10. The Masquerade Ball (1)

The most controversial day of recent times finally arrived.

The day of the masquerade ball had come.

Even those who had complained that the imperial family had become low-class and that it was beneath their dignity seemed to have all attended, as the palace entrance was extremely crowded with numerous waiting carriages.

Since it was a ball held at the imperial palace, it didn’t end with simply checking invitations but included security checks according to palace entry procedures.

Meanwhile, in the upper level of the hall where the banquet was being held, a servant sought out Elizabeth for an interim report. As she was both the host and designer of this ball, reports were coming to her.

However, the Prince happened to come looking for Elizabeth and ended up hearing the report together.

“What about the carriage?”

After the general report finished, Elizabeth asked the servant.

“It seems they haven’t arrived yet.”

Hearing this, the Prince interrupted and demanded aggressively.

“Still not? You didn’t miss them while being distracted, did you?”

“…No carriages have entered through the high nobility exclusive line.”

The servant answered while breaking into a cold sweat.

Elizabeth had planted watchful eyes everywhere from early before the start of today’s banquet. That surveillance began from the area where attendees disembark from their carriages upon entering.

This was to detect and control the movements of the young lady and Duke of Aberdeen from the very beginning.

“What about the regular carriage line?”

“…Pardon? That side…”

“You should be checking both sides! You fool. Do I have to give every single instruction?”

The Prince burst out in anger.

He wasn’t angry because he thought a ducal family might enter through the regular carriage line.

In the Prince’s concept, it was impossible for high nobility to give up their privileges and deliberately wait in line to enter.

Rather, it was for considering all possibilities.

While the new Oathkeeper they saw at the last banquet might come in the Kramer family’s carriage, given how they’ve consistently tried to hide their identity, they might come in a regular carriage.

The more options, the better. There was no harm in being prepared in advance.

He never entertained the possibility that they might not attend, as such an idea was inconceivable within the Prince’s understanding.

While one might not be able to attend an imperial party without an invitation, he couldn’t conceive of someone not attending when they had one.

“I-I’ll give the orders right away.”

“What if they’ve already entered! Huh?!”

The Prince kicked the servant while yelling angrily.

“Ack, I’ll also order them to check everyone who’s already entered!”

“Hah. What can I do with these idiots. Get out now! If you spot anyone similar, tail them immediately and report to me! Understand?!”

“Y-yes!”

Actually, it would have been best if they could have obtained information about what outfit Lady Aberdeen would wear in advance, but they failed. This time she must have used a different dressmaker than usual, as they couldn’t find out.

So they had no choice but to check everyone individually.

While they decided to hold a masquerade ball among various banquets to make it easier for their side to move, the disadvantage was that masks and concept outfits made it difficult to recognize people.

Thus, they had deployed as many personnel as possible from both the Imperial Palace and Hebeta Palace throughout the venue.

“Hmm. They’re quite late. But since high nobility tend to arrive later, I think they’ll appear if we wait just a bit longer.”

“Stay vigilant and watch carefully. Pay special attention to the ladies’ lounge and powder rooms, as they’re harder to monitor—ensure everything is under control beforehand. Your role today is crucial.”

“Yes. I’m handling the groundwork well. After all, wasn’t I the one who planned this entire ball? Don’t worry too much.”

Elizabeth was dressed as the goddess of spring today.

Her flowing dress emphasized her delicate figure while featuring a straight fabric design that seemed like it could slip off with just a gesture, creating an innocent yet suggestively contrasting charm.

With her lime blonde hair, the flower crown on her head, and butterfly-shaped half-mask, everything matched perfectly.

Moreover, with her gentle smile, judging by appearance alone, she looked so bright and soft that she seemed incapable of harming anyone.

“Once the stage is set, I’ll contact you right away, so you just need to come, Your Highness.”

“Very well. I trust you.”

Perhaps due to Elizabeth’s gentle tone and manner, the Prince replied in a softened tone, seeming to have calmed down.

He quite liked this Hebeta as she matched his temperament very well. She was quite satisfactory in bed too. She not only did well what she was told but also did well what wasn’t told, making him reluctant to simply dismiss her.

“If this goes well, I won’t forget your merit. Though you couldn’t get pregnant, when I become Emperor, I’ll change the laws if I must to make you Empress.”

Does he think she would sincerely appreciate such words?

Elizabeth’s steady smile slipped slightly, but the Prince didn’t notice.

“…Thank you, Your Highness.”

Elizabeth composed herself after that momentary flare of anger and reaffirmed her resolve.

‘I must bring down Duke Aberdeen somehow.’

Only then can I escape from this insufferable Prince.

Once again shaking her head at her past wrong choices, Elizabeth made up her mind.

These people, each plotting their own schemes in the same place…

It was the very definition of having different dreams in the same bed.

* * *

Meanwhile, there was a man and woman grumbling in a carriage.

“Ah, why is this line so long–! I’m dying of boredom. Brother! Since you got the invitation, you should have gotten entry privileges too!”

“You should be grateful I even got an invitation! Do you know how popular this ball was?”

They were siblings sharing the same surname.

George Hollander and Joanna Hollander.

These two people, who had once been like nightmares to Saena, were waiting to enter the masquerade ball.

“Tch, she abandoned her former fiancé to become Hebeta but can’t even do this much?”

“Just do well yourself, you fool!”

This ball was a very good opportunity.

“Don’t just think about having fun mindlessly, try to catch someone decent if you can! Do you think opportunities like a masquerade ball at the imperial palace come often?”

Usually, these night parties were crawling with lower nobility.

In that sense, this ball was very special. Despite being a night party, since it was held at the imperial palace, it meant many high nobles would attend too.

“Don’t you know your brother has a good business item but can’t shine right now because there’s no investment money!? Why can’t you think about being helpful by catching a good marriage prospect at times like this?”

“I know. I already have my eye on a few young lords.”

“Who?”

Joanna whispered several men’s names.

“Hmm, not bad.”

George pondered the names and patted his sister’s shoulder in satisfaction.

“But are you confident?”

“I got a special dress just for today.”

Joanna boasted confidently about her dress with a deep neckline.

“You think you’re the only one wearing that kind of dress?”

Such revealing dresses were so common at night parties it wasn’t even worth mentioning. While criticizing his foolish sister’s inadequate skills, he fell into thought for a moment. Then he searched his pocket and pulled something out.

“Hey, this…”

“Hm? What is it?”

This item was the reason he had been able to obtain an invitation to this precious banquet.

‘George, I have something for you to do.’

‘Me? What do you want?’

He recalled his recent secret meeting with Elizabeth.

‘I need…’

When she contacted him wanting to meet, she surprisingly asked him to obtain an unexpected item. Though George Hollander was initially shocked by the request, he soon giggled.

‘Planning something again, are you?’

For him, this was simply welcome news.

Because whenever Elizabeth plotted something behind the scenes, interesting things always happened.

For him, he could just watch from the sidelines and pick up any crumbs that fell, and even without that, he’d at least get to enjoy an interesting show, so there was nothing to lose.

Well, it was also true that there were always leftovers, like the invitation to this banquet and the items in his hand that he had managed to obtain several of for himself thanks to the generous advance payment.

“If you find someone really good…”

He slipped ‘that item’ into his sister’s palm.

“Mix this into his drink.”

“Huh?”

“And make him fall.”

“What?”

It was a small vial of potion.

She had asked for a high-quality one with no color or smell, so it had taken some effort to obtain.

While he had used cheap ones several times before, this was his first time using one this expensive due to its high price.

“What, you can’t do it?”

Having made up his mind to give her this expensive item, he felt annoyed at his sister’s unfavorable expression.

“Do you want to marry into some mediocre family and live miserably in a low status?”

“No…”

“Then listen to me. Honestly, you’re not as pretty as that famous Lady Ackroyd or whoever. So you need to approach from a different angle!”

“……”

“Results are what matter in this world. Create a situation where he has no choice but to marry you. The higher nobility care about reputation, so once something happens, what can they do? They’ll have no choice but to marry you.”

As if beginning to understand her brother’s words, determination started to show in Joanna’s eyes.

“Yes.”

“Good. Do well.”

“I got it.”

“First, while talking…”

Along with snickering laughter, George Hollander began giving advice that no other brother would likely give his sister. He shared advice that would shock others if they heard it, and Joanna took it all in very seriously.

The siblings spent their waiting time in the carriage very productively, forgetting their earlier complaints about being bored.

* * *

In another, relatively quiet carriage.

The large, luxurious black wood carriage arrived late at the imperial palace but entered ahead of other carriages without waiting.

The ducal crest alone meant no internal search was required, and priority entry was possible without waiting. The ducal crest displayed on the carriage made this possible.

They clearly received such benefits in proportion to the obligations they bore for the empire.

It was Saena and Constantine.

“Are you alright?”

“Huh?”

“You look a bit pale.”

“…Me?”

Preparing to disembark soon, Saena briefly examined herself upon receiving his worried question.

She did feel somewhat tense.

Like heading toward the eye of a storm?

It felt strange. Not exactly bad, but rather like something inevitable had come, mixed with anticipation and worry…

It was a feeling difficult to explain precisely.

‘I said I would never attend another masquerade ball…’

Should this be called nostalgia?

That was the complexity Saena felt. It must have shown on her face. Constantine was examining her with deepened eyes.

She unconsciously relaxed her tensed face and smiled slightly.

“I guess I’m a bit nervous. I’m fine.”

Despite her assurance, he continued to look at her heavily.

For some reason, his expression had become complicated too.

“You don’t need to worry. After all, I’m an Oathkeeper too.”

Thinking his complicated expression was due to worrying about her, Saena said with a grin.

“Sometimes…”

But his weighty expression didn’t lift.

“I wish you would rely on me completely.”

He slowly reached out and gently held her chin.

“While…”

His finger slowly traced up from her chin, circling around the round part of her cheek as if pressing it, then moved to her ear.

“For your safety… I also think it’s fortunate.”

As his finger traced the curve of her earlobe, his lips slowly approached her ear.

“When all this is over…”

His lowered voice washed over her like a sigh.

“We should be alone together, without caring about anything outside.”

His lips brushed against her earlobe with each word, stimulating the sensitive area.

“So that your eyes… hold only me, longer than any other worry or thought.”

“Ung…”

“I won’t let you leave the bedroom.”

Once again, Saena felt herself falling into his voice and gaze, forgetting the situation.

“Promise me.”

The carriage felt like it was stopping.

“Hng, yes…”

Saena quickly answered, feeling her senses starting to overtake her reason.

“That’s definitely a promise.”

He smiled languidly and long, having secured a clear promise.

“Right?”

Thanks to that, or perhaps because of it, the tension that had been difficult to shake from her body loosened.

Could he have aimed for this from the start?

She was grateful, but…

Saena gazed at him with narrow eyes.

“Saya? We need to get out.”

Why did she feel both grateful and slightly peeved?

Saena started to stand but instead plopped down on his lap.

“…Saya?”

“How long?”

“…What?”

She slowly wrapped her slender arms around the back of his neck and whispered.

“How long will you keep me in the bedroom?”

“……”

“Two days?”

Her voice rang sweetly through the carriage, as if looking forward to that day.

“Or three days?”

His patience seeming to snap at her provocation, a sigh escaped him.

“Ha.”