I quietly opened the fan I had been holding. With the brightly feathered fan covering my lips, I answered,
“If it’s just to confirm something, then I’ll have to refuse.”
“Why? Is showing your face really that difficult?”
“You’re not whispering sweet nothings of love—we’re just talking about showing my face, aren’t we?”
I needed a convincing excuse.
“If all you want is to check whether I’m someone you know, then I’ll pass. That’s hardly a romantic reason.”
It came out as soon as I thought of it, but the excuse wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
Let me see your face—I just want to confirm something.
Who would actually comply with that? Unless he revealed he was a prince, he had no right to hold me back.
He’s not going to reveal his identity, is he?
I tensed, but nothing of the sort happened. The First Prince stood straight, one hand on his hip, watching me silently, deep in thought.
This was my chance to slip away.
I gave him a subtle glance that signaled I would be leaving, then walked off—straight toward the nearest man I could find.
“Shall we have a drink together?”
I needed someone to act as company—so the prince wouldn’t follow.
Why is the First Prince even here…?
____________.𖥔 ݁ ˖𓆰♕𓆪 ֶָ֢. _________
“She looks familiar…”
Killian turned around as he muttered to himself and plucked a glass of wine from a tray a servant passed by.
He was here on a search. Lately, the woman from the auction house had become the focus of his efforts. That was why he’d been appearing at every event that might attract young noblewomen.
That was also why he’d gone to Laura’s tea party last time—and why he was here tonight.
It hadn’t been as easy as he expected. He was starting to wonder if the black hair he’d seen at the auction was a wig.
Unlike eye color, which required magic to change, hair was easily altered with wigs. And unlike a masquerade ball, the auction wasn’t a place for mingling—it was simply about sitting in the audience and bidding through a host.
Which meant the green eyes were probably hers.
Who is she that she’s this hard to find?
Killian glanced again at the woman in the butterfly mask. Now, she had not one but two men keeping her company.
It wasn’t a lie—he really did know a woman of similar stature and green eyes. The lady from the auction and Lady Burkell came to mind.
Lady Burkell… she had red hair too, didn’t she?
If the mask-wearer’s hair was a wig, that would be meaningless—but her red hair reminded him of her.
At Laura’s tea party, Lady Burkell had worn a modest dress and spoken with careful manners.
I heard she had a difficult personality, but she seemed surprisingly ordinary.
Her awkwardness toward him was nothing unusual among noblewomen.
“But then why did she feel so familiar?”
He still hadn’t figured that out. When he’d seen her at Laura’s palace, he had simply thought—
She’s familiar.
But he wasn’t one to ignore his instincts.
His intuition was sharp. Familiarity always meant something.
What is it…?
He was still watching the woman in the butterfly mask when she made a move.
No—she tried to move, but ended up staying put. Something was odd.
Does she really want to be with them?
As he watched carefully, something troubling caught his eye.
____________.𖥔 ݁ ˖𓆰♕𓆪 ֶָ֢. _________
I must have picked the wrong person.
“I should go.”
“Already?”
“The night’s just getting started. You should stay a while.”
The man I’d approached turned out to have company. I had only meant to pretend to converse with him to keep the prince away, but now both men were blocking my path.
“I have a curfew. I can’t stay too late.”
“You’re more innocent than you look. Do you actually obey that?”
“Doesn’t quite suit you.”
I tried to excuse myself, but they scoffed. I had to admit, in this dress, I didn’t exactly look like someone who led a proper life.
But I couldn’t linger here—not with the First Prince watching.
I can feel his eyes on me—I just know he’s watching!
I needed to shake these men off and leave quickly.
“Let’s have a fiery night together.”
“Why not just the two of you?”
Fiery bromance sounds good to me.
“How about a glass of whiskey? You’ll feel better after a drink.”
While I was dealing with one, the other handed me a drink. I’d just said I was leaving—now they were offering alcohol?
“You two go ahead.”
Why are they so persistent?
As I looked around in frustration, I spotted an empty tray in a servant’s hands.
The me of this world had once used one to knock out some nobleman—because he annoyed her, apparently.
I only found out later, at a café, when I overheard gossip about myself.
But I didn’t plan to use it. I didn’t want to expose my identity like that.
I just need to get out of here.
I was about to leave when one of them grabbed my wrist.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Where are you going?”
“Let go of me.”
Did they think masks made them immune to decency? Their behavior was appalling.
“Just one drink, and we’ll let you go.”
They smirked at me even as I scowled.
“If you don’t want to get smacked with a tray, you’d better let go.”
“Trying to imitate Burkell’s brat? That’s cute.”
That’s because I am that brat.
I was just about to shout when—
“Argh!”
With a loud thud, one of the men collapsed. I looked up in shock to see who had hit him.
The First Prince?
It was him. Out of nowhere, he’d come and punched the man to the ground.
“Who the hell are you?!”
The man clutched his jaw and yelled.
“You don’t know who I am?”
“Should I care?”
The First Prince sneered—and began beating him mercilessly.
Thud. Thud.
The man’s friend just stood there, too stunned to react. And I… I was just as frozen.
What is even happening…
By the time the man lay limp and silent, someone else intervened.
“What is going on here?!”
It was Viscountess Lumina, the hostess. She had removed her mask and approached. As the host, she couldn’t ignore the disruption.
“This needs an explanation.”
She demanded one. The prince turned to our group.
I flinched. But it wasn’t me he was focused on—he walked straight to the man’s companion and snatched the drink from his hand.
Maybe the guy realized now that the man standing before him wasn’t ordinary.
The prince returned to the unconscious man and said,
“Open your mouth.”
“Ugh…”
The man opened his swollen eyes, saw the drink, and shook his head.
Did they spike the drink?
It was a desperate refusal. But the prince didn’t budge.
“If I have to force it open, you’ll lose your jaw.”
With that terrifying threat, the man whimpered and opened his mouth. The prince knelt on one knee and poured the drink in.
I shuddered.
I was trying to escape from that kind of man…?
It was a chilling realization.
And he’s only dealing with one of them…
Soon after drinking, the man fell unconscious again.
So it was drugged.
“They spiked this and tried to make the lady drink it,” the prince said to the viscountess.
She looked alarmed, then turned to me—then to the other man.
“I… it’s not what it looks like…”
The man stammered, unable to finish a sentence.
The viscountess signaled to her knights, who came over at once.
“Escort these two to the city guards immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The knights dragged the men away. The viscountess turned to me and apologized.
“That could have gone very badly. This has never happened before…”
“I’m just glad nothing did,” I replied with a faint smile and glanced at the prince.
He was still watching me.
I hadn’t planned to speak to him again—but I couldn’t just ignore this. He did help me.
After hesitating, I spoke.
“Thank you. Truly.”
He gave me a slight nod.
“Of course.”
Was that the end of it? Were we done?
Of course not.
“There are too many eyes here. Shall we go somewhere more private to talk?”
“…Pardon?”
“If nothing else, you owe me a proper conversation.”
“…Ah.”
He tapped his mask. There was no mistaking what kind of “conversation” he meant.
Of course he wouldn’t let this go…!
Considering he suspected I was the woman from the auction, asking to see my face was only natural.
He thinks I might be her.
It was true—after what just happened, it only made sense to return the courtesy by exchanging names or faces.
But now he’s going to see my face…
I’m doomed. Absolutely doomed!
As I hesitated, someone else approached the prince.
“…Excuse me.”
A man stepped beside him and paused when he saw me. Then, he leaned in and whispered something.
The prince’s eyes widened in surprise.
“He’s looking for me? At this hour?”
“Yes. It’s urgent.”
“Very well.”
The only person the prince would use honorifics for… was probably the Emperor.
Whatever the reason, it meant the prince had to leave.
Thank goodness.
As I silently sighed in relief, he looked back at me.
Wait, isn’t he leaving?
I watched cautiously as he extended a hand toward me.
“Hand me one of your earrings.”
“…My earring?”
“Yes. As a token of gratitude.”
Just when I thought he would let me off, he was demanding payment.
Not even the pair—just one?
