Chapter 66
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Chapter 66
Brentwood possessed a high Hill that overlooked both forest and village, and it was precisely here that one of the most important events of tonight's Eve celebration would unfold—the grand procession and Ball. Just as had been done at the Romford concert, the Hill's surroundings were illuminated brilliantly with pillars bearing oil lamps. The people had adorned the Ball with exquisite elegance, gathering together red cloth, pumpkins and apples carved with intricate patterns, and beautiful autumn flowers arranged in magnificent displays.
All members of the Augusta Family, save Bianca who claimed to be unwell, had arrived at the Outdoor Floor long ago and were already enjoying the Ball. Standing apart from her sisters, in one corner of the Floor, Charlotte watched the dancers swirling across the Ballroom while wearing a black oval mask. She had just finished declining dance invitations from several gentlemen.
'Had I not witnessed Jane and Terrence preparing for the Ball, I truly would not have recognized them at all.'
Charlotte smiled upon seeing Jane and Terrence adorned in enormous peacock masks that rendered their appearances completely unrecognizable. Glancing more carefully around the venue, she noted that Katie wore a black dress reminiscent of a little witch, while Helena, having succumbed to Katie's persuasion, wore only a small mask covering her eyes.
At that moment, a man wearing an ornate golden-adorned bird-beak mask approached Charlotte.
"A mask reminiscent of the Moretta, dear lady."
(An Italian oval mask primarily worn by noblewomen, the Moretta carries the meaning of "Dark Lady.")
The man's voice flowed smoothly from behind the bird-beak mask.
"I need not lift the mask to know it is Armand."
Charlotte murmured while observing his particularly ornate mask. She wore the Moretta mask, one of the Italian handicrafts in Aunt Elicia's residence, paired with a lustrous crimson gown that contrasted sharply with her usual modest muslin dresses. It was a special gift from Helena, who had just completed a series of successful concerts.
Armand shrugged and replied.
"It seems Philip Oslo is equally recognizable without lifting his mask."
Armand gestured with his chin toward a man who appeared to be Philip. He had just entered the Ballroom wearing silver steel knight's armor and a steel mask resembling his own face, and as the blazing torches illuminated him, he appeared like a solemn archangel.
"The masks of All Saints' Eve are meant to be filled with inner darkness, transforming one into a specter or demon. Yet this fellow seems to be equally upright both outside and within."
Armand complained lightly as if bored. Then, observing Charlotte's expression—which was unreadable beneath her mask—he asked.
"Do you intend to spend time with him today?"
Armand attempted to maintain a playful tone, speaking lightly, yet Charlotte could discern that this question had emerged from considerable deliberation. Then Armand hastily added.
"Miss Charlotte, everything I said to you today is the truth. Whether Prince Frederick halts his investigation or the entire world forgets about His Highness, I will continue my search. If you wish it, alongside you."
Armand, speaking with urgency, exhaled softly and caught his breath.
"But... yes, three months is quite a considerable span of time for someone. Especially when His Highness Leopold, who possesses greater valor than any secret knight and excels at overcoming any threat, has not returned—it is an extraordinarily long time indeed."
Armand attempted to discern Charlotte's expression beneath her mask, then shook his head vigorously as he spoke.
"So if you were to... well, ladies' time is limited, after all. No matter how deep your connection with His Highness, you cannot simply wait indefinitely without marriage or betrothal."
Charlotte detected genuine concern in Armand's tone rather than his usual arrogance. Perhaps he regretted how he had glared at her when she received Philip's visit last time. Or perhaps it was because he had revealed to Frederick that she was Leopold's beloved without her consent.
Gazing at the people filling the Outdoor Floor, Armand spoke in hushed tones.
"Above all, one must acknowledge that Philip Oslo is no ordinary suitor. Unlike other incompetent nobles, he possesses the leadership to guide Europe's Reform Faction while remaining kind and courteous."
At that moment, Charlotte opened her mouth with a composed voice.
"Have there been any reports from Romford? Any sign of Tiffany Martin, or perhaps Mr. Harrison spotted there?"
"Ah, no. Unfortunately, there is nothing of note. Several secret knights and I have been taking turns searching and watching Romford, but we have yet to find Miss Martin. I have not seen Harrison frequenting that place either."
Armand seemed startled by Charlotte's straightforward tone, then responded immediately.
"However, I have spotted Philip Oslo there several times... It appears he is conducting his own search as well."
"That would make sense. Count Oslo is also aware of the fifth porter. I passed along information about Tiffany Martin's letter, which arrived through the Romford Post Office, to the Search Party."
Charlotte spoke, resolving Armand's doubt. Above her mask, the backs of ghosts hung throughout the Ballroom reflected in crimson light, glittering. Beyond the Outdoor Floor, a procession adorned in black and blue marched through lamp-lit streets, distributing "Soul's Cake" to the people.
(*Soul's Cake: A tradition that became the origin of Halloween candy, distributed to the poor and children on the eve of All Saints' Day.)
"And Armand."
Charlotte turned her head to look up at Armand, who wore a bird-beaked mask. Between the exotic patterns adorning the mask, her round, dark brown eyes sparkled like jewels.
"I am grateful that you said you would continue your search for His Highness. Perhaps someday the time will come when your search can cease, but I do not believe that time has arrived yet."
Charlotte continued in a composed and gentle voice. Behind her words, the drum beats of the band accompanying the procession thundered loudly—boom, boom.
"And when that time comes... I'll be able to tell Armand that he needn't wait any longer."
Charlotte's voice, which had remained composed throughout, wavered for a moment before she turned her gaze forward once more. For an instant, she thought she caught a glimpse of Philip wearing an angelic mask in the crowd, their eyes meeting briefly.
Charlotte continued.
"There is nothing we can do to change the past, and there is precious little we can do for the future. So for today at least, forget your worries about me and the Prince's troubles alike. Let us simply enjoy the Ball."
Just then, a great drum sounded, and the procession distributing the soul's cake arrived at the Outdoor Floor. At once, the crowd erupted in cheers to welcome it. In that tumult, Armand heard Charlotte's whisper, threaded with a smile, reach his ear.
"...Because this present moment is more precious than any miracle."
"Miss Aurelion..."
Before Armand could even respond, the crowd eager to see the procession pressed thickly between him and Charlotte. He found himself separated from her and showed signs of bewilderment. Yet rather than approaching him, Charlotte merely smiled warmly, as if urging him to go enjoy the Ball.
As the proper vigil began in earnest, the sky had already been dyed a crimson hue like blood. Consequently, the blue shadows of the people began to blanket the Ballroom Floor. The hour when night and day coexisted had arrived. That very moment when souls were believed to reclaim their flesh.
Perhaps because of her special ability as a medium, the forms of everyone before her eyes grew gradually indistinct, and she could see the boundary between their flesh and spirit growing increasingly blurred. With each movement of the people, it seemed to Charlotte's eyes as though a faint afterimage of light remained—like looking at sunlight through two overlapping leaves.
"Ah... A familiar radiance. Like the luminous shimmer of the Secret Place's stream flowing with moonlight."
Charlotte realized that the faint afterimages she saw were the souls of the people and murmured softly to herself. This was a sight she had not perceived before. Perhaps her medium's ability, dormant within her, had awakened when she resolved to accept Leopold's soul.
Thump, thump, thump.
The great sound that reached her ears this time was not the drum of the procession. It was the rapid beating of Charlotte's own heart—quickening with anticipation at the prospect of meeting Leopold, who had come to the world of flesh as the hour of souls deepened.
In that moment, the black curtain leading to the Outdoor Floor billowed greatly in the wind before Charlotte's eyes. It was the path the vigil procession had traversed. And beneath it stood a tall, luminous man with an upright bearing, the final shadow of the procession. He wore a black cloak that seemed to swallow even the night itself and formal attire, his entire face concealed behind a white Larva mask. The Larva mask—a mask bearing the meaning of illusion or phantom—was one of the Italian masks that Elicia possessed, just like Charlotte's own.
"..."
Even if it were not the Larva mask that Charlotte had received from Elicia and left in the forest, she could have discerned the man's identity at once.
'Truly, on the eve of All Saints' Day, souls do come to the world of flesh.'
Charlotte gazed upon the solid body overlaid upon the man's luminous spirit and thought.
As the sunset drew near, the increasingly deep sunlight cast upon the Larva mask, dyeing the white mask a color similar to Charlotte's crimson dress, and behind it, the intense gaze of a lover turned toward her.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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