But, unfortunately for me, the universe had other plans.
After Camille's ridiculous, heart-stopping stunt, word about our café spread like wildfire.
It started small—a few whispers, a bit of gossip, some excited murmurs from students passing by.
But then?
Then it spiraled into complete chaos.
The moment we reopened the doors after Camille's shameless display, a flood of customers surged into the café, almost knocking Claire over in their rush to get inside.
"Whoa, whoa—!" Claire yelped, barely managing to balance the tray of teacups she was holding.
"Where's the fan service?!" someone shouted.
"Are they really together?!" another voice chimed in.
"I heard they're taking special requests for couples' moments!"
What?!
I snapped my head towards Camille, my eyes wide in pure betrayal. "W-What did you DO?!"
Camille, still looking far too pleased with herself, simply gave me a sly smile, resting her chin on her hand as if she had all the time in the world. "Oh, nothing," she mused innocently. "Word just spreads fast when something… exciting happens."
I felt my soul leave my body.
Customers filled every available seat, eagerly waiting for their orders while whispering excitedly among themselves.
Even students who had zero interest in visiting the maid café before were now here, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of whatever absurdity was about to unfold next.
And just like that, our cozy, elegant café had devolved into a full-blown spectacle.
Lillian, ever the composed one, gracefully approached the growing line of customers with a serene smile, effortlessly maintaining her elegant princess-like aura. "Welcome, everyone," she greeted warmly. "We appreciate your patience. Please enjoy your time with us."
Even with the madness going on, she still managed to command the room with nothing but her presence.
Meanwhile, Diana was absolutely thriving.
She leaned against the counter, a knowing smirk on her face as she watched me flounder in the midst of all the attention. "You know, Sera," she mused, her voice dripping with amusement, "you really do have a talent for drawing people in."
"I DON'T WANT TO DRAW PEOPLE IN!" I wailed internally.
To make things worse, Claire—traitorous, chaotic Claire—clapped her hands together. "Since we've got such a big crowd, maybe we should…"
I turned to her in pure horror, already predicting where this was going.
"Maybe we should do a special event," she finished, grinning like she had just come up with the best idea in the world.
Tessa, who had been leaning against the wall watching the scene unfold, finally chimed in, her smirk lazy but her eyes sharp with amusement. "Ooooh. I like where this is going."
I did not.
"I don't," I deadpanned.
But, of course, I was ignored.
Camille, absolutely reveling in the chaos she had created, tilted her head in an infuriatingly graceful way. "What kind of special event, Claire?" she asked, pretending to be curious.
"Oh, something simple," Claire said, grinning ear to ear. "Maybe like a couple's tea party? Maid and guest pairings? Or, better yet… a mock proposal event?"
I choked on air.
The café erupted into excitement.
I grabbed Claire by the shoulders, shaking her slightly. "Claire, please, for the love of everything, do NOT start an event where I have to pretend to be engaged to someone—"
Too late.
"I LOVE IT!" one of the students shouted from the crowd.
"WHEN DOES IT START?!" another called out.
"MAKE SERA THE MAIN PROPOSAL TARGET!" someone else screamed.
The girls around me smirked simultaneously, their eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Oh?" Diana purred, stepping beside me. "It seems the people have spoken."
"Looks like you're the star of the show, Sera," Camille added, her expression entirely too smug.
Lillian, despite her usual poise and grace, was hiding a small, amused smile behind her hand. "I must admit, it does sound like an interesting concept."
I turned to Tessa, my last hope.
Tessa shrugged, not even pretending to hide her amusement. "Don't look at me. I'm all for it."
I wanted to die.
"Great!" Claire beamed, completely oblivious to my internal suffering. "Then it's settled! The mock proposal event starts in thirty minutes!"
I WAS GOING TO QUIT.
Effective immediately.
But of course, the universe had no intention of letting me off the hook.
"You all better prepare for what's about to unfold!" Claire announced dramatically, standing on one of the tables like some kind of overly enthusiastic festival host. "For the first and only time, witness the breathtaking, heart-stopping, fairy tale battle between none other than Camille Winters—star of the Drama Club and beloved ice princess—and Diana Hayes, our ever-mysterious, dangerously charming Student Council Vice President! Both fighting for the heart of our very own Sera Vandren!"
The café erupted into cheers.
I could only stare at Claire in abject horror.
"WHAT?!" I shouted. "Excuse me?! I never agreed to this—!"
"Too late!" Claire sang, hopping down from the table with an absolutely evil grin. "It's happening. And you, dear Sera, are the grand prize."
I grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly. "Claire, please, PLEASE tell me you're joking."
"Absolutely not," she replied, grinning ear to ear. "The crowd loves it."
And oh, they did.
The customers were eagerly whispering among themselves, eyes wide with anticipation. Some were placing bets, others were gasping dramatically, and a few had already picked sides.
"Camille totally has this in the bag."
"Are you kidding?! Diana is going to DESTROY her!"
This was madness.
I turned to Camille, praying that she'd put an end to this before it got out of hand.
But Camille Winters was nothing if not a performer.
She tossed her long, platinum-white hair over her shoulder, exuding grace and confidence. "I suppose I have no choice but to accept the challenge," she said, her voice dripping with playful elegance. Then, she turned to me, stepping closer until I could feel the faint chill of her ice magic lingering in the air.
"Sera," she murmured, lifting my hand in hers, her icy blue eyes locking onto mine. "A lady as exquisite as you deserves nothing less than devotion. And if I must fight for your heart…" Her lips curled into a teasing smile, "Then I will not lose."
I forgot how to breathe.
Then—
A hand suddenly pulled me away, and before I could register what was happening, I found myself pressed against Diana Hayes instead.
"Bold words," Diana drawled, her tone amused but her grip firm. Her honeyed green eyes flickered with challenge as she addressed Camille. "But I'm afraid I don't plan on losing either."
My soul left my body.
Diana and Camille were now facing off—right in front of me.
Like some kind of actual, real-life romance duel.
And worst of all?
THE CROWD WAS LOVING IT.
"Who's going to win?!"
"I can't decide! They're both so elegant and breathtaking!"
"Wait, shouldn't Sera have a say in this?"
Oh, thank you, random voice of reason!
"Yes!" I quickly cut in, stepping back from both of them. "Yes, I SHOULD have a say in this! And my say is—THIS EVENT SHOULD BE CANCELLED."
Silence.
Then—
Claire cleared her throat.
"Unfortunately, the crowd has already decided," she said way too cheerfully. "And I have to say, Sera, you look pretty flustered. Could it be that you like all this attention?"
That was it. Claire was getting exiled.
Tessa, leaning against the counter with her arms crossed, was watching the whole spectacle like it was the most entertaining thing she'd ever seen. "Honestly, I think we should let them continue," she mused, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. "It's good entertainment."
"ENTER—TESSA. I SWEAR."
Lillian, ever the composed one, sighed softly, though I could tell she was trying not to laugh. "Alright, let's not push Sera too much," she said graciously, stepping in before I completely lost my mind. "Let's move things along before the festival ends, yes?"
Bless you, Lillian. My only voice of reason.
"Fine, fine," Camille finally relented, smiling sweetly—too sweetly, in fact. That was the kind of smile that hid dangerous intent. "I suppose I'll save the final battle for another day."
Diana, still standing entirely too close to me, chuckled lowly, releasing her grip far too slowly. "If you insist."
I finally let out the breath I had been holding, my sanity barely intact.
And that was how I survived being the accidental main character of the Festival of Laze's most dramatic love rivalry event.
For now.
A wave of disappointed groans suddenly erupted from the crowd.
"Boo!" they all cried in unison, some crossing their arms, others outright stamping their feet like children being denied dessert.
I stared at them in disbelief. "You're kidding."
A student from the back—who I barely even knew—actually had the audacity to shout, "Give us a show!"
I AM A STUDENT. NOT A PERFORMER. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE.
Claire, thriving off my suffering, leaned in with a wicked smirk. "Sera~" she crooned. "How about just this once? You entertain everyone, hm? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, after all."
"For who?!" I snapped.
"For all of us," she replied smoothly, gesturing to the eager crowd.
I buried my face in my hands. This wasn't happening. No way was I about to let myself get sucked into whatever ridiculous performance they were expecting me to put on.
But then, Claire's words echoed in my head.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…
I peeked through my fingers at the crowd, faces full of anticipation, and then at Diana and Camille, who were very much still watching me. Waiting.
Damn it.
I groaned, dragging my hands down my face. "Fine."
And just like that—
The entire café ERUPTED into cheers.
I flinched as applause, whistles, and actual chanting broke out.
"SERA! SERA! SERA!"
I AM NOT A CELEBRITY.
Camille immediately turned to me, her icy blue eyes shining with mischief. "Oh?" she hummed. "So you've finally decided to give in?"
"I hate that I did," I muttered under my breath.
Diana grinned, her emerald eyes sharp with amusement. "Then, Sera…" She leaned in close again, her voice lowering just enough to make me heat up. "Who do you want?"
The cheers somehow got louder.
"CHOOSE! CHOOSE! CHOOSE!"
I was going to die. Right here. Right now.
"C-Can't we just—" I tried to argue, but Claire swooped in, shutting me down immediately.
"Nope! No backing out now!" she declared, grinning way too hard.
I turned to Tessa, my supposed voice of reason. "Tessa, help me."
She took a sip of tea. "No."
TRAITOR.
I turned to Lillian, my actual voice of reason.
She smiled gently. "I believe in you, Sera."
THAT DOESN'T HELP.
I inhaled, staring at Camille. Then at Diana. Then at the crowd.
And as I opened my mouth to make a choice—
The café doors BURST open.
"EXCUSE ME."
Every single head whipped toward the entrance as a new figure strode inside with an air of complete confidence.
I gasped.
No.
NO WAY.
Cassiel Valmont had entered the battlefield.
And he did NOT look amused.
The café fell into stunned silence.
Cassiel, with his usual refined air, strode forward, his dark wavy hair slightly tousled from the wind, his orange-brown eyes burning with quiet intensity.
"I couldn't help but overhear…" he began smoothly, tucking his gloved hand behind his back. "That there's a competition happening?"
The moment his gaze landed on me, my soul left my body.
NO. STOP RIGHT THERE. DO NOT GET INVOLVED.
Cassiel smiled—a charming, dangerous smile. "If that's the case," he continued, his sharp eyes flickering toward Camille and Diana, "then shouldn't I be included as well?"
EVERYONE. LOST. THEIR. MINDS.
SCREAMING.
CHEERING.
I was going to pass out.
What had I gotten myself into?