Chapter 12: The Masquerade Ball(4)

“…Of course, there must be more than a few women who admire the Crown Prince, destined to be the Emperor of the Empire.”

So how could I ever forget?

“If what you’re saying is true, then why not remove the mask right now?”

He asked with a sharp gaze.

“…Have you forgotten? You can only remove your mask before the finale if you’ve found your beloved. Unfortunately, there are quite a few men searching for me.”

I forced a smile, lifting the corners of my lips. Just meeting his eyes filled me with unbearable disgust.

“Then I hope you find the one you’re looking for.”

I took a step back, retreating into the crowd. Thump. Thump. Thump. My heart was still pounding loudly in my chest. Beneath the mask, sweat had already drenched my face, ruining the careful makeup Marie had applied.

If I were to tell Father Edwin that I met the Crown Prince at the masquerade, he would probably explode with anger.

The only fortunate thing was that I was wearing a mask. As long as I didn’t reveal it myself, no one would know who I was.

“They wouldn’t possibly imagine that a novice nun, who runs small errands at the convent, would have attended the masquerade.”

“Found you!”

A mask intricately crafted with blue jewels was suddenly thrust close to my face.

“…Abigail?”

I hesitantly spoke her name, uncertain.

“I knew you’d come! I’ve been searching for you for a while.”

“Abigail, is it really you?”

I had assumed she would have chosen an inconspicuous mask and dress, just like me. But to my surprise, not only was her dress extravagant, but her mask was also so dazzlingly bright that it was almost blinding.

“Of course. And you must be my guardian angel, right?”

Guardian angel? My face flushed with embarrassment.

“Abigail, I’ve been searching for you for so long. I just wanted to see you and leave, but I couldn’t find you anywhere… Now I know why. Where did you get that mask?”

“To hide a jewel, isn’t it best to hide it among other jewels of the same color? Thanks to that, no one’s recognized me until now.”

Hearing her voice filled with laughter, I finally felt a bit relieved.

“Abigail, I’ve seen you now, so I should head back to the convent.”

“So soon? We just met—can’t we stay together a little longer?”

Her pleading tone made it impossible for me to refuse outright.

“…Alright, just a little longer.”

“Good decision.”

With an excited voice, she took my hand. We picked up two neatly sliced pieces of cake and moved to a quiet corner of the ballroom.

Watching her slowly nibble on the cake brought a small smile to my lips without me even realizing it.

“…Ah, I can’t remember the last time we talked without worrying about being seen.”

“Yes, I’m sorry for always dragging you to that smelly terrace.”

“No need to apologize. I’d happily meet you even on a smelly terrace because I always look forward to seeing you, Alicia.”

“…You look forward to seeing me?”

“Of course. I’m always curious about what surprise you’ll bring or what story you’ll share next.”

She confessed with a bashful smile, and it should have made me happy that she trusted and waited for me like an old friend.

However, why was it that her bright smile made my heart ache? I could only guess it was because of the suffocating guilt that had taken hold of me.

Abigail, if you knew that you became the Saintess in my place, how would you react? If you knew that I plan to use your hands to eliminate the true Saintess and drag the Crown Prince into the abyss, would you be filled with betrayal and pain?

“Alicia, you’re truly a strange person.”

Abigail’s voice fell softly.

“Sometimes, I wondered… You knew how to improve the Emperor’s condition, and you even knew where the missing people under the collapsed bridge were. I thought, what if you were the real Saintess? Maybe you’re helping me, who became the Saintess instead of you, to ease your guilt.”

My heart dropped with a heavy thud.

“So I didn’t know how long I could trust you or how much I should let you stay by my side.”

“Abigail…”

“…Even if you were using me as I imagined, it’s okay.”

Abigail removed her glove and gently took my hand.

“Because no one has ever sworn to live for me before.”

Beneath the mask adorned with blue jewels, I glimpsed a lovely smile.

“The Crown Prince, who swore to make me the Empress of the Empire, only sought to use me for his own gain. But Alicia… you’re different, aren’t you?”

Abigail, that’s not true. I’m no different from the Crown Prince. I couldn’t overcome my personal feelings, and I only sought to use you for my own revenge.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been rambling on about nonsense, haven’t I?”

Swallowing the words I couldn’t bring myself to say, I forced a smile.

“Thank you, Abigail.”

That’s all I could say to her right now. If everything goes as planned, I will surely apologize to her. Even if she slaps me in anger or hurls curses at me after learning the truth, I would accept it.

“I should go back now.”

“But the finale is about to start, can’t you stay a bit longer?”

“No, I really must go. If I return too late, the doors of the convent will be locked, so I should leave now.”

As I looked into her eyes, filled with disappointment, I found it hard to turn away.

“Abigail, before I leave, I have a gift for you.”

I removed the butterfly brooch that had been adorning the chest of my dress and held it out to her. Abigail stared blankly at the brooch resting in my palm.

“What is this?”

“It’s a brooch my father gave me. When you find yourself feeling lonely in the palace, take it out and look at it. Just touching the surface of the brooch makes me feel at ease.”

This butterfly brooch had been my only source of comfort during the solitary days in the palace.

“Can I really accept this precious gift from your father?”

“Of course. Abigail, if it’s for you, I could give you more than just a brooch—I could give you everything I have.”

A radiant smile spread across Abigail’s face as she accepted the butterfly brooch.

“I’ll treasure it as if it’s a part of you, Alicia. I’ll cherish it dearly… so dearly…”

As she was overwhelmed with gratitude, I bid her farewell. I moved towards the exit of the ballroom, my steps reluctant, my heart heavy.

But then, out of nowhere—

‘Why is he here…!’

Not far away, Victor stood, and when he spotted me, he began approaching at a terrifying speed.

I knew that look all too well—the burning desire in his eyes, the desperate search for the Saintess who would make him Emperor.

Was he still mistaking me for Abigail? Was he planning to unmask me when the finale arrived?

“Licia!”

A voice called out from behind, and I glanced over my shoulder. A man wearing a pitch-black mask, just as plain and unremarkable as mine, was swiftly closing the distance between us.

“Almost missed you.”

The man’s long arm hooked around my waist like a grappling hook, pulling me into his embrace. I was drawn into his chest, catching my breath as I felt his heart pounding wildly through the thin fabric of my dress. Startled, I tried to twist away, but he pressed our bodies together, leaving no space between us.

“Ah…”

The scent emanating from his impeccably clean uniform was familiar. As I hesitated, brushing my fingers against the edge of his coat, he leaned down and whispered softly.

“Shh…”

His breath grazed my ear just as Victor, standing at a distance, straightened up, his posture stiffening. Refusing to back down, he clenched his teeth and resumed his determined march toward me.

‘No!’ 

I squeezed my eyes shut in fear. In that moment, a heated breath settled on the tense nape of my neck. I was overwhelmed by the shock of the intimate contact. The man who held me close was pressing his lips to my skin as if we were long-time lovers sharing a secret.

His chapped lips grazed over my delicate skin, leaving a tingling sensation that made my head tilt back involuntarily.

“Ah…!”

A shiver ran down my spine, causing my body to tremble as a sharp thrill crawled up my back. The man pressed his lower body against mine, and I could feel the raw, unfiltered contours of his form through the thin fabric of my dress.

“Just a little longer…”

He greedily sucked on the nape of my neck like a ravenous beast. Everywhere his tongue touched, my heartbeat seemed to relocate, pounding furiously. My skin, already heightened to a sensitive state by his relentless teasing, reacted to the slightest provocation.

“Just a little longer, just stay like this… Licia…”

There weren’t many men who would call me by that familiar nickname. At most, it could be my father or Jaylon. But surely my father wouldn’t follow me to a masquerade ball and commit such a heinous act. That left only Jaylon as the likely culprit.

“…Jaylon?”

I panted, calling out his name, but the man’s body remained unyielding.

“Jaylon, stop, please… just stop…”

The more I called his name, the tighter he held me, making it hard to breathe. My chest felt constricted, and I gasped for air as I feebly pushed against his solid chest with a clenched fist.

“Are you mad because I didn’t send you a letter like you asked?”

Only after Victor disappeared into the crowd did his grip finally loosen. The intense, almost painful sensation left on my neck where his warmth had been lingered like a stubborn ache.

“Are you really that mad? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

I thought that if I could just see his eyes through the mask, I’d be able to confirm his identity. Surely, I’d see those familiar, sulky brown eyes staring back at me, pouting as usual.

As I leaned in closer to peek under the mask, the ballroom lights suddenly dimmed—the finale of the masquerade ball had begun. All around, couples who had found or reunited with their partners were revealing their faces to one another.

“…Jaylon?”

He stood there silently, gazing down at me without removing his mask. Though we were so close, in the pitch-black darkness, I couldn’t discern the color of his eyes.

I reached out to remove his mask. My fingers brushed against the smooth skin beneath the black mask as I carefully felt my way upward. Just as I was about to pull it off, he grabbed my wrist. Was this his way of refusing to reveal himself?

“…Who are you?”

Amidst the lovers exchanging kisses in the darkness, he slowly opened his palm. I stared at his large hand for a moment, then, as if drawn by some unseen force, placed my hand over his. His fingers were at least a knuckle longer than mine.

Something about the simple touch of his hand stirred a deep feeling inside me. I could sense his intense gaze on me, even in the darkness.

“You…”

He didn’t respond with words. Instead, his head tilted slightly, and the mask that had covered his face was lifted. He didn’t give me time to react. Without warning, his warm lips pressed against mine, and his tongue slid into my mouth, filling the space with a sudden, intense heat.

He explored my mouth slowly, as if seeking permission belatedly, tracing along the sensitive inner surface. My breath caught in my throat, and as my chin quivered, he gently swept across the roof of my mouth.

“Ah… nn…”