"..."
"..."
The silence was dizzying as we kept eye contact.
Although it was just a simple and straightforward confession of impulse, his words effectively shook me.
I felt an unbearable curiosity. I wanted to dig deeper into his inner thoughts that lay beneath his confession.
'Why?'
The ticklish and sweet he's been doing, and sometimes, dizzying words and action. Why would you want to do something like that?
I wanted to ask the reason for the impulse. But my throat, parched with thirst, couldn't make a sound. My heart was pounding furiously.
As if you already know the answer.
I felt half-conscious and had tinnitus instead of music in my ears. I didn't even know what I was doing. I was just moving my body according to instinct.
Suddenly, the dancing stopped. The men and women around us politely said their goodbyes.
But Michael didn't take his hands off my waist and just stared at me.
My heart didn't seem to be able to withstand this dizzying departure for long. I barely managed to squeeze out a voice.
“The dance is over.”
"Ah..."
Only then did Michae release me from his arms. His retreating hand was full of regret.
"I wish I could dance one more song... but... the Princess's breathing is too heavy for me to do so."
"It's because of the dance."
I made excuses for the obvious. It seemed that my mind, more than my body, was out of breath because of Michael.
I was escorted out of the dance hall by Michael again. I reached the buffet area and chose a drink to quench my thirst.
All the drinks prepared for the masquerade were alcoholic. Michael chose the one with the lowest alcohol content and offered it to me.
"Thank you."
I realized the usefulness of alcohol that day. Even wine aid is alcohol, and when it enters my body, the tension is somewhat relieved and it becomes much easier to face Michael.
"Pick one for me too."
"If this is the first glass you receive in person, you're going to give it some meaning, right?"
“Of course. So please choose carefully.”
There was room for jokes. I waved my hands in front of the bottle of strong brandy. Michael laughed leisurely.
"It's not that messy."
"How much do you have to drink to get drunk?"
"If you're curious, just pour me a drink."
Although I was tempted, I quickly gave up. Who would want to let the beauty of the country be exposed so easily in a place like this?
"Next time."
He served me a dark red wine with just a hint of brandy. Not too strong, but just strong enough.
I offered the glass with a deliberately exaggerated gesture.
“Although it is late, I would like to express my gratitude to Michaelis Agnito for becoming my direct subordinate.”
Michael narrowed his eyes as if he didn't like it.
“Isn’t it a bit odd to discuss the relationship between a ruler and his subjects at a decadent banquet?”
“Hmm, okay. If we talk about chivalry in a place like this, Michael will be upset. Well then... shall we call this a cup to my wonderful tribute?”
"I like it a lot more."
Only then did Michael accept the cup and drink it. The cup was empty after the charming neckline shook five times.
Michael put down his glass, picked up the canapé with his clean hands, and held it out to my mouth. When I tried to take it with my hand, Michael stepped back.
"It's a date."
It was a word that encouraged me to take it with my mouth. At that moment, my pride and impulses clashed fiercely.
"This is a bit."
“Look around.”
My face immediately turned blank as I followed Michael's words. This was because I could see other nobles going even further and feeding their date with their mouths.
'That's right. It was this kind of banquet.'
I felt embarrassed not only by the awkward surroundings but also by myself for being caught in the act. I blushed and Michael joked.
“If you are conservative on your own, you will be more exposed.”
“Conservative? No, I’m not.”
"Then, yes, my Princess."
"..."
Finally, I pretended to be defeated and put a canapé in my mouth. Then I put a canapé in Michael's mouth too.
What on earth is this light-hearted joke? A little heat rose to the tips of my ears.
Meanwhile, I and Michael felt the eyes of those around them. Young Lady and Young Lord were glancing at them from all over the place.
'As expected, Michael stands out so much.'
I seriously thought that next time it would be better to put a full mask or disguise on Michael instead of a half-mask.
'Are they some arrogant guys who recognize the Princess and try to approach her?'
Meanwhile, Michael felt annoyed at the young nobleman targeting Eve but also felt a strange sense of joy at the fact that they could not approach her.
Standing next to Eve, Michael was doing a good job of acting as a shield.
It was completely different from other banquets where homunculus were excluded from the marriage market.
Michael brought his face close to Eve's ear. The young nobleman around him flinched at the distance where it would not have been strange for him to bite her earlobes.
He curled the corners of his lips as if to show them something.
"I can't let anyone get close, I can't give them any openings."
"Yes, let's do that."
Eve and Michael were eagerly drawn to each other. The cause served as a great tool to satisfy their greed.
'We danced to the sticky tunes in close contact. We exchanged glasses with strange meanings, and we picked up finger foods and pushed them until our index fingers touched each other's lips.
I went into the pearl room under the pretext of taking a break and came out a little disheveled.
Michael came out dressed in his usual attire. Then he deliberately adjusted his clothes in the corridor.
“Michael, your body chain is a little tangled.”
“I hope the Princess releases me.”
I did it anyway even though no one was watching.
It was a time when excitement and thrill never ceased. If time had a form, it was a time I wanted to hold in my hands and treasure forever.
But this ball is a midsummer night dream. Dreams tend to pass faster than reality.
The hour and minute hands of the large grandfather clock were pointing toward the top. Soon it would be midnight, the time when the full moon would rise above the clouds.
The day the moon rose from its zenith was the beginning of the summer rainy season. Therefore, the last day of the masquerade ball was over relatively early. The number of people in the ballroom was gradually decreasing.
"Soon... midnight."
I wanted to pretend not to know the atmosphere of the closing ceremony. So I suggested.
“Shall we go out to the garden?”
"Yes."
I placed my hand on Michael's arm and we headed toward the garden filled with blooming sunflowers.
Could it be because the air has become so heavy from absorbing water that it wouldn't be surprising if it started raining at any moment?
The steps of the last escort were somehow a little sluggish.
Yellow flowers with the meaning of worship were in full bloom on both sides of the wooden bridge. I and Michael stopped for a moment in the middle of the bridge.
We stood on the railing, pretending to admire the blooming sunflowers. Of course, our eyes were actually on each other's faces.
Although I was sure I would see him again tomorrow, I felt sad as if I was about to say a long goodbye.
I want to stay with you a little longer.
Let's dream this daydream a little longer.
It was a time when I was wasting time feeling regretful that things would not come to fruition.
As I lowered my eyes in frustration, a low voice rang in my ears.
"It's like a dream."
Guided by the voice, I looked back at Michael.
A faint smile appeared on his masked face. It was as if he had just woken up from a truly ecstatic dream.
“I guess that’s why the name of the ball is Daydream.”
“I’m glad Michael had fun.”
"What about the Princess?"
"I had fun too. I had the same dream."
"It's the same dream."
Michael's smile grew a little deeper. The word dream, which he rolled around in his mouth as if chewing, was as sweet as when he called my name.
The slightly narrowed eyes were unusual. I thought that it was scary to think that he was up to something with such an attractive face.
"Is this a dream about falling in love?"
"..."
My eyes widened, revealing my full, round, amber pupils.
Thump thump, my heart reacted again.
I asked, barely holding on to my flying mind.
"What do you mean?"
"Because you said you might fall in love by the end of this banquet."
"Ah..."
The context of the connection is plausible. But weren't we talking about 'the same dream' just a moment ago?
"What is Michael's dream?"
"Well."
Michael grumbled and squeezed my hand gently.
“I asked first, so please answer.”
"..."
“Am I not attractive enough to make you fall in love?”
As he finished speaking, I felt a tickle in my palm.
Michael was rolling his thumb again, making that familiar caressing motion.
"..."
The water level was precarious. While he spoke of his love with his mouth, he touched me deeply with his hands.
Eve was confused as to whether it was possible to take something like this as a joke or a prank.
For a long time, no sound came out of my slightly open mouth.
But Michael waited patiently as if he had an answer he absolutely had to hear. His purple eyes, which held me in their eyes, seemed to melt and swallow the night.
It was dark.
During that time, I had countless worries.
“Michael.”
After much thought, I finally gave my answer. Without any hint of playfulness, but a little defensively.
“You’re so quick-witted... Do you really have to ask me to find out?”
“Usually you give me enough hints, but today you seem thin.”
“Same as usual. Michael, have you lost your touch?”
“That may be true. But I can see that the Princess is having a hard time answering right now.”
"..."
“I think what I’ve lost is confidence.”
Only then did I realize that Michael's hand, which was stroking my palm, was shaking slightly.
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