Chapter 74
“There are only two escorts allowed in the Royal castle and the banquet”
Duke Franklin Barga had said this . In other words, I and a woman would be escorting Lapritricsama .
“I’ve been waiting for you, Shaft-san . Ashley-san, he’s the other escort . Shaft-san . ”
Lapitricisama introduced me to Ashley-san . I closed the parlor’s door behind me quietly . Somehow, I felt like escaping as I closed it . Ashley-san got up from her hair and walked towards me . The morning like caught the mithril chair and the ruby that hung around her neck in the morning light . And her hair swayed with each step she took .
I felt fascinated by her beauty from behind my mask, and I wasn’t able to take a step; until she stood before my very eyes .
“Nice to meet you, I’m Ashley Zepanell . I’ll be escorting her along with you for about a month . Let’s get along, Shaft – -?”
Upon saying so, her head tilted sideways as she looked me in the eyes . Her expression changed in a flash . She was clearly doubting something, because she knitted her thin, even eyebrows .
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“Schwartz-san, what are you doing hiding yourself with a mask?”
There was quite some distance from the parlor’s entrance and where Lapitricisama was . So even though Ashley-san said that with a loud voice, it seems that I didn’t need to be concerned with Lapitricsama hearing it . – Wait, that’s not the problem here! Why was I found out?! I haven’t said anything yet! I’m wearing the kevlar mask and had the zombie face below it! I’ve never wore this kind of cloths in any combination before!
“I’m shaft . Did you perhaps confuse me with someone else?”
For some reason, I also replied in a loud voice . I don’t think my voice was shaking .
“I’ve heard that the other person who’s to escort with me is the Black Masked Shaft . If you don’t mind, would you please show me what’s under the mask?”
“She said that, in an equally loud voice . Our distance closed as she brought her face closer and forcefully peered into my eyes, which were covered with the mask .
If I showed my face, she’d have no choice but to see I was not Schwartz .
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I put my hands on the mask, and slowly took it off . I could see Lapitricisama flinch slightly as I did so . Ashley-san’s eyes didn’t part from mine, even when I showed the zombie face .
“Ahh, Schwartz, what’s with this face…”
Ashley-san refused to avert her gaze from my face . But what showed in her eyes were tears which reflected the morning sun . Tears that looked like they’d overflow soon – glitering—
Her right hand approached my face, but didn’t touch it . Though, I immediately understood that she avoided doing so because she was concerned and must’ve thought, would it hurt if I touch it?
I put my mask out and called out to the person behind Ashley-san .
“Lapitricisama, would you mind waiting for little bit?”
“Eh? Ehm, I don’t mind…”
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I took Ashley-san – lightly – by her right hand, and took her out of the parlor . The guards who stood a bit away from the door shifted their attention to us . Suddenly appearing, they checked if everything was alright . I continued to pull Ashley-san and walked a bit down the passage . Taking her to a place were people wouldn’t hear us .
“Ashley-san, here should be fine, right?”
“Schwartz-san, what’s the meaning of this?”
“I’ll talk about the details later . To put it short, I’m living a double life as both Schwartz and Shaft in various ways . As for now, I’d appreciate it if you could address me as Shaft . ”
I couldn’t say for sure if Ashley-san, who stared at me, truly understood what I was saying .
“… I understand . But is your face alright?”
“Don’t worry, this is just a disguise . There’s nothing to be worried about . ”
“Is that so- – I’m glad…”
“Let’s return, shall we? Lapitricisama is waiting for us, after all . ”
“Have you two finished talking?”
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting . I’m glad to be Lapitricisama’s escort from here on . ”
I declared, but truthfully speaking, my heart wasn’t in the situation . I wasn’t sure how, but Ashley-san had figured out I was Schwartz with one look . I still didn’t know where I was lacking that she could recognize me immediately; I’ll ask her later . If my disguise could be revised, then I should do so .
After that, I must talk about Shaft to Ashley-san too . But that’s the same as informing her about me as the Shaft that caused that commotion in the Royal Capital . And he was a murderer who slaughtered people there .
Given that, I felt that it would much harder to tell her about that than the power of VMB…