Chapter Title: Moretta
Adelaide immediately felt disheartened and grabbed the mask on her lap.
"If I was mistaken, I apologize..."
"Typical of someone from Kimora."
"..."
For a brief moment, Adelaide's eyes showed hurt. It was fleeting, but Cesare noticed it clearly. Seeing that, Cesare felt extremely pleased.
*So, this stone-faced woman is human. She can be hurt. There are genuine feelings hidden behind that perpetual impassiveness.*
Cesare crossed his arms and smiled broadly.
"Even if I were taking you to sell you right now, would it matter?"
"...What?"
"Is it any different from being sold to Ezra? Or do you just dislike it because I'm not a noble?"
"..."
Adelaide's eyes widened again, seemingly asking why he would say such things. That innocent look was exactly to Cesare's taste. This was the proper relationship. The head of the Bonaparte family and a shoe shiner. The one wielding power had to be him. Cesare chuckled and leaned his chin on his arm, resting on the window sill.
"But unfortunately, today we're just going to see another side of high society. Also, I want to see how much you can act like a lady."
"..."
At that moment, the carriage stopped. Before opening the door, Cesare leaned over and grabbed the black mask from Adelaide's lap.
"Then now..."
He brought it to Adelaide's face.
"Bite."
"..."
Her trembling amber eyes conveyed clear reluctance as she looked at Cesare. But Cesare pushed the fixing part of the moretta mask into Adelaide's mouth, which hadn't even opened. The characteristic of a moretta mask is that it has no strings and is held by biting a button or hook inside. The wearer cannot speak. Adelaide let out a small groan, and Cesare whispered softly.
"Make sure to bite it firmly so it doesn't fall."
---
Adelaide reflexively looked around after stepping out of the carriage. She saw well-maintained sandy paving stones and the top of the Santa Palermo bell tower, located in the center of Fornatie.
*This is... Delicia Street.*
Although not as grand as the streets lined with noble mansions and public buildings, it was an expensive neighborhood. Even though she had never been here as a shoe shiner or before, Adelaide felt slightly relieved. Since it wasn't Kimora, where one could indulge in all of Fornatie's vices like a buffet, it at least meant she wasn't being sold off.
"It's too early to feel relieved."
A low voice came from beside her. When she looked up, she met Cesare's gaze. The cold lemon-gold eyes under the white mask made her heart feel chilled.
*...Why is he in such a bad mood?*
Cesare seemed different today. Even in the carriage, he seemed like someone determined to unsettle Adelaide.
*...Because I've been following him? A shoe shiner dares to...?*
Just as she started to feel breathless, Cesare pulled her by the shoulder.
"Let's go."
It wasn't an escort posture. Feeling the leather gloves on her shoulder, Adelaide looked at the building in front of her. In front of her was a four-story stone building, built in traditional Santnar style with many arches. At the entrance stood men wearing bird-beak masks. They checked something from the guests who appeared to be nobles before letting them in.
*It looks like an exclusive membership club...*
Adelaide straightened her back. She didn't know much, but it was clear this was a place where she needed to behave like a lady. Cesare led Adelaide to the bird-beak masked men. One of them immediately recognized Cesare and exclaimed.
"It's been a while since you've been here!"
"That's right."
"Wow. Is she with you?"
The bird-beak mask glanced at Adelaide. Seeing the narrow eyes peering through the mask's eye holes, Adelaide flinched for a moment. However, remembering what Cesare had said in the carriage, she met the gaze arrogantly. The bird-beak mask squinted his eyes.
"She's beautiful and bold. You can feel her elegance even with the mask on."
"..."
Just as Adelaide felt like he had licked his lips, Cesare spoke in an icy voice.
"Move."
The bird-beak mask pretended to be exaggeratedly surprised and stepped back.
"My apologies. But... she's wearing a moretta mask?"
"That's right."
The bird-beak mask chuckled.
"Understood. Have a pleasant evening."
The bird-beak mask stepped aside. Cesare, still gripping Adelaide's shoulder, led her inside the building. As soon as they entered, Adelaide was surprised. Right in front of the entrance was a staircase leading down to a basement. Cesare guided her down the stairs.
Through a cave-like darkness, the first thing she saw was a multi-tiered hall resembling an amphitheater. It appeared to be about six stories high, but it was hard to be certain in the dim light. The only lights were small chandeliers here and there. The entire hall was decorated with heavy velvet curtains, and loud, discordant music echoed from somewhere.
On the round platform visible upon entry, many people were dancing. Correction. They were either dancing or initiating courtship. Everyone wore masks. Columbina, Arlecchino, Brighella, Gianni, Gato... Brightly decorated masks painted in silver and adorned with opals floated in the dark hall. It seemed they had discarded their tabards as their attire was all luxurious. The strangeness made Adelaide shrink back slightly.
"Don't get distracted."
Cesare gripped her shoulder again and walked along the edge of the hall. The eyes of those around them followed Cesare. Adelaide thought it looked like a school of sardines moving away from a shark. Cesare led them to a bar at the edge of the first-floor hall. The bartender, wearing a bird-beak mask, greeted them.
"Order..."
"Glenkelan."
Cesare cut him off. The bartender smiled without a hint of irritation.
"It's a rare drink, not available at the first-floor bar. Could you wait for three minutes?"
"Go ahead."
"Thank you."
Both parties seemed very familiar with the situation. To hide her awkwardness, Adelaide sat beside Cesare, pretending to be at ease. Cesare remained silent. He sat facing the hall with his back to the bar, staring ahead indifferently. Crossing his long, firm legs visible under the tabard, the women wearing Columbina masks kept glancing at him.
"Moretta."
Cesare finally spoke. His cold golden eyes behind the bauta mask looked at Adelaide.
"Watch closely. You might find a man you like."
"..."
"I told you, didn't I? If you want, I can help you out. It's the same wherever you go."
Adelaide silently bit down on the mask's holding pin. She couldn't refuse him and nodded, looking ahead. Cesare's sharp laugh made her shiver. It sounded like a beast growling lowly.
Adelaide watched the dancing couple suddenly start touching each other's thighs. Laughing couples. Entwined couples. Couples embracing and leaving the hall. Loud laughter. Secretive hand movements exchanging drugs...
Before becoming a shoe shiner, she was an errand girl. She had frequented opium dens and illegal casinos, so places like this weren't unfamiliar. But it was her first time here as a woman, so she couldn't relax. Being a woman in the underworld was never advisable.
*...No matter what Cesare says, it's better than that hell.*
It's not that she wasn't hurt by what he said in the carriage. But he had come here with her. If he intended to sell her off, he would have done it elsewhere without her present. So, if anything happened to Adelaide now, Cesare would step in to help his sister. Thinking this made everything okay. For the first time in her life, Adelaide felt a sense of being within someone's protection. That alone satisfied her. Beside Cesare, Adelaide no longer had to tremble against the whole world. Even if his words cut her, it was heaven compared to her isolated past. Only those who have experienced both extreme sorrow and joy would understand.
*...He probably wants to see me grovel like the first day. I might as well humor him.*
With that thought, Adelaide turned her head.
"...!"
Cesare's seat was empty.