Chapter 98
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: The Allure of the Masked Ball
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There are many reasons to prefer masked balls, but the biggest one has to be the gimmick of concealing one's identity.
And rightly so, for noble society is somewhere rigid and stuffy.
To break it down, there are factional struggles between families and discord between central and provincial nobles, but overall, no major shifts in power had occurred.
Above all, asking someone to dance at a social gathering meant for courtship, while minding countless etiquettes, was no easy task—and it was all too easy to grow fatigued.
In that sense, the masked ball was different from ordinary ones, as it allowed an "implicit silence" about each other's presence.
People who couldn't talk due to circumstances, or those you'd wanted to approach once...
Since it was a ball purely for enjoyment, nobles ranked masked balls as the highlight of social gatherings.
"So if we can't scale it down, we have to turn it to our advantage in another way, right?"
If everyone crowded around trying to talk, you wouldn't get anything done.
As such, Aiden devised a different approach to empty flattery.
'The scale can't be reduced anyway. His Majesty is dead set on making this big. Minimize the academy's damage, chase out the heretical mages, and position yourself as the hero who saved the capital. Get what I mean?'
The emperor was determined to put a halo on Aiden's head.
If the scale couldn't be reduced, at least covert movements had to be guaranteed.
That's what the masked ball was for.
Normally, a servant would announce your arrival upon entering the ballroom, but not at a masked ball.
For now, it erased status and formality.
"You look good in it. The mask."
At those words, he adjusted the mask with his white-gloved hand.
Just in case it was crooked.
Sigh...
High-heeled shoes weren't unfamiliar, but unlike the women's ones he'd worn before, these men's shoes were stuffed with several insoles, making them feel entirely different.
The elevated viewpoint was one thing...
'Will the magic... work properly?'
That guy's tone would probably have been something like that.
Mimicking an unfamiliar tone, Charlotte—dressed in men's clothing—imitated Aiden's speech.
"You look good in it too."
Right now, he wore a mask based in black with gold accents.
Thanks to the mask covering even the lower face, nothing of his features showed.
Radia wore a similar mask as she strolled through the ballroom.
Their linked arms were a ploy to avoid drawing attention.
Aiden's public reputation was that of a bachelor who, upon reaching adulthood at a young age, refused to debut at social gatherings.
It would be hard to guess if he was arm-in-arm intimately with a woman.
"Leave it to me."
He slowly circled the hall once with Radia.
Some approached to talk, others watched from afar.
The one sure thing was Radia's ironclad defense.
The moment attention shifted to his partner, Radia would cut them off sharply.
At first, it felt like part of the plan...
'But it seems like jealousy.'
The young ladies trying to chat him up, without partners, all suffered total defeats against Radia's wall and retreated.
'It's acting... right?'
Probably.
But thanks to that, even in this somewhat novel atmosphere, he could savor the masked ball.
Rich music, sweet confections.
Amid it all, Radia, regaining her composure, sent him a peculiar smile from the side.
"I'll lead you well."
"So I'm the one being led."
"Of course. No matter that you're Professor, I've got more experience in this."
It wasn't wrong, so he shut his mouth.
"I'm a duke's daughter who successfully debuted at social gatherings."
She hummed boastfully, leading him this way and that.
Drawn by her touch, he surveyed the surroundings.
Then Radia deftly took cocktails from passing footmen.
"A little alcohol will get you in a buoyant mood to enjoy it."
"I'm not here to enjoy."
"You can enjoy it a bit."
He gave a wry smile at the odd change in address.
This was all part of that guy's plan.
"Yeah, I can get a little drunk."
Emboldened, he downed the cocktail.
A sharp, fizzy tang burst in his mouth.
Considering what lay ahead, one glass seemed fine.
Radia smiled radiantly.
A smile like a blooming flower, impossible to fully hide even with the mask.
"Let's go. Let's shock them all."
Radia led the way again.
If only to show off to whoever was peeking their way.
* * *
At that moment, as the masked ball was in full swing, Princess Lilian began her move as well.
"We'll escort you."
Her aide and head maid flanked her sides.
Philia had pulled away to guard the palace, but she was surely watching from somewhere.
Princess Lilian took a deep breath and nodded.
"Alright. Let's go. Lead the way."
The head maid blinked in affirmation and cleared a path to the ballroom.
All the while, Princess Lilian couldn't hide her anxiety.
'Why won't they tell me anything?'
Deep down, she wanted to stamp her feet right now and refuse to go.
But she couldn't—not just because she was royalty who had to maintain decorum and dignity, but because quickly meeting Professor Aiden was far safer.
To deceive the enemy, first deceive your own—those words.
When Professor Aiden had said that, she should've opposed it fiercely instead of blurting something dumb.
As a result, she clutched at her heart, holding back tears over being left in the dark like this.
She wanted to complain on the way, but her companions weren't suitable.
Princess Lilian's eyes flicked to the sides.
The aide and head maid.
Until recently, they were utterly trustworthy as her closest aides, but suspicion had sprouted long ago from the assassination attempts starting early this year.
A traitor among her inner circle, plotting to kidnap or kill her for some reason.
And the one who'd promised to protect her was nowhere in sight.
"Sigh, I have no choice but to trust you."
"Yes?"
"Nothing."
The aide looked puzzled before composing himself.
'He said he'd keep watching, so it should be fine.'
She didn't know from where, but he'd promised, so she had to believe.
Before Princess Lilian entered the masked ballroom, someone stealthily approached her.
The mask hid the face, but the voluminous brown dress marked them clearly as a woman.
The somewhat tall stature came from high heels underneath.
"Who might you be?"
The woman gracefully gathered her dress skirts and curtsied.
"The unworthy daughter of House Pisvolt, Charlotte Pisvolt, greets the blood of the empire's great rising sun. May the imperial house bask in glory eternal."
Princess Lilian looked at Charlotte with a slightly relaxed expression.
"Charlotte... Charlotte Pisvolt? The sole lady of the Pisvolt Ducal House? I believe this is our first meeting."
"An ignorant girl ashamed to take the debutante stage. I apologize for never showing my face at social gatherings."
"No need. I heard your duties left you no choice. Instead of society, you attend palace councils—I'm the one who should apologize for never meeting you until now."
"Please retract your words. It was I who should have sought you out, yet delayed; forgive me."
Though formal dialogue, Princess Lilian quite liked this exchange.
'Master Aiden must have put some thought into it after all.'
Sending one of her own kin suggested some scheme in play.
Perhaps just to endure until she could show her face to His Majesty at the flattery fest.
That thought lightened her heart.
No matter the reputation for being thorough and ruthless, surely he wouldn't just abandon blood.
"For Princess Lilian to grace the masked ball is an honor. To bar your path would be..."
"Enough, aide. I'm delighted, actually? To meet the famously busy Lady Charlotte—today must be my lucky day."
Charlotte, suddenly a luck-bringing mascot, shot a sullen glance.
Was it the oddly cute undertone in that stiff speech? Princess Lilian covered her mouth and chuckled.
"You're cuter than you appear, Lady Charlotte."
"...You overpraise me."
The slight pause before replying seemed like protest, making Princess Lilian burst into laughter she couldn't hold back.
"Ahaha, ahem. Not mocking you, so don't take it badly, Lady Charlotte. It's just that you're so cute..."
"......"
Even without words, the meaning came through her gaze.
Princess Lilian laughed genuinely delighted and invited her along.
"I'm heading to the masked ball to get a mask—might Lady Charlotte join me, if your schedule allows?"
"Princess Lilian, that is..."
When the aide interjected, Princess Lilian turned and glared.
At the blatant displeasure, the aide fell silent.
"Then, may we go together?"
"If it's the princess's request, I am ever at your service."
"You speak so pleasingly. A bit too stiff for a woman, but it gives me a sense of security—I like it."
Charlotte shrugged once, then shook her head as if helpless.
"Perhaps from dealing with men so long in official duties."
"Haha, that makes sense. Even my brother—no, Crown Prince—wears that 'I'd rather die' face daily. I get it."
"Your understanding honors me beyond measure."
"Oh, I know Lady Charlotte wouldn't, but just in case..."
Charlotte reassured her not to worry.
"Naturally, I intend to keep eternal silence on Princess Lilian's close friendship with Crown Prince."
She distinguished without prompting what to say and what to withhold.
That sealed it for Princess Lilian.
"Good. The walk won't be boring."
"If I can be conversation for Your Highness, gladly."
Stiff yet elegant etiquette, tall stature.
Masculine tone.
Each trait reminiscent of Professor Aiden eased her mind greatly.
Seeing the princess head to the palace with lighter steps than before, Charlotte gave a calm smile.
One step behind, watching them, the aide's eyes narrowed sharply.