Chapter 4 – I’ve Never Heard of an Undercover Investigation Like This

To celebrate the ball, the palace opened all eight gates. Guests holding invitations formed eight lines, pouring into the venue. Danielle, caught in the tightly packed crowd, was utterly flabbergasted.

‘If they’re going to let in this many people, what’s the point of having invitations in the first place?’

Moreover, thanks to His Majesty the King’s outrageous idea of holding a masquerade ball in the palace, all the invitations sent out were anonymous. And as if wearing masks in this heat wasn’t enough, was this some kind of kind gesture to excuse women from wearing makeup? Judging by the line of half-masks made of thin fabric ahead and behind her, it seemed many shared similar thoughts. Fiddling with the edge of her magical mask, Danielle quickly squeezed her way into the crowd of women. To reach the meeting point at the West garden, she had to pass through the central hall.

A masquerade ball? Perhaps it wasn’t His Majesty’s idea but rather that of the mischievous Princess Cléran, who was known for her wild antics. Among young women, Princess Cléran’s colorful escapades had achieved a legendary status—admired, but not something anyone would dare to imitate.

The ever-fair King Brendan had always held affection for his two younger siblings in equal measure. However, if it were Crown Prince Marcelan, he would never have allowed such a ball to take place. Beyond matters of personal taste, wouldn’t this create countless security difficulties?

‘Of course, that’s probably why illicit dealings can happen here…’

With her body made lighter by removing an extra petticoat, Danielle quickened her steps. In the middle of the dance hall, there was already Princess Cléran, who clearly intended to enjoy the ball from the very start, with no regard for propriety. Her mask, so garish it was almost painful to look at, seemed more like the princess herself than the face it concealed. If she were caught by her, she wouldn’t make it home until tomorrow, let alone finish her task… Forgetting even the magic of her mask for a moment, Danielle slipped into a corner and surveyed the hall. The King of Summer Balls—meaning the actual king—was just making his entrance.

King Brendan Roigar II entered the ballroom alone, taking his younger sister’s hand as he received the greetings of the guests. The contrast between His Majesty’s simple formal attire and his nearly spectacles-like mask, and the parrot-like extravagance of Princess Cléran, was surprisingly not unpleasant. When the king lightly praised her sister’s beauty, the princess burst into a cheerful laugh.

“This year’s royal ball was entirely prepared by my beloved younger sister. Before we begin the first dance, let us first raise a toast in gratitude.”

“Here’s to Princess Cléran Roigar, who knows how to have fun, and King Brendan Roigar, who knows how to lead! Oh, and let’s not forget to thank Crown Prince Marcelan Roigar, who always carries out his duties with responsibility!”

The entire hall erupted in cheers. Danielle, who was almost pressed against the wall, accepted the circulating glass of wine while thinking that Crown Prince Marcelan would not be pleased to hear this.

The commander of the Royal Knights, while as easygoing as his older brother in personality, was rigidly conservative and principled when it came to work. Perhaps the reason he wasn’t attending the ball tonight was his insistence that one could not wear a mask while on guard duty. And the one who had grown up strict and inflexible under the influence of Marcelan from a young age was none other than Cyril Frey, the “hope of the Knights” cherished by the commander himself.

Come to think of it, what might Cyril be up to now? Surely he wouldn’t have come to the ball alone… 

Just as her thoughts began to drift toward her detested fiancé, who should have been standing by her side, Danielle snapped back to attention at the sound of Princess Cléran’s clear voice. Known as the “Witch of the Royal Family,” she was enthusiastically delivering a toast with a beautiful goblet in hand.

“Thanks to the deft rule of our King Brendan, this year’s summer festival has reached its seventh day!”

“Long live His Majesty the King! Long live!”

“And who else? Who else? Did I forget anyone?”

When Cleran poked a man standing beside her and finally managed to extract a “Long live Princess Cléran!” from him, the crowd burst into laughter. The princess gracefully curtsied to her brother, the king, and continued her speech.

“Soon, as the night deepens, white stars will pour down from the sky. I believe many of you are looking forward to stargazing in the lushest garden of the year. As you know, Roigar is a kingdom born of forests and rivers.”

“And mosquitoes too!”

Wow. Who said that? 

At the sudden outburst from a young woman, Danielle squinted her eyes behind her mask. However, instead of scorn, cheers and whistles erupted from the crowd. Without a doubt, it was one of Princess Cléran’s accomplices. 

What kind of speech was he giving that mosquitoes were being mentioned…? 

Danielle, feeling an itchy sensation as if something were crawling on her skin, scanned her surroundings.

Until the first dance began, no one could move. Once the dance started, she had to leave the hall as quickly as possible… Exchanging an awkward glance with a man in a cat mask a few steps away, she crossed her legs nervously inside her dress, waiting for the prince’s next words.

“Mosquitoes! Indeed. Let us extend our deepest regards to the knights guarding the Roigar marshlands in His Majesty’s stead, who have forsworn tonight’s summer ball. While I hope none of you, who are so splendidly dressed and gathered here, attract the love of blood-sucking fairies, as you know, the darker and more secluded the place, the more humid, hot, and fairy-filled it becomes… Oh, no jeers! That’s just because your brain is rotting… Now, here’s the important news! This year, I, Cleran Roigar, have developed a mosquito repellent to ensure your comfortable evening strolls in the garden!”

Princess Cléran had two professions: one as a troublemaker, and the other as an apothecary. Although she wasn’t a mage, her nickname as a witch was attributed not only to her knack for knocking men out but also to her truly magical skills in alchemy. 

But mosquito repellent? Here? Now?

Danielle was dumbfounded amidst the crowd’s enthusiastic cheers. 

Mosquito repellent… Well, that would be nice for night shifts. Why waste it on a ball instead of giving it to the Royal Investigation Bureau…? 

She overheard the murmurs of elderly noblewomen nearby.

“Still wasting money on frivolous things, as always.”

“How long has it been since His Majesty scolded her for nearly bankrupting the royal treasury?”

“Oh, but His Majesty specifically mentioned the royal estate, not the entire royal treasury. Still, without His Majesty’s permission, could she have sprayed suspicious substances all over the royal grounds?”

…The princess really ought to know what people thought about her research. Regardless, she was utterly delighted, shaking hands with everyone around her and receiving a tender kiss from her brother, the king. Raising her glass high, she concluded her toast.

“To ensure that no one is bothered by even a single mosquito, I’ve sprayed the entire garden with this amazing substance. However, it’s so effective that it might even have some troubling effects on certain human-shaped mosquitoes among us. No matter how beautiful the falling stars are, let’s not stay in the garden too long tonight. Now, to a refreshing summer evening in the central hall!”

“To the evening!”

“To the evening!”

Cléran, after downing her glass in one gulp, clasped the King’s hand and strode to the center of the dance hall. The orchestra, as if waiting for this moment, began to play a lively quadrille in 4/4 time. Danielle, following the Princess’s lead, emptied her glass to the last drop and hurried after. Her throat burned after stomping her feet through such trivial conversations. Thankfully, it was a quadrille. If it had been a waltz in 3/4 time, anyone running through the hall without dancing would have stood out like a sore thumb…

Just like that cat-masked man who kept catching her eye.

***

“Do you have business in the West Garden?”

It was Danielle who spoke first. The man’s cat half-mask was a high-quality piece, made from thinly polished tortoiseshell. 

Tortoiseshell? Are there still people killing turtles to make things like that? 

Narrowing her eyes, she stared at him. The man fidgeted with the cat ears on his mask, avoiding her gaze. He was a pale-skinned, blond man.

“Not that ear—this one. I’m asking if you’re following me.”

“I am not.”

The man denied it outright, only to realize his mistake moments later. Danielle, in her white mask, placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. The man stopped in his tracks, fumbling for words. It seemed he was trying to reconstruct what exactly he had been asked.

“Well… I do have business in the West garden, but I’m not following you.”

‘My apologies,’ the man said hastily and brushed past Danielle. He weaved through dancing couples, skirted a servant carrying drinks, and used the shadows of the hall’s supporting columns to move inconspicuously. Watching him, Danielle realized he wasn’t lying. The cat-masked man had an uncanny knack for choosing paths that made him nearly invisible. Using the same method herself, Danielle had no choice but to follow him this time.