Between Destruction and Pleasure - Chapter 5

“May I have this dance, my lady?”

The man’s face was concealed by a mask, making it impossible to identify him. However, the hints of silver in his hair and the tone of his voice suggested he was in his sixties—fifties, at the youngest. He was shorter and slighter in build than Catherine.

At the moment, she didn’t entirely dislike the idea of dancing. However, on most occasions in the ballroom, a dance partner tended to become a bed partner as well. Dancing, therefore, was a careful choice for Catherine.

“I’m sorry, but my legs are a bit sore today, so dancing might be difficult,” she said, politely declining.

Her legs were perfectly fine, of course, but the man seemed to catch the subtle meaning behind her words. Though his face flushed with embarrassment, he retreated without protest.

As she watched him walk away, it appeared he was leaving the ballroom altogether.

“Phew,” she sighed in relief.

One of the rules of the masquerade was that rejected invitations would not be pressed again. But, as with any rule, there were always those who would ignore it and persist.

Catherine visited the masquerade from time to time, yet surprisingly, she hadn’t danced much here before. Consequently, she hadn’t taken anyone to bed, either.

Though some had asked her to dance, she declined them all, preferring to avoid any unnecessary entanglements.

But tonight, perhaps it was the wine, a strange urge stirred within her—something different from her usual restraint.

She turned her gaze back to the central hall. Her eyes, half-lidded from intoxication, wandered over the pairs dancing together. A sudden wave of loneliness washed over her.

It wasn’t the dancing itself, but the warmth she saw in the way masked strangers looked at each other. Whether it was affection or mere lust, Catherine wasn’t sure—but tonight, even that seemed enviable.

Warmth had always been a scarce thing in her life.

Amy had cared for her in her own way, but it wasn’t enough. The only people who had ever truly held her were her childhood nursemaid and Siren, who was smaller than her even back then. But that hadn’t lasted long.

Her nursemaid had passed away when Catherine was only seven, leaving her to grow up almost entirely on her own.

The sultry, sticky rhythm of the music seeped into her ears. On the dance floor, couples drew closer together, their bodies almost merging as they clung to one another. Once the music ended, most of them would disappear into rooms together.

Normally, such sights wouldn’t bother her. But tonight, they felt overwhelming.

She felt like an outsider, even here. That thought deepened her loneliness, making it unbearable.

Cold.

Catherine wrapped her arms around her own shoulders. Despite the heat coursing through her body from the alcohol, her hands on her skin felt ice-cold.

Would sharing a body’s warmth make me feel less cold?

The thought came unbidden, a startling suggestion born of her mounting loneliness.

Of course, it wasn’t as though she regretted turning down the man earlier.

Still, since it would be my first time… if I were to dance, I’d prefer…

Her eyes scanned the room again, and then they stopped.

A man had just entered the ballroom.

And Catherine’s gaze was drawn to him, as if by an invisible thread.

From a distance, he entered the ballroom wearing a mask, but even amidst the crowd, he stood out. His tall, imposing figure, broad shoulders, sharp jawline, and piercing black eyes that glimmered beneath the mask—everything about him exuded a commanding presence.

It wasn’t just Catherine who noticed. She could feel the stares—both from men and women—stealing glances at him as he walked in.

Perhaps it was the alcohol clouding her better judgment, but Catherine’s next action was impulsive, to say the least.

Clink.

She set her glass down and slowly rose from her seat. Her steps were unsteady as she made her way toward him. And then, as if on cue, she lost her balance and stumbled forward.

The man caught her effortlessly, his arms steady as they held her upright. Catherine looked up at him, her eyes locking onto his as her breath hitched. His dark gaze flickered downward, scanning her calmly before he helped her stand.

Even after she steadied herself, Catherine didn’t move away. Finally, the man broke the silence.

“Do you need something?”

His voice was low and controlled, devoid of any trace of surprise. Though his tone was cold, there was an undeniable allure to his smooth timbre.

The flush from the alcohol surged up her neck, heating her face as it clouded her thoughts further. She felt lightheaded, dizzy even.

When Catherine didn’t respond, the man made to move past her.

“If you have nothing to say, step aside.”

But Catherine reached out, grasping the edge of his coat. He paused, looking back at her with a sharp, curious gaze.

She had meant to ask him to dance. That was the plan.

But what came out of her mouth was something entirely unexpected.

“…Do you want to sleep with me?”

The man’s black eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her, and a hint of amusement curled at the corners of his lips beneath the mask.

“Why not?” he replied.

What have I done? Catherine’s thoughts screamed. I’ve lost my mind.

The man placed a firm hand on her waist to steady her, leading her toward the exit. Catherine, half-dragged along, glanced around the ballroom with a mix of panic and embarrassment.

Though she kept telling herself she was crazy, the solidness of his arm around her waist and the broad strength of his shoulder pressed against her made any thought of backing out evaporate.

After all, it was inevitable. Sooner or later, her family would force her into a marriage with some unknown nobleman. If she was lucky, she might like her husband. But more often than not, she wouldn’t.

If it’s going to happen anyway…

Wouldn’t it be better to spend one night, at least, with someone she found attractive? For some reason, the thought that this man might harm her never even crossed her mind.

“Um, where are we going? The rooms are that way…” she said hesitantly, pointing toward the designated guest rooms in the ballroom.

The man leaned in close, his breath brushing her ear as he whispered, “Surely, you wouldn’t want to use a place where who knows how many others have already rolled around.”

His words silenced her.

Though she had no idea who he was, the way he spoke, dressed, and carried himself made it clear he was of noble birth.

She had briefly considered the cleanliness of those rooms before, but in her impulsive decision to suggest sleeping together, it hadn’t crossed her mind.

The man guided her to a waiting carriage, helping her inside. Catherine didn’t resist, climbing in without protest.

Whether it was because she lacked the energy to argue or because she didn’t want to, she couldn’t tell.

The carriage eventually stopped in front of a townhouse in the capital. It wasn’t just any townhouse—it was far larger and grander than what she had expected. In fact, it could hardly be called a townhouse at all. It was closer to a full-fledged mansion.

How is something like this even allowed within the capital? she wondered fleetingly. But her intoxication dulled her thoughts, and the grandeur of the mansion overshadowed her curiosity.

“This is… such a beautiful house,” she slurred, her words tripping over themselves as she craned her neck to admire it.

“You’re too kind. Shall we go in?”

She hadn’t even noticed that his tone had shifted to a more formal manner.

Before she could regain her balance, the man effortlessly scooped her up into his arms. Catherine, her vision swimming and her head spinning, let her eyes fall shut. A faint musk scent emanated from him, calm and grounding.

“…M-Master…!”

As they stepped inside, someone’s startled voice rang out, clearly taken aback. But the man didn’t respond, nor did he pause. He simply carried her up to the second floor without so much as a glance.

Catherine, her eyes still closed, couldn’t see the speaker.

Master? Who is this man…?

Her back sank into the plush softness of a bed. Only then did Catherine open her eyes, taking in her surroundings.

The room was stunning. Its vintage furniture exuded an understated elegance, and the walls were adorned with refined but luxurious wallpaper.

The sheer curtains, swaying gently by the window, were unmistakably made of the expensive purple silk she’d only heard about. A painting by the legendary artist Leblanc hung on one wall, its presence a silent declaration of wealth.

Her gaze wandered until it landed on the man standing before her. Their eyes locked.

“Have you finished admiring the room?” he asked smoothly, his voice laced with amusement.

“Ah…”

It was at that moment Catherine fully grasped what she had done.

The man leaned down toward her, his movements deliberate.

“W-Wait…”

Her soft, hesitant voice caused him to pause, his dark eyes glinting with curiosity as he studied her intently.

Through the narrow space between their masks, their gazes met, and Catherine’s mind swirled with a torrent of thoughts.

What if he finds out who I am? Is my wig slipping? Did I make a mistake?

“It’s fine.”

His voice, sweet and soothing, brushed past her ears as if he could read her thoughts. The gentle assurance was disarming.

Then his left hand rose, resting lightly over the curve of her breast, the fabric of her dress doing little to lessen the intimacy of his touch.

“W-What…?”

This fast? Was she really about to go through with this—with a man she’d only met tonight?

Her body tensed instinctively, freezing in place. But the man leaned closer, his voice melting into a whisper as he reassured her once more.

“Relax. You’re safe with me.”

His lips first found the delicate hollow of her collarbone. As his warm, soft tongue traced her neck and collarbone, Catherine was overcome by a mixture of ticklish and sensual sensations, her breath hitching.

“Ah…!”

The slight pain of his teeth lightly grazing her tender skin made her body twist instinctively, but when she felt his large hand firmly grasp her chest, a shiver ran through her. This time, there was no pause, no hesitation.

As his broad hand persistently kneaded the soft swell of her breast, the sensitive peak beneath her dress hardened in response, becoming taut.

“Hnn… ah…”

Catherine’s hands fluttered uncertainly before finally coming to rest on his shoulders. The man’s hand, which had been teasing her chest, slid down to her side, deftly untying the small knot at her waist.

In an instant, the upper part of her dress was pulled down, exposing her skin to his gaze. As his eyes lingered on her, he reached up, intending to remove her mask. Catherine startled, her hand flying up to stop him.

“N-no, don’t,” she said quickly, her voice trembling slightly.

“…”

“Leave it… and don’t take yours off either,” she added, her tone firmer this time.

The man tilted his head slightly, as though considering her words, but Catherine’s resolve didn’t waver.

“If you won’t agree, I’ll leave,” she said decisively, her eyes meeting his.

“…Understood,” he replied smoothly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. His compliance, paired with that subtly seductive smile, made Catherine momentarily dazed, her breath hitching as she found herself captivated by his charm.

His lips returned to her collarbone, pressing softly against her flushed skin. From there, they traveled downward, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake. His hands grasped her breast firmly, the slight ache of his grip mingling with a thrilling pleasure.

As his tongue trailed lower, teasing her sensitive skin, it finally reached the rosy peak that stood taut and eager. He took it fully into his mouth, his lips and tongue lavishing attention on her as she gasped softly, her body trembling under his touch.

“Ah… ah!”

A restrained moan slipped from Catherine’s lips as her body betrayed her attempts at self-control. Overwhelmed by the strange, tingling sensations coursing through her, she closed her eyes tightly, as if surrendering to the unfamiliar pleasure.

His lips and tongue alternated between sucking firmly and teasing her with soft flicks, leaving her trembling. At some point, without her even realizing it, her dress had slipped away completely, leaving her bare beneath his touch.