122. Masquerade Ball (1)

The atmosphere of the masquerade ball had reached its height.

The largest banquet hall in the Imperial Palace was filled with nobles dressed in colorful masks and attire to match.

“Would you grant me this dance?”

A man with red hair, his entire face hidden behind a mask, approached Larael, who had been staying close to Edward, and politely asked her to dance.

Everyone knew who Larael was, which was why no one else had dared to ask her for a dance. Larael turned to Edward. Though he, too, wore a mask that covered more than half his face, anyone could guess that the man constantly by Larael’s side was none other than the Emperor.

Edward silently looked at her. To leave someone standing after they had extended a request was discourteous. He released the hand he had been holding. When Larael glanced at him again, Edward gave her a nod.

Larael placed her hand upon the one extended to her.

At that moment, Edward instantly regretted it. His mouth went dry. Unable to bear watching Larael dance with another man, he turned toward the table laden with glasses of wine.

As Larael stepped onto the floor and the music began, she felt deeply uncomfortable at the hand pressing against her waist. She furrowed her brow and pushed him back slightly, but he drew closer still, leading her to the music’s rhythm.

“Larael.”

The instant her name left his lips, Larael felt her mind freeze. She pulled her hand away from his shoulder and tried to withdraw the hand he was holding, but he refused to let go. The hand on her waist pulled her closer still.

“Herwen, what are you doing?”

“Who is that man? Could it be Grand Duke Vellaus?”

Herwen spoke casually. Whether he meant it as a joke or not, Larael didn’t even attempt a smile.

“Herwen, why on earth are you doing this to me?”

“……”

Ignoring her attempts to push him away, Herwen tightened his grip and spun her across the floor.

“I know you tried to use me.”

“……”

“And I also know about your relationship.”

“……Larael.”

Though his mask concealed his expression, Larael was certain Herwen must be flustered. His voice, trembling slightly as he spoke her name, betrayed it. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but no words came until the music was nearly at its end.

“Until today.”

He muttered the words. Larael, not understanding, asked,

“What did you say??”

“Whining to me like this. That ends today.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“I’ll explain everything. There are many things you’ve misunderstood. Why do you jump to conclusions without asking me?”

“If I had asked, you would only have lied again. Unfortunately for you, I’m no longer the naïve Larael Hedway you once knew.”

“Lara… you may not believe this, but……”

“Don’t call me that. It’s disgusting.”

At that moment, the music stopped. The people on the floor bowed to each other and began leaving before the next piece began.

As Herwen’s grip on her hand and waist slackened, Larael shoved him aside and left the floor. She looked around for Edward.

“Larael.”

From behind her came a voice both familiar and gentle. At the sound, the tension that had wrapped around her body melted away.

She turned, and Edward stood there, his head tilted slightly as he looked at her. Larael barely restrained the urge to rush into his arms for comfort.

“Did something unpleasant happen with your partner? I saw you push him away and leave.”

“You were watching, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. I kept my eyes on you.”

Edward spoke with deliberation. Larael considered telling him it had been Herwen but sighed instead. Telling him might only sour his mood.

“It was nothing. I only felt a bit dizzy for a moment.”

“And now?” Edward asked in a worried tone.

“I’m fine.”

“Perhaps I shouldn’t have brought you to this ball. Time spent alone with you is too precious to waste.”

‘Does everything connect back to that?’

Larael thought to herself and gave a small laugh.

“I was having a glass of champagne.”

Edward gestured toward a table laden with champagne, wine, and cocktails. The attendants assigned to the drinks, all masked, moved busily to clear empty glasses and replace them with full ones.

Larael’s gaze wandered among them—until she locked eyes with one of the masked attendants.

Larael was about to turn her head away, but then looked back at him again. It felt as if he were staring straight at her.

When she turned to look once more, he was already clearing away the empty glasses and leaving. Larael thought she must have been mistaken and turned her head aside.

“Larael, would you like a glass of wine?”

“Your Majesty, you know I don’t drink.”

“For tonight’s masquerade ball, I ordered the very finest wine to be prepared.”

At Edward’s words, Larael gave in with feigned reluctance. Together, they went to the table, and she picked up a wine glass.

She clinked her glass lightly with Edward’s, and then took a sip. The smooth wine spread across her tongue. With its balanced sweetness and acidity, it had been a long time since Larael had tasted wine, yet she recognized it instantly. Before her regression, she had been a renowned wine enthusiast.

“Larael, this wine—”

“……Wait.”

Larael frowned slightly. The aftertaste was strange. An alien flavor, like the smell of earth. She set her glass down on the table and hastily snatched away the one in Edward’s hand.

“Larael, what’s wrong?” Edward asked in a startled voice.

“This isn’t the taste of the wine I know.”

Edward, worried something might have happened at her sudden behavior, let out a laugh behind his mask.

“Larael, you’re quite the wine expert.”

Even at Edward’s playful remark, Larael did not laugh along. She understood why he would think so. Since her regression, she had not touched wine—or any alcohol at all. To Edward, her evaluating the taste of wine must have seemed like nothing more than a joke.

“Your Majesty, you mentioned earlier that you had a glass of champagne, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you feel unwell?”

Edward nodded. Seeing him nod, Larael let out a sigh of relief. She took his hand.

“Your Majesty, wouldn’t it be better if we left the ballroom?”

“Larael, what is it?”

“It’s just… I have a bad feeling. Somehow, it feels…”

Suddenly, Larael felt her head spin. She grabbed her head, swaying unsteadily.

“Larael, are you all right?”

Edward wrapped an arm around her waist and asked in a worried tone.

“I just felt dizzy for a moment. I’m fine now.”

“I shouldn’t have urged you to drink the wine. Shall we just go back?”

“Yes.”

Larael nodded. Edward took her hand, and together they pushed through the crowd toward the entrance of the hall.

As the two began to move, the glances exchanged around them grew busy. After signaling among themselves, several people started following Edward and Larael as they made their way to the entrance. Their steps slowed as the press of bodies blocked their path. Then suddenly, all the lights in the hall went out.

In an instant, the room was shrouded in darkness. The music stopped, and the sudden noise of people’s murmurs made the hall erupt in confusion.

Edward halted as well, scanning the hall. The lights, powered by magical devices, would not go out unless someone had deliberately interfered with them. As Edward began to move slowly toward the opposite side of the entrance, Larael gripped his hand tightly and shook her head.

“Your Majesty, don’t go. I have a bad feeling.”

Edward started toward the inner hall but, at her words, nodded and turned back with her toward the entrance.

At that moment, Edward staggered.

“Your Majesty, are you all right?”

“Ah… I just felt a little dizzy. I’m fine.”

Screams began to erupt from all around the hall.

“Ahhh! Help!! My husband’s been stabbed!!”

The sudden cry from someone threw the hall into chaos. Larael pressed herself close to Edward’s side.

Edward tore off the cumbersome mask and, forcing his eyes to adjust to the darkness, pulled Larael into his arms.

Holding her tightly as if she might slip away, Edward pushed forward again toward the entrance.

The doors of the hall swung open, flooding the room with artificial light. In a panic, the crowd surged toward the entrance all at once.