The Lie of Seeing the Heart -1- Masquerade D-3
Under the dark shadows, the whispers of girls harboring ill intentions carried on the wind.
"Yuria is just so damn annoying, isn't she?"
"Yeah. She's been strutting around like she owns the place ever since Olivia left. We should've never chased Olivia away back then."
"Exactly. We made up that bullshit story for nothing."
"Ugh... She was a bitch when she was here, but now that she's gone, it's even more irritating."
The girls chatting in the shadows all despised one particular girl. A girl with beauty that outshone their own, who drew the attention of the admired figures they could only gaze at from afar. They hated the commoner girl who received so much affection despite her lowly status.
Each of them harbored a hero in their heart: the righteous Mikhail, the prickly flame mage, or the man of the empire's most noble blood.
Seeing her cozy up to heroes they couldn't even exchange words with filled them with hatred. That's why they hated Yuria.
No matter how hard Yuria tried to befriend them, the arrows of their malice stuck like unyielding nails.
Even without fault on her part, they hated Yuria. Even when they received letters that bruised their pride. Even when they heard her tear-soaked sincerity born of sorrow.
They hated and resented Yuria. Her every little movement felt like a fishbone lodged in their throat, unpleasant and choking. Her joyful smile seemed arrogant.
It was because, through the tinted lenses they wore, the heavily coated image of Yuria was enviable.
"She's gonna fucking show off at the ball this time too."
"I fucking hate her. For real."
"Right? What the hell does that commoner bitch have to act so cocky? Talking to the crown prince like that? It's ridiculous. Even the crown prince must hate her. She reeks of that weird smell—I couldn't handle it."
"Pfft, hahaha. True. That musty stink. Makes me wanna puke."
"Right! I'm not the only one who smells it, huh?"
The girls' sordid conversation centered solely on one person, turning Yuria's tiniest flaws into massive dust balls after passing through their lips. Their malicious gossip dragged on.
As time passed, the words grew more exaggerated with lies piling on like flesh, and the dark desires in their hearts morphed into anger, settling as grudges.
"Isn't there some way?"
And gradually, it shifted to "Should we try it?" They'd done it before, after all. Ignoring and tormenting her, dismissing her to the point where it felt excessive, but Yuria had endured it all without reaction. Violence felt less heavy now.
As the girls' talk reached its peak...
"Having quite the interesting chat, aren't we?"
A dark shadow began to loom over them.
"I have a fun idea. Care to hear it?"
*
Masquerade D-1
Back in her dorm, Yuria gazed endlessly at the dress hanging on the rack.
"Wow..."
It was the dress she'd always wanted. One she'd only admired from afar, too expensive to even dream of. Now it sparkled brilliantly before her eyes. In pure white, glowing softly. Not the musty used dress from before, but one emanating a faint rose scent.
No need to mask the smell with perfume like with the secondhand ones—this new dress was a gift from someone she never expected.
Ricardo.
The boy who always appeared in her darkest moments had come as a great light once more.
Sitting in her chair, staring at the dress, Yuria recalled the events from a few days ago.
"I can't accept this."
"It's fine. I don't need clothes like this anyway. Shirts maybe, but dresses aren't my style."
"Then give it to Olivia."
"Hm... I don't think it suits the young lady's taste."
"Still..."
"If you won't take it, I'll put it back. I hate wasteful spending. Might as well do someone a favor."
"Th-that... um."
She'd been an idiot.
Yuria knew. This wasn't secondhand.
For one thing...
30,000 gold.
No one sells an untouched dress as used. The merchant must have inspected it, and when she said she'd pay, she'd seen Ricardo's panicked face.
It was impossible not to notice.
"I'll buy it."
"No. I have to buy this one."
"Where's that fair?"
"Right here."
Ricardo had panicked. For real.
Remembering that past moment brought a smile, heating her face like she'd swallowed a steaming sweet potato.
"Idiot."
Can't even lie properly.
"Why are you so good to me?"
Ricardo had always appeared like a hero in her tough moments.
The past year at the academy without him was incomparable to before. Bullying and incidents were less without him, but overcoming the occasional hardship had been brutally hard.
Fewer trials, but ones she couldn't conquer alone.
If wine stained her dress, Ricardo would feign coincidence: "Oh, perfect timing—I have a miracle stain remover." And quietly clean it up. But now, she'd just panic and do nothing.
The weight of enduring trials had grown. No one to rely on, no one to help...
"Haa..."
That's why she couldn't hate Ricardo.
Guilt over the dungeon incident erased any resentment, but more than that, his casual kindness made it impossible to dislike him.
What woman in the world could hate receiving such a gift? Hiding her most desired dress in a pile, saying no need to feel burdened—who could hate that?
She used to find his deep understanding of her scary, but now it had turned to fondness, leaving no room for other thoughts.
She even liked it.
Anyone else, and she'd call it stalking. But she was smitten with Ricardo's "coincidental" gifts, unable to think that way.
Yuria kept staring at the pristine white new dress, tag still on.
This masquerade would be different. No one to mock her worn dress, and wearing Ricardo's gift made her feel empowered even against nonexistent strength.
The jeers, the sneers about a commoner in flashy clothes—she believed she could endure them in this dress.
Ricardo had always protected her.
Maybe this time too, he'd appear like a prince on a white horse if trouble arose.
"What am I even thinking..."
Yuria slapped her heating cheeks and shook her head.
About ten minutes passed like that.
Ding-dong.
An unexpected visitor called for Yuria.
***
On the academy's walkway lined with dim streetlamps, Yuria walked with her suddenly visiting friend Ruin, chatting as they strolled.
Her cardigan offered little warmth against the chill, but the milder weather let her cling to her clothes and endure.
As they shuffled under the lamps, Ruin finally opened his tightly shut mouth.
"Tomorrow, huh."
"Huh?"
"The masquerade."
"Ah..."
The masquerade. A place with zero good memories.
Though the academy held them often, the New Year's one left Yuria with nothing but bad recollections.
Freshman year: because of Olivia.
Sophomore: Ricardo's absence.
Worries filled her about this one. Even a great dress couldn't save it if bad people ruined things.
Yuria nodded with an awkward smile at Ruin's question.
"Yeah. One day left."
"Um... Yuria."
Ruin exhaled white breath, staring ahead. He glanced at the paper bag in his hand, forcing a stiff smile that felt off.
Yuria didn't know what he'd say—he'd called her out via the dorm supervisor. She thought it was about studies, but his face suggested otherwise.
She clasped her hands and walked, waiting for him to speak.
"You got something to say, Ruin?"
"Uh... It's not a big deal. We've been friends for almost three years now."
"Yeah."
"Your birthday's coming up soon, and I feel like I haven't done much for you."
"No way, you've done so much. Taught me magic, gave me this necklace."
"Really...? Haha!"
Ruin laughed awkwardly, gazing at her. Then he held out the paper bag he'd clutched, smiling stiffly.
"It's nothing special, but I thought it'd suit you."
"Huh? What's this?"
"A dress."
"Pardon?"
Inside the bag was a light green dress matching Ruin's hair color. It looked expensive at a glance—not as much as Ricardo's gift, but close.
Ruin blushed offering it; Yuria forced a smile, peering at the dress.
"Ah... Sorry, Ruin. I can't accept a dress as a gift."
"What?"
Ruin looked at her in panic.
"Who?"
"..."
"Who gave it to you?"
"A close friend."
"Don't tell me... Ricardo?"
Ruin clenched his fist, seeing her silence.
"Throw it away."