“The only thing I can offer you right now is a few drinks. But that’s not what you want, is it?”
What exactly was he planning to ask for?
I asked in a slightly skeptical tone.
But it seed Rick hadn’t actually decided on an answer yet. He let out a thoughtful groan.
“Hmm… In a relationship that only exists beyond the mask, what could I possibly ask for? If we knew each other outside, we could at least enjoy a casual walk or a al together.”
“We can share drinks here too, can’t we?”
“Do you enjoy sipping through a veil, afraid of revealing your face? I don’t consider that a proper social activity.”
“Don’t ask to reveal my identity.”
“Don’t worry. If anyone understands that the freedom of the Sacred Salon cos from anonymity, it’s .”
“……”
Just as I pulled my mouth away from the straw, I t the gaze behind the Skull Mask.
Our eyes were only a handspan apart.
But he wasn’t just looking at for the sake of conversation—he was gazing as if he wanted to capture within his sight.
…As if he were imagining what lay beyond my mask.
I hastily leaned back against the sofa.
“You’re staring too closely. I don’t want my face to be exposed beyond the mask.”
“Of course. The Sacred Salon only grants freedom under the veil of anonymity. I have no intention of disrupting that. Ah, I just thought of sothing.”
“What is it?”
“Here! A private wager contract, please!”
Rick called over a server entirely on his own. A woman wearing a crow mask brought over a contract and a pen.
“Skull Mask?”
“You’re going to accept the wager anyway. Just check what I’m writing.”
“……”
“It won’t be anything unreasonable—Lady?”
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
I grabbed my glass and abruptly stood up.
That was such a distasteful thing to say. I needed to drink sothing good to wash it down.
But before I could walk away, Rick rushed forward and blocked my path.
He moved so hastily that I could see his Adam’s apple bobbing with a deep inhale right in front of .
“Lady… Are you angry at ?”
“You read that well.”
“But I promise, my request isn’t unreasonable! If you’d just check the details—”
“It’s not about the wager. What made angry was your attitude—acting like I was guaranteed to participate no matter what you said.”
“……”
“You can think you have the upper hand because of two coins, but don’t act as if you have the right to dictate my actions. That’s just as vulgar as the nobles you claim to despise.”
The Skull Mask let out a sigh. He sounded genuinely shocked.
Then, he bowed his head.
“I sincerely apologize. I won’t make the sa mistake again. Whether or not you accept it, I will still tell you what my request was.”
“…Haah.”
Even as he bowed, he was clearly restless, gauging my reaction. The mont I sighed, he flinched as if struck by lightning.
Relax. I’m not going to eat you alive.
“…Fine. Go back and tell .”
“Yes. What I wanted was…”
He hesitated for a mont before speaking.
“Well… I was hoping you could… spend ti with at the salon. Every week. Until the end of the social season.”
“…You want to bet on having weekly wagers with ?”
“No. Just sharing drinks and conversation. Nothing different from now—except that I’d like you to co every week.”
“……”
“If that’s too much, three tis a month is fine. And if committing until the end of the season is too much, we could shorten it…”
“That’s a surprisingly modest request. I can’t promise every week, but it’s not entirely out of the question.”
“Then—”
“I accept the wager. The social season ends in November, so… let’s say a minimum of ten tis?”
“That would be more than enough!”
“Aren’t you a little too happy about this? What’s so entertaining about talking to —”
“It’s enjoyable.”
Rick stated it firmly.
“The mont I thought of it, I got so excited I couldn’t contain myself. This is the highlight of my season. I’m not exaggerating.”
“Haha! You must’ve been dying to find soone to bash nobles with.”
“…Sothing like that. And it’s rare to hear a critique from a noble themselves that’s actually logical and well-argued.”
“Alright, then. I’ll sign.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
His request was so trivial it caught off guard. And yet, he was thrilled. Did he have an ulterior motive?
Well, if he did, I’d only find out if I lost the bet.
We both signed the contract. The server took it away.
Rick let out a long breath, as if relieved of a heavy weight.
“Thank you. Haah… When you stord off earlier, I genuinely thought I’d made an unforgivable mistake and would never be able to speak with you again.”
“Really? That’s funny. Last ti, you saw and left the salon imdiately.”
“…Wh-what do you an?”
“Don’t play dumb. I saw it clearly. But if you insist you don’t rember, I’ll just—”
“I’m sorry! I’ll tell you why!”
The mont I started to rise from my seat again, he blurted out an apology.
“The truth is, around that ti, I was going through sothing that made more resentful toward nobles than usual… and I was struggling with how I felt about you.”
“Because I’m a noble?”
“Sothing like that. Actually, I went to that charity performance we ntioned earlier. That event was the trigger for my inner conflict.”
“…Excuse ?”
“It was an interesting performance. I always thought operas were difficult to understand, but the story was surprisingly easy to follow. I particularly rember a line about how society treats ladies like you.”
“What line…?”
“It called the dresses—expensive ones that ladies must buy, even by going into debt, and must keep changing—nothing more than ‘wrapping paper.’ It described how, even though dressing up and dancing is fun, the essence of the social season is to treat noble ladies as re products.”
“……”
“I’ll admit, I used to be one of those people who looked at noblewon in their fancy dresses and thought, They must be living off the labor of the commoners. …Sotis, even when I saw you in one.”
“Cough! Really? I never noticed.”
“The mask and the music helped. But still, I owe you a formal apology.”
Rick bowed again.
“I won’t deny that nobles exploit commoners. But I realized their lives aren’t as simple as I had assud. That there were things I needed to learn. Until I sorted through my thoughts, I couldn’t face you.”
“Ah…”
“So, I acted rudely last ti. I’m sorry.”
Rick looked up.
“To be honest, I still don’t have a clear conclusion. But… would you still be willing to—”
“What’s there to be unwilling about?”
I imdiately reached out my hand.
He blinked in confusion.
“Lady?”
“Shake my hand.”
“…What?”
“You don’t have to have a conclusion. If anything, believing you have one is more dangerous. People are ant to keep thinking and questioning.”
“Ah…”
“And most importantly, recognizing and interacting with different kinds of people.”
“…Even if that person is just an insignificant commoner full of insecurities…?”
“You’re also my wise friend.”
“…Friend?”
“You don’t like it?”
“No! Not at all!”
Even after answering, he hesitated. His hand floundered around, stopping just a few centiters from mine.
It was as if my hand was radiating so kind of toxic energy.
But just before I could sigh again, his fingers carefully t mine.
Even through gloves, I could sense his hesitancy—and his desire to draw closer.
Slowly, Rick’s hand pressed fully against mine.
“…Lady. I’m grateful for the chance to have t you in this life.”
“That’s a bit much.”
“I an it. Even if we never learn each other’s true identities—”
At last, his fingers fully intertwined with mine.
And in a low, solemn voice, he declared,
“I swear… I will never beco soone unworthy of standing beside you.”
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