HSLF 17

Chapter 17

To Dorothy, who couldn’t even bring herself to say she was happy to see him, Norobin asked cheerfully,
“Do you remember now?”

‘How could I not remember?’ she thought, but in truth, Dorothy hardly remembered Norobin at all.
The last time she had seen him was a year ago, and even then, she had just brushed past him, thinking he was merely a passing fan.
Since then, she had done everything she could to avoid Norobin Moven—never wanting to get involved with him again—and had thus never properly seen him.

“Dorothy?”

At that moment, what could “doing her best” even mean?
There was no time for careful consideration or slow contemplation. Dorothy had to overcome the immediate crisis right in front of her.

“Are you really okay, Dorothy?”

Fortunately, this situation wasn’t the worst.

“I’m not Dorothy.”

A very helpful mask, covering half her face, came to Dorothy’s aid.
Rexa… at least thank you for bringing me to a masquerade ball. Though I wish you hadn’t led me to a place like this. Let’s have a serious conversation when we get back.

“Huh?”

Norobin looked confused.

“You’ve got the wrong person,” Dorothy replied confidently.
“I am not someone named Dorothy Sailer.”

“Then who are you?”

I don’t know either, she thought.

“I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

Her inner thoughts had slipped out too clearly. Dorothy was slightly flustered, but since it had come to this, she decided to boldly push forward.

Fine, I really don’t know.

“My name is ‘I Don’t Know.’”

“Uh… your name is ‘I Don’t Know’…? ‘I Don’t Know’?”

Dorothy lifted her head confidently at the utterly bewildered Norobin.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Norobin tilted his head for a moment and said to Dorothy,
“No matter how I look at it, you are definitely Dorothy Sailer, aren’t you?”

I’m not falling for that.

“I said I’m not.”

“But you are.”

What is this—saying she isn’t someone while they insist she is? Dorothy was slightly irritated.

“I said I’m not. Why do you keep insisting?”

Norobin tilted his head again, then brightened his voice.

“It’s like playing dress-up with masks, right? I like that too. Then, let’s say Dorothy is ‘I Don’t Know.’”

Dress-up with masks…
It’s good that he admits it quickly, but isn’t he just treating me as Dorothy anyway? Weird.
No, wait—thinking about it now, it’s kind of funny. I said I’m not Dorothy, yet he says “let’s pretend.”

“You’re Dorothy, but ‘I Don’t Know.’ Not busy right now, right?”

“I am.”

Better to cut the conversation short. Dorothy said this and prepared to leave immediately. She warned him firmly,
“I can’t sign anything. I’m busy.”

“But you said you’re not Dorothy.”

Ah, a mistake. Dorothy was a bit flustered, but she calmed herself. I am “I Don’t Know” right now. I don’t know anything. So I’ll just pretend I don’t.

“That’s fine. You’ve already got the signature anyway. Rather than that… if it’s not too rude…”

It is rude.
From the moment you spoke to me, it’s rude. Dorothy desperately wanted to shut Norobin’s mouth.

“Would you like to dance, even just one song…?”

Norobin extended a hand shyly, his voice timid. Dorothy, for a moment, wanted to faint, but she pulled herself together.
If I faint and he carries me home… I’ll really wake up in the dragon’s nest! Get it together!

“No!”

Dorothy strained her mental strength. I have to get out of here!

“Too bad, I was just about to leave,” she said.

“The party just started… you haven’t even danced a single song? It’d be a shame to leave, so just one song…”

Norobin looked almost unfairly disappointed.

“I already finished dancing.”

As she said that, Dorothy suddenly spun around on the spot.

“See?”

Seeing Norobin’s mouth hang open in disbelief, Dorothy pretended to spin again and quickly turned around to move backward.

“Then I’ll be going now!”

“Uh…!”

Ignoring the call from behind, Dorothy walked straight ahead.
Like a marching soldier, strong yet fast. As if she hadn’t encountered anyone, she moved naturally. Out the way she came in.

Even someone like Norobin Moven would try to chase after Dorothy as she ran.

As she boldly advanced, Dorothy suddenly realized something odd.

“Where… is it…?”

No matter how far she walked, she couldn’t see the exit.
There should have been an entrance around here, but it was gone. At some point, black partitions lined the walls, stretching endlessly like massive wall decorations blocking the exit.

“…Who decorates a party hall like this?”

The central hall for dancing was bright, but the edges of the room were noticeably darker. Even in this already dim space, several areas were partitioned like mini lounges, making it confusing.

“This is too much.”

What is this? I can come in as I please but can’t leave? Is this some kind of manipulative sales trick? Whoever planned this definitely meant to trap people. If I dawdle, Norobin will catch me—disaster.

“I Don’t Know!”

Sure enough, Norobin’s voice came from behind.
Quite loud. Loud enough to draw attention.
He must be calling out to catch up to the distance Dorothy had gained, and her cold sweat ran. Luckily, he wasn’t calling her Dorothy.

What happens if he catches me now? Dorothy momentarily forgot, but anyone paying attention would know he was Norobin Moven. The second-most prestigious Moven Marquis’s precious son caught giggling with Dorothy Sailer at a party?
Whatever the result, it certainly wouldn’t end well for me!

Dorothy decided she would rather make a lap around the party hall than be caught by Norobin.
If she couldn’t exit the way she came in, there must be another door. Surely there’s a door?

So, she grabbed her skirt and ran—no, she bolted.

Dorothy’s careful escape plan had a few minor issues.
First, the hall was darker than expected.
Second, she was less agile than she thought.
Third, Norobin had surprisingly long legs.

His stride was too big.
At this rate, he’d catch her easily. Dorothy tried to speed up, but almost slipped.
There was a limit to running fast in a dark hall. Moreover, the shoes she wore today weren’t suitable for running.
If she had planned to come to the party, she would have worn non-slip dance shoes. Then running would’ve been manageable.

But today’s outfit was what she wore when visiting the Babarin household. Naturally, the shoes were formal ones to match the outfit. Pretty, but not ideal for running or dancing.

And bad things always seemed to happen in perfect coordination.

“Ah!”

A large servant passed in front of her, wearing a black mask covering his entire face, carrying a silver tray with a big lid. Slowly. Carefully. As if it were an extremely important task.

“Move! …y!”

Dorothy shouted, but he didn’t seem to hear. Feeling her foot collide, she squeezed her eyes shut.
Bang! Dorothy collided with the servant. The combination of masked servants’ clumsy movements and Dorothy’s minor problems created chaotic synergy.

Crash.
The lid covering a delicious cake to keep it warm fell open, and the cake tumbled to the floor, smashed, releasing the scent of chocolate.
Sweet, making you want to eat more. A very nice smell.

“I Don’t Know!”

Norobin was running toward her from a short distance away. No!

And then, an unexpected voice reached her ears.

“Dorothy…?”

Startled by the familiar voice behind the black mask, Dorothy looked and saw familiar eyes. Hazel colored like dark brown branches with green leaves intertwined.

“Lyle?!”

Why are you here too?
This party must really be a madhouse.
Rexa… why did you bring me to a place like this? I need to get out quickly.

“I Don’t Know! Are you okay?! Not hurt?”

“Ah, you’re here already.”

Dorothy jumped to her feet. It hurt where she’d bumped, but now wasn’t the time to care.

“Are you being chased?”

Lyle asked.

“I’m very busy right now. Later, later, we’ll talk.”

As Dorothy tried to rush off, Lyle grabbed her wrist.

“Are you being chased?”

This time, his voice was even quieter.