It had been purchased a few days ago when we went out together.

I had to appear as a noble in front of Maryen, so I chose the most expensive and splendid one available.
It was a lavender-colored wig that perfectly matched the pink mask, adorned with delicate white feathers along the edges. The scattered jewels all over it shimmered whenever I moved.

“Don’t get distracted, just follow me. You might get swept away otherwise.”

Idrish looked down at me. He, too, was wearing a mask.

It still suits him remarkably well. Do I even have eyes to see that? Or am I just deluding myself? Idrish had opted for a relatively modest mask.

It was a deep navy mask with a design of gold dust scattered from the eyes to the edges. Although Idrish’s enchanting eyes were covered, his well-defined mouth and jawline exuded a restrained beauty.

Idrish reached out towards me. I took his hand.

“We might get swept away really soon.”

As if to confirm that I was holding on, I added an unnecessary explanation. Of course, it wasn’t entirely baseless.

Most of Lord Lovero’s subjects were physically superior to me, regardless of gender, making it more difficult for me to have a clear line of sight.

Idrish took my hand and examined it closely.

My skin had become rough and uneven. It was because of the poison that had touched it yesterday. I smiled vaguely and pulled my hand away. I couldn’t answer if he asked why I was acting like this.

But fortunately, Idrish didn’t ask any further questions.

Would he misunderstand and think my hand had always been this rough? Wasn’t it originally as soft as a baby’s?

“Still, Idrun should be able to find us from a distance, given how big he’s grown.”

“Instead of thinking about losing and finding, why not plan not to lose in the first place?”

“That’s a good idea too.”

I laughed heartily and pulled Idrish’s hand. He turned to look at me.

“But before we go there, let’s try just one of those. I’m so curious about the taste!”

I pointed to the large fruit from earlier.

“Do you remember what our goal is?”

“Of course, I remember. We’re trying to find the whereabouts of the fangs. But to carry out the mission properly, we need to have full stomachs, right? Come on.”

I dragged Idrish along. He followed me, pretending to be unable to resist.

I finally got my hands on the sweet and tangy yellow fruit. I stuffed it into my mouth until it was full. I forced a piece into Idrish’s mouth as well. He said it wasn’t particularly tasty. A carnivorous cat, that one.

Well then, I’ll eat it all.

“Is it really that good? You look so happy.”

“I am happy.”

Actually, I wasn’t entirely happy.
Marianne’s affairs and the persistent issue of the poisoned spring water were still on my mind.

Please, make sure nobody drinks the spring water. Help Marianne find the fangs effortlessly. Make sure nobody gets hurt or injured.

“But why haven’t we seen Mogus for the past few days? It would have been nice if he came to the festival with us.”

“He had some business to attend to far away.”

“I see. That’s a shame. But we didn’t come here just to have fun, right? Do you think we can succeed today?”

“Yes.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I can. You have the information you’ve gathered.”

Idrish reached into his pocket and pulled out a paper filled with notes. It was all about Marianne.

After the incident on the ship, I had requested a meeting with Han Yajang.

I told Han Yajang that I hadn’t given up on my dream of working at Marianne’s mansion even now. She was quite surprised by that fact. Well, it was understandable that I didn’t seem entirely sane, given that I had fallen into the water because of her.

Han Yajang said that once Marianne holds a grudge against someone, it’s almost impossible to change her mind.

When I burst into tears, she gave me some information that might help win Marianne’s favor.

Things like what she likes and dislikes. Her recent interests and potential future marriage candidates.

Stuff like her favorite dress brand and possible future marriage candidates.

“Idrish asked me to find out, but what can we do with such fragmented information? It seems difficult to approach her straightforwardly now.”

“This time, I’ll handle it.”

Idrish’s lips curled up slightly. It seemed like he was telling me to trust him.

Nothing had changed, but his reliable smile gave me some reassurance.

The square where the ball was held had a completely different atmosphere from the bustling night market earlier.

While the previous place had been a lively night market, this place was filled with the sweet sounds of violins, and lanterns gently illuminated the surroundings, creating a romantic ambiance.

With the variety of dresses and masks, it felt almost like a springtime flower garden. Even the fragrances of various flowers wafted through the air, thanks to the scented oils applied to hair and body.

The air was filled with excitement and joy. Even the shy individuals, aided by the power of their masks, approached their preferred companions with a slightly bolder attitude. Nobles and commoners alike seemed to dream of a destined love straight out of a fairy tale.

I strolled through this romantic setting, holding Idrish’s arm. However, the conversations between us were far from romantic.

“Rear left, all clear. No Marianne. How about over there?”
“I don’t see anything in the left room or ahead.”

Well, this feels like I’m doing some kind of spy work, quite amusing. Snap, snap.