Chapter 56

The chandelier on the ceiling shone brightly.

Annie leaned against the red wall beneath it and watched the people.

‘There are so many people this year…’

The hall was full of nobles wearing masquerade masks. They had come to dance in the center or enjoyed wine at tables thoroughly arranged to the fullest.

Annie had a hard time holding her yawn. She was bored even though the fast-paced classical music continued.

The masquerade was an old event held every year in Porcaus. It came every year, so it wasn’t new, let alone making her feel nervous.

Carla, watching from the side, grabbed Annie’s sleeves tightly.

“My Lady, why don’t you go to the middle and find a partner, instead of staying in the corner like this?”

“Hmm. Partner.”

“My Lady.”

Carla’s stomach burned because of her carefree master. Even if Annie, who was already short, wore her shoes, she didn’t stand out in such a ball like this.

Then she had to try to stand out somehow.

But Annie was still stubborn.

“My partner can’t be just anyone. If he was a prince on a white horse, tall, handsome man wearing a white suit, I’ll consider it.”

“… Just honestly tell me.”

Carla sighed, but Annie pretended not to hear it. She hadn’t even danced anyway, and she wasn’t very interested.

She just wanted to see people’s faces. The excitement that she had was now lost. Everyone who danced hand-in-hand looked happy. Annie said, as she looked at them with a faint smile.

“Carla, look over there. Everyone looks happy.”

The more she did, the more Carla’s insides got burned.

“Even though you declared your non-marriage, you didn’t say you weren’t dancing. You’ve come all the way here, so please enjoy dancing at least to one song.”

“I told you.  My partner can’t be anyone.”

“Yes. Yes.”

Contrary to Annie’s expectations, Carla admitted neatly.

Rather, the surprised Annie looked at Carla.

‘Why is Carla so gentle?’

Carla jerked the other side with a strange face.

“…”

Annie followed her gaze and opened her eyes wide.

Since when has he been doing this? He saw a man kneeling on one knee on the floor, handing a hand to her. He was wearing a white suit that she had never seen before.

The white masquerade mask under the shiny black hair, the slim chin line and the nose that continued under it were all perfect.

‘… Are you really asking me to dance?’

A man who asked for a dance with a perfect posture as seen in any textbook was refreshing. Most of these days, it has been simplified to ask for a dance by handing only a hand.

“My Lady, it would be an honor to be with you.”

The sweet voice was also better to listen to than the songs that played in the hall. As she looked at him blankly, she heard the surrounding women’s murmur with envy.

Carla poked Annie’s waist with her hand.

“Hey, he’s a better person than a prince on a white horse. What are you doing, My Lady? A wonderful gentleman would be ashamed.”

Now, she couldn’t take her words back, so Annie looked embarrassed.

‘… A dance to a song would be okay.’

While agonizing, she overlapped her hand with the outstretched hand of a young man who didn’t even move, just like a sculpture.

Before long, the young man rose. With good manners, he walked slowly as he escorted Annie.

Standing in the middle of the hall, the young man bowed his head toward Annie. Annie smiled awkwardly as his eyes got entangled in the mask.

“It would be difficult to look down like that. Doesn’t it hurt your neck?”

“That’s fine.”

The short-answer voice seemed familiar for some reason.

Even the faintly trembling breath.

‘… What?’

Meanwhile, a large hand wrapped around Annie’s waist. As if to just reach her, the polite touch did not reach her.

‘…’

She was in a strange mood. No gentleman has ever treated her like this. He was as careful as if he was handling ceramics, or a national treasure.

Annie, wondering, raised her head. A finely stiff mouth can be seen above his smooth chin line.

‘Breath… Are you breathing correctly? I don’t think you are breathing?’

Annie, with her left hand on the young man’s shoulder, asked carefully.

“Well, are you okay?”

“Yes.”

The other person responded quickly, but he was obviously tense. Annie was immersed in her thoughts because she somewhat recognized his straight posture.

The skin exposed through the mask was barely as pale as her eyes. Annie had seen only two men with such transparent skin in her life.

The young man in the shelter for abandoned dogs and the tyrant.

‘Uh… the dog chew man?’

When she looked up again, the figure matched with the young man. Even the smooth jawline that appeared under the mask was hard to see.

Annie’s lips were wide open.

‘That’s right. It’s him.’

Before she knew it, the music started playing. The slow waltz song was Annie’s favorite song.

Smooth move to the right.