She had no intention of running away at this point anyway. She didn’t have the ability to investigate separately while avoiding him either. Emilia quietly gazed at her expression reflected in the window.

Now she had a naturally calm face without needing to make an effort. As if facing her inner self, she stared intently at her eyes reflected in the window, then quickly turned her head away as if averting her gaze.

Before she knew it, the carriage had passed through the main gate of the duke’s residence. Soon the carriage came to a stop, and Emilia entered, escorted by the butler who was waiting outside.

“You’re here.”

Enrico, who had been standing by the window, slowly turned around. The brilliant sunlight scattered behind him in the backlight. Seeing him greet her with a gentle atmosphere, unlike his previous dismissive attitude, Emilia calmly blinked her eyes.

“A dress has been prepared for you to wear to the ball. Try it on.”

He gestured to one side as he closed the distance. The room she first entered was filled with mirrors on one side. In the center were mannequins dressed in gowns on both sides, and behind them was a space where curtains could be drawn, but the room was so spacious that it felt like being in a costume shop.

Emilia nodded obediently and approached the waiting maids. She felt a strange sensation on the back of her head, but the odd feeling soon disappeared. The maids moved in perfect unison. Emilia quietly surrendered herself to the maids who entered behind the curtain, carrying dresses and accessories.

The first dress was made of navy blue fabric with white jewels attached up and down, designed to reveal both shoulders. The skirt of the dress, like stars in the night sky, was puffed up like a ballerina’s tutu, giving a light and airy feeling.

After putting on accessories with small transparent jewels, the maids sent Emilia out from behind the curtain.

Enrico could be seen sitting on the couch in front of the mirror. His hand stopped as he was about to light a cigarette in his mouth. After staring at her for a moment, he blinked briefly and then slowly scanned her from head to toe with appraising eyes.

‘This is really like playing with dolls.’

For a moment, she almost let out a laugh, but she held it in. Emilia simply endured his uncomfortable gaze quietly. As he casually gestured in the air, a maid brought over a mask made of blue feathers.

The mask, which only revealed the mouth, looked quite splendid, perhaps due to the very long feathers. Enrico tilted his head to the side and then removed the cigarette from his mouth, tossing it onto the table.

“Next.”

He briefly uttered the word as he lowered his gaze to the cigarette that had rolled onto the table.

‘Surely I don’t have to try on all those dresses?’

Emilia scanned the mannequins around her as she followed the maids taking her behind the curtain. Even at a glance, there seemed to be more than ten dresses, so she was already tired.

Hopefully, a decision would be made within three dresses.

It was a very small wish. However, as if determined not to grant even that, they were already on the fifth dress.

‘Is he really going to make me try them all on?’

Emilia let out a small sigh as she entered behind the curtain. This time it was an apricot-colored dress, which seemed to be the best among the dresses she had worn so far, but Enrico just repeated “next” without saying anything else.

The maids were bringing the dresses in the order they were displayed on the mannequins. Feeling that this wouldn’t do, she chose the snow-white dress with delicate embroidery that had caught her eye earlier.

The dress revealed a round neckline, with a large jewel and small pearls in the center of the chest. Purple ribbons were wrapped around the shoulders and waist, and the voluminous skirt also had a subtle shimmer with delicate lace over pale silver silk, creating a unique atmosphere that made it look subtly glamorous.

For accessories, she wore a necklace made of large pearls. Emilia walked out from behind the curtain, straining her neck which felt heavier. Enrico, who had been resting his chin on his hand with one arm on the backrest, slowly raised his head.

His thick eyebrows, neatly placed below his smooth forehead, moved subtly. For some reason, she felt uncomfortable for the first time today with his strangely altered gaze.

‘Why isn’t he telling me to put on the mask?’

Emilia lowered her eyes and opened her mouth.

“…Should I put on the mask?”

“No.”

It was a firm voice. When she raised her head again, their gazes locked as if he had been waiting. He stood up from his seat.

“Everyone, leave.”

At his low command, the room was emptied in an instant. Suddenly left alone, her composure wavered slightly.

A shadow fell over her head. He stopped with just one step left between them. Her jade-colored eyes, looking at his broad chest, showed a flicker of agitation.

“I thought about trying various colors on you, but white suits you too well.”

His long fingers touched the tip of her chin. Even as his hand slowly lifted, Emilia’s gaze remained downcast. His index finger traced along her jawline as if caressing it, moving towards her ear. She blinked at the slight touch on her earlobe.

His eyes, which she thought would be just languid, were shrouded in a strange heat. It was a gaze she had never seen before. The atmosphere seemed different from how he had looked at her until now, which was somewhat disconcerting. Meanwhile, his hand cupped her chin and cheek.

“It’s a shame you have to wear a mask.”

His thumb gently brushed her eye area. It was an extremely gentle touch as if considering her delicate skin, yet strangely, a pale pink afterimage remained on her eyes. As if she was starting to feel a slight fever.

“It would ruin a perfect picture.”

But that was only for a moment, as Emilia’s lower eyelids trembled slightly. Her mind cooled at his words, revealing that the heat that had seeped into his purple eyes earlier was just a passion for artistic value.

To think she had hoped he might treat her as a person. It was more miserable than ever to realize that she now naturally accepted being treated as an object.

Emilia closed her eyes tightly and then lowered them. Then she raised her hand and gently pushed away his hand near his wrist.

“Then shall we go with this dress?”

At her compliant tone, his brows furrowed slightly. As if something displeased him, but he wasn’t sure exactly what, he quietly looked down at her and then tightly clenched his hand that was hanging in the air.

He turned around abruptly.

“Fine.”

Eventually, standing askew in front of the table, he opened the golden cigarette case he had taken out and put a cigarette in his mouth. The sound of cigarette ash burning filled the room.

Emilia inhaled and quietly gazed at his back as he raised his head.

“Come here as soon as it’s over. We’ll depart as soon as preparations are made.”

“Yes.”

As he turned his head slightly, revealing his profile, a languid tone flowed from between his lips exhaling long, faint smoke. However, his relaxed expression was tinged with strange irritation at her emotionless response.

“You may go now.”

Enrico strode out of the room. Faced with this first dismissal, Emilia blinked her eyes for a moment.

Before she knew it, the night of the masquerade ball had arrived. As soon as Emilia arrived at the duke’s residence, she hurriedly began to get ready.

She loosely tied up her hair and put on the dress that had been adjusted to fit her body more snugly, beginning to complete the perfect picture-like appearance as he had said.

She put on long silk gloves and held the elaborate mask in her hand. The mask, with diamonds set above one eye and adorned with lush white feathers like a gorgeous peacock, also had white lace attached to cover the mouth.

Before leaving the room, Emilia briefly took in her appearance in the mirror. It was a very different feeling from when she had put on makeup for ballet performances. Looking more noble than anyone else, it was incomparable to when she had worn dresses as a child.

‘…If my parents were alive, they would have been waiting excitedly for my debutante ball, showing them this appearance.’

She was reminded of how her parents used to talk dreamily about what she would look like when she grew up, when she was young.

They had said they would make her dress more splendid than anyone else’s, and make her the most beautiful in this world so that Emilia would be the main character. The memory of their affectionate whispers made her heart ache.

Her glamorous self was looking back at her in the mirror. Her mouth tasted bitter. Emilia turned her body away as if avoiding her current appearance, with a sad smile.

As she opened the door and descended the stairs, she saw Enrico waiting at the bottom. He slowly turned around, dressed in a snow-white suit as if matching her dress code.

“…”

“…”

For a few seconds, a strange silence stretched between them. Enrico looked perfect, as if he could be mistaken for one of the statues in this mansion.

His distinct and beautifully balanced features below his jet-black hair were flawless. Even to herself who disliked him, he was so beautiful that she could newly imagine how attractive he must be to others.

“…It fits well.”

His eyes, staring intently at her, seemed to glisten for a moment, perhaps from catching the light. At his belated words, Emilia awkwardly nodded.