Crowley shakes his head in disbelief. "I didn't expect Team Tall to get wiped out so quickly."
"Did you see how Floyd goaded the ghost into slapping him? Zero hesitation." Riddle glances at the Headmage. "Let that be a lesson: It is folly to pick bridal candidates solely based on height!"
Ace clutches his sides from laughing so hard. "Dude, Trey's singing was hysterical! I know some people got simple tastes, but man! Those lyrics. Talk about priceless!"
Deuce tries to keep a straight face. "Cut it out, Ace! No need to insult Trey..." Deuce couldn't help but snicker. "I just can't! It gets me whenever I think about it!"
Rook sighs. "Alas, poor Vil! His immaculate cheeks, marred by a maple leaf-shaped slapmark! And the color matches too. It breaks my heart! His fair features being blemished is a tragedy of epic proportions."
"Uh, yeah... Totally." Epel chuckles. "But golly, the look on his face when he got shot down..."
You sigh and shake your head. "The whole thing was a comedy of errors."
Crowley glowers. "This is hardly the time to be yukking it up! This isn't a game. Shroud's very life hangs on the balance! Dear, oh dear. Where do we go from here?"
"You need not worry on that score!"
You turn around to see Azul step forward with a hand in his chest. "I would like to make up for the shortcomings of my dormmates, Jade and Floyd. My word, they have no idea how to treat a lady. I, on the other hand, can offer you an Azul Ashengrotto guarantee: I'll get the Circle of Severance on her hand."
"Oh please." Cater steps forward. "I'M your guy if you want advice on how to woo a cutie." Carter winks at you.
Deuce tilts his head. "Wow, Cater. You seem pretty into this."
Cater shrugs. "What can I say? I'm in my element! Ooh, you should come with, Deucey." Cater wraps an arm around Deuce. "The more wingmen the merrier!"
"Wait, me?" Deuce's eyes widen. "This kind of stuff isn't really my strong suit... I don't know the first thing about girls' feelings!"
Ace folds his arms. "Oh, so you're just gonna abandon Trey? I see how it is."
"What? No!" Deuce steps out of Cater's hold. "I would never do that!"
"Then get to scootin'. I'm sure Trey's just waiting for you to swoop in and save the day." Ace grins.
Deuce looks to the school, a determined look on his face. "You know what? You're right. Trey deserves to have his revenge. I'll be the guy to deliver it."
Ace pats Deuce on the back. "There you go! Shoot your shot and sweep her off her ghostly feet!"
You shake your head. "Man you guys are the worst."
Deuce turns to Cater. "Okay, count me in, Cater! Let's band together and crash that wedding hall!"
Cater plays with a strand of his hair as he whispers. "Oh, Deucey. You can't even see how he's playing you."
Lilia steps forward. "I suppose I might as well throw my hat into the ring as well. I could barely call myself a teacher if I failed to make up for my student's deficiencies."
Epel grins. "That sounded so cool!"
Lilia chuckles. "The matter is in good hands, rest assured."
"Too bad you won't even get a turn, Lilia. Cay-Cay's gonna slay-slay!" Cater holds a peace sign next to his head.
Azul laughs. "I believe you'll both find me a very hard act to follow."
The second team of suitors all met the same fate as the first: a slap to the face.
"WHY WAS I REJECTED?" Azul cries out.
Floyd bursts out laughing. "She smacked you good, Azul!"
"I analyzed the first team's data and came up with the perfect approach by the ghost's standards." Azul says in disbelief. "I gave her a bouquet of roses and sang a clarion love song! Where did I go wrong?"
Jade simply smiles. "She said you talked too much and lacked any shred of sincerity. It rubbed her the wrong way."
Leona rolls his eyes. "Of course it did. You're not gonna get anywhere talkin' a lady's ear off."
Azul sends the lion a glare. "Leona, you were the first to be rejected. You're hardly in a position to act smug."
"Aw man, talk about a downer." Cater adds. "I thought I was on fire!"
Vil quirks an eye. "I fail to see how your flippant chatter would spark anything but annoyance. Even the ghost was put off by your shallowness."
Trey looks to Deuce. "So, why are you here again, Deuce?"
Deuce sighs. "I was trying to save you. But the moment I came face to face with her, I got cold feet. I blanked and couldn't think of anything to say."
"She told me I was too cute by half." Lilia adds. "Oh, the vicissitudes of being as cute as a button..."
"For Lilia of all people to receive the slap of rejection..." Sebek glowers. "HOW? YOU'RE EVEN CUTER THAN THE GHOST HERSELF!"
"Would you stop shouting?" Eliza folds her arms. "Why must modern men be such brutish cads? They come courting and don't even have the decency to wear nice suits."
Eliza twirls in the air. "Oh, Idia, darling, I knew you were the only one for me. No one else comes close!"
"I couldn't agree more, Your Highness." Pufffy bows his head. "These suitors are all hopeless knaves who wouldn't know gentlemanly conduct if it slapped them in the face."
"I cannot bear this." Vil complains. "How could I be outshone by someone as antisocial as Idia?"
"That shut-in prolly can't even sing!" Leona growls.
"Idia's nothing like the rest of you." Eliza counters. "Like I said, he's a perfect prince. I'm sure he'd love to join me in a song. He's just a tad shy at the moment."
"Dear me, those claims are absolutely delusional." Lilia smiles. "It seems to me you're projecting your notions onto Idia and refusing to see who he really is. So long as you gaze into the distance, you'll never find what you seek. It's much more important to see what's right in front of you."
Eliza throws a glare at Lilia. "Enough with your gibberish. I know what I've found. And that's Idia, my perfect prince!"
Puffy rubs his arm, looking rather sad.
"This whole endeavor was a waste of time." Eliza floats away. "We need to get the ceremony preparations underway."
Puffy floats next to her. "Your Highness, you must be worn out after dealing with these humans. Surely there's no rush."
"Aww, you're worried about me?" Eliza giggles. "That's so sweet of you, Puffy! You've been my dearest friend through thick and thin ever since we were alive.
"Yes..." He says sadly. "Your friend. Of course. That's why I'm here, Your Highness."
Eliza turns around and claps her hands. "Now, show Idia in."
"Here he is, Your Highness!"
The two ghosts wheel Idia into the room. Idia is tied to a stand and frozen solid. His oversized hoodie replaced with a tuxedo. Idia groans.
"Oh, IDIA!" Eliza floats happily towards him. "That long fitted jacket really enhances your air of nonchalance. Its black color and gothic style contrasts delightfully with your bright hair, and those white lilies in your lapel are as charming as your smile."
"I took the liberty of pulling his hair back." Nana says proudly. "It's a minor, yet critical detail."
"Now you can enjoy his lidded eyes and flawless features unobstructed!" Grampy adds.
"He's positively dashing!" Eliza spins in a circle. "I expected nothing less of the attendants who helped my mother and father prepare for their own nuptials. Idia, darling, you look every bit the perfect groom! I'm absolutely beside myself!"
Idia groans again. "This embarrassment burns. I mean the parts that aren't already on fire, that is. Did I lose a bet or something? Or maybe this is a dream. Can I wake up now? I just wanna go back to my room."
"Whoa, Idia's dressed to the nines!" Says Deuce.
"He's as frozen as we are." Trey adds. "They wheeled him in here on a stand."
"She slapped Idia too?" Cater's eyes widen. "Bridey's downright ruthless!"
Eliza glares at the boys. "I resent that. I'll have you know I just gave him a teensy poke because he tried to run."
Idia rolls his eyes. "Stunning rescue, guys. You crashed and burned, and now you're nothing but a pile of wreckage."
The boys all glare at Idia.
"Shouldn't you normies be good at all this vapid socializing stuff? Aren't you embarrassed?"
Leona growls and everyone send Idia a death glare. Eliza wraps her arms around Idia. "You are SO right, honey dearest. Any other guy is a total wreck compared to you! And the way you tell people hard truths when they don't want to hear them? Well, that takes real kindness and integrity! You're just so perfect, I can't wait a minute longer."
Eliza throws her arms in the air. "We'll hold the wedding tonight!"
Idia's eyes widen. "Wait, tonight?"
"Yes, darling! Just imagine tonight, when the clock chimes midnight, we'll seal our eternal marriage with a kiss! Then you'll shed your mortal form, and together, our souls will depart for our honeymoon!"
"And leave this mortal coil without getting to read my manga? NOOO!" Idia looks to the boys. "Guys! You gotta get me out of this!"
Vil smiles. "Well, well, well. It sounds like you've found someone who loves you in spite of your bad attitude."
Leona grins. "Yeah, y'know what? Good on you for finding your soulmate."
"What?" Idia says in shock.
"Why are you so shocked after hurling all those insults at us?" Jack asks.
The ghosts cheer.
"It's finally happening!"
"Our princess's wedding, five hundred years in the making!"
"Back in the old days, this event would've merited a nationwide celebration. But our neighbors were ungrateful scoundrels! They betrayed us without a second thought!"
"Just remembering it makes me want to die all over again!"
Eliza smiles and shakes her head. "Now, now. No use crying over fallen kingdoms. Getting upset won't make it any better."
Eliza looks to the stunned boys. "Ooh, I have an idea. I'll make all these suitors groomsmen. They can be part of the ceremony! That way we can have the kind of merry wedding you two want. Okay, everyone. You're going to help celebrate the start of me and my darling's life as newlyweds!"
"Can we NOT?" Idia protests. "Please, somebody, anybody... AZUL! Aren't we Board Game Club buddies? You're a fast talker, talk some sense into this ghost!"
Azul only smirks. "To think that Idia, king of all introverts, would get married... I can't see through all my tears of joy. My heartfelt congratulations. I'm sure it's going to be a wonderful wedding!"
"No!" Idia cries out.