🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 5
I Want to See You
Grace and Jones chatted for quite a while at Echo of Peace. Jones was Grace’s editor, someone who always showed her the way whenever she got lost in the maze of her plot.
Today as well, the two of them put their heads together and worked for a long time, completing a love story about a woman caught between an artificial human and a werewolf.
“Good! At this level, a masterpiece by Licht Dalton will be born!”
Jones shouted loudly. Licht Dalton was Grace’s pen name. Since female writers were rare, Grace deliberately hid her gender by using a pseudonym.
She also had to use a false name to hide her writing activities from her family, who opposed them.
If her parents found out that Grace wrote popular romance novels, they might burn every pen and bottle of ink she owned.
“It’s not that great.”
“What are you talking about! At this level, even the currently famous Houns Gray would be jealous of this plot!”
“You exaggerate.”
“Grace! Your writing is always so vivid. Your heroine, Rose, always struggles, but in the end she makes wise choices.”
“Yeah, thank you.”
“I’m not saying this just to hear thanks.”
“Then?”
“Why should someone who writes like that have to go through with such a marriage?”
“….”
At the sudden change of topic, Grace couldn’t continue speaking and looked at Jones. Their eyes met seriously.
“Grace! Marriage is something that affects your whole life! You must protect your rights!”
Jones’s words echoed in Grace’s mind all day long. Even after returning from Echo of Peace and delivering the letter to Aiden, they wouldn’t leave her thoughts.
‘Yes. I want to protect my rights, my dignity. I can’t just go through with this marriage like this! But what should I do? How can I stop this marriage?’
For once, her father and mother—who usually didn’t get along—shared the same opinion: Grace’s marriage. Changing their minds would be nearly impossible.
In the study, lit by a flickering gas lamp, Grace sank deep into thought. She didn’t write for a long time, only thinking about her marriage.
Then, knock knock—a sound at the door.
“Yes, come in.”
Lisa entered, pushing a trolley. On it were coffee, baked goods, and several letters. One by one, Lisa placed the cup and plate on Grace’s desk.
“Thank you, Lisa.”
“Please don’t overwork yourself, miss.”
After placing the letters from the silver tray, Lisa left the room with the trolley.
Unusually, Grace had received two letters.
One had a familiar “T” stamped into the sealing wax, and the other had an “R” she had never seen before.
Grace picked up a knife and opened Aiden’s letter first.
She was very curious about what he had written back.
To Miss Grace Broyton,
Grace, thank you sincerely for your honest letter.
A social-hating person? I can say with certainty that I do not think of you that way at all. I was simply curious about you.
You always seem to live in vivid moments of life. Echo of Peace is also a place I like.
My daily life is not very different from yours. In fact, it is quite similar. The only difference might be that I attend social clubs.
These days, however, I am learning the family business, so I spend most of my daytime working. The Turner family is always busy searching for new lands.
In the evening, I am occupied attending social events. As you know, the Turner family holds no title. We always make an effort to accept invitations from the many people who have acknowledged and supported us.
Even if it is a small gathering, if someone invites me, I try my best to attend.
Though busy and hectic, I love such a fulfilling day.
By the way, I heard that the Earl of Roland will soon host a masquerade ball. Do you perhaps plan to attend, Grace? If you wear a mask, no one will recognize you.
Even if you dislike high society, wouldn’t it be a little easier with a mask?
I dare to hope that I might see you there. Would you grant me a dance?
Hoping for your acceptance,
Aiden
A masquerade ball?
Grace was stunned by the unexpected suggestion.
She had barely attended even ordinary balls. In fact, her debutante ball remained one of her worst memories.
Before her first debut in society, her heart had raced all day. The house had been busy with preparations, and Grace herself had been busy getting dressed.
‘Lisa, do I look alright like this?’
‘Yes, miss. You look beautiful. I’m sure you’ll receive endless dance invitations.’
The reception hall was decorated with more lights and flowers than usual. Music played continuously, and many gentlemen and ladies danced and talked.
Grace, too, accepted one dance after another without rest.
She wasn’t good at dancing and stepped on her partners’ feet several times, but they all smiled and praised her.
Her mood lifted, and even her steps felt light. She danced without realizing how tired she was.
Then, when she went to the tea room for a drink, she noticed a group of familiar gentlemen.
‘The Broyton count is still the same. Even now that he’s fallen, he’s still so arrogant.’
‘What’s the point of hosting such a grand ball? Everyone knows they’re struggling financially.’
‘Still, he probably wanted to properly debut his daughter.’
‘Hmph, if he’s going to use his daughter for a marriage deal, he has no choice.’
‘Her face is decent enough to be useful.’
‘Maybe useful at night, but during the day she’d be annoying.’
Their whispers rang clearly in her ears.
They were the same men who had smiled while dancing with her.
Grace’s heart began to pound irregularly.
Startled, she hurried back into the ballroom and sat near the wall, trying to steady her breathing.
‘What did I just hear?’
Was this what high society was like?
She couldn’t handle the confusion.
‘Are you alright?’
A man holding champagne approached her—it was one of the men from earlier. Seeing his gentle smile filled her with disgust.
Ignoring him, Grace quickly crossed the ballroom.
She had to find her mother.
‘Mother, I want to return to my room.’
‘What are you saying? This ball is for you.’
‘I can’t stay here any longer!’
‘Grace, many guests came here for you.’
‘They’re all lying!’
‘Watch your words—!’
‘They smile in front of me, but behind my back they mock our family for declining!’
Slap!
Her head snapped to the side from the sharp impact.
The hall fell silent. Only the music remained.
‘Watch your mouth.’
Her mother’s cold face, and the countless gazes watching her—she could never forget them.
Since then, Grace had avoided balls at all costs. Even thinking about them made her feel dizzy, as if standing on a high place.
Would a masquerade ball be different?
If she hid her identity, would it be easier?
She didn’t know.
Even if she wanted to go, she had no real connection to the Roland family. Her parents might receive an invitation, but not her.
Grace set down Aiden’s letter and opened the other one.
Then—
From Marianne Roland,
to Miss Grace Broyton
Inside was an invitation card.
It was an invitation to attend the masquerade ball hosted by the Roland family.
Such timing felt unbelievable.
Normally, she would have refused immediately.
But this time, she hesitated.
If she wore a mask, she could hide herself. She wouldn’t attract unnecessary attention.
She still disliked balls—but she couldn’t just let this marriage proceed without doing anything.
Grace took out paper and began writing quickly.
To Mr. Aiden Turner,
Aiden, your letters are becoming familiar to me.
Thank you for telling me about your day as well.
I can feel your sincerity. I truly think you are admirable.
This is my honest feeling.
Aiden, it is embarrassing to admit, but I am not good at dancing. Even if I attend the ball, I will likely remain a wallflower.
Even if I do dance, I may step on my partner’s shoes.
Still, if that is alright, may I be your partner?
I might trouble you by stepping on your feet many times.
If that is still alright, then I, too, would like to see you at the masquerade ball.
On the condition that we do not remove our masks until the end.
If that is acceptable, then I want to see you.
Waiting for your reply,
Grace
To make a decision about the marriage, she needed to meet Aiden.
A masquerade ball felt like the perfect place—she could meet him without pressure, and leave just as easily.
Judging him without knowing his face also appealed to her.
Grace then wrote another letter to Marianne Roland, accepting the invitation.
The next day, instead of walking along Wickers Street, Grace walked through the central square.
To buy a mask.
Since she never attended social events, she didn’t have one.
That morning, she handed two letters to Lisa—one to the Roland family and one to Aiden.
“Where can I buy a mask for a ball?”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m attending the masquerade ball hosted by the Countess of Roland.”
Lisa’s eyes widened in shock.
Thinking of her expression made Grace smile.
As she walked toward the main street, her steps felt light.
Her destination: Henry Button’s shop.
Lisa had told her that the shop sold many masks—especially beautiful ones that could fully cover the face.
After walking for a while, she arrived.
But feeling awkward, she lingered outside instead of entering.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Hearing someone behind her, Grace quickly stepped aside.
The man held the door and looked at her.
“Aren’t you going in?”
“Ah, I am. Thank you.”
As she thanked him and looked at his face—
She saw clear blue eyes.
“…Oh?”
“We meet again.”
The man with eyes like lapis lazuli smiled brightly at her.
