“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome.”

Is that person really the Third Prince, the organizer of the secret party that the male lead mentioned? Or is that just a simple host?

“It is a great honor to meet the special guests invited to this party.”

There was a possibility that the Third Prince was hiding in the background.

“As I mentioned before, did everyone bring their splendid golden accessories?”

I crossed my arms and calmly turned my head, looking at the male lead.

What is his purpose?

Is it to gather evidence proving the connection between the Third Prince and this party?

Or is it to apprehend the Third Prince who might be present at the scene?

“Excellent. Then, let the masquerade begin!”

Boom!

Grand music started playing, and people started moving to the dance floor one by one.

“Lady, would you like to dance with me for a song?”

Someone made a dance request.

I turned my head in the direction of the sound, intrigued by the interesting sight, but there.

“Lady Rose?”

There was the male lead on one knee.

‘Is he crazy?’

Has he finally lost his mind, releasing the last strand of his sanity?

This can’t be happening.

If the male lead loses his sanity, my chances of survival decrease.

I should find a way to calm him down soon, even if it means manipulating him.

There must be such a thing in this world, right?

I stared at him blankly, and when he nervously reached out his hand once more, I grasped it eagerly.

He gently grasped mine in his own, and kissed the back of my hand once more like he was the sweetest man in the world.

I was in a daze.

I couldn’t even make out what he was saying.

It was so shocking that he had kneeled down.

The male lead gently led me.

When I came to my senses, I realized that we were going towards the center where everyone else was dancing.

I let out an internal shout.

‘Dancing?’

‘With me?’

‘Are you out of your mind?’

He’s royalty, so he may have learnt to dance, but I didn’t.

All I know is energetic K-pop dances!

It is not possible to turn the stage upside down with fancy lighting and sound here.

I quickly rolled my eyes.

I had to see how others were dancing.

However, the male lead didn’t give me even a moment to learn the choreography. He grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to him.

I could vividly feel the touch of his arms around my waist.

It was a trembling sensation, as if my body was shaking. I felt like I understood why the heroine’s heart would waver even if he did something annoying.

Indeed, despite not being able to see his face, there was something that made women’s hearts flutter… Dammit.

He dragged me round and round without mercy.

Obviously, the heroine was just an idiot.

Otherwise, it didn’t make sense that she would fall in love with this personality-disorder genius even for a moment.

Well, then.

The slow melody suddenly changed to a cheerful tune, as if announcing the start of the party.

Men and women started dancing closely, accompanied by rather intimate skin ship, and we were no exception.

I tried my best not to step on the male lead’s feet. Left, right.

After repeating the steps a few times, I started feeling a sense of familiarity.

‘What’s this? Why am I dancing well?’

It felt like my body remembered something.

For example, during high school physical education class…

My mind suddenly cleared.

‘That’s right! I think I learned this!’

In no time, my feet were gracefully stepping through dazzling steps, and my eyes scanned the other dancers.

It was easy to follow along.

I wrapped my arms around the male lead’s neck and pressed myself close to him. In response, he lifted my waist.

It was a bit frustrating not being able to see his expression, but it was actually a relief.

As my body naturally leaned towards him, he whispered to me.

“The main stage will start soon, so don’t be surprised and stay by my side.”

Boom! With the sound of cymbals, the music abruptly stopped, and silence filled the air.

The male lead leaned in close, sweeping his large hand across my face as if he were about to kiss me.

Our noses were almost touching.

In the end, I tightly closed my eyes.

I could feel his breath on my lips, but fortunately, there was no further contact.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. People were clinging to each other like lovers.

So, I had no choice but to lean against him as well.

It wasn’t a particularly pleasant situation.

***

The party was pretty nasty and explicit.

When the song changed, the male lead made me sit in the front row of the stage.

I obediently followed his instructions, but I felt a sense of unease.

The banners displayed in front of the seats, I felt like I had seen them somewhere before.

Most likely at an auction…

I couldn’t believe it.

Illegal, gold, party.

These three words evoked a very impure and uncomfortable feeling.

The melody calmly filled the party venue.

“How do you like the spectacle?”

The male lead spoke to me with a sweet and gentle voice.

What is he asking?

His red lips formed a smile, and at that moment, the stage hidden behind the curtain was revealed.

“Have you prepared enough gold?”

Despite needing to respond, I was too shocked to say a word. The masked host appeared, followed by glimpses of something chained. It seemed to be moving.

“The first item is the silver-maned wolf captured in Goxen, the eastern region!”

The curtain opened and a group of men dragged iron cages to the center of the stage.

Inside each cage were howling wolves with grim, despairing faces, displayed one by one at a distance, like products in a market stall.

Even if they were selling animals, this was an inhumane event.

I had seen it on the news, but it was my first time witnessing it in person.

My eyebrows furrowed involuntarily.

So, I had no choice but to ask the male lead, veering off-topic.

“If we buy all of them, will the auction end?”

He chuckled in response to my question.

“That’s unlikely.”

He ran his fingers over my fingers, one by one, and soon he was gently placing them in my hand.

“I can’t give you all of them, but I will present you with the most splendid of them.”

The male lead´s red pupils emerged from behind the mask.

And in those eyes, hidden even behind the mask, I could see a slightly fearful reflection of myself.

“I hope you’ll be satisfied with that.”

My heart pounded.

I felt like a mouse lying flat on its belly in front of a snake.

The man sinisterly raised the corners of his lips and caressed my cheek.

“I’m sorry for not knowing your preferences.”

As he spoke, all eyes turned towards us.

In any case, I had no right to refuse his actions.

I brought our interlaced hands to my lips to match Calix’s rhythm and imitated a lover in love.

“But the top prize will be quite expensive.”

“There’s nothing I can’t do for you.”

Why on earth did the Third Prince engage in such behavior?

According to the information Mr. Crimson had given me, it clearly stated that the third prince was the weakest in terms of power.

Did he organize this party to attract the nobles to his side by hosting such an intriguing show?

‘Or is he indirectly supporting illegal trafficking merchants?’

To be honest, as someone who knew the predictable outcome of this political fight, I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him.

After all, the protagonist would eventually seize the throne.

I couldn’t help but snort.

“In that case, give me the most useful one.”

“If that’s what you desire.”

He brushed my cheek and sweetly placed a kiss on my cheek.

Wait, was it necessary to go this far?

The corners of my mouth, forced into a smile, trembled uncontrollably.

And I suppressed my trembling breath, refraining from exhaling.

“Breathe. When we go back, I can do even more than this.”

He embraced me in a tight hug, and I stared straight ahead, completely stiffened.

The auctioneer began the auction, and everyone raised their panels, indicating their willingness to buy the enormous silver wolves.

The male lead and I were the only two people in this huge party who remained silent.

“Why is it like this?”

I heard a whisper in my ear.

“Why do you have such dissatisfied eyes?”

With a sudden movement, he grabbed my chin and turned my face towards him, causing my head to turn.

I clenched my teeth in response.

“Is it because of me?”

Tsk. Only the male lead laughed.

“Answer me, my beautiful rose.”

I couldn’t even blink my eyes and remained frozen, held captive by him.