In the Empire’s high society, there were countless balls, banquets, concerts, and book clubs held, both large and small.
They were places where nobles exchanged information, and they often served as venues to discuss cooperation.
Among them, the “Masquerade Ball” being held now was the second largest and most popular event among the various gatherings in the first half of the year. It was only natural.
‘Because being able to cover one’s face means being able to move just as freely.’
Whether it was finding a new partner, making ingenious proposals or announcements while hiding one’s identity, or engaging in small deviations one wouldn’t normally dare—such things were tolerated to a certain extent here.
If someone really wanted to find out who you were, they could, but it was an unwritten rule of this ball that everyone turned a blind eye unless it was something truly serious.
At such a masquerade, Beatrice and Clyde had decided to attend wearing masks that barely covered their faces—masks that were hardly masks at all. The reason was simple.
‘It’s about time Valoa’s patience ran dry.’
They didn’t even consider the possibility of Valoa not attending the masquerade. She truly loved parties and entertainment.
‘The probability of Valoa playing quietly and returning home with a smile from a ball like this, where even ordinary people let their guards down?’
It simply didn’t exist. It might be faster to find a flying pig.
However, the opposite case had a very high probability of being true.
That is, the probability of Valoa, who was already irritated to no end because of them, losing her mind upon seeing a couple looking intimate at the ballroom.
‘Valoa would cause an incident even if she wasn’t certain that the people bothering her eyes were us.’
She was the type of person who would say, ‘It’s because you guys made me misunderstand,’ even after doing so.
If that were the case, it was better to be a target voluntarily while they were already hated. It was easier to respond that way when the signs of trouble appeared later.
That was certainly the case, but…
“Oh? Those two feeding each other over there, aren’t they Lady Hartwell and Sir Dalton?”
“They’re wearing lace masks, but it’s obvious just by looking, isn’t it? I saw them dancing a moment ago. They were whispering and laughing about something so fun.”
“Aha, then it must have been Sir Dalton who was fetching the shawl toward the powder room earlier. My goodness, it seems newlywed life truly is wonderful?”
“It makes sense, given they’re finally revealing what they kept hidden for so long. Oh, is that why they wore such light masks? A declaration that they don’t want to hide anymore, or something?”
“My, my, this might be rude to say, but if that’s the case, it’s quite cute.”
…I didn’t expect that revealing ourselves within the anonymity would attract people’s attention like this!
Beatrice grew weary of the constant gazes directed at her and eventually fled to a corner of the banquet hall.
Seeing Beatrice looking thoroughly fed up, Clyde quietly followed her with a drink in his hand.
“Here.”
“…Ugh. What is it? I was trying to avoid people on my own, so why did you follow me? If you’re here, people are going to start whispering again.”
“How can I leave you alone when I don’t know what Lady Valoa might do? It’s fine. They won’t pay us any mind.”
“As if.”
“It’s the truth. People don’t pay much attention to things they’ve already given interest to once.”
No, now that he put it that way, it did seem plausible…?
Even so, Beatrice pressed herself a little closer toward the decorations that could hide her body. Clyde leaned his upper body toward her slightly, tilting his chin as he spoke.
“And look closely. It’s not like we haven’t gained anything.”
“Huh….”
Following Clyde’s chin toward the crowd, she let out a soft exclamation.
“Ah.”
She felt like she understood immediately, even though no specific words had been exchanged. Even among people who had thoroughly wrapped their identities under various masks, there was an existence that stood out uniquely.
“Wow, she’s staring quite terrifyingly. I don’t know who she is, yet I know exactly who she is.”
“Right?”
“It’s amazing that she’s recognizable even though she’s dressed up from head to toe.”
Beatrice truly thought so.
If it weren’t for that gaze, even she wouldn’t have known who the person decorated like a parrot in all sorts of colorful fabrics was.
The obsession of spinning a wine glass leisurely among the people while never missing their movements was, in a sense, phenomenal. It was just a problem that such an obsession was directed toward them.
Beatrice, who had stroked her arm with one hand, whispered to Clyde.
“But she really is just watching, like you said. Honestly, I thought she’d cause a scene without regard for anything, just like at our wedding.”
“Well. She might be looking for an opportunity. Besides, I told you, didn’t I? At first, she’ll definitely try to pull us apart.”
“By spilling wine or calling someone over?”
“Yeah. And you remember what I told you to do if that situation happens?”
At Clyde’s question, Beatrice glared at him silently. Her gaze suggested she wouldn’t stay still if he asked one more time.
But despite that, Clyde didn’t even blink as he continued shamelessly.
“What is it, Bea? Did you forget already? I can’t help it. I’ll start from the beginning again……”
“The meeting spot! I’ll go to the meeting spot. The old tree in the garden behind the mansion. Got it?”
“Mmh.”
“Don’t smile. Ha, seriously. I can’t even hit you because there are people around…”
“That’s what I was aiming for. Shall I bring you some cold water to cool your temper at least?”
“Get lost.”
Clyde chuckled at the sight of Beatrice, who was flustered by the surrounding eyes even as she vented her irritation.
Naturally, the price of his laughter was a pain spreading in his side.
“Aagh.”
“Shh! Smile, Darling. Huh? People will think I’m bullying you.”
With the familiar, non-threatening threat.
* * *
Valoa’s gaze persistently followed the two people whispering intimately in the furthest corner of the ballroom.
The lips painted a deep, deep red to match today’s outfit naturally twisted.
“Fascinating. I wonder what on earth is so fun for the two of them…”
They weren’t looking at some magnificent work of art or scenery, and they hadn’t received some expensive, precious gift. They weren’t experiencing the thrill of getting their hands on something they wanted either.
All they’re doing is sipping drinks while sharing uselessly trivial chatter or dancing to the music. Is that really so fun and happy?
‘To the point it dirties my mood just watching?’
Barely suppressing the urge to hurl the glass she was holding, Valoa blinked slowly.
‘As expected, I must do as I planned.’
People called her a scoundrel and such, but she also tried to obtain what she wanted in a standard, aristocratic way if possible.
She sent proposal letters, confessed her feelings, and expressed her opposition at the wedding. She even behaved quite aristocratically, petitioning His Majesty the Emperor to annul the marriage of those two.
But what did she get in return?
‘Lady Crawford. As I told you every time I refused, I am not yours. I am a person, not an object or a prey, so how could I be someone’s possession?’
‘Have you lost your mind? There is no way those two will divorce, so give up and leave. This is my last warning, and this is the last time I will overlook this. If you do something as ridiculous as this again, I will not stand by. Valoa, when on earth do you plan to learn that there are things in this world that do not go your way?’
Valoa bit her lower lip as she recalled the rejections and opposition she had heard.
‘There is nothing in this world that cannot be done.’
Such a thing did not exist, at least not in her world.
‘It’s not like a marital relationship is only broken by a legal divorce.’
The relationship is broken even if a spouse dies or disappears.
Her gaze landed on the youngest of the Hartwell family, who was just standing up from her seat. Seeing as Clyde, who had been following her like a shadow, didn’t follow, it seemed she was heading to the restroom.
‘To think she would move alone just in time. See? I told you, there are no things in this world that don’t go my way.’
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