Albert walked quickly, not fast enough to run, but still he caught a few glances. Some women asked him to dance, but he turned them down.
"I'm already engaged"
"Look at the dapper Dan behind ya, Cinderella."
He would say stuff like that, when he reached the source of the light, he saw what he was looking for. Prince Kane, sitting down uninterested expression on his face, he was wielding the tier 5 magic item Geo Bladegis a sword that can grow up to 10 x its size. His Green and Cyan eye a contrast to his cedar-brown hair.
"Your majesty, thank you for allowing a mere viscount as myself to greet you." Albert said, with scripted nervousness in his face. The Prince raised an eyebrow. That's good, he got his attention.
"Ok, nice to meet you. Your name is Albert Luddovan, am I not correct?" The Prince's voice is just as majestic, masculine, and vaguely Russian just as the game. Albert was impressed he got this close, now he just needs to sell it.
"Tell me, Crown Prince Kane, I have heard some... rumors, I have heard rumors that a heroin- I mean commoner girl has managed to pass the entrance exam, and has a rare affinity for nature magic, I know I am in no position to be concerned, but I am wondering... will this impact our kingdom in any way?" Albert said, intentionally twisting his face into a nervous, smile. The Prince yawned, Geo Bladegis in his hand, but then he grabbed Albert, and pulled him closer, his strength is no joke.
"Do I look like this will impact the kingdom? Listen. I have no beef against commoners, but do you think that girl, Lilac. Is that important in the grand scheme of things? I understand how a lesser ranked noble is concerned, so I will send of my friends to keep her company if you are so worried. Arran, come here!" Albert was disappointed that he was unable to persuade the prince, but maybe he can persuade Miriam Kroth- But then he stopped, Arran was one of the capture target! And the prince is going to send her to keep watch over the heroin-no Lilac!? Albert is so happy that his plan worked, and as a small bonus he now knows the heroine's name.
Arran came over, his short Green hair almost identical to Kuroba's, but his eyes were amber. As soon as Arran looked at Albert, it was a mix of recognization and horror. He was the capture target witnessed him getting harassed by Klarice.
"Oh God, you are Lucine Nocturne's fiancee, right? I saw you resisting Klarice's tricks, I am quite impressed, she always managed to woo men into bedding her. I think she is using either a charm skill, or mental magic. That whore!" Arran is probably the least moral of all capture targets, in fact, when you first meet him in the game, he was a part of Lucine's entourage. But he has a rare condition, the longer a woman shows genuine kindness for him, the more he can't help but fall in love with said female.
"Yes, I am Albert Luddovan." Kane cleared his throat and huddled Albert and Arran together.
"Ok, I didn't want to do this, but it has come to my attention that the Luddovan, aka you Albert and possibly the Nocturne family is concerned that Lilac Dale, a commoner, got admitted into the academy, so you, Arran, you have to stay close to her, make conversation, just keep this idiot, aka you, Albert, from pestering me about this trivial matter." Albert never felt so offended. But there is a silver lining, now both Arran and Steven are technically on the path to being captured by Lilac. And even better, once she (inevitably) captures those 2, she can capture the Prince! E
"Ok, bye bye." Albert turned around and started walking to the other light his spell was pointing to.
"Ok, Miriam, time to see if you're any less easier than Prince jerKane over here."
---
Miriam Kroth was looking up at the chandelier, she couldn't help but be mesmerized by it, she hasn't seem something so beautiful in all her life. Yet she still gwlt empty inside.
"Why hello, Miriam-san." Said a voice, it was a tall black haired man with a stubble beard, Miriam didn't recognize him.
"Who are you, what do you want?"
"My name is Albert Luddovan, and I only want to know you." Albert's voice was genuine, though Miriam didn't know if she could trust him yet.
"What do you want to know about me?" Miriam asked.
"Things I don't already know about you of course. I have heard some rumors, your mother has recently died, that is quite sad. Do you need someone to talk to?" Miriam was shocked about someone else already knowing about her dear mother's departure. So how could someone, lest a person at the debut could know.
"How did you know that?!" Miriam asked, a tinge of fear in her voice.
"I told you Miriam-san, I heard rumors, there's no need to panic, after all. I can tell you need a friend, so what do you say wanna be friends?" Miriam watched as Albert outstretched his hand, Miriam was hesitant, but she eventually gave in and took it.
"Excellent, now I just need you to promise me one thing, Miriam-san. I need you to befriend Lilac, she is going to be a first year student in 3 weeks, I need you to be her friend and give me a weekly report on any interraction she makes with any noble boy that might have romantic feelings for her, not that I'm interested. It's just a precaution, got it? Since I am already engaged." Albert's voice was intimidating, and Miriam was frightened. She knew that even though he appeared to have the same level of noble status as her, he probably has connections that could ruin her life.
"I understand, thank you for allowing... me... to... be... useful." Miriam said, breathing heavily.
---
Albert made his way back to Steven and Lucine, who were currently bickering.
"What do you mean I look like I can't attract a woman? You saw those 2 lowly baronesses. Right?"
"Oh, it looked like you were forcing them to be affection, Steven. Even if you showed such behavior to higher nobles, you would be ridiculed and your reputation would be ruined. So just wait until you get engaged." Lucine retorted, she did make at least a somewhat compelling argument.
"Sorry for the long wait pals, I had to go to the bathroom." Albert said. Lucine's mood immediately turned bright and happy as she hugged Albert.
"There you are! Albert, you didn't flirt with any girls did you? Did you?" Lucine's voice was concerned, so Albert had to make her less worried.
"No, I assure you, I did not flirt with any girls, in fact, I would like to return home, I got what I wanted anyways." Albert said, satisfied things went his way.
"What did you want?" Lucine asked?
"To see how much my best friend gmhas grown since I last saw him. Great to see you Steven. See you at the academy!" Albert said, shaking Steven's hand, as they both walked back to the carriage.
"Hey Albert, I am wondering, have you ever kissed someone before?" Lucine asked.
"No-" before Albert could finish his sentence. Lucine tackled him to the ground just next to the carriage with a hug and kisses him on the lips. The feeling was warm and wet and romantic to him. Albert was happy his first kiss was with Lucine after all.
---
As Lucine and Albert arrived back at Nocturne estate, they saw Kuroba and Collene kissing eachothers cheeks.
"Welcome back masters Lucine-sama and Albert-sama." Said both of them simultaneously, it was kind of unnerving, but Lucine has had a suspicion that those two had an attraction to eachother for a while now, and now she is happy since that means they won't take her precious Albert away from her.
"Oh you two lovebirds, tell me, where is Dahlis?" Lucine asked.
"She has been called by the duchess, she won't be back for a few weeks. But don't worry, she put me in charge!" Kuroba said, pointing at herself confidently. Lucine giggled. She's almost as amusing as Albert's jokes.
---
Albert was getting his nightwear on in his room, he was very excited that he made an alliance with Miriam. This will especially be amazing in the academy. So now he has to make a plan for when he gets to the academy, so he took out a notebook and began to write down important variables.
'Klarice appears to be a playgirl, should probably keep her away from me and other capture targets, if she tries to harm any important person, use Paralyze on her and carry her to her dorm room. If either Steven or Arran risks hating Lilac, then learning mental magic to incite romantic feelings with them as a backup plan is essential.'
Then Albert went to sleep.