"I understand."
Charles adjusted the Stag mask on his face and gave a slight bow to his dance partner, Princess Louise Caroline of Hesse. "Beautiful Miss peacock, would you mind if I went to relax with my friends for a while?"
The two had met at William III's birthday banquet, and it had also been Princess Louise of Hesse who invited Charles to this ball. Louise Caroline, wearing a peacock mask, hurriedly curtsied in return. "Of course, that is your freedom. Oh, when you are leaving, please be sure to send someone to inform me."
"Please rest assured, I won't leave you here alone."
Charles nodded, casually took a glass of alcohol from a passing servant, and turned to head up to the second floor.
The door to Room 218 was unlocked. He turned the handle and entered, but did not see a single person.
"Is this the place?" He turned and asked his attendant.
"This is the place, sir." The latter pointed toward the inner room. "Perhaps they're inside."
Charles immediately entered the inner room, only to find an empty card table. There was still no one there.
As he was wondering about it, he suddenly heard a woman's voice faintly coming from the room next door.
He knew that voice far too well. It appeared in his dreams almost every day.
Inside Room 219.
Baron Trudaine faintly heard the sound of a door opening and immediately got into character, speaking into Louise's ear.
"Now, the Alphonse-Boutin Ironworks' coal will certainly have to pay an 'irregularity deposit,' but I have other channels through which I can supply you with more coal at prices even lower than the market rate."
"Really?" She immediately hooked her arms around his neck, smiling sweetly and cloyingly. "Oh, darling, you are the only light