I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 421
The royal ball of Adolevit, held only a few times a year, was an event no noble wanted to miss.
For provincial nobles, obtaining an invitation to the ball was practically synonymous with overnight success. For high-ranking nobles, attending was essential for fostering or expanding connections and advancing their businesses.
Today’s ball was particularly significant, as it celebrated the birthday of the king, Hong Seryu Adolevit. Naturally, nearly all the high-ranking nobles of Adolevit were present.
Murmur, murmur...
Hundreds of nobles had gathered in the ballroom, forming small groups and engaging in conversations. As Hong Biyeon entered the ballroom, she swallowed nervously.
Bang!
As if to draw everyone’s attention, dazzling lights focused on her as she made her entrance.
The chatter ceased abruptly.
Standing on the stage in the ballroom, Hong Biyeon didn’t utter a word. She simply walked gracefully toward the highest seat reserved for royalty.
At this moment, she was undoubtedly the most radiant figure in the room. Despite the efforts of noble daughters who had adorned themselves with elaborate accessories, they couldn’t help but feel embarrassed and withdraw into the shadows.
Even with minimal accessories, Hong Biyeon outshone them all.
Her silver dress, flowing elegantly to the floor, seemed to move naturally as if carried by the wind, a subtle magical effect enhancing its beauty.
As she took her seat beside the queen’s chair, the lights dimmed, and the room slowly returned to its lively atmosphere.
Hong Biyeon checked her seat—it was the second chair to the right of the queen. The first chair was occupied by her mother, Hong Iel, a professor at Stella Academy known as the “Silver Thorn.”
Her mother’s complexion didn’t look good.
“You’ve arrived, my daughter,” Hong Iel said softly.
Hong Biyeon lowered her head respectfully.
“Yes, Mother.”
“My proud daughter. You’re doing well. I trust you’ll show your best again today.”
“...Of course, Mother.”
Hong Iel, visibly tense, kept reiterating her encouragement to Hong Biyeon, unable to let go of her ambitions for her daughter’s future.
From a young age, Hong Iel had pushed Hong Biyeon to her limits—feeding her flames, forcing her to bathe in fire, and awakening her talents through relentless trials. Her methods were cruel, but Hong Biyeon couldn’t bring herself to resent her mother.
She looks worse than the last time I saw her...
Hong Iel had retired from teaching and returned to the palace, relinquishing all her positions at Stella Academy.
Her role as a professor had only served as a means to keep a close eye on Hong Biyeon, molding her into someone worthy of the throne. However, as Hong Biyeon grew stronger and more refined—albeit in a direction different from her mother’s expectations—Hong Iel eventually accepted it and stepped back.
Now, she seemed to be awaiting her inevitable demise.
Even though she had fled from the throne and abandoned her talents and magic, Hong Iel wouldn’t live past forty. The curse, which she could not overcome, ensured that she lacked the qualifications to inherit the throne.
For this reason, Hong Iel had likely been so harsh on her daughter in her youth, hoping Hong Biyeon would survive longer.
Hong Biyeon now understood everything. If it hadn’t been for her mother’s harshness, she wouldn’t be who she was today.
“Mother.”
When Hong Biyeon gently grasped her mother’s hand, Hong Iel’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You look unwell... I’ve prepared a medicine for you.”
As Hong Biyeon let go of her hand, Hong Iel noticed a translucent blue crystal resting in her palm.
“It’s a gift. A token of my appreciation.”
Eisel had handed it to Hong Biyeon casually, claiming she “just picked it up,” but it was no ordinary gift. The crystal was imbued with the energy of the Bronze Twelve Moons, a powerful and miraculous elixir.
Even someone like Baek Yuseol couldn’t craft something of this caliber, as he hadn’t fully harnessed the power of the Twelve Moons. But Eisel, a genius in ice magic and blessed by the Twelve Moons’ energy, had managed to create it after days of tireless effort.
The elixir was priceless—a treasure the Adolevit royal family would pay millions to acquire. With it, Hong Iel’s declining vitality could be somewhat restored, potentially extending her life.
“Where... where did you get this?”
Recognizing its value immediately, Hong Iel’s eyes widened, but Hong Biyeon merely nodded, her expression unreadable.
However, Hong Iel didn’t accept it easily.
“No, you must take this yourself.”
“...Mother?”
“I won’t last much longer anyway. It’s far more important for you to survive, to claim the throne...”
“Mother.”
Hong Biyeon interrupted her mother, something she had never done in her entire life.
Her heart raced—she had never dared to defy her mother before.
But she steadied herself, holding her mother’s hand gently, and whispered softly.
“...I’ll be fine, Mother.”
“What...?”
A faint warmth emanated from Hong Biyeon’s hand—a rare, subdued flame in the Adolevit family, where their curse often caused fire to burn uncontrollably.
The moment Hong Iel felt it, she understood everything.
“My daughter... Could it be...?”
As Hong Biyeon smiled confidently and nodded, Hong Iel covered her mouth with trembling hands.
“Oh, my god... How... How is this possible...”
Her daughter had overcome the curse.
Without inheriting the throne, Hong Biyeon had broken the curse that had shackled the Adolevit family for a thousand years.
Tears welled up in Hong Iel’s eyes, rendering her speechless.
It was a moment she had dreamed of her entire life: her daughter breaking free from Adolevit’s cruel curse.
She had dedicated everything to seeing her daughter ascend the throne, believing she herself would die before witnessing it.
But now, for the first time, she felt she could die without regrets.
Hong Biyeon wanted to tell her mother not to say such weak words, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak. She feared it would be too disrespectful, tarnishing her mother’s pride.
Before she could find the right words, a loud bang! drew everyone’s attention.
Just as when Hong Biyeon had entered, the lights now illuminated another figure.
Hong Sihwa.
Draped in a blood-red dress, Hong Sihwa ascended the stage with her usual seductive smile and took the seat directly beside the queen.
Though two seats separated them, everyone in the ballroom knew the truth.
The two princesses were in a fierce battle for the throne.
...But most in attendance believed Hong Sihwa would be the next queen.
The nobles weren’t fools.
They knew the odds were in Hong Sihwa’s favor, and they doubted Hong Biyeon was unaware of it.
Surely, she had come prepared.
Perhaps she had leveraged her connections to the Alterisha School of Magic or invited influential figures to the ball as part of her royal privilege.
The room buzzed with speculation.
“I heard Princess Hong Biyeon has ties to the Alterisha School. Could she have invited Professor Alterisha herself?”
“Or maybe the Golden Alchemist, Halsecodon? Just one word from him could shake the magical world.”
“What about an envoy from the Wind Empire...?”
The anticipation in the room grew palpable.
No one in the ballroom was unaware that the Hong Biyeon of today was vastly different from the Hong Biyeon of last year.
Since enrolling at Stella Academy, she had tirelessly worked to establish numerous connections, including relationships with highly influential individuals. Rumors of her newfound network had spread among the nobles.
Who could she have brought with her?
All eyes turned toward the direction of Hong Biyeon’s seat, their gazes tense with anticipation.
The five guests invited by royalty were granted seats at the round table on the stage. While the prominent figures invited by Hong Sihwa were already seated, Hong Biyeon’s party was not yet fully present.
One of Hong Biyeon’s invitees was Alterisha, a highly anticipated figure whose influence in the magical world was undeniable. The other was Black Matale, a descendant of the Pirate King and a critical player in Adolevit’s economy.
Alterisha glanced around nervously before her eyes fixed on the entrance. Following her gaze, the crowd turned their attention to the same spot.
“...What?”
“Isn’t that Baek Yuseol?”
“And next to him...”
“Just commoners, aren’t they?”
“Wait... that girl is...”
“...the traitor Morph’s daughter!”
The appearance of Baek Yuseol, Flame, and Eisel sent a ripple of noise through the ballroom.
While Baek Yuseol’s attendance was somewhat expected due to his rising prominence, Flame and Eisel’s presence was shocking.
Flame, despite her potential as a future 9th-Class Archmage, had yet to achieve such status. Many geniuses had failed to reach that milestone, and the influence of a prospective 9th-Class mage was worlds apart from that of an actual one.
Eisel’s presence, however, was even more contentious.
What kind of madness is this?
Eisel’s father had once caused significant harm to Adolevit’s military, nearly destabilizing the nation. Surely Princess Hong Biyeon was aware of this history.
“The princess must have lost her mind.”
“There’s no other explanation for bringing a commoner and the traitor Morph’s child here...”
“Well, this just makes things easier for us. Princess Hong Sihwa’s claim to the throne is practically solidified now.”
“Such a shame. They said Princess Hong Biyeon was on a remarkable rise recently, but I guess those were just baseless rumors. If she’s stooped to bringing commoners...”
Though the nobles whispered too quietly for Hong Biyeon to hear, she was well aware of the derision directed at her.
It doesn’t matter.
She had anticipated this reaction and remained unfazed.
Seated at the table, Flame grinned nonchalantly, seemingly unaffected, while Eisel’s expression was slightly stiff but far from distressed. Both had grown accustomed to such disdain.
As the murmurs grew louder, a sudden pressure descended on the ballroom, silencing everyone instantly.
“Enough with this disgusting chatter.”
Tap.
The sound of heels echoed sharply, followed by a spotlight illuminating a single figure.
Unlike before, where many lights shone, only one light now focused on this figure.
It was the queen, Hong Seryu.
Her expression was stern, clearly displeased with the atmosphere in the room.
“This incessant display of pointless lighting is starting to bore me,” she remarked, openly mocking the traditions and decorum of Adolevit.
Taking her seat at the center of the stage, Hong Seryu snapped her fingers, and the musicians began playing immediately.
The music filled the room, sweeping away the gossip and criticism, leaving only a festive ambiance in its wake.
Despite it being her birthday, the queen neither gave a speech nor delivered any remarks. It wasn’t that she had nothing to say—she simply had no desire to exchange words with those she deemed unworthy.
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With her retirement imminent, perhaps she intended to spend her final days quietly.
As the music began, nobles started pairing up and dancing in the center of the ballroom. Young noblemen naturally approached the stage to invite the royal guests and their companions.
The most attention, unsurprisingly, was directed toward Hong Sihwa’s seat.
“Princess, may I have this dance?”
“No, please allow me the honor...”
These were members of Hong Sihwa’s faction, eager to showcase their loyalty.
However, to everyone’s surprise, Hong Sihwa declined all offers, smiling faintly as she remained seated.
She danced enthusiastically last year...
Hong Biyeon noted this unusual behavior but didn’t have the luxury of pondering it further, as a significant number of noblemen began approaching her.
Unlike Hong Sihwa’s suitors, they came not out of political loyalty but purely drawn by Hong Biyeon’s beauty.
Like bees to a flower.
While she wished to dance with Baek Yuseol, she refrained. To solidify her influence, she needed to establish connections with these unaffiliated nobles first.
“Lady, may I have the honor of this dance?”
“W-Who, me?”
Meanwhile, Alterisha also drew a crowd. As a prominent figure in the magical and economic spheres, her presence attracted many regardless of faction.
Amid this, Flame and Eisel exchanged playful glances.
“Wanna dance with me?”
“Sounds like fun.”
Both were strikingly beautiful, but no noble dared approach them. Associating with the traitor Morph’s daughter would surely attract unwanted scrutiny.
Knowing this, Flame and Eisel walked boldly to the center of the ballroom, ignoring the whispers.
After all, they had come prepared to face criticism.
Meanwhile, Baek Yuseol found himself in an unexpected situation.
“Baek Yuseol, hello.”
As Hong Biyeon left to dance with another noble, Princess Hong Sihwa rose from her seat and approached him.
Extending her hand, she asked with a smile, “Would you care to dance with me?”
The ballroom erupted in whispers once more.
It was customary for gentlemen to ask ladies for a dance, never the other way around. For Princess Hong Sihwa herself to make the offer was unheard of.
“Hong Sihwa... with Baek Yuseol?”
“Well, he is an Honorary Mage now...”
“Is she trying to steal him from Hong Biyeon’s side?”
The nobles speculated wildly, but Baek Yuseol, fully aware of the implications, simply took her hand and stood.
“Of course, Princess.”
He really accepted!
There’s no way he doesn’t understand what this means...
While the nobles tried to decipher his motives, Baek Yuseol himself was nonchalant.
Alterisha, Flame, and Eisel were all occupied, and Hong Biyeon was unavailable. Grabbing a random lady to dance felt awkward, so when Hong Sihwa asked, he saw no reason to decline.
Why is everyone making such a fuss over this?
As he danced with Hong Sihwa, he couldn’t help but notice her gaze flicker toward Hong Biyeon, who was visibly seething but unable to act.
“Baek Yuseol...”
Suddenly, Baek Yuseol felt a chilling sensation run down his spine. His instincts sharpened immediately.
What is this? A Dark Mage?
Activating his enchanted glasses, he scanned the ballroom—but there was no trace of any Dark Mages present.
