Chapter Six: Ball at the Royal Palace with the Prince

"A masquerade?" There was little time left before night and having to go to this ball. Julie came in happily in an hour, with a royal invitation.

"Yes, Miss!" Julie said very excited about the news. "The messenger was slow to arrive, but it was in time for you to know!" She was jumping with joy, but worried about what I'm going to wear.

I looked at her a little tired. Talking about dancing in the royal palace is not a good idea, but I can't do anything when I saw that I was summoned.

I looked at her, still sitting on my dad's desk chair, with papers already signed on the side. It was over today, but I apparently have to see that too.Julie looks like a girl, and I'm not trying to embitter my face and grow older. This is not a good idea for me. I don't want to see the King, or worse, the Crown Prince.

"Prepare a costume for me to wear." I said. I threw the invitation aside. "But miss! It's not just about choosing! We have to try it!" Julie said irritably. Well, for me. no matter what clothes go. It's annoying just to think. "Julie, please follow my orders and prepare a dress. I don't want anything too attractive. Okay?"

Maybe even said too much. Julie, in addition to being a good friend, is reliable. Also, it was she who took care of Evy after her mother's death. She is a family, not just any employee. "... I'm sorry, I'll prepare now."

After that, she left without making a sound. When the door closed I sighed, dropping my quill. And I noticed when Seiryu woke up from his fourth nap. Who knew, a divine beast was sleeping, and worse, right next to me. "Why be so rude to that woman? She's your friend, isn't she?"

"Before a friend comes to work, Seiryu." I turned to face the documents to read and sign. "I never thought so. You are close, master." He said looking at the door. Will she come in again?

Having friends can be bad, but also good. In addition to being lazy, he was right. "... Yes, we are." On second thought, she has been helping me with everything for a long time. Also, a first friend. "... But it does not matter." Friendship is worth nothing if it doesn't help me. "Now let me finish these documents before you question me again."

The documents were boring when you read them. It felt like an eternity every time one ended. Besides, I didn't imagine that the Tower Master would have as many problems outside as a Grand Duke. And from one minute to the next, do something crazy taking me to the Tower and make me break the base crystal, and then disappear saying that you traveled, leaving the heavy lifting to me. So he must know something, and Seiryu doesn't even tell me.

That power flowing and crumbling inside let me analyze it a lot. Obviously I was happy afterwards. Apart from the fact that my appearance has changed, and the mark on my wrist, I felt nothing else.All I know is that I can use magic, but I don't know how to control and manifest. In short: I can't use magic.

I would love it if only my father could return soon, and explain the whole thing to me.

"Thank you for helping me." The baby blue dress is magnificent with darker and lighter embroidery. I was amazed to see Evy's beauty in me.

Julie only smiled since I got back to the room. She walked again and finished completing the sparkling blue mark with jewels. Now, I'm perfect, but I still need to hear her happiness. Julie was the only one in the novel who was happy to see Evy leave the mansion and go to balls and parties.

"Julie." I call her. Then she turned to look at me. "Apologies for earlier ... I was stressed because of work." Part of the fault is mine. The other would be to insist on going. It's been a little over a month since I woke up here. Everything is still new.

Her hands came free. She smiled, and was glad. "You don't have to, Miss. I understand how you feel." The mood changed quickly. "Now we better get to the banquet soon.

Oh ... The time has come. Many people didn't even know that I am here. Because it is a masked ball it is even easy to mix. Before, Julie helped me find something that would change the color of my hair. In the end it was Seiryu who helped me use magic to change the color myself. No one would notice a girl with dark hair.

Julie is well dressed, and made me happy. I once heard that she is the daughter of a popular merchant. Not as wealthy as others, but he had a fortune. I don't know if it was lucky or unlucky that she was my personal maid, but looking after Evy must have been complicated.

Ow. When I entered with other people to enter the main hall, I was shocked to see how big it is. Also, many people are here. The other guests stayed with talking to each other until the royal family waited. At least they haven't arrived yet.

Julie straightened up beside me. She wore an elegant dress, and wore the brand that matched me. Before I even heard some people gossip. Everyone knows that she is my personal maid. They're keeping an eye on me because of my father's disappearance. It is best to let Julie mix.

"You better mix, Julie." I said. "I don't want you to know that I'm here. And I want you to have fun. I can take care of myself alone now." She moved to contradict the idea, but she accepted. "Okay then, miss-- " "Don't call me Miss or Lady, Julie. Just call me Evy."

She left without saying anything else. It's better this way. I thought I would tell her to read calling my mother's name, but I'm not in disguise. The king knows I'm here, but he doesn't know where I am.

I moved back and forth, and I didn't intend to talk or talk to anyone. So I sat in a corner, holding a glass of wine that I didn't drink. The dark color made me nauseous. Soon, I was quiet in the corner waiting for the party to end.

Furthermore, none of this can be fun. I should have stayed at the mansion, as my father wanted before he left. Its not bad, staying in the office signing documents, and listening to Seiryu's snores. It was better than being here, facing a danger of seeing royalty.

A lady or two passed by where I am. Neither of them called. They only rolled their eyes shortly after paying attention that the applause is for the royal family. I was quiet, holding the glass with wine tightly. Not that I was afraid, because I'm not, but being here makes me uncomfortable.

Still, no one knows what I look like. And I'm not even getting in the way of the Crown Prince and Mary, who didn't even arrive. Also, no one had ever seen Evy before she was nineteen, if it weren't for Ellus. Well, aside from having a father as the overprotective Tower Master, he did well to hide his daughter from others.

Even though he was a Master Wizard, he would not have known that if he let his daughter out, he could die before that.

In a spin off of the novel, when the Crown Prince and Mary saw each other in childhood, a side of Evy was counted. You know, a lot of fans were sad, so the writer made it all sadder. For Evy would die at the age of ten, poisoned by one of the maids. So, everyone hated Evy since she was born.

"Everyone salutes the King and his successor, Crown Prince Reigon." Everyone greeted royalty, it was always like that. Doing that didn't show me anything, and I didn't even look at the Prince.

I honestly see no reason to see him. Like Evy, I don't want to fall in love, let alone fall into the hands of those I hate the most. The Crown Prince is just an instrument, which killed me like everyone else.

I don't intend to look at him. Is weird. It is also very risky for him to look around here.

Everyone around the room danced while others talked. I stood on the walls near the exit door. I wasn't in the mood to dance or talk to anyone. I just want this to end quickly. He needed to get back to the mansion before Seiryu did anything else.

For something more, I didn't even notice anyone appear beside me. I didn't care at first, but the figure was much taller than mine. And then he appeared in front of me, letting me gaze around.

"Can we dance, Miss?" Eoe asked to extend his hand. Her hair is as dark as her lifeless eyes. He still held out his hand, even among so many girls. What's wrong with him?

"As you wish." I said it when I raised my hand to yours. I was soon taken by the music, and by the mysterious man who accompanied me in a dance.

The song didn't seem to end, and it was only now that we started. When I looked at him, I didn't recognize him because of the mask. He noticed, and smiled.

I felt my spine almost break. He's handsome, and not at all suspicious, because the royal family is across the hall. So why do I feel I shouldn't be with this man now?

"You look very beautiful today, miss." He said. "It was a waste if you just watched instead of dancing." His words are beautiful, but nothing that matters.

"Thank you very much, sir." I said, smiling gently. He's too much of a knight for what he seems to be. I didn't know who he could be, and I don't even want to, he just needs to know one more.

"Do you always come to the royal balls, miss?" He asked. Hm? This man is really strange for wanting to deepen the conversation. Nobody would do that. When I look at him he smiles and hides his eyes. I cannot see the color of his eyes because he is tall, and when I bow my head to the dance, I know that his eyes are fixed on me. "No sir ..." I'm almost giving up on dancing and going home. "I don't have as many opportunities to go to such a noble ball."

"Hm ... Really strange for a Miss who dresses so well." He said. OK. Now it's really weird. If I'm supposed to be Evy, and in disguise, I have to sneak out and stop the dance. "Sir, I ... " This time, your question made me sure you knew that voice. "Is this really the color of your hair?"

hm?

Many people applauded the end of the dance. I was shocked to still walk away while everyone applauded. He knew that I am in disguise, and yet, he acted normal. I had never seen such a person like that. He smiled when I left. A scary smile. Because I felt that fear of death pass me by.

And that fear is only seen by one person: the Crown Prince.

But how can this man convey something like that? And who is he?

I could see him again and find out, but when I turned around, I no longer saw the tall, dark figure in the room. He disappeared. I couldn't even think now that he's the Prince himself. I refuse to believe.

"Julie, let's go." Julie's figure smiled after dancing with a knight, unlike me. But after I asked her to leave, her smile faded. Obvious. I wouldn't be here any longer if it were for me. "Already? Miss, the dance has just started now. Why don't we wait until the third dance is over?"

I looked at Julie piously. After studying, she deserved a break. Also, she must have really liked the knight who danced. Today would be the opportunity to find one intending and have your family.

For Julie, it would only stay a little longer. "... It's ok." I said. She jumped for joy afterwards. "I'll be watching you dance, so don't abuse it."

"Thanks!" She hugged me, almost dropping my mask. It was close, no one saw me without her. Julie was happy and jumped off to the knight who was giving Lara another dance.

She is happy to be dancing.

But unlike me, after tonight I did not dance for a long time.