The day was Monday. While I walked towards the library’s rooftop, all I could hear from all the talks was about a certain topic. It was the upcoming Yearly Ball of our school this Saturday.

So it’s already time for that event. I pretended to be sick last year, but I now have a reason to attend the ball this year.

When I arrived at the rooftop, I immediately saw Cindy seated on the usual bench. After she spotted me, she waved at me with a smile.

“So you’ll attend the Ball this Saturday, right?” I asked Cindy after we finished our lunch.

“I will. It’s compulsory, right?” Cindy responded with a smile.

“Then I’ll go too,” I followed with a serious look.

“Really? This year will be fun then,” she said in excitement.

Fun…

After I repeated that in my head, I let out a smile and said, "Anyway, can you now deal with the boys in your class?”

“Yes,” she informed me with a beam. “I can now talk to them normally and even do some of their requests like borrowing my notes and stuff.”

“I guess my job of making you conquer your fears is complete now,” I commented with a smile.

After she heard that, she became surprised and looked at me with an anxious expression.

“But that’s...” she muttered, nervous. “I mean... I’m still not sure if I can maintain this... so can’t we... meet here again anymore?”

This girl...

“Am I the only one thinking we’re friends? Friends don’t need a reason to see each other, right?” I said with a gentle smile.

Because of my answer, she let out a sigh of relief and replied, “Sorry about that. It’s because I thought… I won’t see you anymore after you helped me with my problem,”

And here I am worrying about what reason to give her so I could continue meeting up with her. I’m an idiot, all right.

“And there’s still something I need to help you with,” I continued with sudden seriousness.

“Something?” she repeated, clueless.

“Something that is bothering me since I heard it from you.”

“What is that?”

“The need to grant everyone’s request,” I answered as I looked straight into her eyes.

“That’s...” she reacted, stunned.

“Sorry if I’m sticking my nose to a topic even though I don’t have the right to. But as a friend, I think I should do something about that for your sake.”

“Prince...” she whispered and smiled after. “Don’t worry, It’s not that big of a deal. But is there something wrong about that?”

You not believing that there’s something wrong about that ‘is’ the problem itself.

“There is. For example, what if I ask you to always fetch me in the morning before going to school?” I asked, still serious.

As a reply, she smiled in innocence and answered, “Sure. I’ll be happy to.”

When I heard that, I made a deep sigh and replied, “You’re supposed to decline that, you know.”

“Huh? But why?”

“Just because you can do it doesn’t mean you have to do it.”

“But that’s...” she muttered, unconvinced.

But maybe it’s because I’m her friend, so she agreed to my request.

“Then, what if a girl from your class asked that instead? Someone who is not your friend but a classmate,” I asked and hoped that I’ll hear the right answer from her.

“I guess... I’ll still do it,” she said with an anxious smile. “There might be a reason she requested something like that.”

This is a problem.

“Then, what if it’s a boy?” I asked nervously.

“I won’t. A boy I’m not even closed with, requesting something like that is fishy,” she replied with a smile.

“I see,” I replied with a sigh of relief.

So at least her reasoning is correct when it’s about the boys. The problem is about the girls. She will be in trouble for sure if she met someone with ill motives. But how did she become like this? Is it related to her curse?

“It’s almost time for the afternoon class, Prince. Should we go back to our classrooms?” Cindy questioned with a worried look.

I guess I should think of ways first so I could solve this problem.

“Okay. Let’s go,” I replied with a smile and stood up.

She then smiled back and stood up too.

After that, we returned to our classrooms and finished the class. While I was preparing my things so I could go to the library, a boy approached me with a smile.

“Hey, Prince, do you have a minute?” he asked in a friendly tone.

If it’s the former me, I would have replied ‘no’ but that is not the right choice anymore. Building a negative image might affect my mission of saving the princesses.

“What is it?” I asked with a poker face.

“You know Rizelle? She’s one year ahead of us.”

“I don’t know her,” I responded, clueless.

“Are you for real?” he reacted, dumbfounded. “She’s the daughter of the owner of LLA Electronics, you know. That company boomed in the market last year and is still getting more famous.”

“I at least know that company. It started here in our city, right?”

“Well, Rizelle is the oldest daughter of the owner of that company. She’s beautiful, sexy, and rich to boot. I don’t even know why she wants to meet up with you, but she requested me to make you go to the café in front of our school. So will you kindly do that?”

Rizelle. Why does she want to meet me? I guess I’ll know the reason if I go there.

“Okay, I’ll go,” I responded, still serious.

“Really? Thank you, man,” he replied in cheerfulness.

I guess I won’t be able to read at the library today.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

“Do you have any idea why that Rizelle wants to meet me?” I asked Pixie who was floating beside me while I walked towards the café. We passed the gate and crossed the street.

“Who knows? Maybe you did something rude to her?” she replied after she considered all possibilities she could think of.

“What the heck do you take me for?” I retorted with furrowed eyebrows.

Well... I can’t rule out that though. I still haven’t seen her face to decide.

When I arrived inside the café, the light aroma of coffee filled my sense of smell. Then, I saw someone seated near the window with a smile. It was a beautiful girl wearing our school uniform. She became surprised after seeing me, but immediately went back to her smiling face.

“Prince, I think she just looked at me earlier...” Pixie whispered to me with a nervous expression.

“Didn’t she look at me?” I whispered back as I walk towards the girl.

“I hope I’m only mistaken,” Pixie followed and flew beside me.

“Hello. You’re... Prince, right?” the girl asked with a warm smile after I arrived before her.

“I am,” I answered with my usual poker face.

“Then, please have a seat,” she followed and offered the chair opposite to her.

“Thanks,” I responded and sat down. After that, she stared at me with her smile still there.

At least she’s not paying attention to Pixie, meaning she can’t see her. A normal girl finding a fairy won’t definitely act normally like this.

“What would you like to order, Sir,” a waitress asked me with a light smile after she walked to us.

“Cappuccino please.”

“Then, please wait for a minute,” the waitress followed in politeness and went back to the counter.

“Let me first introduce myself. I’m Rizelle, a senior and a fellow schoolmate of yours,” Rizelle introduced with a gentle smile.

“I’m Prince. Nice to meet you,” I followed with a stoic face. “So... why do you want to meet me?”

“So you’re the type who goes straight to the point,” Rizelle muttered, amused.

“That’s the policy of our household,” I retorted without a change in expression.

“Then, I’ll be straight to the point too. You see... I’m interested in you.”

“Huh?” I reacted, surprised.

“You don’t have to be wary of me, you know,” she commented with a chuckle.

“Here’s your cappuccino. Please enjoy,” the waitress from earlier said after she placed my drink on the table. After that, she once again walked back to the counter. With that, I grabbed the cup and blew on the hot cappuccino. Then, I sipped a little and placed it back on the table. Rizelle also did the same to her coffee.

“Then, can you please explain what kind of interest you developed on me,” I outright asked, serious again.

After she perceived that, she laughed and replied, “You’re interesting, that’s all. And also, I heard about your achievements. You’re the smartest kid in your batch now, right? Always taking first place in all subjects this year... I might’ve fallen for you.”

Wait a minute. Am I getting flirted?

“I-I’m sorry, but I still can’t understand it,” I said and sipped once again on my cup.

“Look at how embarrassed you are. How cute,” she teased with a smile.

Darn it. Now I’m realizing how being an amateur in romance sucks. I can’t even think of proper retorts at a time like this.

I then coughed to regain composure and muttered, “So let me reconfirm this. You like me so you want me to know your feelings, am I correct?”

“Well, yes,” she answered with a smile.

I stood up and replied, “I see. But I can’t return your feelings. I’m sorry.”

“Hmm~” she reacted, amused yet somewhat a little offended with my reply.

What’s up with this girl?

“You don’t have to reject me that bad,” she said after her previous warm smile returned. “Is it because you have someone you like already?”

“Well... something like that,” I responded after I averted my gaze.

“Is it your classmate Arian? Or Cindy?” she followed with a sudden serious smile.

When I heard those names, I became bewildered and looked back at her.

“How do you know them?” I asked cautiously.

“Well, let’s say that I have my means of getting information,” she explained and licked her lips.

“Prince, I’ve got a bad feeling about this girl,” Pixie said with a nervous look behind me.

Yeah. Even I could tell that this girl is dangerous. I mean, look at how she licked her lips.

“Sorry, but my answer won’t change,” I answered and brought out the pay for my drink. I left it on the table and tried to walk away. But then, a tall man in a black suit and shades blocked my way with his arms crossed.

Is this her personal bodyguard? How rich is this girl?

“At least think about it. You know that there’s an upcoming Ball this Saturday, right? I want you to become my escort there,” Rizelle added and gave me a gentle smile with her eyes shut.

So I can’t get away if I don’t provide the reply she wants to hear.

“I’ll think about it,” I said with a serious face.

“I’ll be waiting then,” Rizelle followed and raised a hand. When the man saw the signal, he stood aside and let me leave.

✿ Cindy’s Point-of-View ✿

After the class, it was time to go home as usual. But before I left the school’s premises, I saw something. A crying, frail-looking girl was being dragged in the arm by a tall girl. There were also two girls following the tall girl, smiling evilly. They brought the girl behind the school building where no one often goes.

“Bullying?” I whispered with a worried face and followed them.