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Just before stepping into the Ball Room, Elizabeth placed a mask on my face. It was a black wolf mask with intricate golden patterns.

“…If I have to wear a mask anyway, why bother with makeup?”

I awkwardly fiddled with the oiled ends of my hair while speaking. The tailcoat, with its uncomfortably rigid design, constricted my movements.

Elizabeth gave me a nonchalant smile.

“I wanted to see the instructor’s dressed-up appearance. And people usually imagine the hidden face beneath a mask.”

With a playful tone, Elizabeth wore a white fox mask herself.

“Now we have to be careful with our words. Once we step in, all eyes will be on us. And here, you’re not allowed to call me Elizabeth.”

“Then what should I call you?”

“Usually, people choose a pseudonym. It can depend on the mask. Hmm… then I’ll call you the Wolf Gentleman, and you can call me the Fox Lady.”

“…….”

“Hehe, if you don’t like that, you can call me Elise.”

Honestly, I wasn’t thrilled with either option, but regardless of my feelings, it was time to enter the Ball.

Since it was a masked ball, there were no special announcements for entry. However, Elizabeth’s silvery-white hair was a distinctive feature that no one could miss.

Just as she said, once we entered the entrance, the surroundings fell silent in an instant. People’s gazes focused on Elizabeth and me.

“Look over there. That person must be….”

“Oh my, they’re really here safely!”

“But who’s the person next to them?”

Elizabeth, seemingly unconcerned about the attention, gracefully leaned against my arm as we walked. Perhaps because of that, the gazes around us were filled with shock and confusion.

From afar, I felt the astonished stares of Marian and Schurz as they recognized my identity.

“After this party ends, it’ll be noisy picking out noblemen with black hair. Though, I doubt there are any such people.”

Elizabeth whispered softly to me, her eyes twinkling mischievously. Due to the soft music and the buzz of conversations, her whisper was inaudible to others.

I responded calmly. “There’s no rule stating we have to look among nobles only, is there?”

“Even so, it won’t be easy to find. I already sent someone to the intelligence department. You asked to be hidden, remember?”

“Hmm….”

Could it be said that we were hiding the attention directed at us in this situation….?

Certainly, the reason Elizabeth invited me to this party was to find a suitable place to have a conversation. But this attention-grabbing spot didn’t seem like the ‘appropriate place’ she mentioned.

I deliberately frowned and said, “I’m starting to want to get to the main point. Why exactly did you bring me here?”

“Hehe, already? The ball has only just begun. Isn’t it alright to enjoy at least one dance?”

“Sorry, but I’ve never learned to dance.”

“Don’t worry. With me, you’ll definitely manage just fine.”

I still couldn’t grasp Elizabeth’s intentions. However, now that I was already at the Ball, it seemed pointless to refuse. For now, I decided to go along with her.

Elizabeth led me toward the heart of the Ball Room. The area was much more crowded and lively than near the entrance.

She placed a hand on my shoulder while holding my other hand, saying, “Keep your right hand just below my waist.”

“Like this?”

“No, not there… a bit lower. Yes, there. Perfect.”

We began to move slowly in time with the music. Elizabeth led me with light and skillful steps, and I gradually followed her lead.

Her dancing skills were truly exceptional, befitting of a princess. Even to someone like me, who knew nothing about dancing, it was evident. Her lead was so natural that it even felt like she was adjusting the speed for me.

As she pressed her upper body closer, she whispered softly with her red lips. “Don’t think of it as dancing; just think of matching your breathing with mine.”

“Breathing, huh….”

From that moment, I started to focus on Elizabeth’s movements as if we were sparring. When she pulled me, I was drawn along, and when she gently pushed, I followed seamlessly.

At first, I concentrated solely on following her movements, but as time passed and I grew accustomed to dancing, I found myself moving in sync with the music.

Elizabeth looked at me with a faint smile. “You’re doing better than me now. At this rate, no one would believe this is your first dance.”

“I guess it’s not hard once you get the hang of it.”

As the orchestra’s performance gradually quickened, our steps became more energetic to match the pace. Despite the faster tempo, Elizabeth moved gracefully, keeping in time with my lead.

As the piece reached its crescendo and came to a quiet close, our dance came to a halt. At the same time, applause and cheers erupted throughout the Ball Room.

Clap, clap, clap, clap!!

“Amazing! That was a perfect dance!”

“How can someone move so beautifully!”

Standing in the center of the stage, we had captured the attention of all the nobles.

I realized that merely entering the Ball wouldn’t have garnered such attention. I instinctively felt that this applause was precisely the purpose Elizabeth had aimed for from the start.

In this moment, the protagonists of the Ball were none other than me and Elizabeth.

And there was someone here who didn’t seem pleased about that.

“What a magnificent dance! Absolutely splendid!”

That was none other than Prince Wilhelm.

“…….”

He was a man with whom I shared various grievances. I glanced his way briefly, but it was only momentary. Those days of feeling anger towards him were well behind me.

I had come knowing I would run into him. It wasn’t particularly surprising.

It had already been five years since we faced each other like this.

Wilhelm approached, applauding with a bright smile. His laughter seemed thunderous, but the tenseness at the corners of his mouth revealed his discomfort.

He mixed into the crowd and exclaimed in an exaggerated tone. “My dear d— Ahem! This is… um, the lovely lady in the fox mask? Your dance was as beautiful as a painting.”

“Oh my, thank you. I’m embarrassed by such praises for my lackluster skills.”

“Not at all—it’s entirely deserved. I felt your applause was not wasted at all. So, what do you think about me as your next dance partner? I’d be a perfect match.”

Though Wilhelm’s words were certainly a proposal, his voice carried a confidence that suggested he didn’t consider the possibility of being rejected.

His intentions were clear. He wanted to dance with Elizabeth to redirect everyone’s attention back to himself.

However, Elizabeth replied politely with a smile. “I truly appreciate the offer, but I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I’ve already danced with my partner tonight, so I have no intention of dancing with anyone else.”

“W-What did you just say…?”

Wilhelm’s voice was tinged with shock. Simultaneously, whispers among the surrounding nobles grew more intense.

It was only natural for them to react like that since she had rejected the prince’s proposal, but the magnitude of their reactions seemed more severe than expected. It felt like there was something deeper than merely rejecting the prince’s suggestion.

Could it be that dancing with only one person at a Ball holds a meaning I’m unaware of? As someone completely ignorant of noble culture, I couldn’t grasp the truth of it.

Only then did Wilhelm’s gaze shift toward me.

“No, wait… are you two in a relationship? Really? That’s hard to believe….”

He looked at me with a suspicious glare.

I received his gaze calmly.

Despite making direct eye contact with the prince, I showed neither fear nor deference. Wilhelm’s expression twisted slightly at my expressionless stare, but soon he furrowed his brow and spoke with a puzzled tone.

“Um? Wait… have we met somewhere?”

He stroked his chin, deep in thought, and eventually continued in an uncertain tone.

“Well, of course, it’s natural to meet so many people. But I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere….”

At that moment, Elizabeth smoothly slipped between me and Wilhelm.

“Excuse me for interrupting your conversation, but after such an intense dance, I’m a bit tired. May I take my partner and have a moment alone with him?”

“…Oh, of course. I won’t hold you up then. Enjoy your time.”

“Thank you. Oh, and gentleman….”

“Hmm?”

Elizabeth elegantly lifted the ends of her skirt in a graceful curtsy, stopping Wilhelm in his tracks as he attempted to leave.

She raised her red lips and said, “Have you heard the news? They found traces of powerful Dark Magic in the remains of the destroyed Airship.”

“…What? What does that mean?”

“Oh my, Dark Magic! Isn’t that frightening? Could it be that someone has colluded with the Demon Race? They say someone intentionally caused the Airship to explode… As a proud member of the Empire, I find it deeply concerning that our nation’s security has been compromised. Rumor has it that the mastermind is, in fact, the empire’s noble little sun….”

As Elizabeth spoke in a voice filled with feigned terror, the surrounding nobles began murmuring loudly. Their expressions were a mixture of shock and confusion.

Wilhelm, noticing the commotion around him, shouted as if in a fit. “Nonsense! The Airship’s explosion was an accident! And as for Dark Magic! Prince Wilhelm! This is utter nonsense! How do you plan to be accountable for what you just said?”

“…Oh my, if it wasn’t true, I apologize. I was just sharing the mere musings of a girl who loves rumors. …And I didn’t say Prince Wilhelm, did I? Is that just your personal opinion, gentleman?”

Wilhelm seemed to realize he had stepped in it. His clenched fist trembled. Elizabeth giggled softly.

“Please don’t be too angry, gentleman. This is a masked ball, after all. Words spoken beneath the mask are just fleeting dreams of the night. Or perhaps… you’re planning to remove your mask and reveal your identity? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing that would ruin the ambiance of the ball.”

“How dare you…! How dare you speak so carelessly… you dare to…!”

Wilhelm’s face was livid, but he ultimately couldn’t do anything.

He knew all too well that exposing his identity over something as trivial as ‘a mere rumor’ would truly be a blow to his own dignity.

At that moment, Elizabeth gave me a knowing glance, and I realized it was time to back away.

“…Let’s go, Elise.”

“Hehe… Yes. We’ll take our leave now. I hope everyone has a wonderful time.”

Everyone knew the endearment I had just used for the princess. Leaving behind the prince’s anger and the surrounding shock, we entered the terrace connected to the Ball Room.

As soon as the curtain fell behind us, I turned to Elizabeth and said, “Now, let go of me.”

She didn’t release her hold until I shot her a glance.

“Was this what you wanted to show me?”

Elizabeth smiled and replied, “Did you enjoy the little performance I prepared?”

 

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