3. Masquerade

“What is it?”

3 PM. Just as Nicholas Reinhart was finishing his formal paperwork and taking a breather, an uninvited guest arrived at his office. For Nicholas, an uninvited guest usually meant someone from Reinhart.

It was suspicious how they always seemed to know when he had a little free time, as if they had planted a spy within the temple.

“It must be urgent enough to disturb my work.”

“Well, that is….”

Without lifting his eyes from the documents he had already reviewed, Nicholas quietly issued a warning. The old butler from Reinhart, well aware of the young master’s difficult temperament, was fidgeting, worried he might get reprimanded.

“The madam instructed me to read this letter to you, young master, and receive your response.”

“Consider it read. Go back. The one who needs you right now is Mother, not me.”

It was clear that he had no intention of reading it. The old butler cleared his throat, determined.

“The Madam already knows that you sent a reply without reading the letter last time.”

“Then this should be easy. Today’s letter won’t be different from the last one.”

Nicholas placed the summarized documents on the desk with a loud snap.

“Tell her I read it, understood it, and will consider it thoroughly.”

“If you keep ignoring her, she threatens to fire me and come here herself.”

“Well, you’ve worked as a butler long enough. Maybe it’s time for a change.”

“Young master, please, just this once. Where would I go at my age if not Reinhart?”

Nicholas let out a faint sigh at the butler’s plea. The Grand Duchess of Reinhart knew that Nicholas was softer towards the butler and had sent him deliberately.

“Read it.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Quickly.”

“…To my impudent Nicki.”

As soon as he read the first line, Nicholas’s eyes narrowed in irritation. The startled butler flinched at the eye contact. He had only read one line, yet Nicholas already looked extremely tired.

In truth, the first line was just the beginning. From the second line, it was filled with complaints and feelings of betrayal towards her son who sent replies without reading, along with a detailed description of her recent migraine symptoms.

The butler hesitated briefly. He knew that reading this aloud would cause Nicholas to storm out.

“Skip the introduction and the nonsense. Let’s get straight to the point. Just the point.”

Nicholas seemed to anticipate that his mother’s letter would follow such a pattern and asked the butler for a summary.

“The Madam wants you to attend the masquerade hosted by Countess Austin.”

“A masquerade, huh.”

Upon hearing the purpose, a faint smile appeared on Nicholas’s lips.

“Mother’s migraines have been severe lately. Is the medicine quite strong?”

“Sorry?”

“I think she’s forgotten what my job is.”

The masquerade hosted by Countess Austin was notorious for being a hotbed of scandalous affairs. It was not an event suitable for a son walking the path of God to attend. The ulterior motive was obvious.

They hoped that by getting involved in some scandal, he would start acting like an heir. It was a place for indulgence, but not just anyone could attend. Only high-ranking nobles selected by Countess Austin could participate.

Considering his mother and Countess Austin were close friends, she had likely arranged for him to mingle with young ladies from influential families.

She probably just wanted her son to get involved with anyone, as long as he did.

“The Madam wishes you would make at least a minimal effort. She says it’s her last wish.”

“This minimal effort… does it involve wearing a mask and mingling with women whose identities I don’t even know?”

She wasn’t terminally ill, yet this was already her umpteenth last wish. It was tiresome.

“Please, for my sake, young master… Have pity on this old man and attend just this once.”

The butler pleaded.

“The Madam promises not to pressure you about marriage or succession if you attend this time.”

He didn’t trust his mother’s promise not to pressure him in the future. Still, if he attended once, he could use it as an excuse for some peace for a while. Even if not, it would give him a reason to hold out for a while.

“All I have to do is attend?”

“Yes, just attend.”

Nicholas slowly nodded.

“Well, if Mother wants it that much….”

“Thank you, young master.”

As Nicholas spoke as if granting a favor, the butler bowed repeatedly.

All he had to do was attend and return. If nothing happened there, even the Grand Duchess of Reinhart would have to give up.

***

“A masquerade? Today?”

“Yes, you’re going in my place.”

Rarien looked bewildered at the sudden suggestion. In contrast, Sera, the one who made the suggestion, raised her eyebrows as if it were no big deal.

“Is it really okay for me to do that?”

“Yes, it’s fine. Your face will be covered by a mask anyway, and we have similar hair and eye colors.”

Brown hair and green eyes. In terms of hair and eye color, they were similar. Sera was a bit more of a dazzling beauty, while Rarien had a softer and gentler appearance.

Still, attending an event she knew nothing about, just like that? The fear outweighed the excitement. Regardless, Sera was insistent.

“Take off your clothes. You need to change into a dress if you’re going.”

“W-wait a minute…! It’s just so sudden, and I’ve never been to such a place….”

Rarien, startled by Sera’s attempt to forcibly undress her, crossed her arms to cover herself.

Sera sighed deeply, looking at her with a mix of exasperation and pity.

“Sweetie, did you talk to him?”

“What?”

“Did you ask Lord Reinhart to have s*x with you?”

When Sera asked bluntly, Rarien shook her head sullenly. It was already a constant worry for her. It felt like Sera had hit a sore spot.

“Then let me ask you one more thing. Can you go to Lord Reinhart dressed in that stifling nun’s habit and ask for s*x?”

“…….”

Rarien kept her mouth shut. She had thought of various ways to say it, but she hadn’t even tried yet. As Sera pointed out, the nun’s habit that covered her from neck to toe was not an attractive outfit in the eyes of a man.

“You haven’t said anything because you’re afraid of being rejected and not being able to show your face again, right?”

She couldn’t argue with Sera’s words. Sera Evotte seemed to understand Rarien’s psychology precisely.

Sera muttered, ‘I knew it,’ and pulled out a fancy mask adorned with feathers and jewels from a box.

“The masquerade is a place for people with concerns like yours to enjoy themselves. It’s the perfect opportunity to have s*x without worrying about appearances.”

“But I’m only interested in His Excellency.”

Rarien, who had been hesitating all along, replied firmly this time.

Even if she could enjoy it anonymously with her face covered, it was pointless if her partner wasn’t Nicholas Reinhart. From the start, Rarien’s goal wasn’t just ‘to have s*x; it was ‘to have s*x with Nicholas.’

“That’s why you should go instead of me. I’ve got information that Nicholas Reinhart will be attending.”

“His Excellency at a masquerade?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I’d heard it was a place to enjoy secret affairs while hiding behind anonymity.

But His Excellency there? Why? It didn’t fit him at all. Even after hearing it, it was hard to believe.

“House Reinhart hasn’t given up on Nicholas Reinhart yet. Let’s just say that. Now, take off your glasses.”

Sera smiled and swiftly removed Rarien’s glasses. Surprised, Rarien’s eyes widened as her vision blurred.

“Oh my, your eyes are so big?”

“What?”

“They’re so pretty! Why did you keep them hidden all this time?”

Sera marveled as she examined Rarien’s face, seemingly unable to believe it.

Then she threw Rarien’s glasses to the floor.

“Get rid of this junk.”

“W-wait…!”

…Those were expensive.

Rarien’s face turned pale.

“A girl wanting to seduce a man is hiding her pretty face? Are you stupid?”

“But I have poor eyesight.”

“Just endure it, sweetie.”

Poor eyesight wasn’t something you could just endure. But it seemed Sera Evotte wasn’t concerned about such things.

Sera gently put the mask she had taken out earlier on Rarien and turned her towards the mirror.

“See? Even you can’t recognize yourself, right?”

In the mirror stood a woman with wide eyes, seemingly consumed by the elaborate mask.

“Things you can’t do with your face uncovered, you get the courage to do with this on.”

Her small face was half-covered by the large mask. Her poor eyesight made it hard to see clearly, but without the glasses and with her face covered, even she found it hard to recognize herself.

“You have nothing to lose. Even if you fail, it’s not embarrassing. If you succeed, you get to sleep with him. Isn’t that great?”

Is it really okay? Despite her worries, her heart pounded with a strange sense of anticipation.

Is this okay?

No, is there any other plan?

No. There wasn’t.

‘Yeah. How long are you going to live like this? If you want to live a different life, you have to live differently.’

Rarien reflected on her timid attitude, which had made her like a pushover.

Perhaps, for the first time, she might find a breakthrough in this act of rebellion. Rarien clenched her trembling fists tightly.

“Are you going?”

“Yes, I will. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”

“Good, you made the right decision, my child.”

Upon accepting the proposal, Sera smiled broadly and pinched Rarien’s soft cheek.

“What dress should I put you in? Oh, this one will do. Our builds are similar, so it should fit well. Do you want to take a bath first? I’ll do your makeup too.”

Sera was as excited as a girl playing with dolls.

Rarien, who was completely clueless about such things, let Sera’s enthusiastic hands guide her, feeling dizzy and overwhelmed.

***