Masquerade Ball Party

*Chapter 50*

"Stay here in the carriage. Keep company with Basil," I said as I caressed Frederick's back when I told him that he could hug me while he was kneeling to the carriage floor. "Are we clear, darling?"

Frederick sighed and looked up at me, looking like an adorable puppy. "Yes, my goddess."

I nodded. "Good boy." He squirmed at my words.

Frederick was the first one to get down. Then he helped me to get down while he was looking at me with admiration in his eyes.

"My goddess, are you certain that you can still see with your mask?" he asked after a moment.

I nodded my head. "I am." I looked down at my red rococo baroque ball gown. I asked the seamstress for the custom-tailored dress. I even had the wings-shaped gothic blind mask. I really prepared for this event because for this party, you could wear anything you want to conceal your face. Also, having this blind mask would have the people around not noticing the color of my eyes. "I need to go now. You behave well, darling." I patted his head while he nodded.

"I will, my goddess. Have fun!" He smiled.

I nodded and left them so I could make my way to the entrance of the art gallery. I showed my invitation before they allowed me to come in.

I went to the corner so I could watch the nobles who were already here for the auction. I could tell that they had been looking forward to this event based on the expensive ball gowns and suits they wore for tonight. I also let my wavy hair not be tied up and remained as flowy as possible.

I only came here to observe and would like to see how much they are going to lavish on my paintings. Also, I was curious as to who would bid on the painting Frederick chose.

I went to the lounge so I could get some refreshments while the people invited here were busy checking out and scrutinizing the displayed paintings that would be put for auction later. I would check my paintings as soon as I finished my business here.

I contemplated there, thinking if Frederick was behaving well. I was hoping that he would get along with Basil.

I was also wondering how things were going to the Lone Crow pack. I had my watchers there if something happened while I was away. They could report to me and come here to the Argenta if Reginald did something horrible again.

I am not going to allow him to hurt our pack members if in case that was his diversion to get my attention.

I turned my attention to the hall of the art gallery where I could still see the people checking out all the paintings here. I decided to leave the lounge after finishing my drink and joined them on how they would decipher each painting's hidden message.

"I didn't know Noblete would put on an intimate painting."

I almost scoffed when they gathered at the painting—the one Frederick picked. I rolled my eyes as I settled on the back, watching their discourse about the controversial painting which was entitled Masochist and Sadist.

"Indeed. But this is refreshing. Most of Noblete's paintings are more on eroticism."

"I second the motion. Perhaps Noblete wants to try a different artwork this time. Anyhow, I am looking forward to seeing more of them."

I almost smiled at their criticism. I was expecting that they would at least comment on something unpleasant but it turned out that I was wrong.

Not bad.

I was about to stroke my chin when I felt a presence pass behind me. My eyes widened when I came to smell a familiar male perfume of aromatic tobacco. I almost thought that was Frederick because I purchased that perfume only for him but I was wrong.

I came to see a man wearing a steampunk suit and a shield-shaped golden mask with intricate designs. I happened to see it when he turned his way at me and bowed deeply at me.

It was like he was... apologizing? Was he apologizing because he passed behind me?

Hesitant, I nodded my head before I looked away. I didn't know what happened but I felt my heart racing wildly for some reason. He looked like a gentleman to me.

Have I met him before? I don't think I do.

I just sighed and shrugged it off. I started strolling around the art gallery to check my fellow artists' artworks that would be put up for the auction. I checked at the wall clock seeing that there were still two hours until the auction.

I decided to check one of my favorite paintings. When I arrived there, I halted when I came to see the familiar man from earlier. I blinked realizing that he was scrutinizing the painting I named Submission. The painting he was seeing right now which the subject was my blindfolded Frederick was tied up in the saltire cross.

That man piqued my interest and made me curious as to why a man would check that painting.

I walked in his direction and settled beside him. I came to sniff the familiar perfume which Frederick had. "You're one of the few men who check this painting," I said and crossed my arms over my chest.

I already observed that most women here paid attention to this painting. I only noticed a few men came to check it but they never stayed their eyes for that long. However, this man was different.

Judging by this man's standpoint and the way he scrutinized and stroked his chin, he must have been standing there for more than a minute already.

In my peripheral vision, he glanced in my way before he nodded his head. "I am curious about Noblete's erotic art. That artist always leaves consequential messages in every artwork she does."

I arched my eyebrow. He referred to me as she. Most of the people here referred to me as he.

"How do you know that Noblete is a she?" I asked, curious.

I noticed his deep baritone voice. It looked sturdy and somewhat stern. It was also deep. It was like his voice and tone were altered. Was he using a voice changer under his mask?

The man shrugged. "Just a guess."

I pursed my lips into a thin line to halt myself not to laughing. To distract myself, I only nodded. "I see," I uttered and cleared my throat. "What makes you think you are interested in looking at this painting? I noticed that you are one of the few men who checked this painting."

I wanted to know the reason why he was checking this painting of mine. I wanted to see if he could really decipher my message.

He inhaled and exhaled. "Submission..." he uttered the name of my painting. "If I shall see it carefully, Noblete seems to want us to tell us that a person can submit and surrender to one another." He turned at me. "Noblete also tells us to be less-centered and accept the desires of another like this man here in this painting. He allows himself to be dominated by someone. He accepts what it is meant for him. He yields to authority."

There was a furtive smile drawn out on his lips. Well done, good sir... Well done... I wanted to say that but I halted myself. "However, what depicts here as a subject is a man? Don't you think that Noblete is specifying the male species for submission?"

I wondered if he was going to meet my expectations in answering this question.

"True. Since when it comes to submission, women are always the ones who submit to the men. And that everyone thinks that women are inferior to men. In this painting, Noblete also wants to tell us that men can also submit to women. Every man has eccentricity. They have deep fantasies and wishes to be stepped on by women. They want to find the right woman who can also fulfill their desires just as men can fulfill the woman's desires."

"But not all men can satisfy a woman's desires, pal," I stated.

"Must that be based on your experience?" His voice sounded jesting which I chuckled.

"Indeed. However, there is another man who can satisfy me a lot." I gazed at the painting in which Frederick was my subject there. "I am delighted to have him keeping my company." I grinned before I turned at him and offered my hand to him. "I am Noblete. I am impressed with your observations and insights, good sir. You are one of those people who understands my artworks," I complimented.

He accepted my hand as he didn't seem to be surprised at what I said. "I knew that Noblete is a woman," he said. His tone sounded delighted.

I happened to see a blue sapphire ring on his forefinger which indicated that he was a feudal lord and granted a fief to vassal families. It was pretty normal here in the Sowinski Kingdom to implement feudalism. Those vassal families were working in the main branches of the noble families in exchange for granting land to them.

To recognize them, feudal lords had to wear a blue sapphire ring on their forefinger. It could mean that they were the nobles who held land. The vassals were being granted fief by a feudal lord.

I chuckled at his words. "So, what must I call you?"

"Ace. How about you?"

"Just Noblete to you." I smiled. Also, I had a suspicion that Ace wasn't his name. It was fine since I was only using my pseudonym.

"Alright, Lady Noblete." I hushed him immediately.

"Well, I haven't made an appearance to the public so kindly refrain from mentioning my name in any place," I reasoned. I also didn't want to show myself to the elites since I didn't like how demanding they were. They were pretty annoying. I want to add that but I must refrain from spouting words because I wasn't certain if this man named Ace was one of the elites or not.

"Understood." I could already surmise that he was smiling under his mask.

Right now and there, I knew that this man named Ace really piqued my interest.