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chapter 45
A low, serious voice. The words he spoke were the sentence we had agreed would prove he was “Pervin Carlyle” when we met at the ball. It was definitely him. Yet, his appearance was nothing like what I had expected. First of all, he wouldn’t wear such bright and cute clothing. Pervin wore a pink uniform that fit his body perfectly, and over his dazzling platinum hair, a black cat mask. Not just any mask, but one with small, triangular, pointy ears sticking out. In the ballroom, among countless noblemen, he was the only one wearing a cat mask. Everyone else wore elaborate masks decorated with jewels. Even the most luxurious masks were only variations in red, green, and other colors.
As someone who loved cats, his appearance immediately drew my attention. A tall, well-built man in pink with a mask sporting cat ears? My mind raced with countless questions: Where did he get it? Why choose this outfit? Why this color? Yet, when I met the mischievous green eyes behind the black cat mask, all I could think was:
“You’re adorable, you know.”
On tiptoe, I whispered it just for him. Pervin’s face flushed instantly. He wrapped his hands around my waist and kissed my hair. His voice brushing my ear sounded alternately like he was scolding me in anger and like he was flustered, unsure what to do.
“You shouldn’t say things like that so carelessly.”
“Why not?”
“Because… what if people get enchanted by the sweet words flowing from your lips…”
“Isn’t it you who’s enchanted?”
I tilted my head slightly and pulled back. Pervin’s lower eyelids were reddened. Backlit by the ballroom lights, his excited face was partially hidden, yet I could still tell his mouth was curved in a sly smile. And he didn’t deny my question.
“Who could resist someone as lovely as you?”
“Oh, thank you for saying such sweet things to make me happy.”
I answered playfully, and Pervin responded with a serious gaze.
“You are beautiful in every way, my lady.”
Nearby, the Marchioness Celestine, who had been watching with interest, whispered to me.
“Whoever this man is, he’s as charming as Duke Carlyle. Who could he be… oh my!”
She let out a small scream because Evelyn, wearing a blue mask, suddenly appeared beside her. He seemed to have no intention of hiding his identity, lifting his mask to reveal his face. His flushed face suggested he had been running around just moments ago.
“I’ve been looking for you, Duchess. I heard that His Grace, the Duke, is busy with various matters today, so I thought you might be spending time alone, hence I came.”
“Ah, thank you for thinking of me, but I already have an engagement.”
I subtly gestured to Pervin beside me. Pervin, seemingly wanting to hide his identity, lowered his head slightly to Evelyn. Even without such measures, Evelyn would never have suspected him to be Pervin. Seeing the black cat mask, she widened her eyes in surprise.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a man wearing a cat mask.”
Hearing this, Pervin cleared his throat and held my hand tighter. I shrugged at Evelyn and said,
“In my eyes, there’s no better mask than this one.”
Evelyn awkwardly apologized to Pervin before stepping back. Pervin took a brief moment to catch his breath and then leaned toward me.
“Shall we go dance, my lady?”
“There’s no need to act like someone else, Pervin. Everyone already knows it’s you.”
Pervin hastily denied himself.
“No… I’m not His Grace the Duke… anyway, I’m not.”
“Then how did you know the agreed-upon phrase?”
“The Duke is busy right now, so he entrusted me with your first dance.”
Slightly startled, I looked up at him. His pupils were shaking slightly, showing he was also a bit flustered. Right, we had agreed just to meet and dance well at the ball, so why now try to hide your identity? I stepped closer to him, interlacing my fingers with his and teasing his hand slightly.
“You love me so much, dislike other men looking at me, dislike even another person touching my hand… and yet you made such a request?”
Pervin’s pale face blushed violently as he stared at his large hand over mine. After a long pause, as if deciding whether to pull away, he trembled and finally removed his hand, muttering in a muffled voice that seemed regretful.
“Yes, I entrusted my lady to me.”
Pervin was good at everything… except acting. His delivery sounded like reading a textbook, and I sighed softly. It was time to stop teasing him. I didn’t understand why he wanted to hide his identity, but I decided to play along. I lifted the hem of my voluminous dress slightly.
“Then, let’s go dance.”
The Marchioness Celestine looked at me with concern.
“If you start your first dance with someone other than the Duke, he’ll surely be jealous.”
“Indeed. But the one wearing the cat mask, whom I adore, appeared, so I can’t refuse to dance.”
Upon hearing my words, Celestine stared at Pervin with a strange expression. Pervin moved even closer to me.
“That’s true. Anyway, if we encounter Duke Carlyle, I’ll report that the masked gentleman requested the pleasure of your first dance, and you enjoyed it.”
“Hoho, tell him I enjoyed dancing with another man.”
At that moment, Pervin’s eyes sparkled. Unable to restrain his emotions, he overlaid his hand on mine. His long, angular fingers interlaced with mine, gripping firmly. I met his grasp, thinking that even if he pretended to be someone else, gestures like these would give him away. Nevertheless, I decided to play along.
After Irwen left, the Marchioness Celestine rejected numerous suitors and finally met her husband. The Marquis of Celestine smiled brightly.
“Honey! I get the first dance, right?”
“Of course. I rejected all the other men who asked. And you… I get the first?”
“No way I’d start the first dance with another woman when I have my beloved wife.”
“Exactly.”
The Marchioness smiled. They expressed their joy in a lively waltz. While dancing, she shared an amusing observation with her husband.
“Duchess Carlyle is dancing with another man. I wonder how angry His Grace would be if he knew.”
“Another man? Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. He didn’t reveal his name, his voice was deep, and he wore a cat mask and a pink uniform that His Grace would never wear.”
“Haha! That’s hilarious! After the mesh mask last time, now a cat mask? Truly… what a friend. I never imagined he’d wear a cat mask just because my wife liked it.”
“Wait, so the one in the cat mask is Duke Carlyle?”
“Of course! Which man would wear such a cute cat mask and a pink uniform? Only he would. He matched the set entirely because my wife liked it.”
The Marchioness fell silent, realizing that the tall figure, platinum hair, and enchanting green eyes could only belong to Duke Carlyle. But why hide his identity from the Duchess? Could he be using a classic method of pretending to be another man to gauge his wife’s feelings?
We began to dance. Pervin placed his hand on my waist and gently held my other hand. It felt different from his usual calloused hands hardened from wielding a sword all his life. Had he applied lotion today? He spoke softly as we danced.
“You’ve always been beautiful, but today you shine even more.”
“You look wonderful too.”
“Do I?”
The black cat mask filled my view, and behind it, his sparkling green eyes. His handsome features weren’t hidden even behind the mask, and his playful smile toward me was unmistakable. His gaze curved beautifully like a crescent moon under the night sky. Pretending to be someone else? He should have acted the part.
“Count Rune, the Marquis, is quite the topic in the capital. Women adore his handsome looks and smooth manners.”
His pleasant voice carried a slight huskiness, but the ballroom noise made it hard to judge his mood. I matched my steps to his and spoke.
“Handsome men are always popular.”
Evelyn was popular with the ladies. She was probably surrounded by women somewhere in the ballroom now. Pervin smiled softly at my unremarkable answer. His lips moved beneath the mask, and he casually asked again.
“Do you like the Marquis as well?”
Suddenly, he asked that? Pervin smiled gently.
“I saw him coming to assist you earlier.”
“It was just a coincidence.”
A strong emotion flickered in his green eyes. He was testing me, hiding his feelings. When I squinted, he leaned closer.
“You don’t seem to realize how attractive you are. Even a glance from you makes men’s hearts race. How can you not know?”
“You’re not even my husband. Why are you asking such things?”
He hugged me lightly.
“If you tell me the type of man you like, I’d be happy to match it for you.”
Before I could question why he asked as another man, he pressed his face close. The cat ears on his platinum hair fluttered.
“I’d go mad with jealousy if you admired another man after I went to such lengths.”
He pressed close, growling softly. The green eyes behind the mask shone. Jealous, going crazy… Pervin Carlyle, embodiment of jealousy. Now he seemed determined to show his true self. I stopped playing along and asked without hesitation:
“It’s you, isn’t it?”
“……”
“Pervin?”
The heated, touching Pervin suddenly went silent. His grip around my waist tightened. I tried to meet his eyes, but his green eyes avoided mine, flustered. The lively music flowed, women lifted their skirts, and it was our turn to complete a turn. Other couples giggled as if recognizing each other. In the cheerful atmosphere, I calmly looked at Pervin, who returned a nervous gaze. For some reason, he seemed intent on hiding his identity. I felt a slight sweat in his hand as I held it. I spun once in his arms and faced him again.
‘Pervin, why are you acting like an amateur?’
‘He intends to hide his identity till the end.’
Though unspoken, our eyes exchanged this dialogue. I chuckled at the situation. At first, I thought he was pretending to avoid being recognized. But now, he clearly had another purpose—trying to find something out from me. I’d play along but not give everything away. Playfully, I danced in his arms, pretending to hold his hand while lightly scratching his palm. He flinched.
“What was your earlier question? I forgot in the heat of dancing.”
Pervin gritted his teeth and replied.
“I asked if you liked men like Count Rune.”
Without hesitation, I answered:
“Impossible not to like him. Handsome, courteous, and above all, skillful at entertaining others.”
“……Is that so?”
“Truly handsome. Every time you see him, he captures your gaze. Are all the people in the Duchy of Verma this handsome? His voice too…”
Pervin’s eyes sparkled. He pulled me closer. Tap, tap, tap! We matched three steps to the music. The dance was lively and exuberant, but his movements seemed charged with emotion. Was the prank too much? We spun again in his arms. He gritted his teeth, barely maintaining composure. His pale cheeks flushed, and I felt like teasing him. Why did he start teasing first? Just as I was about to speak, he pulled me closer.
“Then, what do you think of Duke Carlyle?”
“Oh, such a personal question!”
I feigned embarrassment and leaned slightly away. He pulled me back, seeming urgent.
“You praised Count Rune so, but why do you have no feelings for Duke Carlyle?”
“What concern is Duke Carlyle to me? He’s already married and has a wife. There’s nothing desirable about him for other women.”
Behind his mask, Pervin caught Irwen’s amused gaze. His goal was to hear her true feelings using the mask. A masquerade allowed free conversation with strangers, so he deliberately dressed differently to approach his wife. Of course, numerous backstage schemes supported him. His beauty and the curves revealed by his dress attracted countless men: Sibellom, Captain Dobre, and Young Montague. Married or single, all awaited the music. Seizing the opportunity, he approached Irwen, wearing a cat mask and pink uniform—the maximum gesture for a wife who loved cats and red tones. He thought borrowing the mask would allow her to speak honestly, especially about Evelyn Rune. But the more he asked, the more frustrating it became. And Duke Carlyle is supposed to have nothing desirable? His head hurt. He never considered Irwen might play a prank. Innocently, she believed he wasn’t Pervin Carlyle but merely fulfilling a request. She would always speak truthfully, thinking he would too. Yet, she unexpectedly admired him so. Those sweet looks, the cherry-like gestures in bed… was she not tempted by him? Pervin pondered, then began listing his merits.
“I don’t know why you don’t realize. Before marriage, he was the man all unmarried women wanted to marry.”
“But he’s married now.”
“His fortune is said to be second only to the Emperor’s. Villas, estates scattered across the empire… equal, even surpassing Duke Sibellom.”
“His Duchess will enjoy those with him.”
“Dazzling platinum hair, ever-changing green eyes, handsome features… many noblewomen’s hearts were captivated.”
Pervin sighed unconsciously. Why must I go to such lengths with Irwen? Am I not attractive to her? Asking anyone in the empire would reveal it—only Irwen remains oblivious. He felt a pang of self-doubt. He sighed, resigned, deciding to persevere until Irwen praised him over Evelyn.
Even while dancing, Pervin kept promoting his merits, desperately seeking my praise. He even said:
“Chiseled jaw, straight nose, a strong, tall frame able to embrace many women at once. Unmarried or married, women in the Empire say merely looking at him makes them swoon.”
He looked at me with difficulty, and his cat-masked face seemed quite cute. I teased him further, drawing out the words.
“Count Rune was also very handsome…”
Perhaps my joke went too far. Pervin couldn’t hold it anymore and slightly lifted his mask. His handsome face, hidden behind the cute cat mask, was revealed. He pulled me into his arms, and I felt his anger vividly.
“Irwen. How long are you going to praise other men in front of me?”
