CH 98

This was because she quickly smelled the familiar body musk.

“It’s a masquerade.”

“Yeah, stay right next to me. It’s annoying when bugs get tangled.”

“…?”

Dana accepted a mask handed out by the servant. All of the people here wore masks, starting with the Emperor, and even the servants and maids.

It turned out that Leon was looking at her through a butterfly-shaped dark red mask. Dana smiled as she wore her mask.

He stood out anywhere, so she wondered what use such a mask would be.

“I really can’t recognize you.”

“Right? Look over there.”

The elongated square-shaped banquet hall had several large pillars along the outer corner. There was a two-story passage above the pillar, and there was a room along the passage.

The silhouette showed a man and a woman together in the two-story room.

“Is that a resting place?”

“If you’re curious, you can go now. I don’t think I’ll be able to rest much.”

“Oh, no. It’s okay.”

Dana flinched at the damp and stinging sensation on her earlobe. The bite heated her earlobe.

Leon hugged Dana from behind and ran kisses across her neck so much that it would have been noticeable.

Fortunately, it was not visible because the surroundings were dark. However, that was nothing compared to what she saw next.

Dana could not see it clearly, but the subtle sounds and the shadows around her could tell enough.

There were exceptionally many couples exchanging seductive touches behind the pillars. Until that moment, she had wondered if it was the aristocrats who were quietly talking.

“Why? Are you jealous?”

When Dana didn’t stop glancing around, a low voice came from behind her.

He wrapped himself around Dana and pulled her a little closer to him. And little by little, he pulled her.

“Where are you going?”

“We still have a lot of time.”

Leon led Dana to a small terrace on the first floor. After getting out of the humid air inside, her head felt clearer when she breathed the cool air.

The sky was completely dark at night. She couldn’t see the stars well due to the bright lights installed around her, but she felt better just by coming out.

There was no way that the sticky atmosphere of the ball would not have affected them.

Dana sat on the terrace railing, and Leon slowly kissed her lips, supporting her back with one hand. Their tongues rubbed against each other, mixing the sweet scent of alcohol they had both taken.

“Well…”

Dana stretched out her arms and wrapped them lightly around his neck. Leon tilted his head slightly to the side and dug deeper with his tongue in her mouth. His hand near her waist began to climb up the side slowly.

Then Dana pulled back and removed her lips. Leon’s blue eyes glistened.

“Leon… What did you drink?”

“It’s the wine from Brisantagne. It’s a specialty of the kingdom of Ellard… Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”

“Because it’s delicious, it smells good. I want to taste it, too.”

Leon, who was looking at Dana smiling, cut her off and tried to bury his lips on the back of her neck. However, Dana twisted her body and sneaked away from him.

“Later.”

“No, right now. I want to drink it now, Leon…”

“Whoa, do you have to drink that at this moment?”

Leon brushed his black bangs, turned away, and grumbled in a sullen voice. However, when Dana smiled and begged, he spoke as if he couldn’t help it.

“I’ll get it for you, so stay here and wait.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Looking at Dana, who responded kindly, Leon went back into the banquet hall. He disappeared, and Dana laughed, sitting on the railing and shaking her feet back and forth.

It was strange and awkward, but it was a pleasant night.

At that time, she heard a rustling sound in the bushes in the garden near the terrace. From there, a man approached Dana.

Dana turned her head and looked there. The man also wore a butterfly mask.

His appearance was not surprising because several nobles were in the garden enjoying romance as an excuse for a walk.

But he wasn’t just passing by, he was walking straight towards Dana.

Oh, by any chance? Oh, my. Leon will be here soon.

Dana fidgeted and looked toward the glass door on the terrace where Leon left. She thought the approaching man was coming to ask her for a dance or a date.

As the man approached her, his eyes looked curved.

“You must be out to get some fresh air, Lady.”

As soon as she heard his voice, Dana got goosebumps all over and jumped up from her seat.

It was a strange thing.

Dana didn’t know the man in the mask. It was impossible. She made her first appearance at the banquet today, and most of them said hello to the aristocrat for the first time today, and she had not yet mastered their faces.

The lights installed on the terrace shone softly, revealing the man’s full figure. Then the man took off his mask without hesitation.

“…Ah.”

“The mask is so stuffy. Are you okay, Lady?”

She could see dark brown curly hair, sharp torn gray eyes, and a slender and tall body at a glance.

Dana’s blue eyes trembled softly and went down as if avoiding his gaze. She breathed heavily and stepped down from the railing.

“I’m fine. Then… I hope you have a good time.”

“Hey, lady!”

Dana hurriedly opened the terrace door and entered as if she were being chased. As soon as she took a few steps, she bumped into Leon, who was on his way back with two glasses.

“Ahh, Leon…”

“Where are you going? I told you to stay there.”

Dana suddenly came into Leon’s arms regardless of Leon’s question. Leon held the cups in both hands high in case he spilled them on her.

“What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

“Just… Leon, wait…”