“Masquerade?”
Seliya opened the invitation given by Dietrich.
True to his word, the invitation had been written in neat handwriting, stating that Illeon would invite Seliya to the masquerade ball tomorrow night.
“Why me?”
“They thought that if they invited you, I would definitely follow.”
Dietrich answered Seliya's question by shaking his head.
“If you don’t go, they will try to harm you somehow by accusing you of refusing the Emperor’s invitation. This invitation is a trap with no escape. It’s not good to go, and it’s not good to not go.”
Seliya looked at the invitation with a sinking feeling.
How can such an atrocious thing happen? Even though Illeon became Emperor, he kept quiet. It seemed like he was planning something bad behind her back.
“I won’t let you go to the snake den alone. So don’t worry too much.”
Seliya didn't know what to make when Dietrich said this.
“... Thank you. It must be annoying for you too.”
Dietrich shook his head and responded to Seliya’s words.
“It can’t be a bother.”
There was truly a huge difference between saying so and not doing so.
Seliya felt truly grateful to Dietrich.
As if they had distanced themselves from each other over the past few days, they are back to square one again.
The more you try to force it out, the more it comes in.
Seliya realized what she had come to Dietrich's room to ask.
Seliya, who could not forget her duty, asked Dietrich.
“You said the three Dukes were enemies. I’d like to hear a detailed explanation.”
Perhaps because he was leaning diagonally on the sofa, Dietrich looked like a languid beast resting under a tree in the sun.
Seliya said, lowering herself near Dietrich.
“I want you to explain it in as much detail as possible.”
"However much."
Dietrich answered without any sign of hesitation and added an afterthought.
"If you want."
It was the night of the masquerade ball.
The spacious banquet hall made of golden stone was dazzlingly gorgeous.
The dome-shaped ceiling had several ornate chandeliers decorated with crystals, and in the center was a marble staircase with a red carpet.
On one side, Seliya could hear a band playing an orchestra.
Those who received invitations and attended all showed up with their faces covered with masks.
The women all appeared wearing the most expensive and extravagant dresses they owned, with tight corsets to emphasize their small waists.
The men also showed signs of making desperate efforts to impress the new Emperor.
Many people appeared neatly dressed in white uniforms with no wrinkles, or with their disheveled hair straightened up and wearing shiny uniforms.
Because they were wearing masks, it was difficult to recognize who was who.
However, people's faces were filled with excitement at the thought of meeting the new Emperor.
“When will His Majesty come?”
"I know, right. Since he is the main character, wouldn’t he appear last?”
Noble ladies wearing white half-masks chatted while waving fans made of peacock feathers.
“I wonder which lady His Majesty will ask for the first dance. There must be many young ladies who are so beautiful even when they are covered with masks.”
“At least, I hope it’s not Brillion’s angel. She is a witch who eats men.”
The ladies nodded in unison.
A young nobleman, who was eavesdropping on their conversation, quietly joined the conversation.
“There is a saying in the world that the Angel of Brillion is the lover of His Excellency Duke Calypso...”
A noble lady who was an ardent follower of Dietrich vehemently denied what the young nobleman, who was neatly dressed, said.
“His Excellency Duke Calypso cannot possibly do that. He’s been famous for not giving women even a single glance.”
“...”
The young nobleman’s light purple eyes, revealed through the silver half-mask, narrowed.
“...Hmm, I’m glad it’s a false rumor.”
The young nobleman exchanged a few more meaningless conversations with the noble ladies and then returned to his seat.
“Father, I think Seliya is here. From what I hear, it sounds like she's doing very well.”
The eyes of the man called father glowed darkly.
“I can’t believe she’s doing well without us. It’s a little, no, a lot of shame.”
“That’s right. If I had known this would happen, I would have pounced on Seliya while she was sleeping.”
“Hmm, Vincent. Be quiet, for there are many ears listening.”
The man named Vincent clicked his tongue and clicked his tongue.
“My father also went to Seliya’s door.”
"That... It was a long time ago.”
“Why are you acting like this now after having a great time at the bar together? Do I not know my father? You only picked women with silver hair and hugged them.”
Vincent chuckled.
“There’s really nothing you can’t say to your father.”
“Don’t tremble. Father, I am your son. I know my father better than anyone else.”
Vincent ran his tongue across his lips as if to quench his thirst.
“If my mother and Gabriel hadn’t sent Seliya to the imperial palace when we were having fun at the resort in the south, she would have been by my side by now without hearing that witch.”
“...”
“Isn’t that right, father?”
Viscount Brillion swallowed dry saliva.
The first time he saw Seliya was ten years ago when he was drunk and turned into a narrow alleyway that he did not normally take.
His eyes met a young girl with dirt and dust covering her face in the dim moonlight.
She had a scruffy appearance, but not even that filth could hide her childlike appearance.
Viscount Brillion brought the child, who had been roaming the streets, to his house and gave her a bath.
They shook their head as they saw the Viscount doing something that the Viscount's wife and children would not do.
“Why did you bring a street beggar here? Have you finally gone crazy?”
They clicked their tongues and looked pitifully at the Viscount.
It was just after that that he reported that the maid had finished bathing Seliya with her face flushed.
“Lord, Master.”
He found it strange that the maid was unusually vague in her words. The Viscount and his attendants, who were arguing with him, turned their heads towards the child who had just finished bathing.
Fluffy silver hair, pale, transparent skin, long eyelashes, and green eyes that look like emeralds.
The girl smiled brightly at the people who were looking at her blankly.
In that wind, the corners of her eyes, which had risen above her, gently folded, and dimples formed on her pure white cheeks.
Immediately thereafter, the Viscount enrolled Seliya into his family.
His first son, Vincent, did not hide his lust for Seliya.
On the outside, he acted like an older brother who cared for his younger sister, who was not related to him by blood, but if you look closely, he was complete trash.
“But father, why on earth did you bring that guy here?”
Vincent gestured at the black-masked man stuck in the corner of the banquet hall.
He was wearing a suit made of good quality material, but he looked very unsightly with his skinny body and his neck bunched up like a turtle.
He was Kane, the second son of the Brillion family.
“If not for an opportunity like this, when would Kane come to the imperial palace banquet hall? The invitation was personally sent by the Emperor.”
“... Hmph, I hope that gloomy guy doesn’t cause an accident.”
Instead of tightening her corset, Seliya wore a skimpy dress that didn't accentuate her figure.
Every time Seliya moved, her light blue dress fluttered like flower petals in the wind.
Dietrich looked at the white half-masked Seliya with a disapproving face.
Under his black half-mask, his red eyes showed an uncomfortable look.
"Why? It is strange?"
“Anyone who sees it will recognize it as you.”
“... Yes?"
“It’s like Brillion’s angel with wings. A pack of dogs will come here.”
“How would you know if you can’t see my face?”
“No one will notice that you are Seliya.”
At those words, Seliya narrowed her eyes and took a close look at Dietrich's outfit.
He was wearing a black uniform, but his toned body was not hidden.
As Dietrich inhaled and exhaled, his pectoral muscles bulged and subsided beneath the buttons of his uniform.
“You’re in no position to say anything to me.”
“I’m still okay.”
“Where is that? Are you okay and I’m not okay?”
When Seliya got upset, Dietrich cast his gaze through the window and muttered in a low voice.
"In the eyes... That is.”
“?”
Dietrich's voice was so quiet that Seliya heard only a few words.
When Seliya did not understand him, Dietrich changed the subject instead of repeating himself.
“There was talk that family members not related to you are coming to the prom today.”
"It's okay. Those people aren’t my family anyway.”
“That’s a good thing, though.”
Dietrich extended a hand to Seliya.
“Shall we go?”
Seliya is escorted by Dietrich as she enters the ballroom.
The knights at the entrance who were inspecting the invitations one by one recognized Dietrich wearing a mask at a glance.
Right-angled shoulders and firm muscles that would be believable even if they were rocks that couldn't be hidden even when wearing a black uniform.
And, blood-red eyes revealed through the black mask.
The knights were speechless and looked at each other blankly.
Dietrich did not have an invitation to attend the ball.
To be precise, the new Emperor, Illeon, did not send an invitation only to him.
Illeon sent invitations to all the imperial palace officials but did not send an invitation to the ball to Duke Dietrich, leader of the Imperial Knights.
According to principle, it would be right not to follow the new Emperor into the ballroom.
However, the opponent was Dietrich.
For knights who valued strength, Dietrich, the sword master, was also someone worth worshiping.
The knights were conflicted and then belatedly turned their attention to the woman he was escorting.
The woman's green eyes revealed through the white half-mask were extremely beautiful.
Long silver hair that reached her waist shined brightly, reflecting the moon in the sky.
The red, smooth lips looked as if sweet juice would come out if you took a bite.
“...”
The knights realized that the person Dietrich was escorting was Seliya.
“Well, if you don’t have an invitation...”
Before the knight had finished speaking, Seliya took out an invitation from her arms and handed it to him.
Her fingertips brushed ever so slightly as she exchanged invitations.
The knight's neck continued to wriggle.
Indeed, just as the rumor said, she was a witch, and it seemed as if she could completely take out people's minds.
“If you are a knight, don’t forget your duty.”
The knight came to his senses at Dietrich's low voice.
There is only one invitation, but there are two people.
Illeon's slow voice was heard beyond the backs of the knights who were panicking as they didn't know what to do.
“Just let them in.”
True to his word, the invitation had been written in neat handwriting, stating that Illeon would invite Seliya to the masquerade ball tomorrow night.
“Why me?”
“They thought that if they invited you, I would definitely follow.”
Dietrich answered Seliya's question by shaking his head.
“If you don’t go, they will try to harm you somehow by accusing you of refusing the Emperor’s invitation. This invitation is a trap with no escape. It’s not good to go, and it’s not good to not go.”
Seliya looked at the invitation with a sinking feeling.
How can such an atrocious thing happen? Even though Illeon became Emperor, he kept quiet. It seemed like he was planning something bad behind her back.
“I won’t let you go to the snake den alone. So don’t worry too much.”
Seliya didn't know what to make when Dietrich said this.
“... Thank you. It must be annoying for you too.”
Dietrich shook his head and responded to Seliya’s words.
“It can’t be a bother.”
There was truly a huge difference between saying so and not doing so.
Seliya felt truly grateful to Dietrich.
As if they had distanced themselves from each other over the past few days, they are back to square one again.
The more you try to force it out, the more it comes in.
Seliya realized what she had come to Dietrich's room to ask.
Seliya, who could not forget her duty, asked Dietrich.
“You said the three Dukes were enemies. I’d like to hear a detailed explanation.”
Perhaps because he was leaning diagonally on the sofa, Dietrich looked like a languid beast resting under a tree in the sun.
Seliya said, lowering herself near Dietrich.
“I want you to explain it in as much detail as possible.”
"However much."
Dietrich answered without any sign of hesitation and added an afterthought.
"If you want."
***
It was the night of the masquerade ball.
The spacious banquet hall made of golden stone was dazzlingly gorgeous.
The dome-shaped ceiling had several ornate chandeliers decorated with crystals, and in the center was a marble staircase with a red carpet.
On one side, Seliya could hear a band playing an orchestra.
Those who received invitations and attended all showed up with their faces covered with masks.
The women all appeared wearing the most expensive and extravagant dresses they owned, with tight corsets to emphasize their small waists.
The men also showed signs of making desperate efforts to impress the new Emperor.
Many people appeared neatly dressed in white uniforms with no wrinkles, or with their disheveled hair straightened up and wearing shiny uniforms.
Because they were wearing masks, it was difficult to recognize who was who.
However, people's faces were filled with excitement at the thought of meeting the new Emperor.
“When will His Majesty come?”
"I know, right. Since he is the main character, wouldn’t he appear last?”
Noble ladies wearing white half-masks chatted while waving fans made of peacock feathers.
“I wonder which lady His Majesty will ask for the first dance. There must be many young ladies who are so beautiful even when they are covered with masks.”
“At least, I hope it’s not Brillion’s angel. She is a witch who eats men.”
The ladies nodded in unison.
A young nobleman, who was eavesdropping on their conversation, quietly joined the conversation.
“There is a saying in the world that the Angel of Brillion is the lover of His Excellency Duke Calypso...”
A noble lady who was an ardent follower of Dietrich vehemently denied what the young nobleman, who was neatly dressed, said.
“His Excellency Duke Calypso cannot possibly do that. He’s been famous for not giving women even a single glance.”
“...”
The young nobleman’s light purple eyes, revealed through the silver half-mask, narrowed.
“...Hmm, I’m glad it’s a false rumor.”
The young nobleman exchanged a few more meaningless conversations with the noble ladies and then returned to his seat.
“Father, I think Seliya is here. From what I hear, it sounds like she's doing very well.”
The eyes of the man called father glowed darkly.
“I can’t believe she’s doing well without us. It’s a little, no, a lot of shame.”
“That’s right. If I had known this would happen, I would have pounced on Seliya while she was sleeping.”
“Hmm, Vincent. Be quiet, for there are many ears listening.”
The man named Vincent clicked his tongue and clicked his tongue.
“My father also went to Seliya’s door.”
"That... It was a long time ago.”
“Why are you acting like this now after having a great time at the bar together? Do I not know my father? You only picked women with silver hair and hugged them.”
Vincent chuckled.
“There’s really nothing you can’t say to your father.”
“Don’t tremble. Father, I am your son. I know my father better than anyone else.”
Vincent ran his tongue across his lips as if to quench his thirst.
“If my mother and Gabriel hadn’t sent Seliya to the imperial palace when we were having fun at the resort in the south, she would have been by my side by now without hearing that witch.”
“...”
“Isn’t that right, father?”
Viscount Brillion swallowed dry saliva.
The first time he saw Seliya was ten years ago when he was drunk and turned into a narrow alleyway that he did not normally take.
His eyes met a young girl with dirt and dust covering her face in the dim moonlight.
She had a scruffy appearance, but not even that filth could hide her childlike appearance.
Viscount Brillion brought the child, who had been roaming the streets, to his house and gave her a bath.
They shook their head as they saw the Viscount doing something that the Viscount's wife and children would not do.
“Why did you bring a street beggar here? Have you finally gone crazy?”
They clicked their tongues and looked pitifully at the Viscount.
It was just after that that he reported that the maid had finished bathing Seliya with her face flushed.
“Lord, Master.”
He found it strange that the maid was unusually vague in her words. The Viscount and his attendants, who were arguing with him, turned their heads towards the child who had just finished bathing.
Fluffy silver hair, pale, transparent skin, long eyelashes, and green eyes that look like emeralds.
The girl smiled brightly at the people who were looking at her blankly.
In that wind, the corners of her eyes, which had risen above her, gently folded, and dimples formed on her pure white cheeks.
Immediately thereafter, the Viscount enrolled Seliya into his family.
His first son, Vincent, did not hide his lust for Seliya.
On the outside, he acted like an older brother who cared for his younger sister, who was not related to him by blood, but if you look closely, he was complete trash.
“But father, why on earth did you bring that guy here?”
Vincent gestured at the black-masked man stuck in the corner of the banquet hall.
He was wearing a suit made of good quality material, but he looked very unsightly with his skinny body and his neck bunched up like a turtle.
He was Kane, the second son of the Brillion family.
“If not for an opportunity like this, when would Kane come to the imperial palace banquet hall? The invitation was personally sent by the Emperor.”
“... Hmph, I hope that gloomy guy doesn’t cause an accident.”
***
Instead of tightening her corset, Seliya wore a skimpy dress that didn't accentuate her figure.
Every time Seliya moved, her light blue dress fluttered like flower petals in the wind.
Dietrich looked at the white half-masked Seliya with a disapproving face.
Under his black half-mask, his red eyes showed an uncomfortable look.
"Why? It is strange?"
“Anyone who sees it will recognize it as you.”
“... Yes?"
“It’s like Brillion’s angel with wings. A pack of dogs will come here.”
“How would you know if you can’t see my face?”
“No one will notice that you are Seliya.”
At those words, Seliya narrowed her eyes and took a close look at Dietrich's outfit.
He was wearing a black uniform, but his toned body was not hidden.
As Dietrich inhaled and exhaled, his pectoral muscles bulged and subsided beneath the buttons of his uniform.
“You’re in no position to say anything to me.”
“I’m still okay.”
“Where is that? Are you okay and I’m not okay?”
When Seliya got upset, Dietrich cast his gaze through the window and muttered in a low voice.
"In the eyes... That is.”
“?”
Dietrich's voice was so quiet that Seliya heard only a few words.
When Seliya did not understand him, Dietrich changed the subject instead of repeating himself.
“There was talk that family members not related to you are coming to the prom today.”
"It's okay. Those people aren’t my family anyway.”
“That’s a good thing, though.”
Dietrich extended a hand to Seliya.
“Shall we go?”
Seliya is escorted by Dietrich as she enters the ballroom.
The knights at the entrance who were inspecting the invitations one by one recognized Dietrich wearing a mask at a glance.
Right-angled shoulders and firm muscles that would be believable even if they were rocks that couldn't be hidden even when wearing a black uniform.
And, blood-red eyes revealed through the black mask.
The knights were speechless and looked at each other blankly.
Dietrich did not have an invitation to attend the ball.
To be precise, the new Emperor, Illeon, did not send an invitation only to him.
Illeon sent invitations to all the imperial palace officials but did not send an invitation to the ball to Duke Dietrich, leader of the Imperial Knights.
According to principle, it would be right not to follow the new Emperor into the ballroom.
However, the opponent was Dietrich.
For knights who valued strength, Dietrich, the sword master, was also someone worth worshiping.
The knights were conflicted and then belatedly turned their attention to the woman he was escorting.
The woman's green eyes revealed through the white half-mask were extremely beautiful.
Long silver hair that reached her waist shined brightly, reflecting the moon in the sky.
The red, smooth lips looked as if sweet juice would come out if you took a bite.
“...”
The knights realized that the person Dietrich was escorting was Seliya.
“Well, if you don’t have an invitation...”
Before the knight had finished speaking, Seliya took out an invitation from her arms and handed it to him.
Her fingertips brushed ever so slightly as she exchanged invitations.
The knight's neck continued to wriggle.
Indeed, just as the rumor said, she was a witch, and it seemed as if she could completely take out people's minds.
“If you are a knight, don’t forget your duty.”
The knight came to his senses at Dietrich's low voice.
There is only one invitation, but there are two people.
Illeon's slow voice was heard beyond the backs of the knights who were panicking as they didn't know what to do.
“Just let them in.”
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