TVCWB Chapter 52

Chapter 052

Since arriving in Eclit, Perea had not met Dia even once because Dia was busy preparing for the performance.

Even so, Dia did not forget about her. She sent an invitation—and even a beautiful, luxurious mask just for Perea.

Perea took out the mask Dia had sent and held it up to her face. The moment the brilliant, jewel-covered mask touched her skin, she felt like the heroine of a romance novel.

Just wearing a mask made her feel mysterious and lovely… Was this why Madam Trukisil had strongly recommended wearing one?

She tilted her head this way and that, studying her reflection in the mirror. Then Theo, who was standing beside her, called out,

“Perea, look! Theo is a Rabbit Hero!”

The child wore the Rabbit Hero mask they had bought a few days ago and ran around the hotel room holding a toy sword with both hands.

Even though he was a fierce beastman and moved quickly and lightly, there was barely any sound from the floor.

He made “Swish! Swish!” sounds with his mouth like a real hero, looking adorable and lively.

“Wow, that’s really cool!”

Perea clapped enthusiastically and laughed at his playful movements. In response, Theo flicked his tail proudly and even did a flashy tumble.

It was like a circus performance.

They were playing like that—putting on and taking off masks—when Ray, who had gone out right after lunch, returned.

“You’re back—… huh?!”

Perea, who had gone to greet him, gasped loudly. Hearing her, Theo also ran out.

“Ah! Ray?! Ray?! Is that really you?!”

Theo jumped around him in shock.

The reason they were so surprised was Ray’s appearance. His silver hair, which had once shone like starlight, was now dyed black like the early dawn sky.

Not only that, but his round ears on top of his head and his long, thick tail were black too.

Theo and Perea stared at him with their mouths open, unable to speak. They didn’t even know where to start asking questions.

While they were just blinking at him, a large figure suddenly popped out from behind Ray with a cheerful “Ta-da!”

It was Berry Tail.

“Hahaha!” Berry laughed loudly while wiggling his fingers dramatically next to Ray.

He seemed to think he was adding sparkle effects, but it was just distracting.

“Senior! What happened?!”

“What do you mean what happened? This is preparation for going to the performance! By the way, this hotel suite is amazing. Can I look around?”

He was already inside the living room but asked for permission only in words. Seeing Berry’s shamelessness, Perea shook her head helplessly.

Still, she knew she would understand the situation faster from Berry than from Ray, so she followed him.

“Wait, Senior, Ray’s hair color changed!”

“Yep. I changed it for him.”

“Why?”

Of course, black hair suited Ray extremely well. There was not even a hint of awkwardness. But she was still curious.

Why dye his beautiful silver hair black just to watch a performance?

“If he went with his original hair color, it would basically be announcing, ‘I’m Ray from the Imperial Palace!’ And you can’t exactly wear a cloak over your head at an opera performance, right?”

“Oh, right…!”

Only then did Perea understand. She felt sorry for not thinking of Ray’s situation first.

She left Berry, who was busy exploring the suite, and returned to the living room.

Ray was sitting neatly on the sofa. When Perea appeared, his ears flicked as he nervously watched her reaction.

He was very curious about what she would say about his new look.

Whether it suited him or not, he wanted her to say something. From the expression she had shown earlier, he expected at least one comment.

“Sir Ray, black hair suits you really well! I was surprised at first, but looking again… it really suits you!”

Inside, she was thinking, With a face that handsome, anything would suit you! But she was too embarrassed to say that out loud.

Still, she repeated twice that it suited him, making sure he felt good.

At her praise, Ray’s ears, which had been lightly flicking, now fluttered wildly as if caught in a storm.

His face remained expressionless, but his ears were extremely honest. His feelings were obvious.

Even Perea, who didn’t usually understand beastman body language well, could tell.

Smiling, she added another compliment.

“I think you’ll be the most handsome beastman at the performance!”

This time she teased him just a little more. Ray’s straight lips twitched slightly before forming a soft curve.

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I just said what I honestly think.”

Perea waved her hands and laughed awkwardly before falling silent.

Lately, whenever she talked with Ray, moments like this would happen. They weren’t unpleasant, but they made her unsure of what to say next.

It seemed the same for Ray, as he stayed quietly by her side instead of leaving.

Their silence continued until Berry finished exploring the suite.

Berry had even prepared honey tea from the minibar, as if planning a full tea time.

He used someone else’s hotel room as naturally as if it were his own. Confidence seemed to be part of his nature.

Theo was tucked under his arm. Berry would stay with Theo during the performance tonight.

“Wow, Theo, you look sturdier than when you first came to Eclit.”

“Mm! Theo is a tiger! I grow fast!”

Theo put his hands on his hips and pushed his belly forward proudly. His little round belly stuck out like a small hill.

Like he was dealing with a real nephew, Berry rubbed Theo’s belly gently and then took out the toy he had prepared for today.

It was a puzzle where you matched different shapes to complete a picture. The picture showed Theo’s beloved Rabbit Hero.

It was questionable whether Theo had enough concentration to finish it, but at least Berry seemed to have brought an efficient way to pass the long hours.

“Alright, Perea, you really need to get ready now. For famous opera performances, carriages all arrive at once, so it’s better to go early.”

“Ah, yes! Just a moment!”

Even though he didn’t look like it, Berry had actually grown up very refined, and his advice sounded experienced. Perea quickly stood up.

She put on the dress smoothly, just as Ray had taught her, and braided and pinned up her hair.

When she looked in the mirror after finishing, she didn’t look like a princess—but she could easily pass for a young noblewoman from a distant region.

Seeing such an unfamiliar version of herself for the first time, Perea blinked in surprise.

There was an old saying: “Clothes are wings.” It felt perfect for her situation.

She spun around in front of the mirror and grinned. She was already in a good mood before even going to the performance.

Carefully taking the mask with her, she left the dressing room and entered the living room—where the three beastmen all turned to look at her.

Wow… this is a little embarrassing.

She wondered if Ray had felt like this earlier when he showed his new hair.

“T-ta-da…”

In a shy voice, Perea spread out the skirt of her dress.

Even then, the three of them didn’t react right away, and her face grew red with embarrassment.

Compared to Sir Ray, this transformation is pretty ordinary…

She tried to convince herself of that and moved to sit on the sofa when suddenly a yellow blur rushed toward her.

“Perea! Pretty! Wowww!”

Theo buried himself into her soft dress and kept repeating how pretty she was.

As if agreeing with him, Ray and Berry nodded vigorously—so much that it almost made a whooshing sound.

It seemed their earlier silence had just been building up for this explosion of praise. The three beastmen surrounding her showed their admiration with their whole bodies.

Faced with such honest and instinctive compliments from these beastmen—who were human yet not entirely human—Perea didn’t know where to look.

Still, she felt so happy that she couldn’t stop smiling.