“I’ve never drunk alcohol properly.”
“Then, juice it is. Which fruit do you prefer?”
“I like anything when it comes to fruits.”
“I see. I’ll be back,” he slipped out of the curtains. Azriel leaned her back on the sofa and collected her both hands.
‘I now know why balls are held so often and also why main characters of storybooks often meet at a ball.’
She did not know that dancing to cheerful music in a beautifully decorated hall, wearing pretty clothes, would feel like this. She felt elated automatically. Her heart even fluttered a little. She could not distinguish well if it was because of Charles or the mood of the ball.
“No. It’s not a time to be swept up in a moment like this,” Azriel murmured to herself and lightly tapped her cheek. Then, she inhaled deeply and exhaled. She calmed down slightly. She slightly pushed the curtain aside and looked outside. Where could Lady Madriol be? On the way to the mansion riding on a carriage, she heard a little about the Lady from Maylie. She said that the Lady had rare blue hair and was a beauty like a mermaid.
“She has blue hair, so you should be able to recognize her at once even though it’s a masquerade. That’s why I was going to ask you to see what she’s like,” Maylie asked.
“Maylie… If you can tell who she is by her hair, wouldn’t she wear a wig? I mean, it’s a masquerade,” Azriel said.
“Oh… You’re right,” Maylie said, awkwardly scratching the back of her head.
She was always like this, but Maylie was sometimes silly like this. That was why Azriel did not want her to get involved in the missing incidents.
‘Like I thought, I don’t think I can find someone I have never seen at a masquerade. I should ask Charles.’
If the Topaz Guild was cooperating with the royal family anyway, she would not have to meet the Lady. Azriel just closed the curtain. Charles returned, not long after that. He had a glass on each hand.
“Here,” he said.
“Thank you,” Azriel said.
He sat a little further away from her and tilted his glass. Azriel sipped her apple juice and thought about how she should talk about it.
“Azriel,” Charles called her first. When she looked at him, he fiddled with his mask. “You came here, planning to reject me?”
She almost choked. Azriel narrowly managed to swallow the juice and put down her glass on the table. “Why do you think so?”
“You are not denying it,” he said.
“…”
“It’s not that you don’t like me, but you must have some other reason that you can’t accept me,” he guessed.
“…”
“Hmm, my position as the king can be a problem, but more than that, it must be because you can’t afford to think about this, isn’t it?” Charles laughed mischievously. Azriel looked up at him dumbfoundedly and asked. “I was taught that mind reading is impossible magic. Are you a mind reader, Charles?”
He burst into laughter. Then, he took off his mask as if it was uncomfortable. “Azriel, it looks like it won’t be easy for you to be in politics.”
“Is it that obvious? I am even wearing a mask,” Azriel said.
“To the point of being cute,” Charles looked at her, cupping his chin. His eyes were so sweet that Azriel almost flushed. She turned her head to avoid his eyes and said. “Anyway… You told me to give you an answer after we get to know a little more about each other, but I’ll answer now.”
“Can’t I hear that later?” he asked.
“If I do that, it’ll be more rude. In the situation I’m in right now, it’ll be no different than neglecting.”
“No, it’s not rude. You can just leave it and think about it when you feel like it. Think lightly of it, Azriel.”
“I’m sorry, Charles. I don’t know how to think lightly of another person’s interest. Frankly, I don’t want to do so, either,” Azriel took a deep breath and looked back at him. “It is a precious and grateful thing that someone likes me. Regardless of its depth, it’s someone’s heart towards me. I can’t treat that thoughtlessly.”
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