Shards of War: Eclipsian Secrets

Chapter 17

Calie, Emmy, and Sergeant Maya returned from the restroom, only to find that the rest of their group had become dispersed among the gala's crowd. With a shrug, Calie suggested, "Let's just stick together for now and socialize a bit. It'll be fun."

As they moved through the crowd, mingling with the other guests, Calie spotted a familiar face. It was the son of a prominent politician she had met the previous year. He had attempted to flirt with Blaze during the last gala and seemed to be more interested in coercing her into drinking than genuine conversation.

The young man approached Calie with a confident smile. "Ah, it's a pleasure to see you again. We didn't get a chance to properly meet last year. I'm Gregor, by the way," he said, extending his hand.

Calie eyed him warily, remembering how he had behaved around Blaze. She shook his hand, her expression guarded. "Nice to meet you, Gregor. I recall meeting you briefly before. How have you been?"

Gregor's smile remained as he replied smoothly, "I've been well, thank you. It's always nice to see familiar faces at these events. And you're looking lovely tonight, by the way."

Calie nodded curtly. "Thanks. I'm here with friends, and we're just enjoying the evening."

Gregor's gaze shifted to Emmy and Maya. "And who might these lovely ladies be?"

Calie replied, "This is Princess Emerald, and this is Sergeant Maya. We're all here together tonight."

Gregor's eyes widened slightly upon hearing Emmy's title, but he quickly composed himself. "A pleasure to meet you both. Princess Emerald, I must say, it's quite an honor to have you here."

Emmy smiled shyly, but there was a noticeable tension in the air. Maya remained vigilant, keeping a watchful eye on Gregor's interactions with the princess.

Gregor's charm seemed to falter slightly as he realized that Calie wasn't as receptive as he had hoped. "Well, if you need anything or have any questions about the gala, feel free to ask. I'd be more than happy to assist."

Calie forced a polite smile. "We'll keep that in mind. Thanks."

As Gregor moved away, Calie leaned closer to Maya and Emmy. "Let's steer clear of him for now. I had some bad experiences with him last year, and I don't want him bothering any of us."

Maya nodded in agreement. "Got it. We'll stay away from him and enjoy the rest of the gala."

With that, the trio continued to explore the event, engaging with other guests and enjoying the festivities while keeping a wary eye out for anyone who might cause trouble.

Gregor stepped away from Calie and her group, his confidence slightly shaken. He joined his friends, who had been observing the interactions from a distance.

"Well, she didn't exactly fall head over heels for me," Gregor said with a smirk, trying to salvage his pride. "I figured she wouldn't remember me from last year. She's as beautiful as ever, though. I was sure she'd be attracted to my dashing looks."

His friends exchanged amused glances. "You do realize you were flirting with an idol, right?" one of them, Liam, said with a chuckle. "Those types usually don't go for casual flattery."

Another friend, Sophia, added, "Not to mention Calie and Marie are pretty well-known for being not interested in dating anyone. They've made it pretty clear they're not looking for relationships. And let's not forget Matsu—rich, powerful, got it all—but even he can't seem to make a dent in their stance. It's wild because they're all attractive."

Gregor shrugged, trying to play it off. "Yeah, well, maybe I aimed too high. But it's not every day you get to mingle with such prominent figures."

His friends nodded in understanding. "True, but maybe you should rethink your approach next time. Idols and their circle aren't exactly easy targets, especially when they've got their guard up."