WMEEM Ch 21

The Masquerade

I stepped into the carriage and turned to Elizaveta.

[Celeste] "Is it safe?"

Excitement mingled with a quiet thread of anxiety in my chest.

A masquerade guaranteed that my face and identity would stay hidden, but the same rule applied to everyone else. That uncertainty made me nervous.

[Elizaveta] "It operates on a strict membership system, so unworthy guests can't enter."

Her reassuring words eased my mind. I turned the mask over in my hands and admired its smooth, delicate craft.

No one will recognize me there.

Without the title of fake princess, I would be nothing more than an ordinary guest. As long as I remained cautious, I had nothing to fear. Anticipation fluttered in my chest.

We lost ourselves in conversation, making it impossible to track the carriage's progress. The carriage came to a halt while we were still talking. We put on our masks and stepped outside.

The surrounding district felt far removed from the heart of the capital. Quiet and wrapped in shadow, the building looked like an ordinary mansion, if not for the steady stream of arriving carriages.

I followed Elizaveta to the entrance. She presented a small card to the gatekeeper, who unlatched the heavy doors and stepped aside.

An entirely different world opened up before me.

Countless candles, mounted on massive chandeliers that hung from vaulted ceilings, bathed the interior in a golden glow. Lively music and spirited chatter echoed through the expansive hall. It was nothing like the rigid, formal balls at the imperial palace.

Guests who wanted to dance gathered in the center, while others milled about in small groups, drinking and laughing without restraint.

Looking closer, I realized the dancing was not confined to the floor. Couples swayed and twirled right beside the clusters of conversation.

Here, no one lowered their voice out of fear of judgment. Though they wore lavish, elegant gowns and suits, their joy was free from the usual aristocratic stiffness.

[Elizaveta] "Your Highness, you need an alias here. Call me Valérie."

She leaned in close to speak into my ear. Even at a normal volume, the booming music and surrounding clamor almost drowned out her voice.

[Celeste] "I shall be Delicia."

I couldn't think of anything clever, so I gave her my mother's name.

[Elizaveta] "Splendid. Delicia, this venue mirrors ancient gatherings where commoners danced alongside fairies. Legend says that long ago, chosen citizens of Kellinev celebrated in this exact way. But because most guests tonight are wealthy merchants and nobles looking for excitement, the reality is a bit different from the legend."

Elizaveta explained that traditional celebrations centered around a towering bonfire, where people wore simple clothes rather than extravagant gowns. Since the nobility couldn't wear peasant clothes or light a massive fire inside a ballroom, they gathered here to recreate the spirit of the event instead.

That made sense. Even though I knew little about music, the melodies felt warmer and far more inviting than the stiff compositions of the imperial court.

I wondered what it felt like to dance with real fairies. The thought brought Pavel to mind, a name I had not considered in a very long time. He was a spirit whose strange temper matched his unusual appearance.

Since my childhood, I was the only person who could see him, or rather, see the lingering fragment of his broken soul.

Normally, a shattered spirit vanished into nothingness. Yet for reasons I never understood, Pavel remained behind as a soul without memories, visible only to me.

That ability had brought me nothing but trouble. Seeing what others couldn't was the exact reason my village had cast me out.

Pavel didn't possess a single drop of gentleness, yet he became my only true companion when I first arrived at Calyx's imperial palace. He was the one who taught me about the world beyond my isolation.

Then, shortly after my coming-of-age ceremony, he disappeared without a word. He had vanished before during his foul moods, but years of complete absence meant he had likely achieved the final peace he wanted.

He could have at least said goodbye. Not that such politeness suited him.

A light tap on my elbow broke my thoughts as Elizaveta nudged me.

[Elizaveta] "Delicia. Since it is your first time, stay close to me."

She could barely contain her excitement, her shoulders swaying to the rhythm of the music.

[Celeste] "I am fine. If you can't enjoy yourself because of me, I will not enjoy myself either. I can manage on my own, so please go and have fun, Valérie."

I glanced around the hall and saw no immediate danger. Safe behind my mask, a strange sense of courage surged through me.

Here, protected by anonymity, nothing I did would reach the eyes of the outside world.

Elizaveta still looked hesitant as she asked me again.

[Elizaveta] "Are you fine without me?"

[Celeste] "Don't worry at all. Go on, Valérie."

I gave Elizaveta a gentle push forward. She hesitated for a moment before disappearing into the crowd. She looked back over the heads of the crowd and waved, waiting until I turned away before continuing on.

Now then, what should I do?

After a brief moment, I decided to walk around and watch the other guests.

Many foreign visitors were present, easily recognizable by their varied heights and distinctive regional clothing compared to the tall citizens of Kellinev.

What kind of dresses did women wear during those ancient fairy dances? How massive was that bonfire?

I closed my eyes briefly, imagining what it would feel like to join that ancient festival.

I picked up a goblet from a nearby table and took a slow sip, then sampled a small piece of fruit.

Tension had ruined my experience at the imperial ball, but here, I could finally relax and take in the night.

[Man] "That liquor pairs far better with this."

A man stepped up beside me and offered a piece of a different fruit. His sudden voice startled me, but looking at his mask reminded me that my own face was hidden too. Unlike my half-mask, his covered his entire face.

[Celeste] "Thank you."

I gave a polite response and looked away. It felt uncomfortable to show part of my face to a man whose features were completely hidden.

As I sipped my drink and pretended to look elsewhere, he spoke in a soft voice.

[Man] "Is this your first time here?"

[Celeste] "..."

[Man] "I sense your guard is up."

His voice was remarkably smooth, and his striking violet eyes matched my own color almost exactly.

I had instinctively put up my walls. Remembering that casual conversation with strangers was normal here, I felt a small sting of guilt.

[Celeste] "It feels as though I am at a disadvantage."

I offered a casual excuse.

[Man] "Because of this mask?"

He pointed a gloved finger toward his face.

[Man] "Many ladies harbor similar thoughts. Why not conceal your entire face like mine next time? Ah, no, that will not do. Then I couldn't recognize you."

There was a soothing warmth to his tone that caught me off guard and eased my tension.

[Man] "Concealing those delicate lips would be a tragic loss as well."

He added smoothly.

I recognized the blatant flattery for what it was, but a small chuckle escaped me anyway.

I took another sip of my drink and tried the fruit he had suggested.

[Celeste] "As you noted, this pairs far better."

[Man] "I only offer advice that brings good results. What might your name be?"

[Celeste] "Ce... Delicia. And yours?"

The name Celeste had nearly slipped out.

[Man] "I shall reveal mine next time. Intrigued by my name, you will return, allowing me to behold you once more. A mutual gain."

[Celeste] "I see no benefit on my end."

[Man] "Who can say? Perhaps I shall bring you great gain."

I chose not to tell him that I had no intention of returning, offering only a polite smile.

The man bowed slightly and offered me his hand.

[Man] "Would you honor me with a dance?"

After a moment of hesitation, I set my goblet aside and placed my hand in his.

He led me toward the middle of the hall. Though I was unfamiliar with the fast-paced music, he guided my movements effortlessly. Even with the quick rhythm, following his lead felt remarkably natural.

I managed to keep up with the unknown tempo, but near the end of the song, my foot accidentally came down on his.

When the music ended, he clutched his foot and winced with playful exaggeration.

[Man] "I must demand compensation for medical treatment."

Talking with him was surprisingly effortless. In hindsight, he seemed like the sort of man who could charm anyone with ease. He had a smooth, persuasive way about him, yet it didn't feel irritating.

He offered me another drink to quench my thirst—

[Celeste] "I shall pass on further liquor."

[Man] "Then at least have this."

As he handed me a glass of fruit juice, his hands caught my attention. Rings adorned his fingers, three in total across both hands. All three were identical to the rings sitting in my jewelry box back at the palace.

[Celeste] "You seem quite fond of rings."

He looked down at his fingers at the mention of them.

[Man] "They carry deep significance."

How could three rings be identical?

Luiza was the most prestigious jeweler in Kellinev, dealing exclusively in exquisite gems. They would never mass-produce a design.

[Celeste] "Do you frequent Luiza?"

[Man] "You recognized these as Luiza creations? Others inquire where I purchased them, yet you identified them instantly. You must visit frequently."

[Celeste] "I visited once. That is why I ask. Does Luiza craft duplicate designs?"

He shook his head.

[Man] "Producing duplicate items would diminish the value of Luiza's gems."

I almost blurted out that I owned the exact same set, but caught myself just in time. Unless the shop had made dozens of copies, owning one of only two existing sets could easily expose who I was.

[Man] "Ah, but only two sets of these rings exist in the entire world. A pair, so to speak."

[Celeste] "A pair?"

[Man] "Matching rings. I helped design them personally."

Why do I own the matching set designed by this man?

Curiosity gnawed at me, but I couldn't ask him directly. If he had designed them himself, the second set was likely meant for a woman. Why else would anyone put so much care into custom jewelry?

[Celeste] "To whom did the remaining set go then?"

[Man] "To my destined partner."

A soft laugh echoed from behind his mask.

I thought about it carefully and decided that the jeweler at Luiza must have secretly made a duplicate set to sell for extra profit. That was the only logical reason identical rings were sitting in my room.

I decided to push the confusing matter out of my mind. I already disliked looking at the gifts Batizo gave me, so this was a welcome excuse to ignore them entirely.

For the sake of this stranger and his destined partner, I would never wear those rings again. Still, watching a man who claimed to have a destined partner flirt so shamelessly irritated me, and I couldn't help asking a direct question.

[Celeste] "If you have a destined partner, do you still dance with ladies at masquerades like this?"

[Man] "Is that forbidden?"

His calm response was completely shameless.

[Celeste] "Your lady would surely detest it."

He fell quiet for a moment, as if my words had caught him off guard. Then he burst into a warm, genuine laugh.

[Man] "My goodness. Delicia knows my destined partner, whom even I have not yet met."

[Celeste] "You stated you gave the rings to your destined partner..."

[Man] "I never said I gave them to her."

[Celeste] "Where are they then?"

[Man] "At Luiza, presumably."

He spoke as if discussing someone else entirely. My confusion grew, and my thoughts drifted back to the rings in my possession. A sudden gut feeling told me that the second pair supposed to be at Luiza was actually resting inside my room.

[Celeste] "They were created not for a current lover, but for a future encounter."

[Man] "Indeed. In my homeland, such a custom exists."

So he was not a citizen of Kellinev.

[Man] "One crafts rings in advance and lets fate take its course. Should time pass and I encounter someone wearing the matching ring, I accept her as my destined partner. It is no mere coincidence, but a bond forged by the goddess of fate. Though a slim possibility exists that we never meet, that too reflects the goddess's choice."

If I had worn those rings tonight, it would have been a complete disaster.

Why the goddess of fate would ever connect me to this man was beyond my comprehension. Regardless, I made up my mind to never wear the rings Batizo had given me again.

[Man] "Did you see these rings at Luiza?"

[Celeste] "...Yes."

Since I had recognized them right away, I couldn't deny knowing what they were.

[Man] "It would have been wonderful had you purchased them..."

His wistful tone barely registered as an overwhelming urge to leave swept over me. What started as a fun escape and an engaging conversation now felt like a dangerous trap.

[Celeste] "I must take my leave. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

[Man] "Will you not return?"

[Celeste] "Perhaps."

[Man] "I wish to meet again."

[Celeste] "You ought to seek your destined partner. Farewell."

I turned on my heel and scanned the crowd for Elizaveta. When I told her I wanted to leave immediately, she anxiously asked if something had happened while she was away.

I offered a quick excuse, telling her that while I had fun, the noise and crowd felt overwhelming. She suggested returning another time, but I gave only a vague, non-committal answer.

If I had not talked about those rings with that man, I might have actually wanted to come back.

Few places offered this kind of freedom, where I could talk to strangers without the weight of my title. Yet a single mistake could expose who I really was, so I had to give up any idea of returning.

That destined partner he talked about… A bond forged by the goddess of fate. What total nonsense.

I am betrothed to Batizo.

Even after we returned to the Countship and I lay down to sleep, his words kept repeating in my mind. If what he said was true, I could have become that man's wife instead of the Empress of Kellinev.

He had mentioned a small chance that they might never meet, and surely, I was part of that rare exception.

I decided that as soon as I returned to the palace, I would lock away every single ring matching his design inside a box and hide it where no one could ever find it.

The following morning, Elizaveta came to my quarters, watching me with nervous eyes. She clearly assumed that my sudden departure from the masquerade meant I was upset, and her guilt was written across her face.

[Elizaveta] "I am so sorry, Your Highness. I shouldn't have done that, but in my eagerness to take you along... I shall ensure no such incident recurs."

[Celeste] "It was a wonderful experience. Letting myself forget my position, even for a moment, was entirely my own fault."

Despite my reassurance, Elizaveta remained worried, so I stayed through lunch to put her mind at ease before I departed.

---

I stepped down from the carriage and started down the garden path, only to see Batizo walking toward me from the opposite direction.

I had hoped to avoid seeing him outside of dinner, forgetting for a moment that this was his palace.

When Batizo noticed me, his stern expression didn't change, but his stride lengthened as he approached.

[Celeste] "Greetings to His Imperial Majesty."

Since he disliked formal curtsies, I bowed my head.

[Batizo] "Did you spend a pleasant time with the young lady of the Guido Countship?"

[Celeste] "Thanks to Your Majesty's permission, I spent a delightful time."

[Batizo] "You don't appear particularly pleased?"

The moment I looked at him, the upcoming lessons for our wedding night flashed through my mind, and my expression stiffened involuntarily.

[Celeste] "Not at all. I suppose I am a bit fatigued."

[Batizo] "Hmm. Go inside and rest."

[Celeste] "Thank you."

He brushed past me.

After taking a few steps, he paused to glance back at me as I stood still, then resumed his walk.

Was Batizo always so perceptive? I need to guard my expression more carefully.

I had only walked a short distance further when Terkan appeared in front of me.

---

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