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Chapter – 18
The butler and the head maid stood beside Bihan, their expressions grave as they followed his lead. No matter what party he attended, Bihan always dressed as neatly as he did when going to the Imperial Palace.
And the responsibility for those clothes had always fallen to the butler or the head maid. Yet today, for the first time, Duke Kayers himself had insisted on inspecting the dressing room.
“Head maid.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“…This is an occasion where we will be accompanying a most distinguished guest. We must not diminish that person’s standing.”
“……”
When the butler brought out several of the duke’s formal outfits and Bihan shook his head, the head maid’s 고민 only deepened. A masquerade ball, a distinguished guest….
As she surveyed the dressing room in thought, her gaze suddenly stopped. Not hanging among the clothes, but displayed almost as an exhibit, was the pristine white uniform of the Imperial Knights.
“…My lord, I understand that today’s event is a masquerade ball. If I may be so bold—these days, at masquerade balls, knights’ uniforms are said to be the most popular.”
It was the Imperial Knights’ uniform that he usually found uncomfortable and awkward, rarely wearing it. He had inherited the ducal title abruptly just before joining the order, and ever since then had lived a life far removed from that of a knight.
With nothing but the fact that he was a magic swordsman, he had risen instantly to the very top, yet wherever he went, he remained an outsider.
Burdened with the duke’s countless obligations and restrictions, he had always thought of his entry into the order as nothing more than a hollow ceremony. Though he trained with them on occasion….
“Head maid, that is—!”
The butler, well aware of Bihan’s feelings toward the Imperial Knights, gasped and tried to stop her.
“It’s fine, butler.”
Bihan shook his head and restrained him.
“My lord, I will look for another outfit.”
“No. The knights’ uniform. We’ll go with that.”
If she were to look upon it kindly, that alone would be reason enough for him to have kept that uniform all this time.
Even as he rode in the carriage, entered the Riothium estate, and waited in front for Rosemary to come out, it still didn’t feel real. Until recently, she had been someone he could only watch from afar.
Bihan couldn’t understand why Rosemary avoided society and even hid herself from her friends.
Having observed her over the past two years, he knew better than anyone that she was nothing like someone suited to seclusion. Especially when he recalled her at her debutante ball.
She was someone meant to shine brighter than anyone else. If she didn’t hide behind her name, she could accomplish so much more—and she was someone who wanted to do much more.
Making her his partner for today’s ball had been his own selfish desire. He already knew that the marquess’s daughter was close to Rosemary. It was all the more fortunate that the marquess’s daughter was hosting a masquerade ball.
If Rosemary ever chose to reveal herself again, the beginning would have to be cautious. A friend’s birthday ball. A masquerade where she wouldn’t need to reveal her identity—there could be no better place.
“Ah….”
The doors of the mansion opened. As Rosemary slowly descended the white steps of the Riothium estate, Bihan couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Just as he had during her entrance at the debutante ball, he stood frozen, gazing up at her in a daze.
“Rosemary.”
Against the exposed line of her neck, where her hair was swept up, hung the necklace he had given her. A strange sense of satisfaction washed over him.
“Your Grace.”
He wished she would call him Bihan, as she had promised that day, but he belatedly noticed Count Fior beside her, who was doing a terrible job of managing his expression compared to usual.
“Good day, Your Grace.”
“Count Fior.”
“I hear you’ll be escorting my sister today.”
“Yes.”
With the short reply, Bihan extended his hand to take Rosemary’s, but Gerard did not relinquish it easily.
“You may already know this, but my sister is not in good health. I would appreciate it if you could see that she returns home early.”
“Of course.”
Having calculated that there was nothing to gain from creating hostility with her family, Bihan accepted Gerard’s warning—warning in all but name—without protest.
He carefully took Rosemary’s hand as Gerard handed it over and escorted her into the carriage. The moment the carriage door closed, her gaze turned to him.
“Your Grace, if you address me that way in front of my brother, I’ll be in quite a difficult position. All the men in my family are overly particular.”
“Then it’s fine when it’s just the two of us, isn’t it, Rosemary?”
She nodded instead of answering. Rosemary, Rosemary—how many times had he silently shaped that name in his mind?
“…You’re wearing the Imperial Knights’ uniform today.”
As if trying to change the subject, Rosemary spoke about his clothes.
“For now, I am still a member of this place.”
“For someone meant to lead them, saying ‘for now’ sounds rather odd.”
Had it displeased her? He found it strange that he even worried about such a thing.
“But you don’t usually wear it, do you?”
“…I heard it’s the most popular attire at masquerade balls.”
“…I suppose it is. With everyone wearing masks, you don’t know who’s who, but if someone’s in the knights’ uniform, it means they’re an imperial knight, so… naturally…?”
“Do you think so too, Rosemary?”
“Huh?”
Her eyes widened. Seeing a different expression in those usually calm, composed lavender eyes was fascinating. He wanted to look sufficient in those eyes.
“Rosemary, I hope I please you.”
What meaning would she take from those words?
“I’m glad you wore the gift.”
It had been a gemstone listed at the auction house he operated about a year ago. The moment he saw the purple sapphire, he bought it. Its lighter hue compared to ordinary purple sapphires caught his eye, and by the time he came to his senses, he had already purchased it and sent it to a jeweler.
He had kept it ever since, without even knowing how he might pass it on to her.
Rosemary’s lips parted in flustered surprise. His gaze was drawn to her lips, redder than usual.
“…Is it really okay to call you Bihan…?”
He knew that the syllable “-nim” might have followed, or perhaps she might have added his family name instead. Knowing all of that, Bihan smiled as if unaware.
“So you will call me that?”
Her face flushed with confusion. The gaze he had barely managed to pull back from a dangerous place now held all of Rosemary within it.
“Rosemary, it seems we’ve arrived.”
She lifted the lace mask she’d been holding and placed it over her eyes. After tying the soft silk ribbon behind her swept-up hair, she saw that Bihan had donned a silver mask similar in color to his hair.
“…Everyone will recognize you immediately, Bihan.”
“At masquerade balls, many people dye their hair the same color as mine.”
Ah, right. The silver of House Kayers was a color many admired. Since they couldn’t imitate it in everyday life, masquerade balls were when many tried it.
There had even been an incident where Eclette mistook some strange man at a masquerade for Duke Kayers and followed him, leading to trouble….
“Ah, that’s true. The silver of Kayers, or the gold of the imperial family… Oh, and Sir Ventus’s hair color is quite—”
“Sir Ventus?”
Ah. That might have been a mistake.
“Do you know the commander of the Deluard Knights?”
Given Bihan’s information network, she had assumed he would know she had met Luke Ventus—but apparently not. Had he stopped keeping people around her once his suspicions were cleared…?
“Not personally. But he’s famous, isn’t he? Sir Luke Ventus, the guardian deity of the Empire.”
“…He’s a strong man.”
She knew how rare it was for praise of Luke Ventus to come from Bihan’s mouth. His expression didn’t look complimentary at all, but still….
A servant of House Gron, waiting in front of the ballroom, opened the carriage door. Bihan stepped down first and extended his arm politely. Holding his arm, she descended the steps, and as she lowered her gaze to arrange her dress, Bihan spoke quietly.
“But he’s impulsive and rude, not someone you need concern yourself with.”
There it is. She had wondered why he was offering praise alone.
“Shall we go in?”
“Whenever you wish.”
Even standing right beside her, Bihan exhaled deeply and carefully, as if bracing himself.
The music of the ball. The laughter and chatter of countless people. Nobles lavishly adorned. Information exchanged and secret deals hidden in conversation. All social interactions were games.
She had forgotten it for a while, but this was one of the reasons she had once looked forward to entering society. It was a field of play built on information and knowledge.
And today, no one could possibly guess who she was. No one would imagine that the Count of Riothium’s daughter was in attendance.
Ah, what should I do? This is far too exciting.
“Rosemary.”
“Yes?”
“You look like you’re enjoying yourself.”
“…Is it that obvious?”
“A little.”
She hadn’t meant to show it…. Her face felt a bit warm. She tightened her grip on Bihan’s arm, which she’d been holding loosely.
“In times like these, you’re supposed to pretend you didn’t notice.”
“My apologies.”
With eyes that looked not the least bit apologetic, who would believe that?
“…It’s been a long time. I’m excited.”
“I’ve never enjoyed a ball.”
“That’s because you always put up walls, Bihan.”
Never dancing even once, putting up an iron defense against ladies until things inevitably caused a stir—how could a ball ever be enjoyable like that?
“And a ball isn’t only about dancing, you know.”
“…”
“Conversation is fun. It’s like a game played with words. Information is exchanged, and new stories are created.”
“…That’s one way to see it.”
They crossed the threshold into the ballroom. Seeing Bihan draw in a breath as if preparing himself, she smiled at him.
Since he had a partner today, he wouldn’t need to put up as many walls. Ah—was that why he’d brought her?
“Today, let’s play a game just between the two of us. Since we came as partners, I’ll do my best to stand beside you and be your wall.”
“…It’s an honor, Rosemary.”
