“MINE!!! THAT WAS AWESOME!!” someone shouted, approaching in hasty steps.

Mine turned to the voice’s source and chuckled at how Lydia made a great effort to not fall from her new high heels. She was as stunning as the other performers. Wearing a very detailed corset, a frilly and long skirt that resembled a fancy bird's tail, the classic black latex gloves, plus her unique mask, Lydia was shining shamelessly that night - and lucky her, she didn't need to put on wigs like the rest of the performers.

Mine's outfit was unique and made only for Star. The corset was a deep red color resembling ruby, with intricate black details accentuating its elegance. Adorning the corset were beautifully crafted red rose drawings, adding a romantic and artistic flair to the ensemble. The outfit's skirt was designed to highlight Mine's thighs and the unique shape of the corset, resembling the graceful frills of a ballerina’s dress. The overall effect was a mesmerizing blend of sophistication, creativity, and theatrical flair suited for Star's performance.

Lydia took his hand and guided him through the backstage and the corridor that led to the performers' dressing rooms.

"Your mask! Don't forget to wear it!" Lydia leisurely chuckled as she placed Mine's delicate mask on his face.

“This shit suffocates me,” Mine grumbled, annoyed that he needed to wear that mask all night.

"I'm blessed my mask is so simple~" Lydia teased, running away from the annoyed Mine, who charged behind her.

The Masquerade Ball was as stunning as ever!

The bustling sounds, chatter laughs, and cheers gave the event the life and brightness it deserved. The mansion was enchanting and covered in precious gems, expensive rugs, and velvet curtains.

The entrance was adorned with roses and other flowers, and every guest earned a mask to wear.

Crystal chandeliers decorated the main hall - as full as the bar in the east wing - and people walked from wing to wing looking for entertainment. Waiters were also moving back and forth so quickly that they were out of sight, as were the staff coordinating events in the presentation wing on the west side of the mansion.

The guests were as mysterious as the hired prostitutes who moved among the people in the Lust Entertainment Wing on the southwest side of the mansion. Nearby and between the performance and luxury wings, was the corridor that led to the performers' dressing rooms.

The hallway wasn't very long and even modest.

Mine still didn't understand how that wing was separated from the rest of the building. It was as if they were in a different place, despite still having expensive details set in precious metals wherever the eye could see.

But... the invisible barrier that separated the prostitutes from the guests was very clear. The barrier told who would be human and who would be the object to be consumed and enjoyed.

There were six bedrooms and two bathrooms, nothing more than that. It was enough for the objectified characters, after all.

Anyway, Lydia took Mine to the second room on the left side of the hallway and knocked twice on the door, followed by the rattling of keys.

“You two! Come inside!” the person inside hurriedly said, and both Mine and Lydia entered the room.

It was impossible to pay attention to their surroundings once the person in front of them was so...

"You look stunning!" Lydia gasped, not knowing where to glance at first. "Oh my God... you look like a goddess."

“Boss… now I know why they told you were famous back when,” Mine gasped like Lydia.

The event sponsors certainly chose Younri's clothes with greater detail. Mine reeked of favoritism, but Younri... Younri was their "muse," for sure!

Unlike the rest of the prostitutes, Younri's clothes differed from everyone's not only because of the shape of his corset but also because of the color and design of the skirt and costume’s sleeves, which gave the elf an ethereal and light appearance, matching her elegance that always showed on his face, smile and looks. It was as if Younri was a muse sculpted with care and desire, as the skirt left his silhouette clearly visible and gave a view of his legs and thighs. The corset, white with gold details, had a cavity in the chest he dared to add a little glitter to. Like the other prostitutes, he also had a necklace with beaded details, but instead of black or red, Younri's was white.

The elf sat on the stool near the dressing table and chuckled, "Thank you, sweeties. You two are also very stunning tonight!"

"Aw~ thank you, boss~" Lydia smiled, shyly waving her hand. "Boss, boss, tell us what your mask looks like!”

"My mask..." Younri started searching for the item among the makeup mess on the dressing table. "Here it is," he showed the elegant mask, and both Mine and Lydia pouted, not helping but comparing to their own masks.

“That’s so unfair you got a comfortable mask…” Mine grumbled. “This mask of mine almost kills me,” he said, annoyed.

“The sponsors were very intriguing,” Younri chuckled.

“Need help with makeup, boss?” Mine asked cheerfully.

"I'd love to. My hands are trembling a little bit," Younri said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Who could guess I'd be so nervous.”

Mine promptly took the brushes, and Lydia brought the wig Younri would wear. The duo then began to produce their boss as the impeccable costume required.

Younri looked really nervous, from how much his hands trembled as he put on the satin gloves and tied the ribbons on his mask.

“You know...” Younri started, his voice laced with anxiety, "The last time I performed was a long time ago…” he chuckled, remembering old memories crossing his mind.

Mine and Lydia sat on the nearest – and improvised – stools, eager to listen to their boss’s hidden story!

“Hm? So, you two are curious about this old man’s story?” Younri chuckled leisurely.

“Of course!” both replied, the brightness crossing their curious faces.

"Ah… you two…" Younri giggled at their eagerness. "Well, then there's no harm telling you two about my times as a performer once we have some spare time," he smiled and strummed his fingers in the air, making a thin fog of mana twirl in the air and make sceneries made from fogs.

Younri started his brief story with a smile and made the scenery of fog show a building full of life.

“I worked for a famous Pub in a bustling neighborhood which turned empty nowadays,” Younri smiled nostalgically. “I performed about twice or thrice a week. I also worked as a bartender when I didn't perform. My performances were full of illusions, and I loved dancing graceful but sexy choreographies.”

"Oh…" Mine and Lydia voiced in awe as the fog mimicked the stage and the performer.

"They used to call me 'White Swan' or 'White Lotus' when the clients tried to have a night with me," Younri opened his fan and waved the mist away right when the performer's silhouette formed on the fog. "But only one client managed to sleep with me," he chuckled.

"Who was he?" Mine asked, curiosity making his ashy green hair turn brighter.

“Hm~ so curious you are,” Younri laughed, but his performance’s time was near. “I’ll let this man’s story for another day,” he stood up.

Mine and Lydia grumbled on their stools and helped to tidy Younri’s outfit nicely.

“Sweeties, thank you for helping me,” Younri patted their heads.

"That's nothing, boss, you're also our friend," Lydia smiled, and Younri fondly looked at them when Mine nodded fiercely.

“So, enjoy the performance. Go, go!” Younri chuckled.

Younri’s performance was about to start, and his messy little friends were already among the crowd for sure. He was still nervous and felt his fingers fidgeting with the outfit's details. He was dazed at the horizon when a man sat beside him in the backstage area.

The gentleman was tall, standing at least six feet tall of elegance. His posture was impressive, with his shoulders back and his head turned to Younri, as his eyes behind the mask surveyed something on the performer. He also smelled very good, a pleasant aroma of musky perfume with subtle hints of sandalwood and vanilla - the scent wasn't overpowering, but rather, it added to his already captivating presence. His hair was fair and neat, with teal-colored strands among the gray ones.

Younri subtly glanced at him, trying to see who that person was behind the mask, and oddly enough, the elf wasn't bothered by the silence that person made.

The performer also glanced at how the person was dressed. With that, Younri knew the gentleman would be a VIP guest once the black suit conveyed the dress code he read on the invitation - as well as the VIP guests' default mask and the black leathered gloves.

"White Swan, your performance is about to start," a woman wearing the crew's outfit called. "Ah, good night, Mr." she bowed at the VIP guest, who nodded back.

When Younri was about to stand, the man called his attention with his deep and husky voice.

"You look stunning," the man said, and Younri looked at him.

Younri smiled, looking at the man with full attention, "… Thank you," he bowed.

Still, the man didn't let his hand go. "Sweetness," he only voiced with dots of disappointment in his voice.

Fufufu... it's really him. Younri chuckled and approached the man with an odd familiarity. "I know it's you..." he smiled behind the mask. "Search for me later," and he lifted the person's mask.

Behind it, a pair of vivid orange and sharp eyes looked at him, and a small smile formed on that man's face.

"Always, but don't make it hard," the man touched Younri's face and gave him a tender kiss on the right cheek.

-- CHARACTER’S SHEETS --