At the sight of Closette’s stiff reaction, Jucid gave a sharp, mocking snort, her eyes crinkling into cruel crescents.
“Is that so? What a pity. I was hoping to show him a little affection if he happened to visit our estate.”
“Why should my Il Domestico receive your attention, my Lady?”
“Oh my, are you jealous, Lady Closette? If you’re truly that bothered, I could lend you my own Il Domestico. Wouldn’t that suffice?”
Unable to suppress it any longer, a spark of fury ignited in Closette’s eyes.
“Lady Jucid!”
“Oh, dear, such agitation… I’m only joking. I must be going; I have a lunch appointment with my brother.”
With that, Jucid vanished in a flurry, arm-in-arm with her Il Domestico.
As Closette stood alone, her fists clenched and her face simmering with rage, Roselia let out a long, heavy sigh and led her toward the carriage.
For the rest of the ride, Closette wore a dark, troubled expression.
It was clear that Jucid’s parting jabs regarding Klaus were weighing heavily on her mind.
Roselia resolved to escort her through the debutante ball as best she could, determined that the Duke’s absence would not be felt.
* * *
The time for the debutante soon arrived.
Roselia scanned the grand banquet hall, dressed in a tailcoat that felt twice as stiff and uncomfortable as her usual attire.
Closette, the protagonist of the day, was draped in a water-colored dress so ethereal she might have been a sea nymph, and she was currently occupied with a crowd of admirers.
Everyone was masked, but Closette, wearing a delicate Laphelios-style eye mask, stood out above the rest.
Watching Closette shine with a sense of pride, Roselia adjusted her own full-face mask.
It was a standard style from Rugvelzet—covering the entire face with only narrow slits for the eyes—which made the prospect of a strange, crowded banquet feel far less daunting.
Just then, she spotted a woman clinging to the arm of a man, approaching Closette.
“Lady Closette, happy birthday.”
Closette’s expression stiffened awkwardly at the voice.
“Lady Jucid, you’ve come.”
“A masquerade ball—how witty and fun. But isn’t it a bit of a foul for only you to wear such a lovely eye mask?”
A foul, indeed. It was Closette’s birthday, her debutante; she was the one who deserved to be the center of attention.
Roselia frowned as she listened from a distance.
And soon, the very topic Roselia had been dreading arose.
“By the way, where is the Duke? I wanted to pay my respects with my brother.”
“……”
“Surely… you didn’t tell me he wouldn’t be attending your debutante, did you?”
Just as Roselia, unable to watch any longer, began to step forward, a servant’s voice echoed through the hall, which was now filled with the invited guests.
“Presenting the master of the Baltezar estate, His Grace, Duke Klaus De Baltezar!”
Jucid’s face froze in an instant.
Conversely, Closette and Roselia looked toward the entrance with wide, shocked eyes.
Under the gaze of the assembly, a tall, well-built man in a black tailcoat strode in.
Wearing a silver eye mask, he was by far the most striking figure in the room.
“Klaus…”
Even with every eye fixed upon him, Klaus appeared entirely calm and indifferent.
He usually favored razor-sharp suits, but today, the black tailcoat paired with his hair swept neatly back only served to highlight his handsome features further.
Moreover, as if he had anticipated it, he wore an eye mask identical in style to Closette’s, and a blue handkerchief tucked into his pocket matched her ensemble perfectly.
Spotting Closette, who stood out unmistakably in the hall, Klaus walked straight toward her.
“I suppose I’m a little late. I tried to finish my work as quickly as I could…”
Closette remained dumbfounded even as Klaus stood right in front of her.
Seemingly unbothered by her shock, Klaus spoke brusquely.
“And who might these people be…”
Klaus scanned Jucid and her companion, looking at Closette as if expecting an introduction. Only then did she snap out of her stupor, feeling flustered.
“This is the Marquess Belmont.”
“I heard you were a difficult man to see, so I am pleased to meet you, Your Grace.”
“And this is Lady Jucid of the Belmont family. She said she was very curious about my brother.”
Closette’s expression was full of a victor’s arrogance as she spoke.
Conversely, Klaus, having heard himself called ‘brother’ for the first time in five years, looked momentarily stunned.
Feeling unexpectedly pleased, Klaus smiled gently at Jucid—a gesture entirely out of character for him.
“Curious about me? I am honored. I hope you enjoy the rest of the banquet…”
Stunned by his precise manners and sudden warmth, Jucid could only blush, rendered speechless.
Watching her, Closette scoffed inwardly.
Perhaps noticing Closette’s meaningful smile, Jucid trembled with indignation before scurrying away as if to flee.
Watching this, Roselia clicked her tongue.
Jucid must have been convinced the Duke would never show up.
Well, in truth, neither she nor Closette had expected Klaus to appear either.
It was a mystery what kind of wind had blown him here.
Could it be… that what she had said to him about Closette that day had actually worked?
Roselia shook her head, forcing the thought away.
There was no way that arrogant, cold-blooded man would be swayed by a few words from her.
Meanwhile, the Duke’s appearance had made the banquet even more boisterous.
Before long, a crowd had gathered around Closette, all eager to catch a glimpse of the famous Duke Klaus.
Where before the greetings had been mere formalities, now Closette was definitively the shining star of the room.
“Good heavens, what a perfect pair. I had no idea the Duke was such a dashing man.”
“Even with their eye masks on, they cannot hide their beauty.”
Talk of the Baltezar siblings, the protagonists of the day, was endless.
Only after the parade of greetings ended could Klaus finally secure a glass of champagne.
Watching Closette, who was still surrounded by people and laughing, Klaus wore a bitter, distant smile.
He had always thought of her as just a child, and it was both strange and fascinating to see her already grown into such a lady.
Just then, someone approached him from the side, acting as if they were intimately acquainted.
“You said you were busy, but you came after all.”
Klaus, thinking it was just another noble trying to curry favor, looked surprised by the familiar voice.
“Antonio?”
His gaze landed on the small figure dressed in a navy tailcoat.
Roselia was wearing a relatively simple, full-face mask.
Seeing her, Klaus let out a rare, faint chuckle.
“You’ve certainly hidden yourself well.”
“Well, the protagonists of the day are Lady Closette and Your Grace.”
“Me?”
“You are the master of the estate and Lady Closette’s brother. People naturally expected you to appear, Your Grace.”
Klaus paused as if deep in thought, then muttered, “Is that so…”
“If you hadn’t shown up, Lady Closette might have looked a bit foolish.”
“……”
Klaus fell silent, lost in his own thoughts.
Roselia, clicking her tongue inwardly, looked at Closette, who was holding her head high with a proud, flushed face.
Although she pretended nothing was wrong, it seemed Closette was inwardly reassured that Klaus had finally chosen to show up for her.
Watching Closette with a similar gaze, Klaus spoke to Roselia as if he had reached a decision.
“Antonio, I think I was too angry back then…”
But before Klaus could finish his sentence, someone grabbed Roselia’s arm.
Roselia looked at the woman who had grabbed her, her eyes widening.
“Lady… Jucid…?”
Having recognized Jucid’s attire from her earlier conversation with Closette, she had no trouble identifying her.
“It is Antonio, isn’t it?”
“How did you recognize me?”
“I heard your voice when you were talking to the Duke. More importantly… could you be my company for a moment?”
She glanced toward Closette, who was preoccupied with other nobles.
When she looked toward Klaus, he wore an expression of profound disappointment, as if there was something more he wanted to ask.
Roselia bowed her head slightly to Klaus and nodded toward Jucid.
“Let us go to a quiet place.”
Her intention was to remove a potential bomb from the hall.
Since it was Closette’s birthday, the debutante had to end safely, and Roselia decided to neutralize Jucid.
Jucid took two glasses of champagne from a passing servant and held one out to Roselia.
Roselia accepted the glass without suspicion, staring intently at Jucid’s mask.
She felt frustrated that she could not read the expression hidden behind it.
“I’m so glad Antonio came to this banquet. I was lonely with no one to talk to.”
And what about the Marquess she came with?
Glancing around, she saw the Marquess had already approached Klaus, trying to appear close to him.
Klaus was known as a great tycoon among the nobles, so it was clear the man was trying to build connections—though Klaus was drawing a firm line.
As she took a sip of her champagne, Jucid suddenly staggered and leaned against her.
“Oh, dear… I’m sorry. I’m feeling a bit dizzy… could you take me to a parlor where I can rest?”
Seeing her gasping for air with a flushed face felt somehow repulsive, but Roselia glanced at Closette and gave a reluctant nod.
Well, she thought, removing a potential disruption from the banquet hall wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Fortunately, there was no one in the parlor.
Roselia politely escorted Jucid to the sofa and stepped back.
“Please, take a rest here and come out when you are ready.”
Just as she turned to leave, Jucid, sitting on the sofa, grabbed the hem of Roselia’s coat.
Roselia looked down at her with a questioning gaze.
The woman was looking up at her with a pathetic, practiced expression.
“Could you stay with me a little longer?”
Oh… please, I hope this isn’t what I think it is.
As a woman herself, there was no way she couldn’t recognize a woman’s advances.
Roselia stepped back, goosebumps rising on her skin.
“Well… I have work to do outside…”
“What are you talking about? Judging by your tailcoat, you’re not a servant, you’re a guest at the banquet.”
“Even so… I have no reason to stay here…”
“What?”
As Jucid scrunched her eyebrows, Roselia continued in a calm, firm tone.
“If I am not a servant, then I have no reason to remain here under your instruction, my Lady.”