“Are you uncomfortable?”
At that moment, a familiar voice came from the front. As she lifted her head, Irene removed her hand from her mask, and she saw Noel wearing a blue feathered mask similar to Irene.
“If the mask is uncomfortable, you can take it off while we travel.”
Irene rolled her eyes at Noel’s suggestion and immediately shook her head.
“No. It takes time to wear it again, and I think it would be better for me to get used to it.”
Noel nodded in response to Irene’s reply and spoke again after a while.
“For the necklace, can I just find the blue sapphire necklace, as you said?”
“Yes. It’s because On said so.”
Before she attended the ball, Irene summoned On and asked him to tell her what he knew about the necklace. On said it was an ordinary necklace with several sapphires. Except for the sapphire, there was no big problem because it was to find a sapphire necklace near Ascardo and show it to On.
‘If you find that necklace, you’ll find out about the former empress.’
She was so nervous that she clenched her fist. Noel, who was looking at Irene, spoke in a worried voice.
“Don’t push yourself too hard. Above all, don’t get hurt. There will be plenty of opportunities.”
At the voice of his concern, Irene answered with a smile.
“Do not worry. Louiselle is by my side, and I have the ring. If I want, I can summon On.”
“Still, don’t overdo it. Irene, you’re the most important thing to me.”
Since the two of them decided to find it separately, Noel’s worries were endless. He looked at Irene anxiously as if he were looking at a child left by a stream. Belatedly, she regretted that she should come to look for it by herself, but now that they had come, it couldn’t be helped.
However, as Irene said, it wouldn’t be too dangerous because she had Louiselle, a ring, and a spirit.
Even though she knew that, why did she feel so insecure?
Irene looked at the anxious Noel, and then she suddenly reached out towards him. As Noel looked at her black-gloved hands, Irene spoke in a new gentle tone.
“If you’re that worried, I’ll make a promise in advance.”
”...Hm?”
A promise all of a sudden. What did she mean out of the blue? When Noel asked in bewilderment, Irene spoke as she hung his pinky finger around her own.
“I will never get hurt. So don’t worry.”
There was no guarantee that she wouldn’t get hurt even if she kept her promise, but, ironically, Noel felt the anxiety in his heart subside, at least a little.
Yeah, she’ll keep her promise. I’m sure she will do well this time too.
Instead, he felt that what he was worried about could only instil in her anxiety. If he couldn’t go back, she had no choice but to believe and move on.
Noel licked his lips as he looked at their hanging pinkie fingers.
“Okay, promise. You must never do anything dangerous. If you think it is even a little dangerous, you will run away without delay.”
“Yes, got it. The same goes for Noel.”
“All right.”
After making her promise, he was relieved. Although he couldn’t see her expression with her mask on, Irene’s face was bright and smiling, and Noel also smiled quietly.
Meanwhile, the carriage had arrived in front of the ballroom.
The front of the venue was gloomy and quiet. Not at all fitting the name of the ball.
Four knights were stationed at the front of the building, vigilantly guarding.
Not even a stream of light leaked out from within. Security seemed to be tight.
When the three alighted the carriage, the two knights approached.
“Show me the invitation.”
At the knight’s demand, Noel offered an invitation. The invitation allowed up to three people to enter, so Louiselle could enter safely.
Irene wore a new mask as she went inside. She was stunned by the scene before her eyes, inside.
…Is this a ball?
The scenery inside the banquet hall was different from the commonly known ball.
Everyone wore a mask to match the purpose of the masked theme ball.
However, no one was seen dancing.
“...I was expecting a place like this.”
Noel, standing next to Irene, muttered. His glance through the mask filled with contempt.
The ballroom was filled with people indulging in perverse pleasures.
“Don’t take a deep breath. A weak drug is disseminating in here.”
Seeing the smoke floating out from one corner, Noel cautioned her. Irene nodded and lowered the mask slightly, covering her nose.
Now she understood why a single ray of light had not leaked out. It was due to the low-saturated purple ambience, dimly lighting the inside of the banquet hall and the blackout curtains covering the windows.
Curtains hung at every seat, and beyond, a painful scream sounded. It told a scene full of only instincts and desires that took place.
No matter how lavish it looked, it was a place not worthy of the name ‘ball’.