Ch.74 : Proof in the Final Towards the Top Three

Before the fourth round began, Chloe pulled Nic aside, away from the noise of the other contestants getting ready. Her eyes looked uncertain, but she finally began to speak about something she had buried for a long time.

"I want you to know something," Chloe said quietly. "Since I was a kid, my mom kept saying I was destined to inherit her fashion empire. She chose what I wore, how I looked, even how I lived… all for the career she designed for me."

Nic listened silently, giving her the space she needed.

"I once tried to break away from her shadow," Chloe continued. "I wanted to create my own style, something that truly expressed who I am. But it failed. People laughed at me. No one cared about my designs. And when I tried to go back to her… she rejected me. She said, 'Stick to your own fashion until you can stand on it.'"

She let out a heavy sigh. "Even now, I've never really shown her what I've built. Even though I've grown more confident, I've never had the guts to prove that I can do this."

Nic gave a gentle smile, his eyes full of sincerity. "I think you're amazing. It takes serious courage to stand against something, especially your own family. But today, you've got a stage. Show her who you really are. Use your fashion—your way—and prove you belong."

He raised his hand like a finger gun and pointed at her chest with a playful grin. "You've got this, Chloe."

What nobody noticed, though, was that Nic silently activated his Love Shoot skill—firing a dose of love and encouragement right into Chloe's heart.

Chloe nodded slowly, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. For the first time, she felt free. And now… it was time to prove herself.

---

The host returned to the stage and announced the fourth round's theme: *Royal Princes and Princesses*.

Participants:

Class A: Violet

Class B: Serene

Class C: Cika

Class D: Dean

Class E: Chloe

Class F: Pia

Whispers spread among the students.

"Wait, Serene's joining?"

"Isn't she always in the library?"

"She barely shows up to class… weird she's here."

The six contestants entered their respective dressing rooms. Minutes later, the stage transformed into a dazzling royal court, filled with shimmering lights and fantasy-like effects. One by one, the participants walked out, bringing their fairytale visions to life.

Violet emerged as a Dark Princess, wearing a deep purple gown with black-silver accents. Fine lace and dark crystals shimmered like stars in the night. A black thorny crown sat atop her head. She walked slowly, each step alluring, as if casting a mysterious curse.

Serene portrayed a Mystic Princess from a far-off fairytale. She wore a dark navy cloak adorned with silver runes. Half her face was covered with a silver mask, and every step she took felt like an enchantment—silent, powerful, and mesmerizing. Her aura left the audience breathless.

Cika chose a Wind Princess theme, donning a flowing white gown that fluttered like a breeze. Her short hair was braided neatly, decorated with soft feathers. She looked like she belonged in the sky.

Dean, the only male contestant, walked out as a Fire Prince. A rich crimson suit with golden trims and a long cape billowing behind made him look bold and noble. He struck a charismatic figure on stage.

Pia from Class F embodied an Ice Princess, in a shimmering white-blue gown adorned with snowflake crystals. As she walked, the stage seemed to fill with a chilly mist, enhancing her wintry aura.

But one contestant was still missing… Chloe.

Behind the curtain, Chloe closed her eyes. Her hands trembled slightly. But this time, she knew—this wasn't about her mom anymore. This was about her.

And as she stepped out

The entire hall fell silent.

Chloe looked like divine royalty. She wore a pearl-white gown with golden accents, its design elegant and majestic. The fabric cascaded like flowing water, sparkling subtly with every step. Her golden-orange hair flowed softly down her back, topped with a delicate crown encrusted with clear crystals. She walked slowly, gracefully lifting the front of her skirt, bowing slightly—as if greeting nobles.

The crowd was mesmerized. Even the judges fell quiet. Chloe's aura was gentle but radiant, and all eyes were on her. Class E, previously falling behind, now shone because of one girl.

The judges observed her closely. Among them, Chloe's mother remained calm, but her gaze was intense. She watched her daughter closely, then gave a faint nod and a rare, faint smile.

"A good choice," she whispered under her breath. "It suits you."

Chloe froze briefly. She hadn't expected any reaction from her mother—let alone praise. But that small smile was enough to make her heart tremble.

After all contestants had performed in the fourth round, the judges announced the scores:

Violet: 30

Serene: 30

Cika: 25

Dean: 30

Chloe: 30

Pia: 25

Updated scores:

Class A: 120

Class B: 115

Class C: 85

Class D: 105

Class E: 100

Class F: 100

Then came the next big announcement: only the top three classes would move to the finals. Which meant… the final contestant from each class would decide everything.

The pressure skyrocketed.

Chloe quickly looked at Nic—Class E's final representative—with anxious eyes. If he didn't score high, they'd be out. But Nic looked completely relaxed, casually munching on a burger given by Mika.

Chloe rushed over and asked, "Are you sure you can score a perfect 30? If not, we're in trouble."

Nic grinned. "Relax. I'll win it."

From the side, Jack muttered with a sneer, "You better not screw this up."

Nic stood up and shot him a glance. "Didn't you get… what, 15 points?"

Jack went silent and stormed off. Chloe just stared at Nic's back as he walked away, hoping—wishing—he'd pull off something big. Their only hope was that Nic would get 30 points, while Class D and F got no more than 20.

Then, the announcer declared the final theme: "HOT!"

Nic immediately choked on his drink. "Hot!?" he repeated, panicking. His eyes darted toward his girlfriends—imagining the worst.

But from a distance, they firmly shook their heads. No revealing outfits, their expressions said clearly. Instead, they would wear long, fitted clothing that was still stylish… but respectful.

The last group entered the changing rooms. The final participants were:

Class A: Vivi

Class B: Nia

Class C: Winy

Class D: Rina

Class E: Nic

Class F: Seno

Vivi and Nia—though from different classes—wore nearly identical dresses. Long maroon-red gowns made from shimmering fabric that clung just enough to highlight their curves while staying elegant and covered. Side slits and sheer sleeves gave just the right touch of allure. They had chosen this at Nic's request, who didn't want them exposing too much in public.

Next came Winy and Rina, both choosing bolder styles. Winy wore a black crop-top with silver chains, tight leather shorts, and tall boots. Rina went even further—wearing a bikini beneath a sheer floral kimono, smiling confidently and making a bold entrance.

Then came Seno. The theme caught him off-guard. Not confident in his appearance, he wore something completely random… and ended up looking ridiculous.

Finally… it was Nic's turn.

Before going onstage, Nic turned to Zeta. "Activate God of Illusion. Make them see me as the hottest thing alive."

Zeta nodded and executed the illusion flawlessly.

Nic emerged in a long black coat with the front unbuttoned, revealing his toned chest. Sunglasses added to the mystery. Every step he took was amplified by special effects—the lighting hit just right, and it felt like the entire stage shook with his presence.

The audience was stunned. His girlfriends were frozen in place. From the side, Vivi shouted, "Why is it his turn to do that? Nic Idiot!"

Then, Nic pulled out a water bottle, calmly poured it over his head, soaking himself. His shirt clung tightly to his body, and he dramatically took off his coat, revealing a flawless six-pack. The crowd lost it. Even Chloe's mother, hiding behind her scoring panel, muttered, "This kid… is too much."

Meanwhile, the silver-haired photographer, Astrid, was frantically taking pictures. "Perfect… this angle… flawless!"

The judges gave their scores:

10

10

10

A perfect 30 for Nic.

He shot a smile toward Chloe's mom—and surprisingly, it made her blush slightly. Chloe, watching everything from afar, was dumbfounded. But deep inside, she couldn't lie… Nic was hot.

After all contestants had performed, the final scores were revealed:

Class A: 140

Class B: 135

Class C: 105

Class D: 125

Class E: 130

Class F: 115

"The classes advancing to the final round are… Class A, Class B, and Class E! Congratulations! Prepare yourselves for the final showdown tomorrow!"

To be continued...