The masquerade seemed to have gathered more people than any other party held at the palace.
Considering the function of promoting human relationships that social parties have, it was a very contradictory result. At the masquerade ball, where one couldn’t know another’s status, there wouldn’t be any social effects to be seen.
In fact, with the power of anonymity, sharing secrets and promiscuity that couldn’t be done with their faces revealed easily took place. Perhaps there were many people gathered for such impure purposes, at least that was Pristin’s thought.
Of course, she herself was definitely not among them.
“Hmm.”
Pristin was left alone after Aruvina disappeared from her side, saying she would go and enjoy herself. Even when she was in the Perk Empire, Pristin was the type to quietly observe others at the masquerade ball. Thus, holding a cocktail in her hand, she stood leaning against the wall, lost in thought.
The only thing that came into her line of sight was couples dancing under the dazzling chandeliers, their faces hidden. Pristin quietly sank into contemplation as she watched the scene.
‘…Come to think of it, I met His Majesty for the first time at a masquerade.’
Pristin cautiously began to recall memories from the past.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
Two years ago, the Perk Empire.
“Grandma!”
“Pristin!”
That year, at the age of twenty, Pristin had her coming-of-age ceremony and visited the Perk Empire with her younger sister, Christine, and her mother, Joanna. The Perk Empire was the motherland of the Countess of Lamont, and the three visited Pristin’s maternal grandmother, the Grand Duchess of Gremlyn, to mark Pristin’s coming of age.
“Well, well, you’ve become quite the young lady, Pristin!”
“Mother. That one is still a little child.”
“What do you mean a child? Don’t say that! Didn’t you marry your husband as soon as you had your coming-of-age ceremony?”
“Ah… If you say that, then I have nothing to say.”
“Now, let’s stop chatting and get in. Your uncle and aunt are also waiting.”
The Gremlyns entered the mansion with a gracious smile with the two granddaughters. As they entered the mansion, as Grand Duchess Gremlyn had said, the Count and Countess Gremlyn warmly welcomed their nieces.
“Welcome, Pristin, Christine.”
“Long time no see, Joanna.”
“Now, everyone must be hungry, so let’s eat first.”
In order to welcome their daughter and granddaughters, whom they hadn’t seen in a long time, the Gremlyn family had prepared a lavish feast. Pristin spent a delightful evening with her family.
“How long are you going to stay this time, Joanna?”
“I told him I’d stay for about three to six months.”
“Three months? That’s too short! It would be nice if you stayed longer.”
“That’s just right, Abel. What are you talking about? It’s not good for the head of the family to be away for too long.”
“I haven’t been here for too long anyway. And my husband understood, so don’t worry too much, Mother.”
“Yes. I wish the Count of Lamont had come too…”
“Maybe we should visit Limburg sometime.”
“That sounds like a good idea, Mother.”
After the meal, Countess Gremlyn personally took her two nieces to the rooms they would be staying in for the next few months. As they opened the door and entered, they were greeted by a room that looked spacious at first glance. Christine’s mouth burst into exclamation.
“Wow, it’s so pretty!”
“I’m glad you like it. Do you like it too, Pristin?”
“Yes, auntie. Thank you.”
The room was painted all pink, and it seemed to reflect the wishes of the Countess of Gremlyn, who wanted a daughter but had only sons. To Pristin’s knowledge, her two sons were currently studying abroad.
“Yes, let me know whenever you feel uncomfortable.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
The two immediately took a bath. The fatigue accumulated due to the long journey from Limburg to Perk felt relieved to some extent as she immersed herself in hot water. She came out of the bathroom and was drying off her hair when Christine called for Pristin.
“Sister, Sister.”
“What is it, Christine?”
“Will you go to the masquerade the day after tomorrow?”
In the Perk Empire, masquerades were regularly held at the imperial palace, which was a culture of Perk that was not common in other countries.
“The last time we came here, we were both young so we couldn’t go, but now I’m somewhat grown up, and my sister is even an adult. Wouldn’t Mother allow it?”
“That may be true, but…”
Pristin answered, slightly narrowing her eyebrows.
“I’m not really into things like masquerade balls.”
“Why?”
“Just… dancing with people whose faces and status you don’t know, I’m not really into that. It seems risky.”
“That’s what makes it more exciting. You might find a fated love.”
“Fated love? Come on.”
“You’ll see. I’ll definitely find my destiny while I’m in the Perk Empire.”
“Even if you do, you’ll just have to part ways when we go back to Limburg. What’s the point?”
“Why are you so pessimistic? Mother and Father have different nationalities, but they had a successful marriage.”
“…Well, that’s true.”
Suddenly, Pristin found herself at a loss for words and let out a small cough.
“No, more importantly, do you even know what love is? You’re only fourteen.”
“Sis, I’m at an age where I know everything.”
“Really.”
“So, are you going or not? Should I go alone?”
“Your elders will definitely send you alone, especially with that attitude.”
“That’s why, come with me. Please? Please?”
“Ugh…”
Pristin sighed deeply and then said in a serious voice.
“If I agree, promise me you won’t come back too late. Got it?”
“Of course, Sis.”
“All right. I’ll talk to Mother about it tomorrow.”
If Pristin had known what would unfold from that ball, she probably would have found a way to refuse Christine’s request.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
At first, Joanna Lamont did not approve of her two daughters attending the masquerade ball, but she allowed Pristin to accompany Christine when she saw how much Christine wanted to go.
As soon as her mother gave permission, Christine excitedly started getting ready for the party. On the other hand, Pristin didn’t pay much attention to it. She thought of herself as more of a guardian for Christine, and so the next day arrived.
“What do you think?”
On the day of the masquerade, Pristin was speechless for a moment at the sight of Christine appearing in front of her. It was too fancy as if it were a wedding. Pristin asked with a slight frown.
“…Isn’t that too much?”
“Isn’t it too simple?”
“I don’t need men who run like fire moths just by looking at gorgeous appearances.”
“Why do you sound sarcastic?”
“You’re mistaken.”
“Oh, Christine!”
Then, from behind came the voice of the Countess Gremlyn.
“You’re so pretty today. Did you choose the dress yourself?”
“Yes, Aunt.”
Christine happily replied.
“But my sister doesn’t like it because it’s too flashy.”
“No? It’s very pretty. Don’t mind your sister.”
“Yes!”
As if to say ‘Told you so,’ Christine stuck her tongue out toward Pristin. Pristin suppressed a laugh and said to Countess Gremlyn.
“Then we’ll be back, Auntie.”
“Yes, Pristin. Have a safe trip.”
It took about two hours by carriage to get to the imperial palace of Perk, where the ball was held, from the Gremlyns’ mansion. It was when Pristin was getting off the carriage stopped in front of the imperial palace.
“Here, we act as if we’re strangers in there. Got it?”
Pristin narrowed her eyes and asked.
“Why should we do that?”
“Otherwise, people will find out that we’re sisters!”
“But Christine, people aren’t as interested in us as you think. I’m sorry, but no one would know, right?”
“Oh, anyway. Since my sister is older than me, you can safely assume that. Don’t disturb me.”
“What, disturbance? I’m in disbelief.”
Pristin snorted and narrowed her eyes.
“Don’t go around alone and get lost in the big ballroom.”
“You too. Do you think I’m a baby?”
“A baby, then. You haven’t even made your debut yet.”
“Anyway! We’ll meet here later around ten o’clock. Okay? I’m leaving.”
“Hey, Chr…!”
But when Pristin was about to shout her younger sister’s name, it was too late. Pristin shook her head with an astonished expression and stared at Christine’s back.
“She’s my sister, but she’s really… Ugh.”
Unlike Christine, who had entered the ballroom early on, Pristin slowly entered the ballroom. As a result, by the time she entered the ballroom, not a single hem of Christine’s dress was visible. She even knew what kind of mask she wore, but it seemed almost impossible to find Christine here because the ballroom was so large.
‘Ugh, I don’t know anymore.’
Oh well, whatever happens, happens.
Pristin stopped thinking about Christine and brought a cocktail that a waiter was carrying. She had thought about dancing with a man since she had come this far, but she realized that it wasn’t her taste to dance with a man she didn’t even know.
‘I should just look around.’
Pristin leaned against the wall and watched others dancing. But it became boring after an hour of good viewing.
“Should I get some fresh air?”
Pristin put the empty cocktail glass down on the table. There were a lot of empty glasses on the table because she drank several cups while watching. Pristin, looking slightly intoxicated, went out to the terrace. As soon as she went out, a chilly wind blew.
“Oh, it’s cold…”
Then, a strange sound came from somewhere.
“What’s that sound?”
Pristin looked around in bewilderment. After that, the sound was heard intermittently. Just in case something happened, Pristin slowly moved toward the sound. And there…
‘…Oh dear.’
A very embarrassing scene was unfolding. Pristin, who unexpectedly saw the two bodies intertwined, faltered with a bewildered expression.
But so bewildered, Pristin stepped back and stepped on her dress. Eventually, she stumbled and fell right there.
The problem was that a quite loud sound was made when she fell, rather than falling silently. The movement of the man and woman engaged in intense intimacy abruptly stopped at the sound of the unfamiliar noise from behind.
“What, what’s that?”
“Is someone there?”
“I’ll go check.”
A few embarrassed voices were heard, and now even footsteps began to be heard. Pristin didn’t want to be caught witnessing that situation, but the footsteps she heard grew louder and louder.
It was a time when Pristin was thinking about what to do with a troubled expression.
“Ah…!”
Someone behind her quickly lifted Pristin up by grabbing her shoulder, then swiftly turned her body to face the other way. They pressed their body very close to Pristin, getting so close that their lips could almost touch.
The whole sequence happened at a very fast pace without any unnecessary actions, and Pristin, surprised, didn’t say a word until then. Meanwhile, footsteps continued to be heard from behind.
“…”
Then, at some point, the sound of footsteps began to fade away. Seeing the two people pressed closely together, the onlookers seemed to think they were in a similar situation.
Only then did the hand that had been holding Pristin’s shoulder release its grip, and Pristin raised her head to finally see the other person’s face.
