Nokto blinks once. Twice. His eyes widened when he saw Kaleigh emerging from the dressing room with several maids. He clapped his hands as if he just witnessed a wonderful show upon seeing Kaleigh's emergence from behind the closed doors of the dressing room.

"Splendid! You look amazing in proper makeup and hairstyle, dear! Not to say that you were ugly earlier, but that was just boring, you know~ with those high heels of yours, now you're almost as tall as me~ what a nice companion to have~"

Kaleigh feels flattered byNokto's compliment. She's wearing a deep blue dress that's sparkling with sequins with a pair of long, white gloves going above her forearms. On her neck is a small, blue choker adorned with a blue gemstone, cleverly hiding the beauty mark there. Her hair was put up in a ponytail, and to make up for the simplicity, a lavish head chain was placed on her jet-black hair to accentuate her fair skin. By choosing cold tone colors for her makeup, Kaleigh makes herself look much tamer and demurrer, unlike anything of her wild personality as 'Kaleigh Moran'. Oh, and she can't forget to hide the beauty mark underneath her left eye with concealer as well.

She would have said something like 'heh, I know I am always pretty' to Nokto had it not been for the predicament she is currently in. Her lips curl up into a small, polite and controlled smile before taking elegant steps towards Nokto. Nokto quickly takes the cue and slides his hand around her waist, feeling her form in the crook of his arm. A part of Kaleigh enjoys this, and another is boggled by the nagging worry for Emma. Kaleigh tries to reassure herself that Emma'll be fine...

"I'm glad my appearance is up to your taste, your highness. Shall we go now? I doubt there's a minute to spare."

"I agree. Seeing you like this, I hope this party would just end soon so I can spend time in private with my lovely companion~"

"No thanks..."

"Aww, what a prude~..."

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""Nokto, thanks for waiting for me. I just had to do my first dance as a debutante for my brother, and before I knew it, Clavis took my hand already." Kaleigh giggled joyfully while taking Nokto's hand and placed a gentle kiss on his knuckle like a gentleman. That role reversal amused Nokto to no end.

"I won't forgive you, Kaleigh, unless you spend the night with me after this~"

"What are you even talking about, Nokto~? You're younger than me, your highness. You shouldn't use such vulgar language~ I'll see if you've grown into a fine man until your coming of age ceremony then decide if I should court you or not."

Nokto and Kaleigh, 14 and 16, together stepped onto the dance floor. Those two were by no means adults, and they were enjoying that dance like children would have playing with each other, not caring about the rhythm at all. It's a memory Kaleigh will never forget - one of which she'll always cherish in the back of her mind. Nokto, too, remembers the memoirs of studying and enjoying his life with Licht and Kaleigh as his beacons of hope amidst his tumultuous life.

Kaleigh never got to witness Nokto's coming of age ceremony.

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"How old are you, Kaleigh?" Nokto asks.

"Well, I'm 21. Is that younger or older than you, your highness?"

Nokto carefully and respectfully scans Kaleigh's features and lets out a sigh of disappointment, a hint of sadness in his ruby red eyes.

"You just happen to remind me of someone, but she's way older than you. And no, I'm older than you, but I'm flattered for being seen as younger than my age~"

It feels like déjà vu of some sort, or at least that's how Rhodolitans call the experience of one feeling like going through the same event again even though the event theoretically never happened. Kaleigh is once again led into the grandiose ballroom with Nokto side by side.

The ballroom is dazzling with light coming from every direction, from the huge chandelier on the ceiling and from the wall scones scattered across the wall. It is just like those casinos - Kaleigh thought as her eyes darted around discreetly. So annoying - she thought.

As soon as Kaleigh and Nokto made their entries into the grand ballroom, a loud and clear voice announced their entrances:

"Welcome, his highness Prince Nokto Klein and lady Kaleigh!"

Immediately after bowing down to Nokto, chatter erupts between nobles about Nokto's newest companion. They look at Kaleigh, stunned by her beauty and quickly realize who she resembles - those that shade of blue in her eyes can only be possessed by the Moran family. People suspect that she is from the collateral families since the family is already far gone from Rhodolite. In turn, Kaleigh keeps her stoic expression, not amused by how people are gossiping about her in her first return to Rhodolite's high society.

"Everyone, let's not make lady Kaleigh uncomfortable on her first encounter with the extravagance of nobility~ This is lady Kaleigh, Sariel's newest apprentice." Nokto speaks up to break the awkward and gossipy atmosphere. He pulls Kaleigh closer by her waist with a sly grin. "She'll be my partner for the night~" He winks, making the noblewomen blush and some noblemen frown in slight disdain.

"Heh." Kaleigh huffs under her breath "You've made most men here your nemesis, your highness."

"I thought it has always been like that, dear~?" Nokto returns Kaleigh's words cockily. In a moment of helplessness towards Nokto's attitude, Kaleigh's lip quirks up into a rare, seemingly mocking smile. As the couple walks further into the crowd, Kaleigh sweats. Will she meet any of her old friends here? Old enemies to her family!? Maybe this is a good opportunity to once again get a general view of the Rhodolite social circle after all those years. 

-end of chapter 13-