Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 363

"And? Will that sham attend today's masquerade ball?"
"Probably."

When I asked Freed, he answered despite making an unwilling face.
I was handed a mask that was the substitute for the written invitation for the masquerade ball.
A silver mask with a butterfly motif. Feeling like I was holding something familiar, I tilted my head.

"Nn?"
"The organizer of tonight's ball is Marquis Littenheim. Lidi, don't you recall his name?"
"… Marquis Littenheim… Ah, he was the organizer of the masquerade ball I went to."
"Yup, it's a perfect coincidence, but that's right."

Freed smiled wryly.
I also made a complicated face.
The organizer of the masquerade ball where I met Freed. That's who Marquis Littenheim is.

"It's so much like before that it feels planned…"
"I understand why you'd say, but it's really a coincidence. I think you know, but Marquis Littenheim is a man who loves hosting such evening parties. More or less only those of count status and above can attend, but he's known as quite a lecher, so he mixes in some participants of unknown identity on purpose. Of course, the Marquis doesn't know who they are either. Because it's more interesting not knowing. He seems to desire stimulation. It was quite easy to fit into that quota after pulling some strings."
"… Perhaps, I also participated on that quota before?"
"It's possible. I was also using it to attend, and this time I obtained the mask the same way."
"… I heard they were safe balls where nobles of count status and above gather though."
"Fundamentally, that's right. The Marquis isn't stupid either. The reason he uses the free quota is because people of count status and above who were qualified to participate insisted to accommodate people who wanted to participate. Although he doesn't confirm who's coming, participation isn't allowed without recommendation by a qualified person. He wants to enjoy the risk but also to minimize it."
"Er, for reference, who's the qualified person who recommended us?"
"Nn? It's Glenn. He has many connections like that."
"… Aah."

I see.
Glenn said before that he had been responsible for Freed going to masquerade balls. That means he must've prepared Freed's participation credentials. And so, he cooperated this time as well.
It's different now, but Glenn used to have a reputation as a philanderer. It makes sense that he has connections.

"I wonder if the fake Freed also asked somebody for participation credentials."
"Other organizers take a similar approach to participation, so I think he did. It's difficult to investigate those attending because the real thrill of masquerade balls is not knowing who the participants are, so after all the only choice is to catch him on the spot."
"Yup… You're right. I don't want him to meet Marianne when his identity is unknown, so I hope he'll attend this masquerade ball."
"He's quite a celebrity at recent masquerade balls. From what I've heard, he attends masquerade balls every week. That's why, I'm sure he'll attend tonight."
"Celebrity?"
"It's incredibly unpleasant, but there seems to be a rumor among masquerade balls goers that an enigmatic man who had disappeared half a year ago came back and is going through one woman after another."
"… I don't like it. You haven't done anything, Freed…"

Even though I know it's not him, I feel sick.
I must stop it tonight no matter what. No failure is allowed, both for the sake of never again letting him pretend to be Freed and for the sake of protecting my friend.

"I'll find out who he is no matter what."

Just in case, I reviewed portraits of every noble. My reinforced memory is perfect. I'm convinced that even if I can't tell from a distance, I'll absolutely understand from up close.
I carefully put on the mask.
Today I'll use Freed's return magical art to go to the ball venue.
It's difficult to go out looking like this, so a few days ago Freed went ahead to the venue for that sake.

"Then, we're going."
"Yup."
"Cain, come here too."
"I know."

As Freed called him, Cain, who had been standing by in a place slightly away from us, came here.
Including Cain, the three of us are going, so we'll move using Freed's return magical art.
It seems that after escorting me to the venue, they plan on hiding in the ceiling somewhere and guarding me.
Freed and Cain. It's an overkill no matter how I look at it, but it's reassuring, so I'm very grateful.

"Whoa!?"

Freed violently seized the nap of Cain's neck as he moved close to me.

"You go here. Stay next to me."
"… No, I'm an escort. Why am I supposed to be next to you?"
"When I'm there, you don't need to be next to Lidi, right?"
"I don't need to be next to you even more, do I?"
"…"
"Aah jeez, I understand!"

Under Freed's glare, Cain raised his hands in surrender. And then, he obediently stood next to Freed and told me.

"Princess. Your husband is incredibly troublesome."
"… Yup, after all, he's Freed."
"… So why are looking so happy, Princess. When I look at you, Alex's 'lovebirds' strikes a chord…"
"…"

I averted my eyes.
Even though things may appear otherwise, I intended to restrain myself, but apparently, I still can't slip out of the lovebirds mindset… Uu, it's difficult.
While I was ruminating on what I should do, Cain laughed.

"No, Princess, I don't mind if you're okay with it… Now, I'm ready any time."
"… Got it."

Freed nodded to Cain's voice.
Freed activated the return magical art. The scenery changed in an instant. In the twinkling of an eye we moved to the familiar mansion.
Looking around, Freed told me.

"Lidi, Marquis Littenheim's secondary residence is to the right around this corner. It's the venue of tonight's evening party. There's no one there right now, so go."

I nodded to Freed's words.
As expected, the venue of tonight's evening party was the same as the one I'd gone to before.
I recalled the place that I'd been to once and generally grasped the process.

"Got it…. See you later."
"Lidi, we won't take our eyes off you no matter what, so if something happens, don't move. We'll help you right away."
"Yup."
"Princess, don't force yourself."
"I understand that."

I nodded as both of them worried about me and set out to walk. I turned according to Freed's words and saw the gate to the mansion. The gate was lit up by a brazier, and four gatekeepers stood guard.
The gate opened, and I entered the crowd of people wearing masks similar to mine. From time to time people without participation credentials mixed in, but the gatekeepers turned them away. I found the multicolored butterfly masks in a bad taste, but it was no use commenting about it. I slipped into the queue of participants and safely arrived at the evening party venue.
The venue was not at all different from what I remembered. The most spacious room on the ground floor of the secondary residence was open. In the middle of it several men and women were cheerfully dancing, but the dances were mainly sensual ones focused on clinging to each other. It made it sink in that this was a masquerade ball for the purpose of having a sexual intercourse. I felt unpleasant seeing leading men lewdly touching women's waists.

―― I understand it's not my place to say anything as long as they consent though.

I couldn't keep up with this obscene atmosphere.

"Phew…"

As soon as I came, I felt sick. But, I mustn't go home. I decided to stay near the wall to not stand out too much and searched for my target.

"Not here…"

Perhaps because it had just started, I couldn't see the man. In the dim lightning, men and women were whispering and laughing together at an uncomfortable distance. Many women were hiding their mouths with folding fans. It seemed like participants employed various tricks to hide their identity.

"I wonder if I should have brought one too…"

Although it crossed my mind, I deemed it unnecessary. After all, I must get close to that man. How would I get him to notice me if I hid my mouth.
In the Etiquette of Men and Women of Wilhelm, man talking first is fundamental.
I can't say, "Hey, let's talk a little." When I first went to a masquerade ball, I didn't know the Etiquette of Men and Women, so I thought I could just talk first, but I can't do the same now that I have the knowledge,.
There's also a saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". Knowing there are rules, I have to abide by them.

"Aah… But, after all, I can't get used to this atmosphere…"

The decadent atmosphere peculiar to masquerade balls made me unable to calm down. From time to time men ostentatiously sent their gazes, but I desperately averted my eyes to avoid them.
Looking away is a signal to give up. Thinking that it wouldn't be good if our eyes met strangely, I searched for an unpopular place where I could escape to.

"… And so, I ended up here."

In the end, I went to the same food and drink area with simple meals prepared.
Because, there really was nobody here. I guess nobody can spare time for eating since they want to find a partner, but for me it's like an oasis in the middle of a desert.
I decided to gratefully accept the prepared chocolates and baked sweets.

"Aah…. Delicious."

I also thought it the last time, but the chef employed by Marquis Littenheim is quite skilled. Even though I usually eat meals at the Royal Castle, there are surprisingly many delicious sweets here.

"I… can't stop. Hmm, but, it's delicious."

Perhaps it's a reaction to only making Japanese confections recently, but I find cakes and cookies that I eat from time to time unbelievably delicious.
A chiffon cake with plenty of fresh cream melted in my mouth, and I really liked the crispy texture of cookies.
But, I'm different from before. Last time I became shamefully absorbed in sweets and completely forgot about the man I was aiming at.
This time is different.
I'll never forget about a man who pretends to be my husband and wants to sink his poisonous fangs into my friend.
While eating, I constantly peeked at the dance hall.

Chapter end