The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 53.2

“So, how do you feel? Are you enjoying it?”

“Yeah, it’s fascinating and fun.”

Elfreda smiled brightly.

“So this is what the nobility of Machi is like.”

“Well, they’re usually more refined than this.”

Come to think of it, the Queen had not had a proper conversation with the other nobles!

Illene was worried that she might be giving Elfreda the wrong impression about Machi’s nobility by bringing her to the masquerade, so she hurriedly defended the situation.

Elfreda smiled faintly.

“Illene is really impressive. I envy you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. This whole social thing is quite fun.”

Illene’s heart tightened once again from Elfreda’s words. She hadn’t brought her to the ball to remind her of her position in the social scene….. Yet, unintentionally, she seemed to have made Elfreda feel down. As Illene fidgeted, Elfreda smiled gently and asked,

“Shall we go over there? Let’s have a chat with those people.”

“What? Oh, yes, sure!”

Illene felt a bit awkward seeing Elfreda act with more energy than usual. Normally, she was quiet and reserved, and Illene thought she didn’t particularly enjoy talking with people.

‘No, wait. Looking back, she was quite good at leading the first tea party.’

Maybe she just hadn’t had the chance before. Thinking that, Illene felt a sadness in her chest. She was happy to discover this new side of her, but it also felt bittersweet.

* * *

As they moved through the crowd, Elfreda grew more and more social. While she didn’t often take the lead in conversations, she was a natural listener, and people seemed to enjoy sharing their stories with her.

Thanks to that, the information Elfreda gathered today was far more than what she had learned over the past few months in the social scene. Of course, in such a situation, it wasn’t that there hadn’t been any awkward moments.

“Would you care to dance with me?”

Elfreda smiled awkwardly and shook her head, and the man’s disappointment was clearly visible with his mask on. As he left, Illene poked Elfreda in the side with a mischievous grin and told her.

“That’s already the seventh one.”

As Illene mentioned, this was the seventh dance request Elfreda had received. Of course, she had declined every one of them.

Illene encouraged her to accept just one, saying that it wasn’t a big deal, but Elfreda knew that at masquerade balls, dancing often led to something more. She could always decline beforehand, but there was no harm in being cautious.

“Why don’t you accept just one? It’s only a dance.”

“I just don’t want to leave any room for misinterpretation.”

“You know, the King should hear about how Your Majesty feels.”

Elfreda looked at Illene in surprise. From Illene’s meaningful smile, Elfreda realized that she had already figured out her feelings.

It seemed silly to ask when she had been so closely attended to by Illene, who must have seen through everything.

After all, Elfreda had suffered through pricking her fingers dozens of times while making a thoughtful birthday gift, and if it hadn’t been discovered by now, that would have been even more strange.

Feeling embarrassed again, Elfreda asked in a quiet face.

“Please keep it a secret, Illene.”

Of course Elfreda didn’t think Illene would gossip about her secret. Illene smiled reassuringly and then naturally changed the subject.

“Are you thirsty? You kept mentioning it earlier.”

After continuously responding to the conversation, Elfreda did feel a slight thirst. She nodded, and Illene said, as if expecting this.

“I’ll go grab some cocktails. Stay here for a moment.”

As Illene disappeared, Elfreda found herself able to calmly look around her surroundings for the first time since entering the ballroom.

People in masks were laughing and chatting, and some couples were sneaking off somewhere hand in hand.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Elfreda found it strangely fascinating to realize that she was part of this space. She had thought she disliked noisy and chaotic places like this, but it was just unfamiliar to her. She didn’t actually hate it.

“Ah…”

At that moment, a cold finger brushed Elfreda’s shoulder. She turned around, thinking it was Illene returning.

But the person in front of her wasn’t Illene. A blonde man with a black swan mask was smiling at her.