As soon as I finished talking and came out, the first thing I saw was Noah, leaning back leisurely on the sofa, and Lieutenant Colonel Groenendael playing chess with Dr. Rugen next to him.
The lieutenant colonel bowed his head politely, admitting defeat.
“I lost again. You are quite skilled.”
“You can’t do this to me.”
Dr. Rugen's face was filled with triumphant joy. It must have been their first meeting, but how did they become so close? Meanwhile, Noah and the lieutenant colonel looked quite uncomfortable just being in the same room.
The two people, who were perfect opposites, would occasionally look at each other awkwardly, and to use an appropriate metaphor, they would look at each other like disgusting insects.
“Let’s go back now. I’m sure you’ve already booked a hotel.”
Celine maintained a gentle, pretentious face and a dignified demeanor even under Noah's fierce gaze.
"I've decided to stay here until the wedding day. As the older sister, I'll be able to help out a lot. My sister gave me permission."
Noah looked at me with a look that said, "How could that be?", but I tried to pretend not to notice.
“It’s nice to see everyone together again after such a long time.”
Dr. Rugen, who had been looking around at us with wrinkled eyes and a cheerful smile, turned his cloudy eyes to Celine.
“Daughter-in-law, are you fully recovered?”
"Yes?"
"Aren't you feeling sick? That's why it's been so long since you've been here."
Celine tilted her head at Dr. Rugen's incomprehensible words, then, as was her wont, quickly noticed his condition, and a kind smile appeared on her lips.
“Yes, Father. How have you been?”
“Thank goodness. I never thought this day would come.”
The doctor seemed stuck in a happier past. For some reason, everyone had separated and couldn't meet again. No one in his family was even trying to find him.
As I was standing there blankly, something large and warm pressed against my back, and its soft hair began to tickle my cheek.
Noah hugged me from behind and asked me in a soft, nasal voice in my ear.
“Shall we go to our room now?”
Celine, who saw this scene, clapped her hands twice with a blush on her face, rejoicing as if it were her own.
“Oh my, these are the best times. You two look so good together, don’t you?”
Despite Celine's words seeking agreement, the lieutenant colonel only glanced this way and turned his head without showing any sign of agitation.
I've decided to attend the masquerade ball tonight, in accordance with Celine's wishes. To avoid any scandal, I need to make the legitimacy of our marriage known to everyone.
It is said that complex marriage laws were enacted here because the culture of free marriage began here.
According to national and canon law, a marriage can be officially recognized only after two marriage announcements in church or by visiting the bishop of the national church of Medea, paying a fee, and receiving a marriage certificate. In addition, various legal conditions apply.
Since Noah and I are from a foreign country, we were concerned that we might face objections or legal trouble from outsiders, so we sought advice in advance from Countess Ruben, a former lawyer.
(Noah had already taken care of everything, including acquiring citizenship and everything else.)
Noah and Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, the two men, had lost their sense of self and were silently following the decisions of the two women who were leading the situation like triumphant generals.
At one point, Noah tried to kill Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, but thankfully, he doesn't seem to have any such intentions now. I've already firmly rebuked Noah.
"I don't like killing people indiscriminately. They'll all come looking for revenge, and it'll be a hassle, won't it?"
I said this. It's an inhuman thing to say, but it's the only way to make him understand.
The four men and women, who had grown strangely and intertwined like vines that had grown recklessly, claiming to see each other's sunlight, eventually united, headed to Tempshire Palace in time for the ball.
From the palace square and gardens to the ballroom, there were already many people there, and the women were dressed in gorgeous Rococo dresses with lots of lace, in keeping with the dress code of a modern masquerade ball.
I, too, was wearing a robe à la française dress of turquoise silk and a gold cat mask.
I felt extremely uncomfortable in the full skirt and tight waist, and I barely managed to lift my arm, which was not very flexible, and link arms with Noah.
“If you’re having a hard time, should I carry you?”
Noah, who immediately noticed the look in my eyes beneath the mask that said I wanted to go home, looked down at me and asked.
“How can you be so beautiful even with a mask on...”
Seeing Noah in a tuxedo, tie, and black mask covering his eyes reminds me of my first love, Tuxedo Mask, from the cartoons I saw as a child.
Even with his mask on, his overflowing beauty drew glances from passing women. He was quite adept at dissuading me from wearing the bizarre, bird-beaked plague doctor mask.
“I’m staying right next to you so you don’t miss me.”
Noah grabbed my already tight arm so tightly that it cut off the blood flow. There was no way I wouldn't recognize him. Even with the mask on, I could still tell who was who.
For example, like Erita wearing the red feather mask. The attention that had been focused on Erita suddenly shifted to a mysterious blonde woman who had appeared.
A dazzling platinum blonde hair stood out among the crowd of black hair, and emerald green eyes gazed through a white mask. It was unmistakably Celine.
Erita tilted her head and showed a look of displeasure as she was captivated by the elegant figure and gestures of the woman in the white dress with rich lace.
Celine, a self-conscious, servile woman, was deliberately standing near Erita, trying to steal everyone's attention. Perhaps because she's been active in high society for quite some time, this kind of behavior seemed familiar.
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal simply stood silently beside her. I saw several women talking to Celine, and she nonchalantly raised her hand and pointed in my direction.
Everyone around her turned their gazes to Noah and me. Oh, please, I don't want any attention.
The woman who recognized me at Celine's gesture approached me and began asking me how the wedding preparations were going.
“I came here to help with my sister’s wedding and to get approval to enter the country for business purposes.”
Celine suddenly approached me, took my hand, and stroked it, showing off her affection for the Medea women.
Celine looked at me persistently with a look in her eyes that said, 'Come on, tell them we're good friends.' So I nodded once.
The women who had briefly tilted their heads at the fact that I had a blonde sister quickly smiled and congratulated me.
“I’ll be nearby and come back when we’re done talking.”
As the women continued their conversation, Noah and the lieutenant colonel gave way out of courtesy. Naturally, their destinations were opposite.
“You’re real sisters, but you two don’t look alike at all.”
Erita, holding a glass of champagne, approached and snickered. Celine smiled and saluted, as if observing a public enemy stepping on a landmine.
"May the Princess be blessed by God. Each of us resembles our mother and father. It seems the Princess also resembles Her Majesty."
Erita's blue eyes darted around Celine questioningly.
“I heard that Lady Diana was expelled from your family and taken into exile in Medea. Did you reconcile with her?”
She seemed to be asking a question about the admiral. Celine straightened her back and answered, twisting her wavy platinum hair between her fingers.
"Yes, it was all a false accusation. No matter what anyone says, she's my sister and a daughter of the Claire family. My father is very pleased with Diana's marriage and is giving his blessings. He strongly encouraged me to come here, hoping for a successful wedding."
Erita's mouth twisted fiercely. Behind her, she saw Ayla, who had come to attend to her. She had grown thinner in the past few days, and her complexion looked unwell.
Celine's gaze turned to Ayla and then back to Erita.
“That maid doesn’t look well. I think it would be best to send her away now.”
“You don’t have to worry about it.”
"I'm nervous. I don't know what might happen. I'm worried she might collapse, for example."
As I listened quietly, I became convinced by Celine's words that Erita might be up to something. That Celine knew something, and that she had come to stop it.
She continued, stroking the edge of her mask.
"Not long ago, my maid was bitten by a large dog. She was in pain, but she continued working until she finally collapsed. The dog was a fierce dog named Argentino, known as the national dog of Argentina. It's named after the capital city."
“Miss Celine, what do you mean by that all of a sudden?”
"It's an honor to know my name, Princess. I'm concerned that the maid may have been bitten by a dog."
“You... no way.”
The moment Erita's eyes widened with confusion, the ceremony announcing the start of the masquerade ball began with the loud sound of music.
"Diana, never again will you have anything to do with that maid. She was bitten by a rabid dog."
Celine, who had been whispering to me, smiled meaningfully and walked away in the direction of the lieutenant colonel. She must know something. What she said was a threat. Just looking at Erita's pale face, I could tell.
Noah, who had been waiting for the people to move around chaotically and for the women to finish their conversation, approached me again and took my hand.
A kind of play-like event is taking place, with people wearing similar masks or masks of the same color forming groups and dancing according to the host's announcement.
Noah and I were in a situation where we had to separate because our masks were different colors, but Noah, in a gentlemanly manner, snatched the mask of another man nearby and put it on, then smiled with satisfaction.
“This way we can stay together.”
“That’s groundbreaking.”
Eventually, a situation arose where people wearing the same color clothing had to gather together.
As he was looking around, he noticed a man wearing dark green trousers among the gentlemen dressed entirely in black and gray, and his face became solemn.
“I’ll take off the man’s pants you see over there and change them.”
“...It’s only five minutes, so how about holding on for a bit? You won’t lose anything because of your hair color anyway.”
As I was watching him sadly as he was semi-forcibly separated and moved away into the crowd of black gentlemen, a man wearing a khaki tie blocked my view.
It was a lieutenant colonel wearing a black mask. He must have considered the tie a piece of clothing and joined the group. He extended his elbow as if to escort me.
“Is 5 minutes okay?”
"Yes?"
"It's a masquerade ball, isn't it? For the five minutes you've been given, you're free to dance with anyone you want."
“Oh? No.”
This seems way too much like a love-and-war-level mess, so I waved my hand and refused. Besides, I don't even want to see those eyes that have turned into Noah's own.
The lieutenant colonel bowed his head politely, admitting defeat.
“I lost again. You are quite skilled.”
“You can’t do this to me.”
Dr. Rugen's face was filled with triumphant joy. It must have been their first meeting, but how did they become so close? Meanwhile, Noah and the lieutenant colonel looked quite uncomfortable just being in the same room.
The two people, who were perfect opposites, would occasionally look at each other awkwardly, and to use an appropriate metaphor, they would look at each other like disgusting insects.
“Let’s go back now. I’m sure you’ve already booked a hotel.”
Noah, whose expression suggested he'd have bought up every last grain of salt from the salt fields had such a custom existed, growled in a voice that scraped his vocal cords.
"I've decided to stay here until the wedding day. As the older sister, I'll be able to help out a lot. My sister gave me permission."
Noah looked at me with a look that said, "How could that be?", but I tried to pretend not to notice.
“It’s nice to see everyone together again after such a long time.”
Dr. Rugen, who had been looking around at us with wrinkled eyes and a cheerful smile, turned his cloudy eyes to Celine.
“Daughter-in-law, are you fully recovered?”
"Yes?"
"Aren't you feeling sick? That's why it's been so long since you've been here."
Celine tilted her head at Dr. Rugen's incomprehensible words, then, as was her wont, quickly noticed his condition, and a kind smile appeared on her lips.
“Yes, Father. How have you been?”
“Thank goodness. I never thought this day would come.”
The doctor seemed stuck in a happier past. For some reason, everyone had separated and couldn't meet again. No one in his family was even trying to find him.
As I was standing there blankly, something large and warm pressed against my back, and its soft hair began to tickle my cheek.
Noah hugged me from behind and asked me in a soft, nasal voice in my ear.
“Shall we go to our room now?”
Celine, who saw this scene, clapped her hands twice with a blush on her face, rejoicing as if it were her own.
“Oh my, these are the best times. You two look so good together, don’t you?”
Despite Celine's words seeking agreement, the lieutenant colonel only glanced this way and turned his head without showing any sign of agitation.
***
I've decided to attend the masquerade ball tonight, in accordance with Celine's wishes. To avoid any scandal, I need to make the legitimacy of our marriage known to everyone.
It is said that complex marriage laws were enacted here because the culture of free marriage began here.
According to national and canon law, a marriage can be officially recognized only after two marriage announcements in church or by visiting the bishop of the national church of Medea, paying a fee, and receiving a marriage certificate. In addition, various legal conditions apply.
Since Noah and I are from a foreign country, we were concerned that we might face objections or legal trouble from outsiders, so we sought advice in advance from Countess Ruben, a former lawyer.
(Noah had already taken care of everything, including acquiring citizenship and everything else.)
Noah and Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, the two men, had lost their sense of self and were silently following the decisions of the two women who were leading the situation like triumphant generals.
At one point, Noah tried to kill Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, but thankfully, he doesn't seem to have any such intentions now. I've already firmly rebuked Noah.
"I don't like killing people indiscriminately. They'll all come looking for revenge, and it'll be a hassle, won't it?"
I said this. It's an inhuman thing to say, but it's the only way to make him understand.
The four men and women, who had grown strangely and intertwined like vines that had grown recklessly, claiming to see each other's sunlight, eventually united, headed to Tempshire Palace in time for the ball.
From the palace square and gardens to the ballroom, there were already many people there, and the women were dressed in gorgeous Rococo dresses with lots of lace, in keeping with the dress code of a modern masquerade ball.
I, too, was wearing a robe à la française dress of turquoise silk and a gold cat mask.
I felt extremely uncomfortable in the full skirt and tight waist, and I barely managed to lift my arm, which was not very flexible, and link arms with Noah.
“If you’re having a hard time, should I carry you?”
Noah, who immediately noticed the look in my eyes beneath the mask that said I wanted to go home, looked down at me and asked.
“How can you be so beautiful even with a mask on...”
Seeing Noah in a tuxedo, tie, and black mask covering his eyes reminds me of my first love, Tuxedo Mask, from the cartoons I saw as a child.
Even with his mask on, his overflowing beauty drew glances from passing women. He was quite adept at dissuading me from wearing the bizarre, bird-beaked plague doctor mask.
“I’m staying right next to you so you don’t miss me.”
Noah grabbed my already tight arm so tightly that it cut off the blood flow. There was no way I wouldn't recognize him. Even with the mask on, I could still tell who was who.
For example, like Erita wearing the red feather mask. The attention that had been focused on Erita suddenly shifted to a mysterious blonde woman who had appeared.
A dazzling platinum blonde hair stood out among the crowd of black hair, and emerald green eyes gazed through a white mask. It was unmistakably Celine.
Erita tilted her head and showed a look of displeasure as she was captivated by the elegant figure and gestures of the woman in the white dress with rich lace.
Celine, a self-conscious, servile woman, was deliberately standing near Erita, trying to steal everyone's attention. Perhaps because she's been active in high society for quite some time, this kind of behavior seemed familiar.
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal simply stood silently beside her. I saw several women talking to Celine, and she nonchalantly raised her hand and pointed in my direction.
Everyone around her turned their gazes to Noah and me. Oh, please, I don't want any attention.
The woman who recognized me at Celine's gesture approached me and began asking me how the wedding preparations were going.
“I came here to help with my sister’s wedding and to get approval to enter the country for business purposes.”
Celine suddenly approached me, took my hand, and stroked it, showing off her affection for the Medea women.
Celine looked at me persistently with a look in her eyes that said, 'Come on, tell them we're good friends.' So I nodded once.
The women who had briefly tilted their heads at the fact that I had a blonde sister quickly smiled and congratulated me.
“I’ll be nearby and come back when we’re done talking.”
As the women continued their conversation, Noah and the lieutenant colonel gave way out of courtesy. Naturally, their destinations were opposite.
“You’re real sisters, but you two don’t look alike at all.”
Erita, holding a glass of champagne, approached and snickered. Celine smiled and saluted, as if observing a public enemy stepping on a landmine.
"May the Princess be blessed by God. Each of us resembles our mother and father. It seems the Princess also resembles Her Majesty."
Erita's blue eyes darted around Celine questioningly.
“I heard that Lady Diana was expelled from your family and taken into exile in Medea. Did you reconcile with her?”
She seemed to be asking a question about the admiral. Celine straightened her back and answered, twisting her wavy platinum hair between her fingers.
"Yes, it was all a false accusation. No matter what anyone says, she's my sister and a daughter of the Claire family. My father is very pleased with Diana's marriage and is giving his blessings. He strongly encouraged me to come here, hoping for a successful wedding."
Erita's mouth twisted fiercely. Behind her, she saw Ayla, who had come to attend to her. She had grown thinner in the past few days, and her complexion looked unwell.
Celine's gaze turned to Ayla and then back to Erita.
“That maid doesn’t look well. I think it would be best to send her away now.”
“You don’t have to worry about it.”
"I'm nervous. I don't know what might happen. I'm worried she might collapse, for example."
As I listened quietly, I became convinced by Celine's words that Erita might be up to something. That Celine knew something, and that she had come to stop it.
She continued, stroking the edge of her mask.
"Not long ago, my maid was bitten by a large dog. She was in pain, but she continued working until she finally collapsed. The dog was a fierce dog named Argentino, known as the national dog of Argentina. It's named after the capital city."
“Miss Celine, what do you mean by that all of a sudden?”
"It's an honor to know my name, Princess. I'm concerned that the maid may have been bitten by a dog."
“You... no way.”
The moment Erita's eyes widened with confusion, the ceremony announcing the start of the masquerade ball began with the loud sound of music.
"Diana, never again will you have anything to do with that maid. She was bitten by a rabid dog."
Celine, who had been whispering to me, smiled meaningfully and walked away in the direction of the lieutenant colonel. She must know something. What she said was a threat. Just looking at Erita's pale face, I could tell.
Noah, who had been waiting for the people to move around chaotically and for the women to finish their conversation, approached me again and took my hand.
A kind of play-like event is taking place, with people wearing similar masks or masks of the same color forming groups and dancing according to the host's announcement.
Noah and I were in a situation where we had to separate because our masks were different colors, but Noah, in a gentlemanly manner, snatched the mask of another man nearby and put it on, then smiled with satisfaction.
“This way we can stay together.”
“That’s groundbreaking.”
Eventually, a situation arose where people wearing the same color clothing had to gather together.
As he was looking around, he noticed a man wearing dark green trousers among the gentlemen dressed entirely in black and gray, and his face became solemn.
“I’ll take off the man’s pants you see over there and change them.”
“...It’s only five minutes, so how about holding on for a bit? You won’t lose anything because of your hair color anyway.”
As I was watching him sadly as he was semi-forcibly separated and moved away into the crowd of black gentlemen, a man wearing a khaki tie blocked my view.
It was a lieutenant colonel wearing a black mask. He must have considered the tie a piece of clothing and joined the group. He extended his elbow as if to escort me.
“Is 5 minutes okay?”
"Yes?"
"It's a masquerade ball, isn't it? For the five minutes you've been given, you're free to dance with anyone you want."
“Oh? No.”
This seems way too much like a love-and-war-level mess, so I waved my hand and refused. Besides, I don't even want to see those eyes that have turned into Noah's own.
“Then let’s talk.”
The lieutenant colonel, his sharp blue eyes twinkling with a friendly smile, handed me a champagne glass from the champagne tower. "I have nothing to say to you. What should I do? This is difficult."
I awkwardly accepted the glass and looked up at him with a creaky head.
“I’m glad to hear you’re doing well.”
“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel. Congratulations on your wedding.”
I know this is an unwanted marriage, but I'm saying this to draw a line. The lieutenant colonel's eyes beneath the mask seemed to sink slightly.
“I often think about what would have happened if I had prevented your kidnapping that day.”
“Noah must have come back again.”
“Wouldn’t anything have changed?”
The lieutenant colonel smiled sadly. He clasped my hand as if shaking it and added.
“Excuse me, Colonel. You didn’t have to go that far... It’s an unwanted marriage.”
It was an uncharacteristic interference. He was looking down at the champagne clinking in his glass.
“That was all I could do for you.”
“I don’t know why you have to do that. I have Noah...”
“Diana, without him, you are completely alone.”
The lieutenant colonel's words nearly made me drop my champagne glass. The fear of being completely isolated and alone in this world, which still felt unfamiliar, still lingered in a corner of my mind.
"If that happens, it will be difficult to regain your position on your own. Then I will protect you."
“If that happens, does that mean you’re going to divorce my sister?”
"That's the promise I made to your sister. That's why she's working so hard for you."
Oh my god, what's wrong with you?
"People can't live without others. I'm telling you this because I hope you won't live in fear of being alone, feeling anxious, or enduring unreasonable treatment."
“Unreasonable treatment...”
That's true. My rational mind is quite far from blindly believing that Noah could never do that. The important thing is to prevent that from happening.
“If you become unhappy, then I will try to make you happy.”
As soon as the lieutenant colonel finished speaking, a loud crackle of fireworks erupted, and the dark sky outside the ballroom was dotted with colorful fireworks.
The light filtering in through the window, its ever-changing colors, suddenly appeared, vividly coloring the man's silver hair.
Noah, whom I don't know how long he'd been there or where he'd appeared from, took off his mask and was looking at me while leisurely turning the champagne glass in his hand.
How much did he hear?
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