Monster Wave (1)

Agnes Elizabeth Blaze.

The eldest daughter of the Blaze Viscount Family, born to Arthur Elizabeth Blaze and Nadia Evangelin Blaze.

Also known as the heir apparent to the Elizabeth family, she was currently attending the masquerade ball hosted by the Third Princess Seraphine.

Having slipped away from the bustling Evening Rose Hall where men and women mingled, she leaned quietly against the terrace railing alone.

“Haaah….”

Waiting impatiently for this tedious, bothersome event to end even a second sooner.

‘Why on earth do I have to participate in such a meaningless, empty birthday event….’

Instead of wasting time at this annoying social gathering that didn’t suit her at all, there were countless productive things she could be doing.

She could be in her private laboratory in the Blaze territory developing new fire magic, or expanding her knowledge by reading the new magic tome she acquired in the imperial capital yesterday.

At the very least, even spending time hunting monsters near the Blaze territory to practice magic would have been a far more worthwhile use of her time than this.

It was already infuriating enough that she had to waste two full days traveling from the distant Blaze family estate to the imperial palace, and being forced to attend such an unproductive event only added to Agnes’s considerable frustration.

…If not for the pressure from her family threatening to cut off her support unless she made an appearance, she would have ditched this ridiculous event long ago.

‘Everyone already knows each other anyway. What’s the point of wearing masks and dancing around like fools?’

Who on earth came up with this stupid, bizarre banquet idea?

The social event annoyingly held under the pretext of the Third Princess’s birthday, the high-ranking nobles subtly revealing their identities to attract attention, the people fawning over them to get noticed-

Every single aspect of it rubbed Agnes the wrong way.

Some of these nobles were either planning to enroll in the Imperial Academy within the next year or two or were already studying there.

Why were they forgetting their duty as noble mages and pouring their energy into such unproductive events?

Lost in these thoughts, she slipped away from the crowd to the terrace, gazing at the scenery outside the imperial palace while lost in contemplation.

At the same time, she felt rather proud of the clever transformation magic she had devised today.

‘Using transformation magic was definitely the right call. If I had just worn one of those stupid masks that don’t even hide anything, annoying people would’ve swarmed me for sure.’

No matter how much she concealed the Elizabeth family crest on her dress and accessories, her strikingly red hair would have given her away immediately if left uncovered.

And if that had happened, just like at every other event, bothersome people would have flocked to her, hoping to bask in the Elizabeth family’s prestige.

The Elizabeth family had a tradition of pitting branch family children against each other and adopting the most suitable heir into the main family.

Most people, including Agnes herself, were certain she would be the heir of this generation.

Because of this, whenever she attended events with other branch family members, unwanted attention always gravitated toward her.

Seeing how no one recognized her after simply changing her striking red hair to blue made her realize just how shallow the people who had approached her before must have been.

‘They’d never imagine I’m using transformation magic.’

Just as she was dismissively glancing at the other nobles laughing and dancing noisily in the Evening Rose Hall, turning her gaze back to the terrace outside-

A voice, as if calling out to her, came from behind.

When she turned her head, a woman with an almost ethereal glow smiled at her.

“The party doesn’t seem to be to your liking, mysterious lady?”

“…….”

A woman approaching her, deliberately seeking her out despite her retreat to the terrace to avoid people.

Even with part of her eyes obscured by a mask, her beauty was unmistakable, radiating an almost divine aura.

Agnes instantly grew wary-someone like this, who could easily be the center of attention anywhere in the ballroom, had chosen to approach her instead.

It was impossible not to be suspicious.

“The weather is lovely, isn’t it? Though it’s already dark.”

“…….”

“Do you find the dark scenery outside more enjoyable than mingling at a masquerade, miss?”

“…….”

“Everyone has their own preferences, after all. It seems the well-meaning intention of ensuring everyone enjoys themselves, regardless of status, didn’t quite reach you.”

“…….”

“Would you like to chat with me for a while, if you don’t mind?”

A golden-haired woman persistently talking to her despite her blatant attempts to ignore her.

When Agnes turned her head toward the voice again, the golden-haired woman was still smiling sweetly, unfazed by her rudeness.

Feeling an odd pang of guilt, Agnes turned her gaze back to the terrace outside, indirectly expressing her disinterest in continuing the conversation.

“…You’d be wasting your time with me. There are plenty of people inside who’d suit you better.”

“But I’d like to talk to you, not them.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“Is that so? I thought I could have a deep discussion about magical knowledge with you.”

“…Why would you think that?”

“Because you’re using transformation magic to hide your true identity right now, aren’t you?”

“…….”

She never expected anyone among these shallow nobles to see through her magic.

At the golden-haired lady’s remark, Agnes lowered her guard slightly and began to show interest.

The golden-haired lady, noticing this, naturally steered the conversation forward.

“Using transformation magic at a masquerade to hide your identity… Does that mean you dislike socializing? Or is it that you’ll only talk to someone who can see through your magic?”

“…Both.”

“I almost didn’t recognize it at first because your transformation magic feels different from what I know. Normally, transformation magic is noticeable because the caster’s and recipient’s mana clash, right? But with yours, it’s barely detectable… I was surprised.”

“…Of course. I cast it on myself. There’s no reason for the mana flow to feel different.”

“I thought you might have a twin sister with similar mana capacity, but you cast it on yourself?”

“I don’t have any siblings. And not to brag, but I’ve never met anyone my age with mana capacity close to mine.”

“Hmm….”

The golden-haired lady looked at Agnes with an odd glint in her eyes.

Agnes, unaware of the meaning behind that gaze, tilted her head slightly in confusion.

From then on, the golden-haired lady and Agnes leaned against the terrace railing, chatting happily about various topics.

Mainly about fire magic-Agnes’s specialty-and other magical knowledge and culture.

“…So flame magic circuits must never have straight lines. Unless it’s a composite spell with other magic.”

“That’s right. Flame magic is amorphous. You can increase its power by minimizing curvature, but straight lines are a no-go.”

“Exactly. The complete opposite of natural-element magic, which is full of straight lines and angular circuits….”

Though Agnes outwardly looked down on those preoccupied with socializing, deep down, she too harbored a desire to connect with others.

She just hadn’t met anyone on her wavelength before, so she never felt the need to force herself to mingle.

But once she found someone to discuss her favorite topics with in depth, her words flowed freely.

The golden-haired lady smiled faintly, watching her.

‘Now, it seems there’s no one left who isn’t enjoying the banquet.’

She had gone around the ballroom, engaging in brief conversations with anyone who seemed isolated or left out.

As the planner and host of this event, she couldn’t tolerate anyone feeling excluded.

Having spent enough time talking with Agnes under the beautiful full moon on the terrace, she was about to reveal her identity and conclude the masquerade.

“……?”

But the final event she had planned for the evening was interrupted by unforeseen circumstances.

“…The key to the transformation magic I’m using is visualization. Imagining unseen parts is the most crucial skill for a mage-“

“…Wait a moment, Miss Agnes.”

“…Huh? What? Not interested in transformation magic anymore?”

“No, Miss Agnes. Could you look toward the lakeshore over there…?”

“The lakeshore…?”

Following the golden-haired lady’s finger as she spoke in a serious tone, Agnes’s gaze shifted.

At the lakeshore of Verdan Lake, something unusual was happening.

It didn’t take long for both of them to realize it was a horde of monsters emerging from the water.

Almost immediately, the doors to the Evening Rose Hall burst open as imperial guards rushed onto the terrace.

“Your Highness! Abnormal monster activity has been reported at Verdan Lake!”

“…Yes, I just saw it myself.”

Monsters emerging from Verdan Lake, north of the imperial palace, were advancing toward the palace.

Having witnessed it firsthand, she nodded in confirmation to the guard.

Agnes, stunned by the guard’s words and the lady’s demeanor, wore a dumbfounded expression.

“…Your Highness?”

She turned to the golden-haired lady beside her, muttering in disbelief.

The golden-haired lady smiled apologetically.

“…I’m sorry, Miss Agnes. I didn’t mean to deceive you. I just thought you might feel uncomfortable if you knew my identity.”

With those words of apology, Princess Seraphine leaped onto the terrace railing.

Agnes was momentarily mesmerized by her graceful figure.

Seraphine smiled at the guard who had come to escort her.

“There’s no need to worry about me. Please escort this lady to safety first.”

“That’s unacceptable, Your Highness! Your safety is paramount…!”

“It’s fine. Tonight is a full moon, and it’s not yet my ‘fated time to die.'”

“Your Highness!”

-Thud!

Dodging the guard’s grasp, Seraphine leaped into the air.

With a light step off the railing, she spun gracefully through the air before descending from the third-floor terrace.

Her silhouette against the full moon was a perfect embodiment of her epithet-“Princess of the Moonlight Shadow.”