The masked man tensed at the presence of an unexpected visitor. He clearly hadn’t imagined Debbie would be there.

“Are you a guest writer?”

Debbie approached, lamp in hand. No matter how she looked at him, he seemed extremely familiar with the publishing house’s internal layout. Otherwise, he couldn’t have entered the costume room and changed clothes with such familiarity.

“Huh!”

The masked man slowly turned around, spotted Debbie, and let out a startled exclamation.

Feeling mocked in her vulnerable state, Debbie’s face burned with embarrassment.

“Why are you laughing? Hiccup. That’s rude.”

“Good heavens, what have you been drinking?”

Just as Debbie suspected, he seemed to know her. The masked man’s gaze shifted to the liquor bottle rolling on the floor. His voice had a strange metallic quality, as though the mask contained some mechanism, making it difficult to identify who he was.

“Oh, that? The editor-in-chief forgot to lock it up. Not locking this place basically means ‘help yourself,’ doesn’t it? Hic.”

Debbie grabbed the end of her shawl and fluttered it like a fan, trying to disperse her alcohol-laden breath.

“And why are you dressed like that? Of all the numerous outfits hanging here, why choose the one that looks cheapest?”

At the masked man’s words, Debbie fidgeted with her shawl, twisting her body awkwardly.

This person clearly knew that Debbie normally wore such proper attire that she appeared uptight. He was definitely someone familiar with her. Maybe she was overdressed. She had tried to imitate the pin-up girls she’d seen in magazines to blend into the bar atmosphere.

What looked good in photos felt scratchy and completely wrong when actually worn. This outfit doesn’t suit me, she thought to herself, adjusting the awkwardly positioned padding in her bra that exaggerated her chest ridiculously.

“I’ve decided to start writing a column for a magazine this month… Hiccup. It’s the first real step in my career, a super important piece, but I just can’t seem to get the words out. I have zero experience, so all the advice in the world isn’t helping.” 

Debbie’s eyes were already dilated from drinking to her limit.

She stammered out her innermost thoughts to him in a voice that tripped over itself, speaking like someone making excuses.

“I don’t want to lose this hard-earned job…”

She kept to herself her greater fear of the penalty she’d have to pay if she failed to fulfill her contract.

“I want to do my best, but I can’t make it work in practice. I thought if I could experience it for just one night, I’d be able to write about what s*x actually is.”

Her face flushed with heat, but she found it less burdensome to confess this to a guest writer she couldn’t quite place than to the editor-in-chief.

“So, I was planning on picking someone up tonight for a little fun, but I just can’t seem to seduce anyone sober.”

“You’re willing to give up your virginity to a complete stranger just to write a column? Isn’t there someone you’re already interested in? Wouldn’t that be easier?”

Debbie doubled over with laughter at his words. Having bravely downed the hard liquor in one go, her body kept slipping beyond her control. She thought she couldn’t get drunk, but she’d proven herself wrong.

“You’re right. When I decided to find someone for a night of fun, I got scared. Since it’s my first experience, I want to enjoy it together, but what if they treat me carelessly and use me like a trash can for their lust? And if they recognize me later and spread rumors about sleeping with me, my life would be ruined forever.”

Debbie caught her breath after laughing so hard her stomach hurt.

“Say, why don’t you take off that mask? Do you always walk around the publishing house like that? I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Lots of secrets, huh?”

“Let’s just say I have a lot I’d rather keep hidden.”

The man before her was dressed to the nines, like he’d just stepped out of a gala. In his tuxedo and white gloves, he looked like he could have been performing a magic show. Oh, right. There was supposed to be a masquerade ball at the imperial palace today. The club had been full of misfits who couldn’t attend the palace event.

Debbie swallowed hard. His courteous demeanor, broad shoulders, the sharp jawline visible beneath the mask, and his ramrod-straight posture sparked a flicker of desire. He was so impeccably put together that she suddenly had the urge to rip open his shirt buttons.

The editor-in-chief’s words came to mind—that everyone has their own tastes and secret desires. The sensual feelings that had never been triggered by any specific person were now blooming wildly at the sight of his neat appearance. At that moment, she realized a strange, ticklish sensation was rising from her lower abdomen.

Debbie ran her tongue over her lips.

“You know what? How about you be my first?”

Her words clearly flustered him. “Are you talking about me?”

His perfectly poised posture wavered slightly.

“You have lots of s*xual experience, right? Don’t you?”

In her tipsy state, Debbie asked questions she would never dare ask while sober.

He smiled wryly at her words, avoiding a direct answer with an ambiguous attitude.

“Well…”

“You must have more than me, right? I’ve never done it even once.”

“Well, yes…”

“I’m asking because I think you wouldn’t go around telling people you slept with me after a night of fun. Could you possibly teach me what s*x is?”

Debbie threw the question at him like she was detonating a bomb. Her face burned with embarrassment, making her feel like she could die on the spot. But since he was someone with secrets to hide, even if he rejected her, there would be no risk of others finding out later.

Before the perplexed man could utter words of refusal, Debbie quickly continued with what she wanted to say.

“Seeing you secretly changing clothes at the publishing house in the middle of the night, I suspect you have something to hide. I’ll keep your secret too.”

Debbie felt her lips drying up with anxiety.

“Should I go outside and find someone for the night like a street woman, when I have such a fine partner right in front of me?”

An awkward silence fell between them for a moment. Debbie moistened her dry lips with her tongue again.

But he didn’t readily show any reaction. Debbie’s heart felt like it was burning up with anticipation.

Tired of waiting, Debbie irritably stood up and grabbed the doorknob to walk out.

Swish.

He removed his white gloves. Then he began unbuttoning his dress shirt one by one. Debbie was so pleased with his response that she burst into laughter without even realizing it.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

Debbie had never imagined that this masked guest writer would become her first partner. That made it all the more exciting.

“Since it’s my… my first time, please guide me well.”

Though she felt awkwardly like a promiscuous woman she’d only heard about, the twisted courage came from knowing that he too would keep this secret forever.

Click-clack.

She approached him with the sound of heels, walking the way she’d heard would better attract attention. It clearly worked, as he couldn’t take his eyes off her gait. As she drew close, his light red eyes visible through the mask were mesmerizing like jewels.

Debbie wrapped her trembling arms around his waist to get a closer look at those eyes. Though she hadn’t intended to touch him, the firmness of his abdomen felt through his clothes surprised her even more.

Gazing at his eyes as though entranced, she reached out to remove his mask. He grabbed her wrist.

“I don’t want to take off the mask. I want this to remain a secret.”

Debbie gave up on removing the mask and watched, mesmerized, as each button on his dress shirt came undone.

“Are you really sure you won’t regret this?” he asked while unbuttoning his shirt.

“This is my first column. Where could I find a better partner? At least you’re someone who can’t go around telling others you slept with me. Besides, since this interview will be anonymous, even readers of the column won’t imagine it’s you. Isn’t this beneficial for both of us?”

He laughed softly at her words. Debbie’s face burned with embarrassment at her own words.

Still, she thought this was much safer than going out to find a random partner for a night of fun and ending up with some unknown scum.

“You’ll regret it,” he said, lowering his pants buckle.

“You’re the rumored phantom thief, aren’t you?”

His hand paused on the buckle.

“What makes you say that?”

“Nothing specific. As is often the case in this field, there’s circumstantial evidence but no physical proof.”

Ha ha ha.

He laughed in a low voice.

“Well, suspecting random people of being criminals without evidence is a bad habit.”

“I suppose so. But thinking about it differently, there’s no better place for a phantom thief to operate than here,” Debbie said, considering the circumstances.

“The phantom thief knows the publishing industry well and has used the media. That would be difficult without being an insider. Plus, this place becomes deserted at night with no witnesses. On top of that, various costumes are available for photoshoots. If I were the phantom thief, I wouldn’t pass up a place like this. If you want to prove you’re not the thief, take off your mask.”

The masked man remained silent at Debbie’s words, then noticed an envelope on the floor, which he quickly stuffed into his pocket. Then he slowly spoke.

“I’m not the phantom thief, but I don’t want to reveal my identity either.”

Debbie stared at him intently before breaking into a smile.

“If you want to remain a secret, create a secret with me. Then we’ll be accomplices.”

She didn’t know where this courage was coming from. Perhaps it was the alcohol.

“Whether you’re the phantom thief or not, I thought if I were to have my first experience, I’d want it to be with someone who has many secrets. Because they’d keep my existence a secret too. And a miracle happened.”

Debbie’s lips trembled as she spoke.

“I don’t want to miss this chance for adventure.”