Chapter 4.3

Where had he gone? 

The spot where they had rolled was now marked by a deep dent. Something heavy had struck the ground… Ignoring her prone form, the assailant seemed to have targeted the man again.

Several paces deeper into the garden, then toward the wall… Beyond the wall was a cliff and a river. The dark figure was already climbing the high western wall. The man, staggering slightly, chased after the assailant. Danielle quickly got up but stumbled, mirroring his unsteady movements. The assailant, now perched atop the wall like a cat, looked down mockingly at them.

Yes… A cat. The figure wore a white mask similar to Danielle’s, but with a rainbow-colored cat-ear headband that looked like something a child would wear. 

Damn it. 

Danielle cursed again. That was the contact she was supposed to meet.

“Stop right there! You think we can’t find you if you jump?”

“You won’t find me.”

Though the voice was intentionally high-pitched, it was clearly male. The tortoiseshell-masked man, now desperate, placed his foot on the vine-covered wall to climb after the “real cat.” Danielle quickly removed her shoes and crouched low. She darted through the shadowy bushes, filled with the sharp and sweet scent of summer, to approach the men from a blind spot. Just as the man climbed to his full height on the wall, something fell from the rainbow cat’s sleeve. It struck the tortoiseshell mask with a sharp clink before the figure turned and leaped off the wall. A splash echoed from the natural moat below. Then, silence.

Danielle had lost her contact without so much as a word of conversation.

The man, who had started climbing after the assailant, soon gave up and stepped back down. The figure had jumped into the river without hesitation, and there were over five nearby ferry docks. The assailant had been right. Even if they followed now, there was no guarantee of catching him.

Danielle, still crouched, circled around to the shadows. The man stood alone, muttering to himself as he brushed grass off his clothes. 

You bastard, you left me face down in the dirt like a dog… 

With one shoe in hand, Danielle bolted forward and tackled him from behind.

“Ugh! When did you—?!”

“Stay still!”

She struck his shoulder and arm with the shoe in her hand. When the shoe broke on impact, she threw it at his head. As the man resisted, she twisted his leg and struck his neck with her arm. Mounting him and pressing her full weight down, she finally felt the strength drain from the cat-masked man’s body.

Danielle loosened her grip on his neck just enough to let him breathe, then pressed down again before he could recover. Gasping and coughing, the man could barely manage to make a sound. Danielle, her anger and frustration unspent, leaned in threateningly and demanded answers.

“Who are you?”

“Ugh… You… really…”

“Don’t mess with me. What are you?”

“Just… let go… for a second…”

“Talk faster, or else!”

“I’m trying… but… ugh…”

“Oh, you—!”

The final sound didn’t come from either of them. Taking advantage of the moment when Danielle’s grip loosened, the cat-masked man took a deep breath. Neither of them moved further; instead, their eyes turned in the same direction.

Despite the chaos of people running, leaping, falling, and tumbling just nearby, there were others completely oblivious to it all, lost in their own world… under the broad shade of trees not far away. The man hastily averted his eyes from the scattered clothes and shoes on the ground. Of course, he couldn’t block out the sounds entirely.

“What a ridiculous sight…”

“…Of all places, in the solemn royal palace…”

What right did someone sneaking into the palace to commit a crime have to cluck their tongue in disapproval like that? Danielle looked down at his profile in disbelief. His sharp features twisted slightly, and it was clear he was genuinely displeased. The pale cheek, half-covered by the tortoiseshell mask, even seemed faintly red.

Well, public indecency was still technically a crime. Their own situation—having been tangled up together—wasn’t all that different from those other offenders. Their eyes met again, and without a word, both nodded vehemently. Danielle quickly scrambled off the man, brushing down her skirt. Together, they fled to the nearest room among the line of rest lounges along the western corridor.

***

The lounge contained a few sofas, a table, and some light refreshments. The scent from the garden—sweet and cloying, utterly unfitting for summer—lingered here as well. Having rolled around the garden alongside the cat-masked man, Danielle now thought she understood the source of the smell. It was the mosquito repellent that Princess Cléran had boasted about.

‘Whatever they used to make it, they sure doused it on… At least I won’t have to worry about mosquitoes for a week.’

Of course, mosquitoes weren’t her immediate concern. Danielle glared at the man in front of her—a tall blond man who was already on his third glass of wine, seated leisurely on the long sofa.

What should I do with him now? 

The contact Danielle had been seeking had already escaped. Judging by how the “real cat” had targeted this man instead of her, the contact must have recognized their intended partner. 

Did that mean the operation hadn’t been suspected as a sting?

Danielle shook her head sharply. 

Get a grip, Danielle! That’s something to ask Jermi after leaving here… So what was this man, who had been attacked by the contact, exactly? A double dealer? A trap for me? Or just another criminal? 

Regardless, Danielle quickly decided on her next move, inspired by the careless couple who had inadvertently given her an idea.

“Hey. Take it off.”

“…Have you lost your mind after witnessing something indecent?”

“The only indecency is in your head… I meant the mask. Take it off.”

Barefoot, Danielle strode across the table toward the man. Three small, empty wine glasses rolled away. He had managed to down those in such a short time. Muttering a curse, she grabbed the last remaining glass and drained it in one gulp. Surprisingly, the strong alcohol cleared her head. Fueled by the invigorating buzz, she lunged at the man and grabbed him by the collar.

“Hurry up and take off that creepy tortoiseshell mask. I probably won’t even remember your name, so at least show me your face.”

“Ugh… Cat… mask…”

“They put something expensive on someone who doesn’t even know what tortoiseshell is… Take it off already, or I’ll strip more than just the mask.”

Wow, how crude. 

Danielle silently applauded her own audacity. For some reason, she had a feeling this man wouldn’t be able to resist such remarks. The edges of his cheeks, visible beneath the tortoiseshell mask, were bright red. Whether it was from embarrassment or the alcohol, she couldn’t tell.

Driven by sheer curiosity to see if his face was as impressive as his physique, Danielle reached out and grabbed the mask. She gripped the delicate cat ears, which looked fragile enough to break with a little force, and pulled it upward.

And the man’s entire upper body tilted backward at the same angle.

First, the tortoiseshell mask. Then the nose, which tilted at the same angle. Next, his neck bending backward… Finally, his shoulders and waist following suit.

Then, truly finally, Danielle found herself sprawled on top of him, her face buried in his chest. She hurriedly lifted her head. Her hair, which had been precariously pinned, tumbled down in a cascade. Despite everything, the magical mask remained firmly in place.

Wow, this thing really works… Magical masks! 

Danielle hastily pushed her hair back and looked down at the man’s face. His cat mask was perfectly intact, without a single misalignment. It was identical to hers. The man was gingerly touching the slightly sharp edges of his cheek.

Danielle gritted her teeth and asked, 

“Hey, that mask of yours… surely not…”

“They say forcing it off might tear the skin.”

The man replied dryly, his voice slightly weakened. 

Hey, wasn’t this supposed to be the mage division’s secret prototype? Ivan, you’ve got some explaining to do! 

Danielle screamed internally. The man, after carefully inspecting the mask from his cheek to his ear, the cat ears, and finally the knot at the back of his head, let out a faint, deflated laugh. He clearly hadn’t been entirely confident in the mask’s performance. His pale pink lips stretched into a faintly crooked smile, too ambiguous to be called a proper grin. Danielle felt an odd sense of unease but didn’t dwell on it long. The man propped himself up on his elbows, half-raising his upper body.

“I don’t think it’s my role to remove your mask anymore.”

“What’s that supposed to mean…?”

Before she could dodge, the man grabbed her arm and yanked her forward. Danielle let out a startled cry as she was pulled down, and in an instant, their positions were reversed. Pinned to the sofa, she struggled fiercely, kicking out with her legs.

Her bare feet, tangled in her skirt, slipped ineffectively against the man. He grabbed her wrists with one hand and pinned them above her head. With his other hand, he pressed her skirt down against her knees, immobilizing her legs in one motion.

Ah, damn this dress! 

Danielle managed to free one arm and swung her fist, but the man easily dodged and seized her hand again. His weight bore down on her, leaving her breathless. The man, no longer even faintly smiling, muttered through clenched teeth. His exhaustion was evident, as if the earlier scuffle had been a lie.

“Taking you in as you are would be the simplest solution.”

“You… you…”

“You won’t suffer too much. I promise.”

“Like I’d… let you…”

What followed was a chaotic struggle. Each tried to overpower the other on the narrow sofa.