48.
“What a waste. It’s such a waste I could die!”
Julie stamped her feet, wiping away tears.
I pretended not to notice Julie’s persistent gaze and put on a mask that covered my entire face.
“Did you really have to wear that mask after dressing up like this?”
Julie waved a silver half-mask in front of my eyes as if trying to catch my attention.
A half-mask that only slightly covers the eyes and nose is something you wear when you have no intention of hiding who you are.
I chose a large, thick mask in dark colors that I’d found while rummaging through the mansion.
It was a magnificent owl mask mixed with maroon, gold, and black.
Even Zaka had made a face like, ‘An owl, of all things,’ when he first saw it.
The eye holes were deep too, making it perfect for hiding my eye color.
Among the dazzling chandelier lights, ornate decorations, and light refracting everywhere, my eyes would probably just look like an ordinary brown.
“Why? Isn’t it cool?”
I spun around once and asked.
“We’ll be fortunate if everyone doesn’t run away because of that mask.”
Julie muttered in a half-resigned voice.
“Come on, it’s a ‘mask’ ball. Surely they wouldn’t do that? I’m totally normal.”
Perhaps finding my hair fascinating—braided in small sections at the sides and tied back—Zaka fiddled with it from behind.
I had used a dye potion sold on the market; it was a magic item that lasted about half a day.
Since it was impossible to change to a color completely different from my original hair color, my hair had become a deep maroon.
I hadn’t chosen the owl mask for nothing.
I had picked it while taking my hair color into consideration, after all.
“Is it awkward since my hair color changed?”
When I turned around while wearing the mask, the lock of hair held in Zaka’s hand slipped through his fingers and fell.
Zaka didn’t exactly deny it.
Outside the window, the sun had already begun to slowly set.
Well then, shall we head out?
Owl mask, complete.
Brown hair, complete.
And invitation in hand, complete, which would let me march proudly into the party venue.
“Then, Lady Asha, please be careful and have a good trip!”
I climbed into the carriage humming a tune, like someone in high spirits.
At one point, the owl mask rattled and nearly fell off, but I caught it in time, so there were no mishaps.
But even after that, things did not go smoothly.
Before I had even reached my destination, the carriage began to slow down and hit a terrible traffic jam.
‘The mask... is heavy....’
Ignoring as best I could the weight of the mask pressing down on my nose, I eventually had to get out of the carriage early.
“I’ll find my own way home when I return.”
After sending the coachman back and walking alongside the nearly stopped carriages, the streets were still quite humid even after sunset.
‘I feel like things aren’t going well.’
Of course, there was no big problem.
There wasn’t, but...
Sting.
Had the shoes I hadn’t worn in a while become loose? I felt pain in my heel.
‘Ah, what is it?’
I kept walking.
Then, perhaps unable to bear it like me and having gotten out of his carriage, I saw a man in fine attire standing alone awkwardly.
He was looking all around, sizing up the ground, and seemed quite anxious.
As the distance closed, the man sensed my presence and suddenly raised his head, looking back at me.
He was wearing a matte half-mask decorated with wing patterns.
Between his thick, shaggy hair—honestly looking like it was time for a haircut, with bangs poking at his eyes—jewel-like, transparently gleaming purple pupils were visible.
“Excuse me, but might you also be on your way to attend House Erdel’s party, my lady?”
His tone was hopeful to the point of being burdensome.
“Ah, yes, I am, but...”
I replied half-heartedly.
Then the man suddenly grabbed my hand and leaned forward as if he were about to kneel.
“Then c-could you please help me? I’m sure I brought it with me, but I simply can’t find the invitation! Did I leave it in the carriage? I’ve already sent the carriage away, what am I to do...”
His clothes were truly gorgeous and luxurious, but his attitude was quite innocent, making it difficult to guess his identity.
“Well, I’m afraid that’s difficult for me to help with.”
“But if I can’t attend like this, my younger sibling, my younger sibling will hate me. What am I to do about this?”
“....”
The reason he spat out in such an urgent and desperate tone was truly trivial.
So not only was he combing the street in desperation fearing he’d get scolded by his sibling, but he was also grabbing a stranger and begging?
When I pulled my hand back, the man staggered and was dragged along after me.
...That was meant as a sign to let go.
I sighed, pulled my hand free, and set the man upright.
“So what exactly can I do to help you?”
“It’s simple! I, that is, um....”
The man suddenly started fumbling his words.
“I’ll hear you out and decide, so just say it.”
“M-might I escort you, my lady...?”
Escort?
Ah.
Usually, unmarried noblewomen of marriageable age would attend such parties accompanied by a chaperone or a male escort.
Since I happened to be alone, he was planning to enter with me using my invitation.
I narrowed my eyes.
If I let someone of unclear identity into the party and something happened, the responsibility would fall entirely on me.
“I’m not a strange person! I’ll introduce you to my sibling inside the party! No, even before that, there will definitely be people who recognize me! I can swear it!”
Really?
Judging by his bold declaration, he didn’t seem to be a problematic noble.
If something happened, I could just have his identity verified at the entrance.
Actually, the one who would have a problem if their identity was revealed was me.
I was confident I wouldn’t be caught even alone since I had a formal invitation.
If I had someone escorting me, I might not need to reveal my identity at all.
“Well... alright then. Let’s go in together.”
“Thank you! Thanks to you, I won’t have to let my sibling down!”
All this talk about his sibling.
I burst out laughing.
“But aren’t you worried about who I might be? What if I’m some strange person?”
I asked, tapping the owl mask I wore with my finger.
“Huh? But you don’t know who I am either, my lady. I thought it was fair!”
“That’s true too.”
We walked side by side and arrived at the main gate of House Erdel.
Some of the staff checking the carriages entering the party venue approached us.
They openly looked down on nobles who had walked all the way here, but the man smiled brightly, as if he didn’t notice at all.
I could see a dimple forming on his right cheek.
“We have the invitation here, so check it.”
He gestured toward me confidently with his chin.
Though I narrowed my eyes at his behavior of ordering me around like a subordinate, I silently took out the invitation from inside my clothes and held it out.
While they checked the invitation, the man leaned toward me and whispered urgently.
“Once we’re inside, I’ll introduce you to my sibling. I guarantee it, you and my sibling will be able to become good friends!”
“Ah, that’s alright...”
That was when.
“Huh? Wha...?”
Suddenly, someone from deep inside took notice of us and started running over in a fluster.
And as that person approached, a group of people followed with him, spreading a commotion all around.
Guests and staff alike all turned to look this way.
‘What? Don’t tell me this bastard…….’
I glared suspiciously at the man standing beside me.
But instead, the man raised his hand high and waved it wildly in greeting.
“Oh, is that you! You were out here after all! What a relief!”
The stranger who had stopped in front of us, panting, finally opened his mouth.
“Young Lord Peregrine!”
My legs, which had been twitching as if ready to slip away at any moment, froze as though rooted to the spot.
“Why are you here? I nearly failed to recognize you and committed a discourtesy.”
When he finished speaking and waved his hand, the people checking the invitations scattered without a sound.
The man—Logiche Peregrine, direct scion of House Peregrine and its sole heir—turned to me with a bright smile.
“Ah, this is someone I happened to meet on my way here……”
“No thanks are necessary. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
As soon as I got my invitation back, I left only those brief words behind and bolted without looking back.
‘Once we enter, I shall introduce you to my younger sister. I guarantee it—you and my lady will become good friends!’
What the hell? What’s with that madman?
Of course, I knew he’d said it without knowing who I was, but a chill still crawled up my spine.
Because there was only one person who could be Logiche Peregrine’s younger sister!
Like him, she was the one and only famed direct daughter of House Peregrine.
Meriana Peregrine.
I shuddered and barely managed to shake off the goosebumps.
No wonder his eyes were violet!
‘I heard he doted terribly on his sister, but…….’
I never imagined it would feel like that.
His personality didn’t seem like it would get along with the proud and arrogant Meriana at all.
“Oh, Meriana! My beloved little sister!”
At the sound of that “someone” striding over from behind and shouting, I jumped in fright and practically flung myself into the party hall.
Only after hiding among the people and catching my breath could I turn back to look.
There stood “Lady Erdel,” dressed so splendidly that anyone would think she was the star of the party, and…….
Meriana Peregrine, standing beside her with arms linked.
And the green-haired man striding toward the two of them.
“Meriana, your elder brother is here! Ah, that’s right, do you know what happened on my way here? I happened to run into a certain young lady……”
He swept his gaze around the party hall as though looking for someone.
I backed away just like that and took refuge behind a pillar at the very back of the party hall.
‘What is this? What the hell is going on right now?’
Cold sweat ran down my spine.