Chapter 3

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Her Meeting

「Fufufufu……」

It went well.

It’s been one month since I’ve developed that plan. The time to change that planning into action has finally come.

Afterwards, I immediately contacted the Earl’s daughter, my friend Marianne.

Marianne, who was the same age as I was, had a personality br.i.m.m.i.n.g with curiosity and she greatly loved fun things.

If I told her that I wanted to meet that man at the Masquerade Ball, then she would surely cooperate.

I got in contact with her at once, and inquired at the girl’s estate, while keeping the vital plan of getting rid of my virginity a secret, that I wanted to attend the Masquerade Ball and catch a glimpse of the rumored man, requesting her cooperation.

Hearing that, Marianne’s eyes sparkled while she leaned her body forward.

「My, has Lidiana-sama finally taken an interest in men?」

「Y-yes. Since I’ve finally become betrothed, I don’t think I’ll be able to appear at those sorts of places anymore. That’s why for this last opportunity, I would like to catch a glimpse of that rumored person……」

She spoke as if I never had an interest in males until now.

It wasn’t that I never had an interest, it was just that my Father never let any near me.

But there was no need to explain that.

Towards my words, Marianne gave a spirited nod.

「You’ve been promised to the Crown Prince after all. Oh, dear me, above all else I should have offered my congratulations first…… Truly, congratulations. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart. We’ve all always thought that there could be no one else other than Lidiana-sama to take the position of Princess Consort. An announcement about your engagement hadn’t been coming, so we were getting worried, you know? Although it is a private matter, that it’s finally been decided is a truly joyous thing.」

「I-is that so. Thank you.」

I don’t want that sort of heavy expectations……

Now I really couldn’t reveal my true objective to attend this ball.

At this rate if my objective was revealed, as one would expect, even Marianne would raise an objection.

「Then about the ball, will you cooperate with me?」

In the off-chance that the Crown Prince was there etc, I was worried about what I should do, but it seemed to be an unnecessary concern.

「Of course! I understand Lidiana-sama’s feelings of wanting to relieve some stress before getting married to the Crown Prince. After getting married, you won’t be able to do these sorts of things anymore. Besides, if it’s the Masquerade Ball, there won’t be any unnecessary probing, and all the members attending will be of superior rank so you can rest a.s.sured. Even though you do not attend much evening parties, it should have a pleasant atmosphere for Lidiana-sama.」

To Marianne’s one-sided machine gun talk, I gave a cramped nod.

Marianne happily chattered away about the dress to be worn on the day of the occasion. Once it became like this, there was no stopping her. Princess line or slender line and whatnot. Even chattering off about recently trending colors.

Honestly I didn’t care about the dress, but to make him fall in love at first sight without seeing my face, I probably needed to put in at least that much effort. Thinking that, I followed along Marianne’s discussion, and concentrated on the plan for the appointed day.

It was the day the plan would be put into action. Saying I would stay over at Marianne’s mansion, I left my estate. No one in my family doubted me. I casually pa.s.sed it through discussion, so it was only natural.

Marianne had a room seperate from the mansion. It was a place where peoples’ eyes found hard to reach and it was convenient for the circ.u.mstances of slipping away, so we decided to use that place at this time.

「Understood, Lidiana-sama? Please be sure to return before night falls.」

Before departure, Marianne repeated herself countless times with a sour expression.

The one going to the ball would be me alone.

She was to be left behind in case something happened. In other words, house watching.

「Of course. I’m only going to observe. When the ball ends, I’ll return at once.」

I’ll just be doing it once and returning. It shouldn’t take that much time.

I boarded the carriage that Marianne had prepared and embarked towards the meeting hall in a triumphant spirit.

Safely entering, my eyes dived into a sea of various colors and matching masks. There was no written invitation for this Masquerade Ball.

If had to be said, then the mask itself would be the invitation.

Tonight, the masks being distributed to partic.i.p.ants in advance had a b.u.t.terfly motif.

It had a flimsy build, but it was also made in such bad taste, when I received it I wanted to chuck it away immediately.

The mask given to me was silver. Inside the meeting hall, wearing masks of many different colors were men and women of different ages being boisterously noisy.

I briefly looked around myself.

That young n.o.ble didn’t seem to have come yet. His aura was said to be different from others, so it should be identifiable at once. Until then, let’s wait somewhere for an opportunity.

Thinking that, suddenly, I began worrying about what to do if he didn’t appear tonight.

In that case, then a different man…… If that possibility occurred then I would be reluctant. With someone other than the man I had my sights on……As one would expect, regardless of determination the hurdle would be too high.

The time I had left was scarce. But if he didn’t come, then I would consider reworking my plan.

For now, let’s not think about those things and pray that it won’t turn out that way.

My objective was just that lone man, so of course I had no intention of dancing.

I don’t understand what could be so fun about dancing with a person whose name and face you didn’t know.

Well, I could identify them after observing some reasonably distinctive characteristics, but even so if it wasn’t for my current situation, I would definitely never have taken part in this laughable event.

But keeping pace with the atmosphere of the ball, I perfectly emitted a cheerful feeling.

Unable to endure standing still, without a choice I carried my legs over to the s.p.a.ce where there was food laid out.

「Ooh. This is quite something.」

The prepared foods made me smack my lips.

Since it was a ball, the food was naturally set in a standing buffet style. There were many things that caught my eye that I tried to placing in my mouth, and naturally my mood enlivened at the unexpectedly superior taste.

This time waster came at just the right moment as I waited for him to arrive.

Peeking at the back table, there were delicious looking sweets enshrined there.

Unsteadily, as if I were being pulled, I moved towards that table.

I instantly became dazed at the gorgeously ornamented chocolates and tarts.

……In the end, I forgot about my original purpose and plentifully ate.

How much time has pa.s.sed? After eating all the things I wanted to satisfaction, I finally calmed down and returned to my true self.

……This is bad.

I completely forgot about my important objective.

Considerable time had pa.s.sed since the ball began. Did that person come?

Or perhaps, did he already slip out with his target?

I broke into cold sweat. c.r.a.p. I failed right at the beginning.

I shouldn’t have gone to the sweets corner.

Since my past life, I’ve always had a weakness for sweet things and delicious things.

The sweets of this world were quite excellent, and there was no way I would let this all-you-can-eat opportunity slip by.

But since I lost sight of my important goal, there was no point.

I wonder if I will still make it in time if I start now.

In a hurry I began to head towards the dance hall, but from behind a quiet voice sounded, making me stop from reflex.

「Milady.」

Being called, I stopped my legs and turned around.

At such a busy time, I wonder who dared irritatedly in my head, but the moment I turned around I was pierced with an intense gaze as deep as the oceans, and those thoughts were blown away.

……A beauty was standing there.

It was a cheap representation, but there was no other way to phrase it.

Although covered by a mask, it was easy to tell his face was finely featured. His gently wavy hair was black. His stature was tall enough I had to raise my eyes, and his proportions came off as a well trained physique. I was completely fascinated by his refined demeanor.

Understandable at a glance. The man who called out to me was cloaked in an sharp atmosphere that was different from anyone else, and he stood in that place.

As if piercing in my direction, his eyes entwined me. I stopped caring one bit about not knowing his face.

As soon as that man appeared, we were in a situation where he completely stole and pinned down the gazes from our surroundings.

Even myself, I forgot about my objective for a moment and was simply charmed in blank amazement.

So it’s you–!

I quickly returned to myself.

There was no mistake. The man Marianne had spoken about was definitely this guy.

He was just as I had heard. Certainly, I had understood at a glance.

I thought that I would have to search for him to call him out, but to have the other party call out to me instead could be said to be lucky.

Now, to successfully claim him. Failure was not permitted.

I had no choice but to proceed with caution.

「Do you have business with me?」

While inclining my neck, I produced a perplexed voice.

Although in the depths of my heart, I was yelling「Alright! It’s come–!! 」, I did not forget about the propriety of a girl from a Duke’s household that had been crammed into me.

To leave behind as good of an impression as possible, I conducted myself in a graceful manner and returned his words.

Without knowing my inner voice, the man who called out to me expressed an amiable smile and courteously bent at his waist.

The golden mask he wore reflected the light of the chandelier and glittered.

「Yes, with you. Good evening, milady. I believe this is the first time I’ve seen you, but have you attended here often?」

「Good evening. It’s a pleasure to meet you. As you’ve said, tonight is my first at this Masquerade Ball. I wasn’t familiar with the etiquette, so I escaped over here. But to know that it is my first time here, you must know a lot. Have I done anything ill-mannered?」

Although I emitted a uneasy voice, I was entirely unconcerned that I would commit such foolishness.

I wasn’t a Duke’s daughter for 18 years just for show.

……Still, as expected of the rumored womanizer.

Even though he didn’t know my face, he was able to tell I was a first time partic.i.p.ant.

If he said that he was able to differentiate by my figure, no matter how much of an ikemen he was I would draw back.

After thinking that, the man widely shook his head in a grandiose manner.

「Ill-mannered, nothing of the sort. Your manners are perfect. Not that, but it is my first time witnessing someone of your caliber of beauty.」

Taking my hand, he dropped a kiss to it. Knowing that was manners I let it pa.s.s, but without thinking a s.h.i.+ver ran up my spine. This man’s s.e.x appeal wasn’t half-baked.
(T/N: The nice kind of s.h.i.+ver)

「……You’re skilled. I’m wearing such a mask, you shouldn’t be able to tell if I’m beautiful or ugly.」
「Even so. Your exuding elegance and your behavior told me that you were a very beautiful woman.」

U-wah-. So- cringe- worthy!!

This is no good, yep. This conversation between n.o.bles giving face was making my whole body break out in gooseflesh.

These types of conversations were also one of the reasons why I didn’t like appearing at evening parties.

When I felt as if someone wanted to call out to me before, I would always run away immediately, but just for tonight this was an unavoidable circ.u.mstance.

While continuing the meaningless conversation, inside my head I only thought about what I should do.

I wonder when he will hurry and end this unimportant conversation and move onto the real question at hand.

「……And? I wonder if it’s fine for me to ask the reason why you called out to me.」

I’m sorry. My patience ran out.

No matter how long I waited for him to get to the real matter, after running out of numbness and speaking those words, he seemed a little surprised and loosened his lips.

At the same time his aura changed from a sharp cleverness to a relaxed and gentle manner.

「Fufu, you’re a hasty person. I was just thinking that I wanted to know you a little more in detail, is all. I have no objective other than that.」

「Really?」

Finally managing to come to the point where I’ve indirectly invited him in a roundabout manner, even so I was still more or less a n.o.ble girl so I showed suspicion once.

My real opinion was that I didn’t give a d.a.m.n, so hurry up and eat me……No, eat me please.

Actually, his overly polite tone had changed. Was it because my side invited him first?

If he had continued with that s.h.i.+ver inducing speech, I don’t think I would have been able to compose myself and have s.e.x with him, so honestly it was a relief.
(T/N: The bad kind of s.h.i.+ver)

Using an informal tone, he happily continued the conversation.

「How harsh. Are you doubting me? I really just wanted to get to know you…… Actually, just before, I arranged a room to rest in. If it’s fine with you, would you like to continue the conversation there?」

This time a more direct invitation came.

Al-right, alright!!

It would’ve been better if you said that sooner.

I mustn’t let this chance past me by. Strike while the iron was hot.

While acting as cutely as possible, I gave a small nod.

「……Indeed. I was also just thinking that I would like to get to know you better.」

Will you allow me to accompany you?

Through my mask I replied with upturned eyes, but for some reason he was left speechless.

Afterwards, wondering if he had seen me, he laughed heartily.

In that moment, I felt a chill.

As if establis.h.i.+ng my aim to a carnivore, I felt a sense of dread.

But in a moment, I pa.s.sed it off.

Unable to determine what happened, I blinked with surprise.

「What’s wrong?」

「N-no, it’s nothing.」

He inquired my frozen self, but there was no way I could answer. I didn’t even know what happened.

Treating what just happened as my imagination, now I didn’t feel anything.

While I was somewhat unable to comprehend and tilting my head, still laughing he wrapped an arm around my waist and prompted me to walk.

Of course, it was a welcome development, so I stayed silent and followed along.

I disregarded the feeling I got earlier as part of my imagination.

Later I would be regretting that I had not learned one bit about the『Courting Etiquette between Men and Women,』but for now I still had no idea.

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