Chapter 10: Sneaking Into the Ball
“Hughes? A stranger, but worth keeping an eye on.”
These were just plain words with no pictures.
Night Lan didn’t know what Hughes looked like or any other details, only that he was famous for being a gentleman.
But whether he’s a gentleman from the theater troupe, that needed confirmation.
If she found out the gent from the theater troupe, Night Lan reckoned she would go get to know him.
She’d stick by his side and observe closely, having a shot at helping him.
Night Lan continued gathering intel.
First was the male representative.
Next up is the female rep.
Though gentlemen are usually men, there are also ladies who bear a similar grace. Some might call them ladies like a gentlewoman.
Her name is Sharon.
Sharon’s behavior exudes refined elegance typical of a lady.
As a noble’s daughter from a prestigious family, she’s nearly as famous as Hughes. They’re peers in this social circle.
Imagine two runners in different races—without the crossover, they might’ve been competitors in a heated battle.
Word has it that this noble lady is quite young—only eighteen—and strikingly beautiful.
Her allure and appearance stand out enough to compare her to Hughes.
“Hmm, interesting,” she muttered.
Regardless.
Night Lan wanted to mingle within the high society.
The gentlemen from the theater troupe are part of high society, possibly even a renowned one.
If she went in, finding the theater gent should be relatively easy.
“Fine, I’ll do it!”
Night Lan decided she’d strike immediately!
From the info she had purchased recently, there would be a ball where only young nobles were invited. Likely, many young men and women would make an appearance too.
Such gatherings wouldn’t miss out on the chance to attend.
Night Lan didn’t want to miss this opportunity either.
She then mulled it over.
“But sneaking in…can’t just do it willy-nilly, right?”
Night Lan glanced at her modern attire, totally out of place here. To blend in for the ball, she had to look more decent. Luckily, she got period-appropriate outfits among the traded items.
She picked out an ensemble fitting her curves.
With just a fancy dress and a bit of touch-up, she’d look like a genuine noble lady.
“Yes! That’s it!”
So time passed.
Night Lan and Night Star went their separate ways, blending quietly into the background to secretly observe the ladies’ daily routines.
They took careful note of their deportment and mannerisms, striving to learn.
One of Night Lan’s roles is an audience performer of the Rising Sun Theater Troupe.
From countless performances, she learned some acting basics.
Understanding this, playing an elegant lady would be a piece of cake.
Days flew by without her noticing.
Night Lan compiled the collected information and prepared to act.
According to the intel, the ball for young nobles was happening tonight, leaving scant time for Night Lan to get ready.
Inside a cottage.
Night Lan was getting dressed by Night Star.
The gown bought from the merchant was quality stuff.
This dress probably cost a fortune, yet Night Lan somehow snagged it for a tenth of the price, feeling a twinge of guilt.
Only temporarily.
Night Star couldn’t help but smile at Night Lan once she put on the dress.
“How cute~”
No denying, Night Lan rocked most outfits beautifully.
Wearing this gown designed specifically for noble ladies, she almost seemed like the heiress of a distinguished family.
Still, a true lady required poise beyond mere looks.
Regardless how much Loli tried, no way she’d resemble a big sister’s demeanor.
After getting dressed, Night Star started applying some makeup to Night Lan. She picked up some cosmetics from the items bought previously—extremely convenient.
As for whether Night Star was any good—
of course she was.
In the Rising Sun Theater, a professional makeup artist was around.
Curious, she learned some skills out of interest.
The artist, thinking the audience performer meant to take her job at first, was pretty perplexed.
But Night Star sorted things out and relaxed her.
Although not as skilled as the pro, her makeup was still admirable.
With the passive skill of the Wish Princess enhancing her learning ability, Night Star’s skills skyrocketed.
After a while, Night Star finished the makeup and styled the hair.
Now Night Lan had a very period-appropriate look.
“Alright, all set!”
This was good enough for her to sneak into the ball.
Night Star surveyed her handiwork, pleased with herself.
“Wow, great work.”
Checking the time, she realized the ball was about to begin.
Time for Night Lan to head out.
Knowing where the ball was held, she’d visited earlier and left some marks too.
Thus, she could just teleport there.
Otherwise, wearing such expensive clothing, she’d need to avoid attracting attention. Plus, if a stain appeared, oh boy.
So, best to teleport directly.
“Off we go.”
Night Lan whispered the command, activated her Teleport ability, and vanished.
Night Star remained behind.
She was managing one part of the plan while Night Lan handled another.
Night Lan had identified her target and acted. Not so with Night Star.
She hadn’t found any hints about the Fraudster.
Weeks later, finding the Fraudster proved futile.
The theater gent was easier since she could reach out via high society contacts.
But a Fraudster?
Tough going.
Night Star was beginning to despair.
“I’ll relax, can’t rush this. Focus on the ball first.”
The scene shifted.
Night Lan had arrived at the ball venue.
The building seemed ancient and familiar.
Night Lan marveled at seeing a similar one online.
Next, she watched the entrance area. Invited guests entered one by one, showing preparation for the event.
Night Lan hurried towards the entrance.
Since she hadn’t received an invitation, she’d enter surreptitiously rather than face potential blocks.
Both [Existential Interference] and [Teleport] can work here.
Nonetheless, paranoia remained.
An age with Celestial Holders around and hidden special individuals.
Getting noticed and causing a stir would be bad news.
So, Night Lan hid her presence from others and teleported inside unnoticed.
Earlier visits helped her find a less conspicuous spot.
A moment later…
Night Lan stood alone in a corner.
“Whoopee, got in.”
Becoming calmer, she began mimicking recent behavior, blending into the crowd.
