Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 364

"Ah! He came! It's him for sure!"

About an hour passed since the start of the evening party, and when I was about to give up, that man came. I immediately noticed he was the man pretending to be Freed.
In a hurry I put down the plate I was holding and rushed to the dance hall.

I observed the target.
The man who appeared was wearing dark evening wear and a golden mask.
Tall, blue eyes, black hair.
He had well-ordered features, so even through the mask I could guess he was a good-looking man. Certainly, if I didn't know the real thing, his atmosphere would be similar enough to Freed's that he wouldn't raise a doubt pretending to be 'Apollo'. However, for me they were completely different.

―― What's that, he's not Freed!

First of all, the hairstyle is different. Unlike Freed's soft hair, that man's hair is straight. Moreover, he moves completely different from Freed.
Freed is an extraordinary person with an aura that draws the eye of everybody around, but the man who appeared now lacks that. I guess he's a little eye catching, but their presences are completely different.
Then there's the physique. I think he's trained, but his shoulders aren't as wide as Freed's. You can tell my husband has slim but muscular build even when he wears clothes, but this man simply feels slim. I won't say he's not trained, but he's different from Freed. If anything, he feels closer to Cain.
The eyes visible through the mask are blue, but they're different from Freed's beautiful eyes that send my chest astir. He somehow has the atmosphere of an imitation. Because of his slanted bangs, I couldn't get a good look at him.

―― No matter how I look at it, isn't he a sham?

Certainly, I can see some resemblance.
The eye and hair colors are similar, and his conduct is elegant, although not at Freed's level. He's tall, and his gentle smile is something Freed could make.
Above all, half of his face is hidden by the mask, so as long as he keeps up his atmosphere, he can gloss over everything else.
I understand he's not that different from Freed, so in a dark room his deception might succeed.
It might be inevitable everyone would think that the playboy who had disappeared came back, but it's unforgivable for me who knows the real thing.

―― Who?

I carefully observed him. The man was watching women on the dance floor as if looking for someone. I wonder if the woman he made a promise with for today is not here. Then it's convenient for me.

After all, I couldn't see through the disguise at a distance. While thinking that I must get a little closer, by a perfect coincidence I met that man's gaze.

"Ah…"

I was about to unconsciously avert my eyes, but I endured. If I looked away here, he wouldn't approach, thinking he had no chance. In which case, his identity would remain unknown. Then there would be no point in coming here.

―― Go! Keep at it!

I smiled to show that he could talk to me.
The man blinked his eyes, and then smiled happily and came here.

―― Alright! Got him!

I barely endured my emotions getting better of me and doing the guts pose. I must play a well-mannered young lady as much as possible. Didn't I feign it quite well when I first met Freed at the masquerade ball? Recalling that, I decided to reenact it.

"Good evening."
"Yeah, good evening."

While greeting the man, I observed him carefully.
He seems roughly as old as Freed. On a closer look, his blue eyes have a different shade from Freed's. His voice is also higher. Compared to Freed, the difference is blatant.

"Would you allow me to enjoy a conversation with you?"
"Of course."

I tilted my head and smiled as cutely as I could. The man grinned and said, "Well then." He licked his lips to moisten them. There may be many women who find such gestures erotic, but I simply felt uncomfortable.
The man showered me with compliments.

"It's the first time I've seen you, but you are a very beautiful person. Your violet eyes are just like jewels. Is it your first time at a masquerade ball? If I had known somebody as beautiful as you would come today, I'd have come from the very beginning. I'm fortunate that another man hasn't talked to you yet."

―― Nn?

It was for a mere moment, but I felt uncomfortable. Without noticing me tilting my head, the man continued complimenting me.

Complimenting the woman is the formality according to the Etiquette of Men and Women, but my eyebrows scrunched at his superficial praise.
I guess he can only praise my appearances because he doesn't know what's inside, but I can't be honestly happy about it.

―― If it was Freed telling me that, I'd be happy.

Freed only ever tells me such things seriously. I like that about him very much… Stop. I must find out this man's identity.

I ignored this man's incessant praise and observed him. First of all, check the mole in a conspicuous spot. Does anybody have the same trait? Limit it to people with blue eyes. Take into consideration his age and height and compare him to the list of Wilhelm noblemen I know.
I thought I'd have no weak spots after memorizing this year's latest portraits, but the result was astonishing.

―― Eh!? No way. There's no such person?

The man in front of me right now didn't match any nobles I knew.
In other words, he's not a noble, or perhaps he's a noble from another country than Wilhelm, but――

"… Princess?"
"Ah… I apologize. Your words were so pleasant that I lost myself in them."

I became so absorbed in speculation that I didn't notice the man in front of me had stopped talking.
In the spur of the moment I pretended that I'd been listening ecstatically and showed a smile.
The man looked at me with suspicious eyes.

"… My lady. If you like, how about we talk alone?"
"Yeah, by all means."

I answered so, wanting a little more information.
Originally, I planned to have grasped his identity and withdrew at this stage. However, I still have no idea who he is. I can't step back in this situation.

―― As long as it's only a conversation.

I'd never accept an invitation to the bedroom, but perhaps the man discerned that, as he only hoped to talk. Then I had no reason to decline.
Rather, I celebrated since I wanted information.
We didn't leave the dance hall, but we moved to a place with few people.
Really, he's perceptive to subtle signs. He seemed to guess that I didn't actually want to be alone with him.

I looked up at the man standing next to me. He's tall, although not as tall as Freed. Perhaps he's as popular as I've heard, as other women were casting amorous glances at him.
I should've been invited, how vexing.
I unintentionally showed a wry smile as they sent such looks at me.

"… What's the matter?"
"Nothing. I was simply wondering if you really should have invited me."
"What do you mean?"

As the man asked curiously, I shrugged my shoulders.

"After all, plenty of women seem to be looking at you with passionate eyes."
"… I wanted to talk with you today. Is it wrong?"
"No. I'm honored… I didn't expect a person at the center of the rumor to talk to me."
"Rumor?"
"Yeah. The popular rumor that a person who had disappeared half a year ago came back."

I tried boldly saying that.
Will he really say that he's the person from half a year ago? I want to know that.
Supposing that he doesn't, it will mean that he was simply misunderstood. Then I won't need to unnecessarily get angry with him, but――

"Yeah, I was slightly busy, so I couldn't appear for about half a year. However, has it become such a big rumor?"
"Indeed."

―― He's out.

Chapter end