“Marry early, have kids early. One awakened talent, the whole family prospers.”

“For the nation, for the people—start young.”

In the cold, empty marriage registration hall, Everett Landridge stared at the slogans, his mind drifting.

A hundred years ago, Blue Star had collapsed into disaster. Zombies and beasts roamed every corner, nearly wiping humans out. Only after people began awakening abilities did order slowly return. Every nation urged its people to bear more children. The Dragon Nation went even further—marriage age pushed down to eighteen, and the registration halls ran day and night without ever shutting their doors.

Everett had just turned eighteen today. Today was also the Awakening Day for Ningcheng First High. Two hours ago, he failed to awaken. His childhood sweetheart, Fiona Atkins, awakened an A‑rank ability instead.

He’d thought Fiona would break up with him. But she’d surprised him—said she’d stay with him even if he had no ability. To reassure him, she’d even decided they should register their marriage today.

They had agreed to meet here at one in the afternoon.

But it was already one‑thirty, and Fiona still hadn’t shown up.

Everett lifted his phone, thumb hovering over the screen, wanting to send a message. In the end, he lowered his hand.

“She’s probably not coming.”

The thought left a faint ache in his chest, but not enough to wrench him apart. He’d already been preparing for something like this. He hadn’t planned to marry this early anyway. He only agreed because he thought Fiona was shouldering pressure for his sake, and he didn’t want to let her down.

He waited until two o’clock. After checking the time one last time, he decided to leave.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared at the entrance—a striking girl.

“Fiona!”

A spark of relief lit Everett’s face as he strode toward her.

But after a few steps, he stopped cold.

A whole group of students poured in behind her. He knew every one of them—classmates.

“Damn, Everett, you really waited here?”

“This toad really thinks he can bite into a swan, huh?”

“Fiona Atkins, seems you really do know Everett Landridge best. You win.”

“I told you, if the class belle dared to bet with us, she must’ve been confident.”

“Never thought Everett would be this clueless. A guy who failed his Awakening actually believed an A‑grade Awakened class belle would marry him!”

Mockery crashed over Everett like cold rain.

He stared at Fiona, feeling his heart sink bit by bit.

“Fiona… this bet they’re talking about—what is it?”

He forced his voice to stay steady.

“What else could it be? A bet, obviously.”

Fiona looked at him with open disdain. “Everett, don’t tell me you really thought I’d marry you.”

“You can’t even see your own worth? You think you deserve me now?”

“Fiona!”

Everett’s voice trembled with anger. “It was you who said we’d stay together! You were the one who wanted to get the marriage certificate!”

“And now you go back on your word, drag a crowd here just to shame me. Don’t you think that’s too much?”

“How is your stupidity my problem?”

Fiona lifted her chin, proud as a peacock showing its feathers. “I toyed with you on purpose, and you didn’t even have the sense to doubt it. You actually believed me.”

“I dated you back then because your parents were both S‑grade Awakened. Even though they’ve been gone five years, everyone said you’d probably awaken S‑grade too.”

“But look at you now. You didn’t awaken even the lowest F‑grade.”

“You’re worse than trash, a complete waste. And you still dream of marrying me? What’s inside that head of yours—mud?”

“You say I’m being cruel—so what if I am? What can you do to me?”

“From today on, I, Fiona Atkins, am a white swan you’ll never reach. And you? You’re not even on the level of a toad that dares to dream of her.”

Fiona Atkins’s words drew a wave of agreement.

“Yeah, Everett, you’re the one too stupid to get it. How’s that her fault?”

“Blame yourself for being useless. Two S‑class parents, and they still ended up with you—a complete waste?”

“Heh, if I were your parents, I’d be ashamed to death.”

“Face it. You’re not worthy of Fiona.”

Everett Landridge’s fists tightened until the knuckles whitened.

These same fair‑weather clowns used to flatter him like he hung the moon.

But now he had nothing to stand on. He hadn’t awakened any ability, while all of them had—sure, some of their powers were barely good enough for washing dishes, but even that put them above him.

Everett drew in a long breath. A smart man didn’t throw himself into the fire. For now, he could only swallow this humiliation.

“Fiona Atkins, remember every word you said today.” His voice was low, teeth clenched. “I hope you won’t regret it later.”

“Regret? Hahaha, you’re killing me.”

Fiona laughed as if he’d told the funniest joke in the world.

“Everett, do you even hear yourself? Me, regret not marrying a useless piece like you?”

“If anyone’s going to regret something, it’ll be you. Because you’ll never—ever—find a girlfriend as good as me again.”

Her classmates burst into loud, mocking laughter. To them, Everett was just flailing out of helplessness.

Then—

“Fiona Atkins, with that kind of attitude, you think you count as good?”

A cool, clear voice cut through the noise like a blade.

Everyone turned instinctively—and froze.

Long legs, slender waist, a presence like morning frost untouched by dust.

“Y‑yes… it’s Melody Quinlan!”

“Why would Melody Quinlan show up here?”

“No wonder she’s the school belle… she’s stunning!”

“More than stunning. She awakened an A‑rank ability today too!”

Everett Landridge stood there, just as baffled as everyone else. He knew the girl walking toward them—Ningcheng First High’s cold‑faced school belle, eldest daughter of the Quinlan Clan, one of Ningcheng’s four great families: Melody Quinlan.

Fiona Atkins was pretty, sure. But compared to Melody? She was miles behind. And their backgrounds… that gap was like heaven and earth.

“Melody Quinlan, w‑what’s your deal?”

Fiona finally snapped out of it, eyes flashing with annoyance. “I haven’t offended you, have I?”

She knew her place; she wasn’t Melody’s equal in looks or status. What she couldn’t figure out was why Melody had appeared here of all places.

“You insulted my fiancé. That alone is insulting me.”

Melody’s gaze cut across Fiona like a blade. “What do you think you are, to mock my fiancé?”

“W‑what? Your fiancé?”

Fiona froze. “How could I mock your fiancé? I don’t even know who he is—”

She suddenly stopped. A terrible realization hit her. She turned stiffly toward Everett, disbelief written all over her face.

“Melody… you… you can’t mean he’s your fiancé, right?”

“N‑no way. Impossible. It can’t be him!”

Fiona quickly shook her head, panicking. “Melody, this has to be a misunderstanding. W‑who exactly is your fiancé?”

“You already know.”

Melody let out a cold snort, then walked straight to Everett’s side and hooked her arm around his.

“Fiona Atkins, now. Apologize to my fiancé immediately.”