The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist novel Chapter 121

Chapter 121: Chapter 121 : Finally getting some screentime

It was Alicia von Crestvale.

Her entrance was like a silent thunderclap—elegant, sharp, and impossible to ignore. She glided through the ballroom like she owned it, and in a way, she did.

Her white hair gleamed under the soft chandelier lights, cascading down her back like liquid moonlight.

Each step was a statement of grace, nobility, and power. Conversations faltered. Cadets—first-years, second-years, and even bold third-years—paused mid-sentence just to gawk.

Alex, seated at the table with Charlotte and a bowl of suspiciously glowing fruit punch, lifted his eyes slowly.

’Here we go again,’ he thought.

Alicia didn’t bother with greetings. She walked straight up to him, heels clicking sharply on the marble floor.

"Come with me to the dance floor," she said, her tone casual but her eyes already daring him to say no. "After all, that’s what you’re getting paid for."

Alex’s mouth twitched. ’There it is. The illusion of dignity, shattered once more.’

"I don’t recall getting paid for dancing," he replied flatly, keeping his eyes on her, already regretting every life choice that brought him here tonight.

Alicia smirked, the corner of her lips lifting with mischief. "And I don’t recall you ever saying anything about not dancing."

Before Alex could offer a rebuttal, Alicia turned her head toward Charlotte. Her gaze sharpened, eyes narrowing just a fraction as she gave a sideways smirk.

"Char, would you mind?" she asked, her voice dripping with dangerous politeness.

Charlotte, who had been watching the exchange with thinly veiled amusement, stiffened slightly. She gave a small, awkward laugh and swallowed hard.

"Of course you can take him, sis. He was being useless and annoying sitting here anyway."

Alex’s mouth twitched again. ’Was that not the other way around?’

He turned back to Alicia, giving her a deadpan look. "I do have the right to refuse, right?"

Alicia gave a wicked smile. "No, you don’t. Now come with me to the stage."

Before he could protest further, she grabbed him by the collar like a misbehaving puppy and began dragging him through the stunned crowd. Cadets parted like the Red Sea, their eyes following the bizarre scene.

Alex let his body go limp, his face blank. "Should’ve written another mana contract," he muttered. "With a clause: payment required for dancing."

Back at the table, Charlotte watched them go with a long sigh.

’Looks like he really wasn’t joking when he said he was getting paid to attend this with those two,’ she thought, shaking her head.

A smirk curved her lips. ’Still... I wonder how he managed to catch the attention of both of them. Even the third-years practically worship the ground they both walk on. And yet here we are...’

Out of the corner of her eye, Charlotte noticed movement and turned slightly. Evelyn had been watching the scene too. Their eyes met. Charlotte gave her a small wave, and Evelyn nodded in return.

Charlotte looked at Alex. ’Then again... with that guy, anything feels possible.’

With a slight shake of her head, Charlotte stood and began moving toward Evelyn’s table, her heels clicking quietly against the marble. As she walked, she glanced toward the dance floor where Alicia was still dragging Alex.

’And here I was... actually thinking of asking him to dance,’ she thought with an internal groan. ’But nope, big sis beat me to it. Figures.’

Meanwhile, near the edge of the dance floor...

"Darling," Alex said in a tone full of exaggerated affection, "you do realize you’re not paying me for dancing, right?"

Alicia’s mouth twitched, just once.

Dangerously.

"You can either dance with those useless legs of yours," she said sweetly, "or leave the ball without dancing... and also without those useless legs."

She smiled.

"So. Which option would you like?"

Then, leaning closer, her smile widened with innocent cruelty.

"Personally, I recommend the second one—just for you."

Alex gulped hard. ’Why do I feel like she’s not bluffing...?’

"The first option’s starting to look better," he said quickly.

Alicia smirked triumphantly. "That’s what I thought."

Letting go of his collar at last, she straightened her dress as Alex stood up on his own, brushing off invisible dust from his blazer with exaggerated drama.

He sighed, resigning himself to fate. "Yeah, yeah... It’s not like you actually want to dance with me or anything, right?"

"Hmph." Alicia turned her face away, a small blush dusting her cheeks. "O-Of course not! Who would want to dance with you? I’m doing this just because of my mother."

’Is she blushing,’ Alex noted. ’Yep. Definitely blushing. What’s with all the tsunderes in this world?’

Unbeknownst to them, half the ballroom had paused to observe the unexpected duo stepping onto the stage.

Even Ethan couldn’t help but glance over. He had been dancing with Ophelia, who currently had her arms wrapped tightly around his neck in a headlock that was supposed to resemble romantic closeness.

Nearby, Seraphina crossed her arms, annoyed. "This isn’t fair. I wanted to go first."

Lilia, standing near her and having just finished a dance, said, "You guys settled this with rock-paper-scissors and she won."

Back on the dance floor, Ethan blinked as he watched Alicia lead Alex forward.

’Wait a minute... why is big sis dragging him to the stage?’

Ophelia leaned closer, nearly knocking him off balance. "What are you looking at?"

"N-Nothing," Ethan replied, trying to breathe as her grip tightened.

’Why does dancing with ladies always feel like a battlefield?’

’How dare he? How dare he go up there with her, grabbing her attention like that?’ Elias thought. ’Ever since the entrance ceremony, when I first saw her... I knew she was different. I was mesmerized. And yet I haven’t even spoken to her properly once. Just watched from afar. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

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