Nian’s eyes widened. Of course, she desperately wanted to see him. She would sell her soul to the devil if she could see him just once more, even from a distance. But since it wasn’t permitted, she had given up on the idea.

Seeing Nian visibly tense at the mention of the Emperor, Cain sighed softly.

“I was looking for a way, and it turns out the upcoming royal ball is a masquerade.”

“……”

“Go and see him once more before you leave. That’s the last gift I can give you.”

Though she thought she should refuse, her desperate heart pulled her head down before she could even find the chance to decline.

The regular royal ball. If her memory served her correctly, it was the day after tomorrow.

After enduring just two more sad nights,

She could…… see him again.

Nian’s heart fluttered for the first time in a long while.

Nian looked at the wig, mask, and dress that Cain had given her. These were things he had prepared to disguise her as a noble from the Kingdom of Samurin.

The silver wig would hide her uncommon black hair, and the mask decorated with soft white feathers would conceal her face.

A masquerade ball, of all things. How typical of the Empress Dowager. It was a concept she had often requested even when Nian was Empress. Nian hadn’t attended all of them anyway, so it didn’t matter, but occasionally she had decorated the ballroom according to her wishes.

‘When you don’t know who you’re talking to, prejudices disappear, making conversations more enjoyable.’

The Empress Dowager’s words came to mind. When rank and status are hidden, people become more honest behind anonymity. Paradoxically, the mask that covers the face actually encourages sincerity.

‘Yes. I’ll hide like this and just catch a glimpse of him before returning.’

With this thought, Nian twisted up her fine black hair and covered it with the wig.

Seeing the exotic dress decorated with green emeralds, Nian smiled as she recalled her time in Rund.

Is there anything that better reflects a country’s characteristics than a woman’s dress? The northern Rund, with its many mountains and somewhat cold climate, considered a woman’s voluptuous bosom a symbol of beauty.

Therefore, traditional dresses had a deep and wide square neckline exposing the chest, a tightly cinched waist, and in contrast, a full A-line skirt.

On the other hand, in the western Kingdom of Samurin, a long neck was considered beautiful, so V-neck dresses that made the neck appear longer were fashionable. Also, unlike Rund, they preferred mermaid dresses over A-line ones that flared to the sides.

Finding the tightly fitted dress somewhat awkward, Nian practiced walking around the room for a while.

Cain called from downstairs. It seemed they were about to depart for the palace.

The rules of the masquerade ball were simple. Don’t reveal your identity. Disregard the other person’s status or appearance, and simply dance and converse with whoever attracts you.

Asking about the other person’s personal details was considered bad manners. The only way to discover someone’s identity was to show your own face.

If you lowered your mask first and asked the other person, they had no right to refuse and had to remove their mask.

Since a mask once removed couldn’t be worn again, most people either kept their masks on until the end of the party or removed them near the end to discover the identity of someone they liked.

This rule was quite useful. Even outside of romantic relationships, there were instances where people with matching political views removed their masks only to find they were from opposing factions, leading to reconciliation between two opposing parties, or discovering shared hobbies with unexpected partners.

These occasional events played an important role in refreshing the otherwise monotonous regular imperial events. This was also why she was disguised as a noble from Samurin.

After all, no one would waste their one opportunity on an unknown foreign noble. Nian would have no reason to remove her mask. How foolish this thinking was, she would learn later.

In any case, Nian arrived back at the imperial palace with her nervous heart in check.

After some time, Cain would find him and remove his mask. Then she would be able to see him, even from a distance. Nian stepped out of the carriage, feeling her heart beating twice as fast as usual at the thought of seeing him again.

Upon arriving at the hall, Nian felt newly nostalgic. This was the ballroom she had always planned and sometimes decorated herself. She never dreamed she would visit as a guest.

Nian covered her face as much as possible with the silver wig she had left loose and long, and found a spot in the corner. Though she wore a mask, people with secrets naturally tended to shrink back.

Nian quickly rolled her eyes, searching for him. Just then…

A woman wearing a mask decorated with flowers approached Nian.

“Are you a foreigner?”

A seductive voice. Surprised by the unexpected attention, Nian opened and closed her mouth in confusion. Fortunately, Cain approached and answered for her.

“Yes. She’s from the Kingdom of Samurin and doesn’t speak this country’s language.”

The Kingdom of Samurin uses two languages: their native Samurin language and the language of this country, the Empire of Belton, which serves as a global common language.

Most regions use Samurin, but nobles in the capital, who have relatively frequent interactions with Belton, learn both languages from childhood.

“Ah, I heard they teach the common language in Samurin too, but I guess not.”

“Some nobles learn it, but this child is from a small provincial city. I brought her to show her the imperial palace.”

“I see.”

At Cain’s words, she soon lost interest and turned away. Watching her leave with an anxious feeling, Nian whispered in a small voice.

“That was quick thinking, Brother.”

“Stay close to me. If anyone speaks to you, pretend you don’t understand.”

“Yes, yes.”

Nian took a sip of fruit drink to moisten her dry throat.

Dade wore a plain black mask with no decorations. His mask, which only covered up to the bridge of his nose, completely revealing his lower face, seemed quite perfunctory for the host of this party, but among the masks adorned with all sorts of decorations, it rather stood out.

He had taken a seat in the deepest part of the hall and was just sipping whiskey with a dry expression. Though it was a masquerade ball held after some time, he seemed to have no interest at all.

Occasionally, glamorous women would approach and speak to him, but after he gave only short answers, they soon drifted away.

‘How tiresome.’

He hadn’t slept properly for several days. His bed was terribly large and cold for sleeping alone. After tossing and turning for a long time, if he finally managed to fall asleep, the black-haired woman would invariably appear and wake him.

Feeling fatigued, Dade decided to pass the time carelessly before returning, but as he walked toward the terrace, he froze upon seeing a silver-haired woman in an exotic emerald-colored dress.

Cain, who had been enjoying the party a little distance from Nian, quickly approached her upon seeing the man in the black mask. His face, barely half-covered, was unmistakably Dade to anyone who saw him.

“Il……”

In his urgency, he almost unconsciously called out Nian’s name. Fortunately, Nian seemed to notice and looked at Cain.

Cain rolled his brown eyes to indicate Dade’s direction, but Nian didn’t notice Dade’s presence and looked at him quizzically.

Finally, Cain and Dade reached Nian almost simultaneously.

Dade stared at the two with inscrutable blue eyes. Nian seemed frozen, just keeping her head bowed, while Cain grabbed her hand as naturally as possible and pulled her along.

「Let’s go. There are many tarts you like over there.」

Though Cain suddenly used the incomprehensible Samurin language, Nian followed without showing any reaction.

Or rather, she tried to.

If Dade hadn’t grabbed her wrist, that is.

“Not from around here?”

Cain closed his eyes tightly with a tense expression, then relaxed his face and turned around.

“Yes. She’s from the Kingdom of Samurin.”

“Seems she doesn’t know how to introduce herself.”

Dade spoke while fixing his gaze on Nian, not even glancing at Cain.

“She doesn’t speak the common language. Please let her go. She seems startled because she doesn’t understand what’s happening.”

Despite Cain’s request, Dade gripped Nian’s wrist even tighter.

“Ah. Is that so?”

Dade raised one corner of his mouth.

「As it happens, I also know how to speak Samurin. When I was young, I wondered why I had to learn this tedious language.」

Cain was thankful he was wearing a mask. Otherwise, his face, pale with embarrassment, would have been exposed.

As Cain was at a loss for words, Dade took one step closer and continued.

「How fortunate. Don’t you think?」

「How rude. She’s shy about showing her face, so she’ll be uncomfortable even with her native language. Please let her go.」