Chapter 116: Founder’s ball XI

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Founder’s ball XI

The Founders’ Ball continued as though nothing unusual had happened.

The orchestra flowed seamlessly into another waltz.

Crystal chandeliers bathed the Grand Assembly Hall in warm golden light.

Students crossed the ballroom in elegant gowns and tailored evening coats.

Laughter drifted through the hall.

Waiters quietly circulated with silver trays.

Everything appeared exactly as it had half an hour earlier.

Only...

Vivienne Beaumont found herself being unceremoniously escorted away by three determined young ladies.

--

"Vivienne."

Claire was the first to speak.

Her expression was unusually serious.

"We need to have a conversation."

Vivienne blinked.

"...We just did."

"No."

Claire shook her head.

"We really need to have a conversation."

Amelia and Eleanor exchanged knowing looks.

Vivienne looked from one face to the next.

"...Should I be worried?"

"No," Claire answered.

"...Maybe."

Vivienne laughed.

"Claire."

"I’m serious."

"So am I."

She smiled innocently.

"What have I done?"

The three girls remained silent.

Claire finally sighed.

"...Do you know what everyone’s talking about?"

Vivienne tilted her head.

"...The dance?"

Claire looked almost relieved.

"Good."

"So you noticed."

Vivienne nodded.

"I noticed we danced."

"...Yes."

Claire folded her arms.

"We noticed that too."

Vivienne stared at her.

"...Then what exactly are we discussing?"

Amelia covered a smile.

Claire closed her eyes for a brief moment.

"Vivienne..."

"...People aren’t talking about the dance."

"They’re talking about you."

"...And Damian Blackwood."

Silence.

Vivienne blinked once.

Then twice.

"...Really?"

Claire nodded.

"They’ve been talking for days."

Vivienne frowned ever so slightly.

"...days?"

Eleanor nodded.

"It isn’t only tonight."

Claire began counting quietly on her fingers.

"When he walked you to the university cafeteria."

"The lunch."

"The Literature Society."

"The matching emerald outfit tonight."

"And now..."

She glanced toward the ballroom.

"...the dance."

"For everyone else," Amelia said gently, "this wasn’t the beginning."

"It was confirmation."

Vivienne found herself replaying each memory.

Lunch last Friday.

Walking to Literature Society.

Their seemingly mayching outfits.

The dance.

To her...

Every one of those moments had seemed perfectly ordinary.

Apparently...

She had been the only one who thought so.

"...Oh."

She was quiet for a heartbeat.

Then...

"...Pfft."

Claire stared.

Vivienne quickly covered her mouth.

"I’m sorry."

"I know I shouldn’t laugh."

"But..."

Another laugh escaped.

"...That’s actually rather impressive."

"Vivienne."

"I’m serious."

"So am I."

She shook her head, still smiling.

"If someone told me that story without any names..."

"...I’d probably think it sounded like a romance novel."

The three girls stared at her.

Vivienne laughed again.

"The imagination is wonderful."

Claire pinched the bridge of her nose.

"...You are impossible."

"I’ve been told."

The laughter gradually faded.

Vivienne’s gaze drifted across the ballroom.

Only now...

She began noticing things she had previously overlooked.

A pair of students lowered their voices as she passed.

Another group offered polite bows before quietly continuing a conversation that had obviously paused for her.

Several glanced—not rudely.

Simply...

Curiously.

As though they were observing a story whose ending had yet to be written.

"...I see."

She murmured almost to herself.

"It really has become rather widespread."

Claire softened.

"We didn’t want you finding out from someone else."

Vivienne smiled gratefully.

"Thank you."

Amelia hesitated.

"...Does it bother you?"

Vivienne considered the question.

"Not particularly."

She answered honestly.

"People enjoy connecting unrelated events."

"They always have."

She had seen far stranger stories invented from far less in her previous life.

Compared to newspaper speculation and society columns...

This almost felt harmless.

Still...

One small thought quietly surfaced.

...Anthony.

Her smile became a little more thoughtful.

He had probably heard by now.

Or perhaps...

Someone soon would tell him.

She wasn’t worried that he would believe the rumors.

Anthony was far too sensible for that.

Damian was his cousin.

And in some way, they do have a history together.

There was nothing to misunderstand.

...

He probably wouldn’t think much of it at all.

The realization lingered.

Then, despite herself...

A tiny, thoroughly ridiculous thought appeared.

...

Would he...

Perhaps...

Mind a little?

Vivienne immediately looked away from her own thoughts.

Honestly.

Don’t be absurd.

Anthony wasn’t the jealous type.

If anything...

He would probably nod politely...

Say something perfectly reasonable...

And return to whatever Student Council matter currently required his attention.

Exactly like Anthony.

Somehow...

That was both reassuring...

And ever so slightly disappointing.

Her cheeks warmed.

Really.

She was becoming hopeless.

--

Another thought suddenly surfaced.

Damian.

Vivienne blinked.

Then...

A laugh escaped before she could stop it.

Claire looked at her.

"...What now?"

Vivienne shook her head, trying—and failing—to suppress another smile.

"I’ve just realized..."

"...The joke’s on Damian this time."

The three girls exchanged puzzled glances.

"Think about it."

"He’s always the one teasing me."

"And now..."

She covered her mouth, another laugh slipping free.

"...Apparently the entire University has decided he’s secretly in love with me."

Claire gave her a look.

"...Vivienne."

"That isn’t quite the rumor."

Vivienne blinked.

Claire sighed.

"The rumor is that the two of you are having an affair behind Lord Ashford’s back."

Silence.

Vivienne stared at her for a heartbeat.

Then...

"...That’s even more ridiculous."

She waved a dismissive hand.

"No one who actually knows us would believe that."

"Anthony certainly wouldn’t."

She laughed again, shaking her head.

"They’ve truly let their imaginations run wild."

For some reason...

The thought was still absurdly amusing.

She could already imagine telling Damian afterward.

You wouldn’t believe what everyone’s saying about us.

Just imagining his face made her smile.

Honestly...

She couldn’t wait to tease him.

It was only fair.

He has always been the one teasing her and has even witnessed some of her embarassing moments.

Now, for once...

The joke was on him.

Her gaze instinctively drifted across the ballroom.

...

Then she stopped herself.

No.

If she walked over there now...

People would probably come up with an even stranger story.

She sighed with exaggerated resignation.

"I suppose I’ll have to tease him later."

Claire tilted her head.

"...Later?"

Vivienne nodded matter-of-factly.

"I’ll send him a message after the ball."

--

Then, her gaze wandered idly across the ballroom.

Almost without thinking...

She searched for one person.

Anthony.

It took only a moment to find him.

He stood near one of the receiving lines, speaking with two members of the University’s Board of Trustees.

Even from a distance...

He looked every bit the future Duke of Ashford.

Composed.

Attentive.

Effortlessly dignified.

As though the evening itself had been organized around him.

Vivienne smiled.

Then, almost as if sensing her attention...

The conversation around him finally came to an end.

One by one, the guests excused themselves.

For the first time that evening...

Anthony stood alone.

Claire noticed where Vivienne was looking.

"...Go."

Vivienne blinked.

"What?"

"You’ve been looking for an opportunity all evening."

"I have not."

Claire raised an eyebrow.

"...Vivienne."

"...Perhaps a little."

Amelia laughed softly.

"We’ll survive without you."

Vivienne smoothed the front of her gown, trying very hard to appear perfectly composed.

"...I’ll only be a moment."

Claire smiled knowingly.

"Take your time."

Vivienne drew a quiet breath.

Then...

With a heart that insisted on beating just a little faster than usual...

She made her way across the ballroom toward her fiancé.

--

Tbc

AN: hello! I think after these many Chapters, i truly wish to know if you are still with me. If you are, please say Hi in the comment section. Thank you!