Boy in Love (6)

The moderate sized ballroom was slightly separated into tinier sections with the huge cards that acted as the wall. In general, there weren't many decorations like the prior parties we attended. It was the safest mansion to be in as the chance of anyone able to manipulate something was relatively low. Even if they floated something in the air, it was likely their attack would be almost harmless.

"We're going to greet the guests at the entrance while you can take over the ballroom," Claire told us what was going to happen for the first part of the event.

"Most of the guests will arrive in the next hour. It won't be like the other events you attended so far since there is a limited number of invitations we hand out," she explained.

I was starting to like Claire more and more. Since the number of invitations were limited, there was no way Ella's older brother would be able to attend. Meaning the three of them wouldn't be able to enter this mansion.

We stood in our places as Yulian pushed to open the grand doors. A screen hovered above the grand doors, showing who was allowed to come inside the gates. Claire pressed the button as she checked off the people on the guest list to control the gates.

"Thank you for coming," Claire elegantly smiled.

"Only fraction leaders are allowed to attend from both the major and minor ones," Luke whispered into my ear.

Unlike Claire's expectations, the room quickly filled up. In less than ten minutes, Yulian closed the doors while Claire placed the button into her inventory. Although I could spot the guests below us, the guests couldn't see us through the curtains.

"We decided to start the event off with an announcement. If you haven't heard already, we have picked our successors this month," Claire waved her hand so the curtain would part.

Both Luke and I stood on top of the stairs, the small area of the second floor. I smiled as I spotted Haruka, Ben, Alice, Lucius and Belle inside the crowd. It appeared that no one wanted to miss attending their event.

"I introduce you to our successors, Rika de Impalia Roselia and Luke de Impalia Roselia," Claire declared in front of a small crowd.

"It is our honor to join the Impalia fraction as the successor," I slightly bowed.

Luke offered me his hand as we walked down the stairs to join Claire and Yulian. Since we got the most important part over with, the rest wouldn't be as hard. Haruka and his partner were the first to approach the four of us. It was expected since Claire and Yulian were also part of their fraction as well.

"It's like we're at another fraction meeting," Haruka smiled.

Since Claire and Yulian were representing the Impalia fraction, they didn't respond. Instead, they continued to smile. Responding meant that the Impalia fraction was under Haruka's.

"We're glad you were able to make it to our event," Claire walked around the topic.

���I'm shocked. I didn't think you would be carrying out your duties so soon," Alice came up to us with Ben.

"It was a recent development," Luke brightly smiled.

"It's more of a surprise that Haruka let you join his fraction," Lucius also walked towards us with Belle.

"As you know, I was already close to the members in Haruka's fraction since the beginning of elementary school," I answered.

"I'm curious how you got so close," Belle placed her hands together.

Haruka stiffened as he recalled me collecting bugs with Ethan. He also recently found out that Oili possessed half of the karaoke goods when he placed it inside that room, meaning he was a part of it all this time. Plus, Charles acted too friendly with us even though we were on the opposite ends of the political spectrum. Although he didn't know the secret that banded us together, he guessed it was similar to the other events.

"I'm sure it's similar to how our members joined the neutral fraction," Haruka attempted to change the target.

"Well, we don't necessarily have conflicting interests," Ben coughed to show they were in the middle in that same spectrum.

"It's the same for us as well," Haruka chose to remain ignorant.

"In fact, I heard what happened at one of your fraction's events today from one of our members. I hope you are not injured," Haruka seemed genuinely concerned for me.

"I am thankful that the guests were able to evacuate before anyone had to experience the same thing I did," I hid my grudge against both Yulee and Jules.

"In fact, we decided to cancel hosting on Tuesday and Wednesday," I revealed.

The eyes of both Lucius and Belle widened from the news. I was likely that Jules didn't tell them yet. Everyone else in the conversation appeared shocked from the news as well, including Claire and Yulian. The other fraction leaders who overheard the news instantly started to mumble what could've been the problem.

I guessed this was the reason why Yulee was so hesitant in cancelling the event. It was an extremely big deal to cancel an event during social week. Luke brightly smiled as he chose to continue from where I left off, "we placed our trust in you and Belle that you would be able to carry us forward."