The Lord Of Masks

The Mask Bids Farewell

"M-Masc?" Charles' voice entered my head, pulling me back to my senses.

"A-Ah... Sorry, seems like I got a little bit sleep-deprived," Let's leave it with this lie and change the topic, shall we?

"I see... I'm glad since it means that you're still hesitating on leaving us. Have you bid your farewell with Azelia?" Charles suddenly asked a question that I've been hoping he won't.

"I-I have?" (Masc)

"W-Why are you asking me back, Masc...?" replied Charles with a wry smile as he saw my reaction towards his question.

"Masc... If you didn't bid her farewell and suddenly disappear, you know that my life will be in great danger because of it, right...?" Asked Charles with a small sigh.

"It's your own fault, I never invited you here, and have no plans of bidding you farewell, in the first place. I'm planning on disappearing without having either of you know it, well it's impossible, though..." I mocked my own naive thinking as I sigh.

"Then go meet her now before you go, you know how barbaric-"

"Hm~ I wonder what you're talking about, brother?" An elegant voice of a lady suddenly appeared from the direction of my room's door that is surprisingly wide open.

The lady has beautiful blonde hair. Her sparkling eyes stared at Charles with a pair of furrowed brows. With her hands at her hip, she's sending Charles a dangerous vibe despite having a huge smile on her face.

And Charles on the other side, as if he just sensed the arrival of a demonic being, Charles trembled as all of his hairs stood on ends.

"P-Princess Azelia!" Carl immediately bowed towards the royal princess of the Armenia Empire.

Azelia Armenia.

The one and only little sister of Charles.

The most loved and protected princess of the Armenia empire. Her kindness and beauty are famous enough that lots of princes and young kings proposed to her, only to get harshly rejected by her great doting and protective imperial father.

Why is that kind of bigshot that is totally out of my reach here?

And why the hell did we let her see the inside of my room?

Who the hell leave that door opened!?

I shifted my gaze towards the bowing Carl, the sweats on his forehead clearly show that he is the culprit. The one who let the door opened.

I always told you to close the door whenever you enter a room, didn't I!?

"So? What are you about to say, my dear brother?" Asked her with her 'gentle' and 'angelic' voice.

"I-I mean, Masc. You know how angelic and beautiful my sister is, don't you? It will give you a good luck charm to meet her before you leave, it definitely will! Ah! Carl! Let's go to Bouron's quarter, I believe you said that you're going there too, don't you? I coincidentally have a business with him too," Charles immediately make his strategic retreat's path.

"E-Eh? But I don't have any-" Carl about to reject Charles' invitation to flee, almost destroying Charles' retreat path. But of course, Charles will not let his retreat path get destroyed easily by Carl.

"I believe you said that before, right? If you don't, then do you want to help run 'some' errands for me, Carl?" Charles sends a powerful glare towards Carl despite having his usual smile on his face. After trembling a little bit, Carl finally follows Charles's lead.

"Ah! I almost forgot, thanks for reminding me, your imperial highness..." (Carl)

"Then let's go now, I don't have that much time, after all," Charles about to rush and leave the room. But-

"Masc Erickson," Charles suddenly called my name with an unusually serious tone as he stopped in front of the door with his back facing me.

"Unlike my father, I didn't have enough influence or power to reward or grant you with anything. But unlike him, I watched you from your back and beside of you for years. So I know the best how much have you done for the empire," (Charles)

"I know that my father told you this, but let me said it once more. The Armenia Empire owes you a lot, dear captain of the imperial secret order. We're very thankful for it. So Masc, if you're in trouble, or if you need help," (Charles)

Charles finally looked behind, letting me look at the right part of his face. His eyes that filled with sadness, frustrations, determination, and great perseverance.

Looking at him like this makes me relieved and determined that there is a bright future for the Armenia Empire.

"Don't forget that we're more than glad to lend you a hand. Godspeed," said Charles as he left.

I caught his voice that was slightly hoarse when he said 'Godspeed'. Really, this is why I don't want to bid any farewell.

"C-Captain... I hope you'll never forget about us... *Hiks* *Hiks* Bye..." said Carl as he followed after Charles with a face filled with tears.

I'm sorry Carl, I'm a little bit touched by how you cry, but I still couldn't lie that I still feel slightly annoyed with your reaction. I don't know wh. That's why please forgive me...

Now...

"Hmph! What is he acting cool for?" Humphed Azelia as she mocked her brother.

"........." (Masc)

What is this awkward atmosphere? What should I do? What should I say?

"Masc. It seems that you've completely ready to leave," said Azelia as she saw my room that got even cleaner than before.

"Well, yup..." I answered awkwardly.

"I know that you want to leave without notifying me for my sake, but you know that I will resent you for that, right?" (Azelia)

"I do. And I've prepared myself for that," (Masc)

"Pfft! Why did you even prepare yourself for that? Seriously... You're the only one who always answers me like that besides Mary," said Azelia as she let out a small laugh.

Mary, huh... That terrifying maid... I definitely didn't want to meet her...

"Are you seriously going to leave?" Asked Azelia.

"Yes, princess," (Masc)

"If I don't let you?" Asked her.

"I will still go, princess," I answered with a firm voice.

"If I use all of my power to not let you go...?" She continues her questions.

"I will still go. I will use all of my strength to break through, princess," I answered even firmer.

"If... If I don't let you go...? If I beg you for you to not go...? Will you stay and continue to protect me and my brother...?" Her question became more and more as her voice starts to get hoarser.

*Plop!*

The sound of a tear fell to the ground entered my ears.

Each second, the number of tears that drop increased. She didn't try to hide it, she let me see clearly how a beautiful face could get ruined by tears.

"Even if I cry like this and ask you to stay?" She still continues.

The sight ruins my heart.

But still...

I'm sorry Azelia... But my decision remains unchanged...

"Even so, I will still go, Azelia," I answered as I wipe her tears with my hands.

It's a sin to recklessly touch the face of the precious beautiful imperial princess of the Armenia Empire that is loved by everyone even outside the empire, but since I'm no longer an official subordinate of the empire, I think it's fine to break some rules before leaving.

"You know that you can get imprisoned because of this, right?" Asked Azelia as she is aware of how valuable she is that someone besides the imperial family and her personal maids may not touch her recklessly that they might get imprisoned because of staining the imperial princess' holy face.

"Well, then let's keep this between us, shall we? It will be not funny to get imprisoned right after getting released from duty, don't you think? Just consider this as my farewell gift," I answered her as I secretly and desperately wished that she won't make me get imprisoned just because of this.

"Hmph! What a cheap farewell gift," She humphed.

"Well, there's no way that I didn't prepare anything for the people I close to, especially to the beautiful imperial princess that had been very friendly to me since I was a kid. Here," I handed a sword that got neatly warped with a black cloth.

It is the sword that I often use. Since the imperial princess before me is a genius in both swordsmanship and magic, I believe that it might be useful for her since the sword is strengthened and imbued with various spells and runes.

"Really? You're giving a lady a sword as a farewell gift? There is also a limit for how dense a human could be, don't you think?" (Azelia)

Ugh... That's kind of hurt. But well, the real gift is inside the warped cloth, so it will be best if she realizes it later.

"But well, I guess it's better than nothing," She muttered in the end as she hides her mouth with the sword. She's smiling, isn't she?

"Then, is it fine for me to go now?" I asked the imperial princess before me as I had successfully stopped hear tears from flowing.

"Well, since you've prepared a farewell gift. But, let me ask you the last question, Masc," said Azelia as she captures my left hand.

"If I get in danger, will you save me despite being so far from here?" (Azelia)

Here we go, another outrageous question.

But well.

"I'll always be there whenever you're in trouble princess. Just by dropping a single drop of tear, I will immediately teleport to your side," I confidently replied.

"Hmph! Fine. You're permitted to leave. But I hope you remember all of your promises," (Azelia)

"Well of course. I will never break my promises," (Masc)

I will definitely come back after I finished my affairs, Azelia.

I'm actually willing to continue being the captain of the imperial secret order myself and continue to protect both of you and the empire, but my revenge comes first.

This blazing flame of hatred, I need to release it somewhere.

I'm afraid that if I stay here.

All of you will get engulfed by it.