Chapter 50
Lin Arclight knew.
“You brought the ‘princess’ along today too, I see?”
She knew what the woman before her, Rea Valenkroft, meant by those words.
She had been woefully ignorant of how the world worked.
She knew that the word ‘princess’ clearly referred to her, but she did not take Rea’s provocation.
No, rather, because she acknowledged it to some extent.
She had felt that keenly through the brief but intense experience she had endured.
She was twenty-two. Though several years had passed since she became an adult, how much trouble had her immature actions caused those around her?
But look at Rea Valenkroft.
Though she was also twenty-two, she had risen from the bottom to become the head of a corporation.
What would happen if she were abandoned in this city of Magitera with nothing?
The answer was obvious.
Rea was someone who had walked a path completely opposite to hers.
From Rea’s perspective, Lin might really have looked like a princess.
And yet, even knowing that in her head,
Enduring Rea’s actions and words was extremely painful.
Why?
Rea had one of Kael’s arms wrapped naturally around her own.
Lin strangely hated it. It irritated and annoyed her.
Her eyes kept drifting in that direction.
Even when she tried not to look, the sight of the two of them at the edge of her vision caused Lin pain.
Whenever Rea leaned toward Kael, something inside Lin’s chest tightened slightly.
Kael was expressionless as usual.
He probably wasn’t thinking anything at all.
No, it wasn’t that he had no thoughts, but at least they wouldn’t be the sort of thoughts Rea wanted.
Lin Arclight knew.
Kael and Rea were not real lovers.
But.
Even so.
Her heart would not calm down.
She hated that Rea was holding Kael’s arm.
She hated that Rea called Kael so naturally.
She hated that Rea straightened Kael’s collar for him.
She hated the way Rea acted as though she had occupied the place beside Kael for a long time.
Why?
Lin could not understand why Kael occupied her thoughts so much.
Right. It was concern.
Rea Valenkroft was a dangerous person, and Kael might be getting used by her.
It was only natural that Lin was worried.
Kael was the benefactor who had saved her, and he was also an important figure from Seraph’s perspective.
Therefore, there was nothing strange about her being worried.
And she could be certain of one thing.
She did not like Rea Valenkroft.
“Ms. Lin.”
When Rea called to her gently, Lin raised her head.
Rea still had her hand resting on Kael’s arm.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I am?”
When Lin reflexively asked back, the corner of Rea’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Yes. You were looking at me rather intimidatingly.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“Really? I thought I must have done something wrong again.”
Lin slowly caught her breath and formed a smile.
“What could you possibly do wrong, Ms. Rea? You’re the very icon of perfection.”
Rea’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Oh my.”
She let out a small laugh.
“I never expected to hear such a compliment from Lin.”
“I’m still learning too.”
“That’s a good attitude. Mr. Edrian must be proud of you.”
Princess.
The word did not come up again, but Rea was still treating her like a child.
Lin’s fingertips tensed, but she maintained her smile.
Then Rea immediately said with a smile,
“You really are a much-loved princess.”
Rea did not miss the way Lin’s expression twisted for an instant.
“Ah, I’m sorry. Did that make you uncomfortable?”
“No.”
Lin raised her head.
“I’m not uncomfortable.”
“Then that’s a relief.”
“However.”
Lin paused for a moment.
Her grandfather, Kael, and everyone around them were listening to the conversation.
But she now understood, at least a little, that merely enduring it would change nothing.
Lin looked straight at Rea.
“It sounds a little strange coming from you, Ms. Rea.”
Rea’s smile deepened slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re a princess of the Valenkroft family too, after all.”
The atmosphere around them instantly grew tense.
“Of course, I think what you’ve accomplished is incredible. Truly. I haven’t been able to do anything like that yet, so I understand, to some extent, how you see me.”
Lin’s voice did not tremble.
“But whenever you call me a princess, it makes me curious. Do you really think you’re completely different from me?”
She looked at Rea.
Rea was still smiling, but her eyes were not.
“Lin.”
Edrian’s voice cut in at that moment.
It was low and gentle, but it was clear he meant she must not take this any further.
Lin closed her mouth.
Edrian was still smiling, but his gaze was firm.
“Let’s stop there.”
Lin could not answer him after that.
Edrian turned his gaze toward Rea.
“Ms. Rea, my granddaughter is still learning her way around high society, so she was a little clumsy.”
Rea smiled gently.
“Not at all. It was a very interesting conversation.”
“Then that’s a relief.”
Edrian placed a hand on Lin’s shoulder.
“Lin, come with me for a moment.”
He politely inclined his head toward Rea and Kael.
“Then we’ll excuse ourselves for a moment.”
Rea answered with a smile.
“Take your time looking around, Mr. Edrian.”
….
***
The masquerade began at the appointed time.
The hall lights dimmed once, then the decorations set into the ceiling slowly began to glow.
The music had not started yet.
Instead, the emcee’s voice spread gently throughout the hall.
Kael had already received his mask at the entrance.
It was a black half-mask, more an ornament covering half his face than anything else, but it did not obstruct his vision.
Rea was wearing a black mask with red decorative lines.
Kael looked around the hall.
People wore masks, but they still recognized one another. They were merely a little more talkative.
Perhaps because they thought they could pretend to hide their identities, or perhaps because they enjoyed the fact that everyone already knew.
And a few words filtering through the gaps.
Standing beside Rea, Kael listened selectively while she exchanged greetings, picking out only what seemed necessary.
-…I hear the White Society’s agenda for next quarter hasn’t been finalized yet.
-There’s talk that HCAB’s allocation chart is being delayed.
-Naturally. The backlog of people waiting for their Tier 6 promotion reviews has piled up.
Rea continued her conversation with the man beside her, smiling.
“…That’s an exaggeration. Archeon Genetics only engages in legal activities, after all.”
“Hearing that from you, Ms. Rea, is actually rather frightening.”
The people around them laughed.
Rea naturally moved on to the next person she had to greet, and Kael followed.
Meanwhile, the lights over the center of the hall dimmed a little further, and music began to play.
As people naturally cleared the center, they began moving with their respective partners.
Rea looked up at Kael.
“We have to go too.”
Kael looked at Rea.
“Where?”
“Where do you think? We’re going dancing.”
“…Is that really necessary?”
“It is.”
“Why?”
Rea smiled.
“Because we’re lovers.”
Kael looked at her with displeasure for a moment, but
he did not refuse the proposal.
Since he had accepted the commission, he had to perform the role required of him.
When Kael held out his hand, Rea took it as though she had been waiting.
“You’re getting pretty quick this time.”
Rea let out a small laugh and led him toward the center of the hall.
The two of them entered among the dancing couples.
Kael stopped for a moment and watched another couple dance intently.
Rea whispered softly.
“You do know how to dance, right?”
“Wait.”
…?
Instead of answering, Kael began to move slowly.
His first step was slightly late, but from the second step onward, he matched the rhythm.
He caught the rhythm on the third and finished adjusting their distance on the fourth.
Rea blinked in surprise, then looked up at him.
“What?”
“Is there a problem?”
“You dance better than I expected.”
“This much is basic social etiquette.”
“That’s more than basic. Have you learned somewhere?”
Kael answered.
“I’ve been in similar situations from time to time.”
“Similar situations? You don’t look like someone who often attends social gatherings.”
Kael slightly loosened his grip in time with Rea’s backward step.
After Rea’s body spun to the music, he caught her again.
“I’m just copying the movements of the couples who danced before us.”
Rea was momentarily speechless.
Then she laughed as though she couldn’t believe it.
“You’re watching them and copying them right now?”
“Yes.”
“This?”
Rea was laughing even as she said it.
After several more sequences, the dance ended, and Kael let out a short breath.
It was then.
As though he had been waiting for that moment, a butler who appeared to be middle-aged approached them.
He stopped in front of Rea and bowed politely.
“Miss Rea.”
Rea’s smile faded slightly.
“What is it?”
The butler glanced at Kael once, then looked back at Rea.
“Mr. Orelian would like to see you.”