Chapter 45: The Tail Wags the Dog

In this world, there is no one whose exterior matches their interior perfectly.

No matter how honest one's heart, a mask is always worn upon one's face.

The only difference is in the thickness of these masks—some are thin, while others are prohibitively thick.

Thick to the point that the behavior they exhibit to the outside world is starkly different from the true shape hidden beneath the mask.

Yet, even so, when the night deepens and solitude ensues, they choose to briefly remove their masks, relaxing their weary souls in unseen corners.

For Ivyst, it was the same.

But unlike ordinary people, she had two masks.

One was worn on her face, concealing the Curse Mark that repelled and disgusted all life.

The other was worn on her heart.

Due to the strange looks she had encountered since childhood, Ivyst started long ago to present herself to others not as she truly was, but with a different appearance and personality.