I’m Supposed to Be the Neglected Princess in the Future, but Something Seems Strange... - 2 - Temptation of the Art Gallery – 1

The masquerade ball where Lea disappears will be held five days from now.

The origin of the masquerade ball is the Kingdom of Martan.

Once a year, starting the day before the birthday of the goddess of fertility—who is said to live deep under the Evere Sea—the Kingdom of Martan enters a month-long period of abstinence. During this time, drinking alcohol and all kinds of entertainment are forbidden.

This tradition comes from a myth where the goddess of fertility saw her husband, the god of life, cheating on her on her birthday. Furious, she locked him in an underwater prison for a month. To endure this period of abstinence, people wore masks and spent the night indulging in pleasure the day before it began. That is how it all started.

However, in modern times, the wild partying where people forget their social status is no longer accepted. Today’s masquerade balls are simply dance parties where people wear masks to hide their identity. They are held anytime during the social season, regardless of the abstinence period.

(So, I’m safe for the next five days…)

The Princess Lea cruise ship began to move smoothly. It will sail around the Evere inland sea, stopping at several places before finishing its one-month cruise.

According to Rose’s memories, Lea disappears five nights from now. So, for now, everything should be safe until then.

The problem is that a special invitation is needed to attend the masquerade ball. The ball five days from now is hosted by Prince Raphael, the crown prince of the Kingdom of Martan. And Rose doesn’t have an invitation.

(I have to get an invitation somehow… but how can I do that…?)

Rose doesn’t remember what happened when Lea disappeared.

That’s because, in the future memory she has, Rose only realized Lea had disappeared the next morning, when they found a note in her room that said, “I cannot be your wife. Please take my younger sister instead.” She was told this by Raphael when he came to her cabin.

In the memory, Rose followed her father’s strict orders and never left her cabin. Of course, on the night of the masquerade ball, she was in her room, so she knows nothing about what happened during Lea’s disappearance.

But if she follows the same path as in her memory, she’ll end up with the same cold, neglected future. She must get that invitation to the masquerade ball at any cost.

Luckily, since everyone hides their identity with a mask, a partner isn’t needed. If Rose can just get the invitation, she’s good to go. With Mira’s makeup skills and a good mask, no one should recognize her.

(I think Prince Raphael invited some of his friends on the ship…)

They are all sons of noble families, and apparently, they were his classmates at the royal academy. Raphael is the same age as Lea—nineteen. They met while Lea was studying abroad in the Kingdom of Martan. Rose was never allowed to study abroad, so she was educated at home by Mira’s mother, her former nanny.

Mira’s mother, who is now a viscountess, was a very smart woman who graduated from a university that was seen as beneath the nobility—mostly attended by the middle class. Some people once mocked her for choosing that path, saying she was lowering herself to the working class. But it was thanks to that university that she met the viscount who supported it financially.

So, even though Rose never had a private tutor, she still learned basic education. She remembers feeling a bit jealous when she heard Lea got to study abroad for a whole year.

(Maybe I could get close to one of Prince Raphael’s friends…)

And if things go well, she could get an invitation to the masquerade ball.

(…But how do I even meet them?)

Rose tilted her head, thinking, as she sat on a deck chair on the balcony.

The balcony was bathed in warm sunlight and felt really nice. Mira didn’t like it, saying Rose might get sunburned, but since Rose finally had some freedom, she said she wanted to enjoy the sunshine. Mira didn’t object.

“Lady Rose, since you’ve had your hair cut and your eyebrows shaped, why not go have a little fun on the ship? There’s no one watching us out here, and Lady Lea won’t come to this aLea either.”

Mira was brave enough to openly suggest Rose disobey the king’s orders.

But Rose nodded. Mira had a point. Even if she didn’t go play, she wouldn’t meet Raphael’s friends if she stayed in her room. Going out might not guarantee anything, but it was better than doing nothing.

(I can’t go to the front of the ship where my sister is, but if I wander around this aLea, no one will notice me, right?)

Rose stood up from the deck chair. Mira beamed and shouted, “That’s the spirit!” She rushed to the closet and pulled out a dress. Rose frowned when she saw it—she only had old dresses, but this one was brand new.

“Mira, what’s that?”

“What do you mean? It’s a dress.”

“But it’s new.”

“Of course! I bought it before we got on the ship. It’s from a trendy designer!”

That’s not what Rose was asking. She wanted to know why a new designer dress was even here.

“Tsk tsk tsk, did you forget? My mother is now a maid for the queen.”

“Y-Yes, I know that…”

After finishing her duty as Rose’s nanny, Mira’s mother returned to her old job as a maid to the queen. Rose knew that—but what did that have to do with this dress?

“Hehehe, still don’t get it? Being a maid has its perks. You get hand-me-downs—jewels, dresses, and so on!”

“…Right. Sorry I never gave you anything like that.”

“Oh no, that’s not what I meant!” Mira shook her head hard and spread the dress out on the couch.

“My mom is great at acting sweet. She’s actually a really skilled maid and a favorite of the queen.”

“Yes, I know.”

“So, she gets gifted some jewelry now and then.”

“Okay, and?”

“And this dress was bought by selling part of that jewelry!”

“What!?”

Mira had sold the jewelry gifted by the queen!?

Rose was speechless, but Mira just grinned.

“Hey, if the jewels came from the royal family, then using them for you, Lady Rose, is totally fair! My mom even said, ‘Use it boldly!’ We’ve got more dresses too! Don’t worry—the king and queen haven’t noticed a thing!”

That… didn’t sound like a good excuse. Feeling unsure, Rose was dragged off the balcony by Mira and pulled into the room.

“I didn’t bring any of the jewelry in case someone found out. But I bought tons of cute ribbons! Accessories don’t have to sparkle, you know!”

Mira’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Honestly, Lady Rose, you’re super beautiful—it’s a waste not to dress up!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I just don’t get why you’re always putting yourself down.”

Mira often praised Rose, saying she was beautiful, but that couldn’t be true. She was plain and didn’t resemble either the king or queen. That’s why they ignored her for seventeen years. If she were truly beautiful, they would have loved her like they did Lea.

“Your looks change as you grow. Judging a baby’s face and saying it’s not good enough is ridiculous.”

“Mira?”

“Never mind. Now, let’s get you dressed and do your makeup!”

Without mercy, Mira stripped off Rose’s simple dress and helped her into the new sky-blue gown. Her dark blue hair was softly curled and tied with a white lace ribbon.

Then, Mira led her to the vanity and lightly powdered her face. She added blush and light pink lipstick, then brushed a little rose-pink color to the corners of her eyes.

“Yup! Looks great! Pretty girls are fun to dress up!”

Smiling proudly, Mira sprayed a bit of jasmine perfume behind Rose’s neck.

“All done! Now, go out and have some fun!”

Sent off by Mira, the now-dressed-up Rose pictured the ship’s layout in her mind. In the future, since she couldn’t go out, she had memorized the map down to the smallest detail.

(This aLea has the art gallery and the library, right?)

Rose decided to head to the nearby art gallery. Careful not to step on the hem of her new dress, she slowly walked down the hall lined with bright red carpet.