That night I made sure to prepare the ultimate confession. I even spent 750 exchange points on Basic mana manipulation, which was then upgraded to specialty rank with one of my quest rewards from beating up Moxia. I also found I could use a second specialty rank upgrade to make mana manipulation into mana manipulation plus.
Not just mana manipulation, I also invested in another skill. Basic Elegance, for 300 exchange points, then upgraded to specialty rank. A bit of a waste, but it is what it is.
[(Intermediate) area-sense] [(Mastery) physical enhancement+] [(Mastery) acceleration++] [(Intermediate) Imperial swordsmanship] [(Distinctive) Ocean Splitting arts] [(Mastery) Weapon Aura] [(Specialty) Mana Manipulation+] [(Specialty) Elegance]> [(Advanced) Standard magic formations] [(Advanced) Elemental magic formations] [(Advanced) Magigliths] [(Advanced) Magic theories] [(Basic) Geography]> Yea. I. was. Ready. "I somehow feel this isn't gonna end how you hope it will." Luna commented as she finished working on my hair which I had just been letting grow out randomly, leading to me having long straight blonde hair, combined with my handsome face and the black and gold uniform it looked perfect with the right styling. … The next day after classes, I had timed it perfectly, in an area where lots of people would see. Being overlooked by the sunlight as it set and a few metres away was a fountain. Moreover, I was relatively certain the princess would pass down here. Behind me I held a traditional woven basket filled with flowers and loose flower petals. I used my mana manipulation and formations knowledge to manipulate some gold chalk to draw a small formation to control the surrounding wind. Well, I said small, but probably because I was only advanced in the knowledge related to them it covered all around the fountain and had 4 orbits with over 300 characters. Soon enough, my target arrived, surrounded by some other nobles. I was standing beside a tree, waiting as they grew closer. Soon enough I stepped out and used mana manipulation to carefully guide the flower petals, from the basket hidden behind me in my left hand, flowing gently out with the wind, starting from closer to the ground and raiding up past the groups faces before heading right, towards the fountain where I let go of my control over them and let the wind formation blow them back towards me. "Oh beautiful princess, whose radiance shines as the brightest star in the sky. Gazing from afar my dim eyes admire you alone as the other stars rise, finding solitude in my empty patch of sky. I wonder while I may find peace alone after I sigh, It may take my soul to make that sight, I could only reach out for that beautiful patch of sky, And ask for your dearest response to filling my nights." I recited the random poem I made up a few minutes ago to go with the scene, manipulating the gold chalk to add another line to the magic formation, changing it to create a sudden breeze upwards as I released control of the leaves and let them float up along with some water from the fountain to make the sunset ray ripple across the path between me and the princess. A pair of birds happened to fly out at the same time, making the scene truly come to life as the leftover wind pressure ruffled the trees and the sounds of nature seemed to reverberate around the area as I held out my hand for the princess to take. The scene must have worked well as the group of young ladies around the princess instinctively gave us space, some gasping at the sight while more perceptive ones, gazed at my magic formation which I controlled with a piece of gold chalk manipulated with mana manipulation. Even the crowds that usually passed by had stopped completely and were admiring the scene, aptly waiting for the princess' answer. The princess's blonde hair and dress fluttered in the wind as she gazed back at me with a slightly startled and confused expression compared to her usual graceful smile. My smile softened as I thought about the imminent rejection, followed by two weeks of approved absence. The mere thought made me tremble in excitement. "Yes." The princess soon spoke, stepping forward and grasping my hand with both of hers while her books she was carrying floated beside her, soon grabbed by one of the noble ladies that were around her. This time it was my turn to wear an expression of shock and confusion. Perhaps my state was amusing since the princess smiled as she looked at my expression and she moved another step closer, with me almost a head taller as she rested her head on my chest and continued. "It would be my pleasure to accompany you in your place in the night sky." '…' 'Wat?' The only thoughts in my mind were silence and what. My shocked expression recovered due to the elegance skill so it appeared I was smiling down at the princess gently as I unconsciously continued operating the wind formation, cutting a line with the chalk to cause what was originally meant to be a gust of wind filled with depression that swept past after I was left behind in shock by the princess rejection. However, with my forgetal to remove the flowers by this point it became a wind that covered and surrounded the princess and I in pink flower petals now somewhat wet from the splash of water earlier and refracting a faint rainbow around us. The scene became one straight out of a romance as I weakly responded with some elegance, "Ah… yes, I'm glad… the deepest pieces of my heart are touched by your gentle fragrance and joyous acceptance…" I managed to get out, closing my eyes while maintaining my smile, unsure and confused. My very being had been shattered and grinded to dust, then spread out across the twelve seas.