only my soul could sense.
Her reddish lips had just left the back of my hand, leaving behind a warmth that sent shivers down my spine.
"Lady Rosel..." Chloe whispered again, her voice smooth as velvet. "Would you dance with me?"
*CRAZY! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!*
I could feel burning glares coming from two different angles.
To my left, Crown Prince Leo stood stiffly with his jaw clenched tight. His usually confident smile was completely gone, his extended hand trembling in embarrassment and rage.
To my right, Adrian adjusted his glasses with a unnaturally fast motion. Faint sparks of magic flickered behind his lenses, a sign that the genius magician's stress levels were skyrocketing.
[Special Feature Unlocked: Reading the Characters' Hidden Thoughts!]
[Reading Leo von Grandia's Thoughts...]
*‘How dare that scholarship student interrupt my invitation?! And Rosel... why didn't she immediately pull her hand away?! Is this part of her tactic to make me burn with jealousy?! Fine, then I'll act even more aggressively!’*
[Reading Adrian von Silvershade's Thoughts...]
*‘An Anomaly. Rosel's heart rate increased by forty percent when that girl touched her hand. This isn't a fear response, but an emotional shock response. Chloe's presence is disrupting my observation parameters... She must be eliminated from the scenario.’*
[Reading Chloe von Valois's Thoughts...]
*‘Look at these two useless flies... They look at my Lady Rosel as if she belongs to them. If Lady Rosel rejects me and chooses one of them, I'll make sure this dance song is the last thing they ever hear in this world...’*
*ARE YOU PLANNING TO MURDER THE CROWN PRINCE AND GRAND MAGICIAN AT AN ACADEMY BALL, CHLOE?!!*
Cold sweat poured down under my silver-blue evening gown.
The neon comment window in my field of vision exploded like New Year fireworks.
[User_YuriSimp]: "CHLOE YANDERE MODE ON! CRITICAL WARNING: CHOOSE CHLOE OR THE WORLD ENDS!"
[User_OlympicShip]: "If Rosel declines, tomorrow's novel title will be 'I Transmigrated and Became a Prisoner in Chloe's Basement'."
[User_OrangeCat]: "Rosel bro, for the sake of your life and world peace, just accept the dance ROFL!"
[User_LocalObserver]: "Rosel's face is pure resignation, such aesthetically pleasing visual despair."
I swallowed hard. The choice before me was crystal clear:
1. Choose Leo or Adrian, and let Chloe turn into a serial killer tonight.
2. Choose Chloe, save everyone's lives, but sacrifice my remaining dignity as a former adult man.
*Screw the original plot! My life is more important!*
I let out a long sigh, putting back on Rosel von Arcadelt's cold mask.
"Stand up, Chloe," I said flatly, yet gently.
I met her small hand, gripping it firmly before pulling her up slowly.
"L-Lady Rosel...?" Chloe's green eyes sparkled in surprise, as if she hadn't expected me to actually accept.
"You're wasting time kneeling like that," I remarked, stepping into the center of the dance floor and pulling Chloe along beside me. "The music has already started. Don't let your steps disappoint me."
Instantly, gasps erupted throughout the hall!
"Look at that! Lady Rosel is dancing with a scholarship student?!"
"Two women dancing together for the opening song?!"
"But... don't they look so good together...?"
I placed my hand on Chloe's slender waist, while her hand rested on my shoulder. We were so close I could see the chandelier lights reflecting inside her clear emerald eyes—eyes now free of darkness, filled instead with pure happiness.
*Whoosh—*
The orchestral music swelled. We began moving to the rhythm.
Even though my body was now female, my former male soul knew exactly how to lead a dance. I spun Chloe gracefully, letting her pastel pink dress blossom beautifully over the marble floor, blending perfectly with my dark blue gown.
"Lady Rosel..." Chloe whispered softly, resting her blushing face gently against my chest. "I am... so happy. This has been my dream ever since I first saw you."
"Don't talk, focus on your steps," I replied quietly, trying to keep my voice steady.
"I don't care about the steps," Chloe murmured with a dangerously sweet smile. "I only care about you. Thank you for choosing me... over those two annoying men."
I glanced toward the edge of the dance floor as we spun.
Leo stood there with a cracked glass of wine in his hand, glaring at me with a crazy determination to win me back.
Adrian narrowed his eyes behind his glasses, frantically writing something in a notebook at an abnormal speed.
*Ping!*
[System Notification!]
[Main Character Chloe von Valois's Affinity: 85% (Status: Madly Obsessed)]
[Crown Prince Leo's Affinity: 75% (Status: Competing for Pride)]
[Magician Adrian's Affinity: 70% (Status: Research/Romantic Obsession)]
[Congratulations! You have officially become the center of the Academy's Insane Harem!]
[DAMN SYSTEM! WHO WANTS A HAREM LIKE THIS?!]
I screamed hysterically in my head, while on the outside, I had to keep smiling coldly and dancing gracefully with the yandere girl hugging me tighter and tighter.