Ricardo’s appearance made Erkishian’s eyes widen. But it was the same for Idette, who stood by his side.
Ricardo. To be honest, he wasn’t a very welcome guest.
Especially in such an awkward situation.
I bit my lower lip and turned my head toward Erkishian.
“Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but your approach is not right.”
“……What?”
“I’m the kind of lady who does whatever she wants, so even at a masquerade where I should hide my face, I can boldly take off my mask.”
Erkishian’s goal was to make Idette and me look alike.
But if our faces were visible, it was all meaningless.
“You’ve failed completely. In using me to protect Lady Idette.”
“…….”
“Please, at least protect the trust between you and Lady Idette.”
A vein bulged on Erkishian’s forehead.
Is he pissed?
If he thought I’d say nothing like a fool, that’s surprisingly naive of him.
Idette still couldn’t ease her stiff expression. Her eyes, as she looked at Erkishian, trembled endlessly.
I gave a nod of farewell to Erkishian and left the spot. Then Ricardo followed me.
As I walked ahead, I eventually couldn’t hold back and turned around to speak.
“Before coming here today, His Highness came to see me. He asked me to pretend to be Lady Idette.”
My hand clenched the dress tightly.
“……He said that if I did, he’d make me your partner, Ricardo.”
Ricardo flinched.
“You already knew about this?”
“No. That never happened.”
His lips moved slightly.
“Even if he had made such an offer, I would have refused.”
“Ah, okay.”
My tone came out crooked.
I know, me too.
All of this was just me lashing out because of what had just happened.
“……Just for today, please give me some time.”
As Leon said, the rumors in the social circle were something I could just choose not to hear.
But it wasn’t that easy.
Being with Ricardo was just painful.
“I have something to tell you.”
I didn’t even hear what he said next.
Maybe I didn’t want to hear it.
“I had no intention of letting you enter alone, but it seems we got separated on the way. ……I’m sorry I’m late.”
“Don’t apologize. You said before that you don’t apologize to me, remember?”
You said you wanted me to hate you, right?
Seems like you got what you wanted.
“I don’t plan to accept it either.”
“Bianca.”
“Seeing as you’re not here to sign the annulment papers, I don’t think there’s any more reason for us to talk.”
I gave him a smile.
“My brother will go himself.”
Ricardo urgently grabbed me.
“Just a moment, please give me a little time?”
What have you been doing all this time?
We’ve spent a fair amount of time together already.
“…….”
I didn’t even know what to say.
“Bianca!”
At that moment, I saw Leon. The moment I saw his face, I found myself walking toward him without thinking.
Even though I heard Ricardo say he would wait.
* * *
“……What on earth is going on.”
Cedric let out a deep sigh and quietly glared at Leon standing beside him.
“I told you to look after Bianca for the day, didn’t I?”
Leon drooped his head under Cedric’s endless nagging.
Wait a second, what does that make me, then?
“If you were going to enjoy the ball, then refusing my request would have been the right thing to do.”
“……I’m sorry.”
When Leon apologized meekly, Cedric, clearly not expecting it, lost his words for a moment. But soon he spoke again, face flushing in anger.
“If you were going to leave, you should have told me. Don’t you think?”
“……Yeah, I’m sorry.”
“Sigh, how did this happen……. I shouldn’t have asked you.”
As Cedric’s lament continued, Leon finally shouted in frustration.
“I get it, I said I’m sorry! I said I was wrong!”
“What are you two even doing!”
Listening quietly to the two of them, I finally raised my voice.
Seriously, these people!
At my words, Leon and Cedric stopped arguing. I let out a long sigh and removed my mask.
“I’m not a child. I handled myself just fine without you, Leon.”
“Oh, you handled yourself fine?”
Cedric spoke with full sarcasm. At his tone, Leon lightly tapped his shoulder.
“Stop it. Bianca did more than enough.”
“Sure, it's probably what you failed to do.”
It was a sign that the nagging would start again. Leon turned his head sharply toward me with a fed-up look.
“Is he always like this?”
“……Yes.”
“You’ve been through a lot.”
Then, I checked the time.
It was nearing midnight. Time to meet Peril.
“I’ll be heading back now.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“No! Come later. You probably haven’t enjoyed yourself because of me.”
Startled by Leon’s words, Cedric narrowed his eyes.
“Look me in the eyes and say that.”
“I’m going home!”
“…….”
“If you don’t believe me, you can watch the carriage leave, right?”
Still not trusting me, Leon crossed his arms.
“I said I’ll come with you. I was about to leave anyway, so why go separately?”
“Because we’re heading in different directions.”
Worried that Leon might follow, I quickened my steps.
“Please go back inside!”
Leon tried to follow, but Cedric held him back. He waved at me as if telling me to hurry and go.
* * *
‘He’s not already here, is he?’
The meeting place with Peril was by the eastern outer wall. It was relatively close to the ballroom, so the scene from the venue could still be seen from there.
“……He’s not here yet.”
Leaving the bustling ballroom and reaching the quiet outer wall area made me feel much more at ease.
As I gazed at the large full moon, the events with Ricardo kept resurfacing in my mind.
〈Just a moment, please give me a little time.〉
……What exactly had he meant to say?
He looked like he really needed to tell me something.
Just then—
Pop, pop!
Explosions echoed from the direction of the venue. It was a sudden, massive blast that pierced my ears. Soon, people began evacuating from the main palace.
“……!”
Screams rang out one after another.
The kidnapping of Idette—something Erkishian had feared so much—seemed to be happening now.
The mask in my hand suddenly felt heavy.
‘Should I have at least warned Idette?’
No, unlike the original, Erkishian already suspected the incident would happen to Idette. So the situation should unfold better than in the original story.
Still, it looked like Peril would be late. He’d probably have to check on Idette.
‘But he shouldn’t be too late.’
Well, if he has a conscience, he’ll come before sunrise!
I took a seat under a tree. Even so, hearing people’s screams made me scared, so I buried my face into my knees.
This too shall pass……
Then, I heard someone running from somewhere. I looked up without much thought—and saw Peril with a shocked face.
“You……!”
Huh.
“Why are you here?”
Wasn’t he supposed to be somewhere else?
“……I’m glad you kept the promise.”
A flash of relief crossed Peril’s face as he gasped for breath. He collapsed in front of me as if exhausted.
“No, seriously, why are you here?”
Unable to even answer, Peril focused on catching his breath.
Then what about Idette?
Is she okay?
“You didn’t confuse me with Idette just because our dresses are the same, did you?”
“……If I run again, I’ll die.”
“I’m Bianca. I’m not Idette!”
My voice turned urgent. At my words, Peril closed his eyes tightly and responded.
“I came because I knew it was you.”
“…….”
“There’s no reason to confuse her with you.”