Chapter 107: Founder’s Ball I

Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Founder’s Ball I

The Grand Assembly Hall stood brilliantly illuminated beneath the September evening sky.

Although the Founders’ Ball would not officially begin until seven o’clock...

Students had already begun arriving.

Soft orchestral music drifted through the ballroom as conversations blended into a lively hum. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm golden glow across polished marble floors, while round tables surrounded the spacious dance floor at the center of the hall.

Some students stood in small circles, catching up after the summer break.

Others helped themselves to refreshments arranged along one side of the hall while waiting for the evening’s program to begin.

For many of the freshmen...

It was their first Founders’ Ball.

For the seniors...

It was their last.

--

Damian entered alongside Julian and Adrian just as another group of students passed through the grand doors behind them.

A few familiar faces noticed them almost immediately.

"Good evening."

"Good evening."

The three returned the greetings with polite nods before venturing farther into the ballroom.

As one of the university’s oldest traditions, the Founders’ Ball was as much a reunion as it was a celebration. Students who belonged to different faculties, organizations, and residences found themselves gathered beneath the same roof, exchanging greetings after weeks of hectic schedules.

"Blackwood."

Damian turned at the familiar voice.

A fellow senior from the Faculty of Business Administration approached with an easy smile, extending a hand.

"It’s been a while."

"It has."

They exchanged a brief handshake before another classmate joined the conversation, followed shortly by another.

Nearby, Julian found himself called over by several acquaintances from the football club, while Adrian was greeted by a group from the Faculty of Law.

Within moments, what had begun as one conversation naturally became several.

The three friends remained close enough to exchange the occasional remark, yet each found themselves speaking with different classmates as more students continued to arrive.

The reception had only just begun.

There was no shortage of familiar faces.

--

Not far away...

A small group of students had begun discussing something entirely different.

"Blackwood came alone."

"So I noticed."

A brief pause followed.

"I guess Friday didn’t mean anything after all."

Another frowned.

"What happened Friday?"

"The cafeteria."

Recognition crossed his face.

"Oh..."

"That."

"The dessert?"

"And the vegetables."

Someone chuckled.

"I still can’t believe he just reached over and ate from Lady Beaumont’s plate."

"And then gave her the vegetables from his own."

"I’ve never seen Lord Blackwood do that before."

"Neither have I."

Another student shrugged.

"They’ve known each other since they were children."

"That’s true."

"...Still."

"It looked... familiar."

Someone glanced across the ballroom toward Damian.

"Well."

"He’s here by himself."

"I suppose everyone read too much into it."

"Maybe."

Another wasn’t entirely convinced.

"Or maybe Lady Beaumont simply hasn’t arrived yet."

A fourth quietly reminded them,

"She’s engaged."

"...Right."

Silence settled over the group.

The rumor had only begun circulating three days ago.

No one really knew what to make of it.

So, like everyone else...

They waited.

--

Across the ballroom, Catherine Lovell observed the scene.

"There he is."

One of her friends inclined her head toward the growing circle surrounding Damian.

"I told you he’d be here early."

Catherine followed her gaze.

Lord Blackwood stood among several classmates, conversing with the composed ease that had always seemed to come naturally to him.

"He certainly isn’t lacking company," another friend remarked.

"No," Catherine admitted with a faint smile.

"He never is."

Her friends exchanged knowing glances.

"So..."

"When are you going over?"

Catherine’s gaze rested briefly on Damian.

He had just finished speaking with one classmate when another greeted him.

It seemed there was always someone waiting to speak with him.

"...In a moment," she said.

One of her friends smiled knowingly.

"If you wait until he’s alone, you’ll be waiting all evening."

Catherine laughed softly.

"...Perhaps you’re right."

Smoothing one sleeve of her gown, she drew a quiet breath.

"Excuse me for a moment."

Her friends exchanged amused smiles as Catherine made her way across the ballroom with her usual graceful composure.

Several students greeted her as she crossed the reception hall.

"Good evening, Lady Lovell."

"Good evening."

She returned each greeting with an elegant smile before approaching the small group gathered around Damian.

Damian noticed her almost immediately.

"Lady Lovell."

Catherine inclined her head.

"Good evening, Lord Blackwood."

"Good evening."

"I hope I’m not interrupting."

"Not at all."

The classmates surrounding Damian greeted Catherine in turn.

As more students continued arriving, a few excused themselves to welcome newly arrived acquaintances.

Julian glanced toward another gathering across the ballroom.

"I see a few people from the football club."

Adrian followed his gaze.

"So do I."

He looked back at Damian.

"We’ll be over there."

Damian inclined his head.

"I’ll join you shortly."

With that, Julian and Adrian took their leave, leaving Damian and Catherine standing together amid the steady hum of conversations surrounding them.

For a brief moment...

Neither spoke.

Then Catherine folded her hands lightly before her.

"I won’t keep you long."

Damian inclined his head.

"Please."

Catherine glanced briefly toward the ballroom, where more students continued to arrive.

"The Founders’ Ball has always been one of St. Albion University’s most cherished traditions."

"It has."

"Especially the opening dance."

A brief silence followed.

Then she looked back at Damian.

"If you haven’t already promised it to someone..."

She smiled, composed as ever.

"Would you do me the honor of the opening dance this evening?"

Damian looked at her in quiet surprise.

It was neither an unreasonable request...

nor an improper one.

Lady Lovell was someone any gentleman would be honored to accompany for the opening dance.

Yet...

He realized he had never once considered whom he would dance with that evening.

For the first time since arriving—

He found himself searching for an answer.

--

Around them, conversations continued throughout the ballroom.

Yet more than one student had begun watching the exchange from afar.

Lord Blackwood.

Lady Lovell.

Two of St. Albion University’s most admired students standing together was enough to attract quiet curiosity.

--

Before Damian could answer—

The great doors of the Grand Assembly Hall swung open.

Conversations faltered.

One by one, heads turned toward the entrance.

Even the students who had been quietly speculating only moments before instinctively looked in the same direction.

Damian’s answer would have to wait.