A Mad Lady’s Confession - Chapter 46

Their eyes met.

Of course, it might not have been exactly that. The lights were on, but it was still night, and the place was arranged so that even the lighting was dimmed slightly to suit its purpose.

Moreover, the other person was also wearing a mask that covered his face, so more precisely, it only felt like their gazes met.

He was a man with a neatly groomed brown mustache. His hair, similar in color to his mustache, was wavy, and he wore a bear-shaped mask.

Perhaps it wasn’t just his imagination that their eyes met, because the man in the bear mask soon began to edge toward Matthias. His somewhat shy, cautious steps made it clear he was conscious of Matthias.

Like a drizzle slowly filling a bucket, the man in the bear mask moved little by little, and by the time he finally stood about three steps away, Matthias let out an irritated sigh.

‘They really do everything here.’

As befitted a place where anything could be done and everything was kept strictly secret, temptation didn’t discriminate by gender.

According to the information Matthias had gathered before coming here, Madam Carnival’s summer garden was a place where unimaginable things took place. Men with men, women with women, in pairs or in threes, and on some nights, groups gathered in the garden—

“….”

At the low curse he muttered, the man in the bear mask nearby flinched, his shoulders trembling.

Only then did Matthias take a proper look at him. He hadn’t noticed from afar, but the man was quite small in both height and build. Despite the bushy mustache, his skin was remarkably smooth.

“Among those who prefer men, there are some as delicate as women, and those types, unlike me, tend to be drawn to men who look properly masculine.”

Why did the drunken rambling of an old academy acquaintance suddenly come to mind?

Matthias fixed the man in the bear mask with a cold stare. As if pierced by that gaze, the mustache trembled faintly.

At that moment, the music that had been playing softly suddenly shifted into a dramatic tone. White mist billowed up from all around, creating a strangely mysterious atmosphere, and then a clear, ringing voice of a middle-aged woman was heard.

“La nuit est un théâtre de volupté et d’oubli, Perdez vos noms, perdez vos titres, et trouvez vos désirs!” (This night is a theater of pleasure and oblivion, forget your names, forget your titles, and seek only your desires!)

Matthias covered his nose at the thickened scent. The man in the bear mask beside him stared toward the source of the voice with a dazed expression. It seemed like his first time at a gathering like this.

“Welcome to the summer garden, everyone!”

Madam Carnival appeared on a terrace arranged like a stage, wearing a deep violet dress that suited her reputation. The dress had a plunging neckline layered with black lace that revealed glimpses of her skin, and unlike the others, she wore a dark violet mask.

“Let’s see. It seems there are quite a few new masks this year?”

At her words, several gazes turned toward Matthias and the man in the bear mask.

“You there! Can’t you take your hand off the front of your trousers? What are you going to do if you get excited all by yourself already!”

As Madam Carnival playfully scolded someone, bursts of laughter erupted from all around. When the noise settled, she continued in a calmer tone than before.

“Every summer, it is my utmost honor and gratitude that you visit Madam Carnival’s garden. I am also well aware of how great your expectations are.”

Whee— someone’s whistle rang out as if in response.

“And so this year, to better meet your expectations, I’ve added one special amusement.”

The moment Madam Carnival finished speaking, the footmen who had been carrying champagne and rum went around to the guests, each holding a cylindrical pouch.

“Please draw one each.”

Following her words, the guests each reached into the cylindrical pouch and drew something out. Some held brooches shaped like beasts, while others held brooches shaped like arrows.

“It seems this summer’s garden only needs one more word added.”

It was clear she had already decided everything in advance, the way she drew things out showing how much thought she had put into tonight’s entertainment.

“A summer ‘hunting’ garden!”

The moment he heard it, Matthias frowned.

“Forget last year’s dull hide-and-seek. In this summer garden, you will become beasts and flee, or become hunters and give chase. Quite literally, a ‘hunt’ will take place!”

The masked guests checked the brooches they had drawn and burst into laughter once more.

“Attach the brooch to your chest. Those with beast-shaped brooches will become prey and must run diligently to escape the hunters wearing arrow brooches.”

“What happens if we’re caught?”

When a woman in a lavish dress asked in a sultry tone, Madam Carnival’s eyes lit up as if she had been waiting for it.

“Well of course—”

The woman’s bright red lips drew a smooth line as she looked around the crowd.

“Whether you’re devoured, roasted, or stripped bare, that’s entirely up to the hunter, isn’t it?”

Oh, the crowd stirred again, everyone checking the brooches of those they found appealing.

“What if you want to strip another hunter?”

At someone’s teasing yet half-serious question, loud, vulgar laughter broke out.

“Of course that’s possible. As you all know, in this violet summer garden, anything is allowed.”

The wind diligently carried the sweet scent through the air, as if to heighten their secret game.

“Whatever you do will remain a secret. Le voile de la nuit dissimulera toute chose! (The veil of night will conceal everything!)”

It was pathetic. Acting as if mere masked sex was some grand form of amusement.

Matthias wasn’t easily stirred. Even though there were already those lifting the front of their trousers at the seductive scent brushing past their noses, he felt no emotional disturbance at all.

“So, beasts who don’t wish to be devoured by unwanted hunters, please run diligently, with all your might. Once you’re caught, whatever happens, no one will know, you see? How coincidental, I too have become a hunter. Heh.”

Madam Carnival fastened an arrow-shaped brooch to the swell of her ample chest. The moment she finished speaking, her violet mask turned toward Matthias.

He ran his fingers over the smooth metal ornament in his hand. Sharp claws and wings, the texture made it clear it was a blue hawk.

He had become prey. If caught, it was certain he would be consumed.

Bang, from somewhere far away, the sound of a gunshot rang out, and at that signal, the game bordering on depravity began.

Amid the giggling beasts fleeing into the maze, Matthias’s long legs strode forward and entered after them.

Aah, whether they were already caught or wanted to be caught, it didn’t take long for the laughter of men and women to turn into sticky moans.

Matthias moved slowly through the maze made of tall hedges. He sharpened his senses so he wouldn’t miss a single thing he was seeing and hearing.

He might be looking at the same thing, the body of The Paper.

He went deeper and deeper inside. His steps were unhesitating, as if he had no concern about getting lost within the maze.

When the intermittent moans had faded into the distance, a rustling sound of someone stepping through the bushes reached his keen ears.

“So here you are.”

Rustle, a dress brushed against the short grass.

“My prey.”

A violet silk mask gleamed under the moonlight. Between the vividly painted red lips, white teeth showed densely.

As if Matthias were a real beast. From the woman, who looked like a hunter starved for several days, there even came a chilling aura.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?”

Even facing those sparkling eyes, Matthias looked at the woman without any particular agitation.

“How much I’ve hoped and hoped that you would come to my garden.”

Madam Carnival let out a short laugh and waved her hand.

“Ah, of course, I’m not serious about you. A man like you is tiring to hold on to. If I were ten years younger, it might have been sincere, but I’ve reached an age where I give up quickly.”

“….”

“Just like the rumors….”

The woman’s languid gaze swept down over Matthias.

“I suppose I want to check just how impressive that thing is.”

The gaze that had been fixed on him widened slightly with curiosity. Madam Carnival placed a finger against her lips and murmured in puzzlement.

“That’s strange. Why aren’t you hard?”

The already thick scent had grown even heavier, rising from all around the hedges. It was so dense it felt as though a barrier had been formed from the fragrance itself. Likewise, a heavy musk smell poured from Madam Carnival.

It was a fair question. On a night where everything incited temptation, why wasn’t Matthias Nielsen aroused?

As if to answer that question, a low voice brushed against her ear, carried by the scent of the night.

“There’s something I didn’t get to ask.”

At the completely unshaken voice, a faint line formed between Madam Carnival’s brows.

“If the beast doesn’t like the hunter, can it bite them to death?”

“….”

“Tear out their throat so they can never come back to life.”