Even if I wanted to ask him why he’d invited me to the ball, it was impossible without knowing Duke Kreundel’s magic communication code. However, I couldn’t hastily send a letter either.

 ‘If the reporters catch wind of it, it will boost the marriage rumors.’

I don’t know why everyone is so interested in my relationships when I have no intention of getting married.

 Once the decision to attend the masquerade was made, there were a few things I needed to prepare.

 I immediately established a communication link with Master Isis, but as soon as I did, a sharp shout hit my eardrums.

 [I told you not to communicate while working, you idiots!]

 “…….”

 [Are your eardrums clogged? Why aren’t you saying anything?!]

 “Uh… Should I disconnect?”

There was a moment of awkward silence, followed by the sound of a hollow cough on the other end of the line.

 [……Was that you? I didn’t know, I thought it was one of the affiliated magicians].

I wonder what working conditions those affiliated magicians have.

[So why did you call?]

“I contacted you because I have a favor to ask. If you’re busy, I can handle it myself-.”

Not wanting to disturb the research of the Master of the tower, I was about to disconnect the communication when I was interrupted.

[Even if I’m busy, I have time to listen to your request!]

“No, I can handle it myself-“

 [Hmph!]

He wasn’t going to let go until I said something, so I couldn’t help but speak up.

 “Then can you just send me one of those dyeing magic potions?”

 [Hmph, well, it’s not that difficult. Did you contact me just for that?]

 “So, I’ll take care of it-.”

 [I’ll have the guys below take care of it, so wait!]

Isis cut off the communication without allowing me to say anything more. I awkwardly smiled, looking at the communication magic device.

 “I wish you’d just do one thing, be mean or be nice…….”

***

Madam Montgomery, a poor daughter from a low-ranking family who married an old nobleman, became a widow on her wedding night when her husband died.

When the old man died, she inherited all of the family’s vast fortune.

 From then on, the young lady held a masquerade ball once a week at night and was called Madame Montgomery instead of Mrs. Montgomery.

It was a masquerade with an open and exotic atmosphere, where young men and women attended to enjoy conversation and pleasure.

I had never been to one, nor had I ever thought of going to such an event.

Being very sensitive, I never left the annex, so naturally I avoided all the parties hosted by other families.

 I only appeared at official events, given my position as the crown prince’s fiancée.

Though I had to deal with the annoying comments from the young servants who dared to speak up, I did try to pay attention to my behavior.

‘I’m free now, so it doesn’t matter.’

Martha, who helped me prepare for the masquerade, pulled out a mask from the drawer.

“Miss, will this mask do?”

“Isn’t it a bit too flashy?”

“Ugh. What’s so flashy about this? You’re going to Madam Montgomery Masquerade, right? People there stick feathers all over their masks.”

Martha’s words made the white mask covering my eyes look quite modest.

 I brought the mask to my eyes and asked Martha.

 “How about it? Can you recognize me?”

Upon hearing this, Martha sighed as if amazed.

 “How can you not recognize a person with just one mask? You look so pretty even if I’m standing in a handstand!”

“…. Is that so?”

“Yes. No matter how you look at it, it’s Elodie Perdia herself.”

“Well, okay.”

There was no need to be so assertive. I thought that with a mask, I could conceal my identity to some extent.

My expectations that dyeing my eye color with the potion would be a good idea seemed to have been off.

Once everything was ready, Martha looked at me with a satisfied smile.

“With this, even at the masquerade, my Miss will be the center of attention!”

“Well, that’s a bit problematic…”

Ignoring my words, Martha asked.

 “But why suddenly attend a masquerade? You usually don’t go to such events.”

 “Just, because it looks like fun?”

“You’ve thought well. You’ve been living such a dull life until now. Go and have fun!”

After leaving an enthusiastic cheer, Martha went out.

Whether it was a criticism or encouragement, I couldn’t tell.

Looking out the window, I could see that the sun was gradually setting.

It was already time to leave. I summoned Greed, who was leisurely eating snacks on the table.

“Pig, stop eating bread and come into the sealing stone.”

 [You keep saying pig, pig, but a real pig is gluttonous!!]

“As far as I can see, you seem gluttonous. Did something change?”

 [No!]

While making a crunching sound, Greed reluctantly entered the sealing stone.

 After taking care of the dyeing magic potion and mask I had prepared, I headed to the door.

I wasn’t sure if the diligent Raeyan was already waiting. However, the moment I stepped outside, I came face to face with Carlot, who was holding up his hand to knock.

 “Sister Lili, let’s go outside together-!”

As soon as she saw me, Carlot, who was smiling brightly and speaking cheerfully, widened his eyes.

“What’s this? Sister, where are you going?”

***

Today, Carlot Perdia was fully prepared.

“The weather is a bit chilly but tolerable. Location selection? All settled. Me? Well, as always, perfect.”

After checking his appearance in the mirror, Carlot took light steps. Today, Carlot planned to suggest going out together with Elodie.

“Sister Lili likes beautiful things, so she’ll surely enjoy the night view.”

He was so excited when he arrived to meet Elodie.

“What’s this? Sister, where are you going?”

Elodie was already ready to go out.

Dressed in a way that suggested she might attend a ball or some formal event.

“Yeah, I’m about to go out.”

Unexpectedly, Carlot’s perfect plan crumbled in an instant.

“I was planning to go on a date with sister….”

He looked visibly upset; his energy deflated.

His sharp eyes, which had risen sharply, now drooped like a drenched cat.

Elodie, who had been observing with clenched fists, squinted her eyes and asked.

 “Carl. You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

 “Huh? What?”

 “You know I’m weak when it comes to you acting pitiful…….”

 “Sister, you’re weak at this?”

Sparkle! Before Elodie finished her sentence, Carlot’s eyes sparkled excessively.

“Ugh.”

Elodie took a step back, regretting her words. It seemed like she said something unnecessary.

“Anyway, I have a prior engagement, so it won’t work today.”

“If not today, how about tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow won’t work either.”

“……Then the day after tomorrow?”

“No.”

Despite Elodie’s steel wall of resistance, Carlot persisted, sticking close to her.

“Where are you going? Can’t I come along?”

Carlot pleaded, acting pitiful again, but she was firm in her response.

“No, Carlot.”

“Then just tell me where you’re going. I won’t follow. I’ll keep it to myself. Okay?”

He planned to figure out Elodie’s preferences to use them in future requests for outings.

Elodie eventually gave in to Carlot’s persistent pleas, feeling uneasy.

 Elodie’s heart weakened as she continued to say no to Carlot.

 “You’re really not following me, are you?”

“Mmh.”

“To Madame Montgomery’s masquerade ball.”

 “……Huh?”

While Carlot froze at this unexpected place, Elodie slipped her arm out of his grasp.

 “Well then, goodbye, Carlot.”

Leaving a cheerful farewell, Elodie deftly slipped out of Carlot’s grasp and headed down the corridor.

  “My sister, my sister has gone…… licentious!”

A startled Carlot muttered.

***

It was an anonymous letter supposedly from the Duke of Kreundel, but there was no guarantee of that.

 ‘It could be a trap.’

Just to be prepared for any possible situation, I asked for help from Raeyan.

Upon my request to secretly follow and guard me, Raeyan followed me as if it were a matter of course.

The carriage carrying Raeyan and me arrived at Madame Montgomery’s mansion.

I was the only one who received an invitation as a partner, but it posed no problem for Raeyan.

“I’m counting on you, Raeyan.”

“Yes. I will be hiding nearby.”

With the proficiency of his dark-element abilities from Vietan, he could easily conceal his presence and lurk in the shadows. Before getting off the carriage, I used the dye potion I received from Isis, altering the color of my eyes.

My originally rose-pink irises instantly changed into a deep blue.

After perfectly wearing the mask, I turned to Raeyan.

“Raeyan, how is it? Can you recognize me?”

I expected a definite answer that he couldn’t recognize me, but that wasn’t the case. Without a moment’s hesitation, Raeyan immediately responded.

“Yes.”

 “What? You’re not supposed to?”

“What? But that shouldn’t be possible?”

Surprised, I examined my reflection in the mirror.

Subjective as it may be, even to my eyes, it seemed that with the changed eye color, it would be challenging for anyone to identify me readily.

While looking at me putting on and taking off the mask, Raeyan casually asked.

  “You shouldn’t be asking me, you know?”

 “Why?”

 “Because I can recognize you no matter what you look like.”

[sc name=”add_image” image_url=” https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ABLVV86nmd-_vhCkNQrrXHJ3iuZtke22gzxpV-xrz3T9tVsccSKQly42GK_zG0yfCPgravcysmV6pxeZU1QJrJFEIPvxl2uXGMtUaMqnhRdqdf3LMgHbkSY=w2400″][/sc]

“…Ah.”

Raeyan was right.

No one else but Raeyan could recognize me.

What question did I ask the person who recognized me as Yoon Ga-eul while wandering through dimensions and brought me to this world? After realizing that fact, it was somehow difficult to make eye contact with Raeyan.

I felt like whatever I was thinking would be revealed.

***

Madame Montgomery’s masquerade ball was not as chaotic as I had anticipated.

The attendees were relatively young, and there was a casual mingling of men and women, dancing and engaging in conversations without much formality. Perhaps due to the masks, people’s actions seemed somewhat exaggerated.

Because masquerade members do not reveal their identities to each other, their names were not called when entering.

Although I intentionally entered quietly, as soon as I stepped into the hall, all eyes were on me.

Accustomed to the attention even during official events, I leaned against an inconspicuous corner, unfazed.

‘Raeyan made it in safely, right?’

For a moment, my concerns shifted, and I realized I was worrying more about Raeyan than myself.

 “Lovely lady, would you care for a dance with me?”

“While sipping sweet wine and sharing deep conversations, perhaps.”

“It seems you don’t have a partner. If you don’t mind, I would be honored to be your companion.”

In an instant, over ten men crowded around me, each suggesting various things.

I stood there blankly, scrutinizing the faces of the masked men. Upon closer inspection, they seemed quite familiar.

 ‘You don’t seem to recognize me as Elodie Perdia’.

If they had known, they wouldn’t have been able to flirt like this without fear. There was another reason to be sure.

These men were well-known troublemakers in the social circles, having been kicked and had their hair pulled by me. But they were becoming a pain in the as$.

Unable to reveal my identity, I couldn’t retaliate against them by pulling their hair. I spoke with a distorted voice.

“Sorry, but I already have a partner.”

“I saw you entering alone. What are you talking about?”

One of the less reputable men among them sneered, raising an issue.

“Step aside.”

A tall man approached and, as if escorting me, took my hand.

“This is my partner.”

The man who came closer whispered in a low voice that only I could hear.

 “I almost didn’t recognize you because of the different eye color.”

A familiar voice I had heard before. It was the Duke Leon Kreundel