“Where are you going?”

Hazel asked, and Lorette hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.

“Mother said she’s going to throw a masquerade ball tomorrow.”

“A masquerade ball?”

“Yes.”

“That sounds interesting. Have fun playing.”

As if Hazel’s words had been an expected reaction, Lorette continued without hesitation.

“It’ll be more fun if you join us.”

“…”

Lorette added quickly as Hazel stared at her.

“You like masquerade balls. I know you used to hold them from time to time at the Rose Palace.”

‘I wasn’t invited’, but Hazel, who understood the omitted words, said,

“You were too young at the time…..you know that. Masquerade balls are dangerous. You know how debaucherous they can be when they hide in masks.”

It was the same with a masked ball held at the royal palace.

As everyone drank and danced, they often forgot all about their status and position and became animals. It started in the banquet hall, but there were countless cases where people found themselves lying naked in their respective rooms.

“It’s okay. We’re going to… Just invite lots of people.”

“As you say.”

Hazel nodded and Lorette chuckled.

“So let’s go together this time. It should be fun.”

“This time, though… I don’t feel like it.”

“I can’t believe you’re not going to the masquerade!”

Lorette exclaimed incredulously.

“I’ve been a little sick, so I guess I’ve lost interest in such things. I think I’m going to spend some of my time now doing some quieter activities like sewing and such.”

Lorette’s eyes widened.

…She was even more surprised when she saw the frame earlier.

“You never had a hobby like this.”

“Huh?”

“You liked to be active. You liked riding horses, loud parties, going to balls every night…”

“Stop.”

Hazel had a very hard time listening about herself from Lorette’s mouth.

“You are only staying in the Rose Palace, so your recovery is slow. Meeting people, dancing and playing happily will make you healthier.”

“Well, Lorette, I…”

“I need my sister.”

“Have fun playing with Prince Sisef.”

“I want to go with my sister.”

Lorette was determined not to back down.

“I tell them to prepare the most beautiful masks and dresses. Come with me, please?”

“Lorette, I…”

“Prince Sisef is not coming.”

“Huh?”

As if she couldn’t believe Lorette’s words, Hazel’s eyes widened in surprise. Thinking she had finally gotten a response from her, Lorette giggled and put her forefinger to her lips.

“I heard he’s going hunting with Prince Achilleon. Oh, that’s a secret.”

“‘They are important guests, why aren’t they going to attend?”

“Isn’t it a masquerade ball anyway? So let’s go together.”

“No.”

At Hazel’s flat refusal, Lorette said with a more desperate face.

“I know that you two have been feeling irritated because of me.”

Of course it wasn’t for that reason. She didn’t know what Hazel’s real intentions were in deliberately trying to get away from Sisef, so she just said what she guessed.

“Actually, I’m here to apologize. It’s just that I wasn’t feeling well that day and the prince broke his promise to sister.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“What?”

It was just that his heart was leaning towards Lorette. Because he was more worried about her. She needed confidence. Not wanting to accept the simple truth, Hazel had always hated Lorette.

But she didn’t have to do that now after realizing the clear truth.

“You were sick, you couldn’t help it. It’s not your sin. I didn’t even go…”

“I didn’t know I was going to be sick all of a sudden. I was fine before I drank the tea, but I suddenly had a fever…..”

“You drank tea?”

Lorette nodded in response to Hazel’s question.

“……Hmmm.”

Hazel smiled faintly. She knew Lady Pais was mean, but she didn’t expect her to play tricks by giving her that kind of tea.

Hazel burst out laughing as she realized she had a long way to go to catch up with her.

“What’s wrong, sister?”

“No, nothing.”

So that was it. Lorette’s illness was real, not a coincidence, not an act, not anything. However, there were other tricks that only the parties did not know.

“Come with me, sister.”

Lorette clung carefully to her again, and Hazel stared at her.

Was this a trick or a pure intention? Hazel was lost in thought while looking at Lorette.

It was easy to analogize Lady Pais’s thoughts. She was the kind of person who only waited for the day when Hazel would make a mistake, and then she would make a big deal about it, hoping to further widen the gap between her and her father and ruin the reputation of the princess.

But there was something Lorette had no idea about.

“If there’s a problem, just beg her. Your sister will have no choice but to do what you asked her to do.”

Perhaps because she was aware of Hazel’s gaze on her, Lorette suddenly became serious. Then Hazel said.

“…Okay.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s go to the ball.”

Lorette was absolutely vulnerable to anyone who would do her a favor. So if Hazel takes the risk and does what she asked, Lorette would surely rely on Hazel more and more.

“Are you sure?”

Hazel smiled at Lorette, who opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“There’s no reason I can’t go.”

***

Everything about the ballroom that Hazel hadn’t been in in so long was unfamiliar.

The sight of people dressed like fish, each boasting gorgeous fins, dancing under the glamorous chandeliers seemed out of touch with reality.

Seeing them made her feel a little dizzy. And most of all.

‘They’re more sincere than I thought.’

Hazel murmured, looking at the people in the hall.

The scale of the masquerade ball was the most spectacular she had ever seen because Lady Pais had spent the court budget lavishly, saying that she would flatten the noses of the people from the empire. And the costumes of the people attending were also unimaginable.

Everyone seemed to have waited only for today, and all kinds of costumes and masks took over the hall.

There were gods and heroes from myths and legends, fairies and demons, as well as hideous creatures to look at.

The effort to stand out from the gap between them was tearful.

“Sister, look over there. There really is a dragon.”

Lorette said in a dazed tone. When Hazel turned her head in that direction, she saw someone who had really made a costume that resembled a dragon and was strutting around the ballroom waving its huge wings and tail.

The wings, wide open on both sides, were directly framed and inlaid with silk, and everyone who saw him was busy avoiding him.

“…It’s horrifying.”

“It’s really well done. Isn’t it?”

Lorette exclaimed excitedly, the flowers on the butterfly mask she wore swaying as if they were dancing.

“It’s a very well made mask.”

“Mother specially ordered it for me.”

No doubt about it. Hazel swallowed her words inwardly.

“Still, sister’s is the most beautiful.”

The mask that Hazel wore was white that covered her entire face with a gorgeous golden pattern. It was a beautiful mask with a crown on one side decorated with artificial flowers and jewels.

“By the way, what do these masks symbolize?”

The masks and costumes were inspired by characters from myths, legends and folktales. However, Hazel couldn’t think what her mask was inspired from.

“The Empress. The empress from the play ‘Garsala’s jealousy’.”

Garsala was an evil woman who seduced the emperor with her outstanding beauty. She was a person who was jealous of the other emperor’s women and plotted to kill them.

“I didn’t think she was that scary.”

“But she is so beautiful.”

Hazel’s feelings became even more complicated when she saw Lorette speaking with a bright smile.

“Dance, sister.”

Unaware of her feelings, Lorette pulled Hazel into the dance hall.

As the two entered the dance hall, many eyes were on them. Even though they wore masks to hide their faces, the two of them definitely stood out.

One man approached Hazel and was about to ask her to dance, but her hand was grabbed by another man’s hand.

As soon as she raised her head to trace that hand, she was met with the familiar look. Lorette, who was standing beside her, looked at them alternately and grabbed the hand of the man who had asked Hazel to dance.

“I’ll dance first.”

Lorette disappeared at a fast pace, leaving only those words. Hazel didn’t have time to say anything.

“How rude.”

Hazel said, glaring at the man who had grabbed her hand. Even though he was wearing a mask, she could almost always tell by the color of the hair sticking out.

It was Sisef. There was no way she couldn’t recognize him since they had known each other since young.

“Prince.”

“Shh, you can’t call me that.”

Sisef smiled behind his mask and covered his lips with his fingers.

“You said you weren’t going to attend today. Did you order Lorette to bring me here?”

Hazel asked, feeling dumbfounded. If they had met face to face, she would be angry at him, but since they were each hiding their true faces behind masks, they somehow couldn’t do so.

“…Yes, that’s what happened. I owe Lorette.”

“…”

The white mask that Sisef was wearing was studded with crystals in the shape of tears under the eyes. Near his neck, he was adorned with tiny red gems as small as grains of sand, seemingly like blood.

“…What the hell did you dress up as?”

Hazel, who had been staring at his costumed form, furrowed her brow in her mask.

“I’m Jasper the Conte.” (*I’m not sure if this is a real play or not. If anyone knows, please leave a comment.”

“…”

Hazel looked up at him, at a loss for words.

“…Do you remember me? He was in the book we read together, but he’s a tragic figure. He loves his sister in law and they cut off his head. “

“…”

“Hazel?”

“Why on earth would you dress up as that?”

At that moment, Hazel’s voice went high.

“I didn’t want everyone else to do it.”

Hazel’s hand, hidden in the hem of her dress, shook.

“I’ll apologize again. It was my fault that day. Lorette was ill, and I had to make sure you’re fully aware of it.”

“It’s all in the past. I’m not going to keep it in my mind anymore.”

“But you’re angry.”

“…”

“It’s really hard for you to be so cold towards me.”

Hazel stared at his face through her mask. Somehow, the crying mask seemed to overlap strangely with what Sisef had said.

She couldn’t think of anything else but stared at his appearance, dressed as a tragic figure, shedding tears as his head was cut off.

The only thing that came out was a bitter smile. Sisef looked at her with a flustered gaze. Hazel finally stopped laughing and said.

“So this is how I’ll treat you then.”

“Hazel.”

Sisef then saw the look in her eyes that said,‘Don’t call me by name’, ‘what if someone hears.’ Sisef said, eying at the crowd.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“I’ll accept your apology. But this is as far as our relationship will go from now on.”

With that, Hazel turned and walked away.

Before Sisef, who was following after her, got closer, Hazel jumped in the sea of people.

The ballroom was crammed with people with no clear space to step. Because of the more exaggerated than usual costumes, people often stepped on each other’s clothes or bumped into each other.

The light reflected off the crystals of the chandeliers made the hall even more spectacular. Among the many people, Hazel was completely lost.

In the middle of looking around, she tried to avoid the wide walking wings of someone dressed as a dragon, but lost her balance, and then someone grabbed her and lifted her up when her body almost fell on the long dragon’s tail.