Lorenz was still for a moment before he neatly tied the cloak back and even buttoned it all the way, his eyes fixed on Ellis's eyes, which were moving to peek at the insides of the cloak. When he realized he was being watched, Ellis quickly turned his face.
"T-That was an accident. I didn't mean to—"
"I know. Why are you acting like I'm naked? I'm wearing proper clothes underneath."
Lorenz twisted his face back with his hand before taking his hand again, leading him in a different direction. It didn't take long for Ellis to start swaying their hands again. Since Lorenz wasn't angry with him, he was still happy. He even tightened his grip on their hands. He had only been wanting to peer into the cloak to see if Lorenz was wearing a collar—and he was, to his surprise!
It was a silver metallic collar that seemed difficult to take off. Lorenz was an omega; he should be wearing one. But wasn't he hiding that, pretending to be a beta? With that collar, who would believe him?
"Young master..."
Mila, on his side, whispered to him gloomily. Ellis turned towards her as she spoke in a low voice, staring behind at Lorenz.
"Young master, do you know this gentleman? If he's taking you somewhere by force, just say it. I'll help you run away from him!"
"I know him. He's undercover right now, but that's the marquess's eldest son, Lorenz Foxhead."
Ellis spoke proudly with a small smile, assuring Mila. As a man, his pride would be hurt if a lady was to protect him while he ran away. He would never agree to such nonsense. He had even rejected taking any guards with him. He was a man going to the market—why would he need a guard to protect him? No matter how feeble he had become, a man should protect himself and others who need to be protected... well, unless he was to encounter the killer. He would need help with that.
At that moment, he felt a squeeze on his hand, making him turn to the person who had done it. Lorenz's eyes scanned Mila before falling on Ellis.
"Your personal maid?"
"Hm."
Ellis hummed in response. Mila, being the center of attention, stiffened slightly, hiding by Ellis's side.
"Is she the one who helped you get ready?"
"Not really..."
Having a personal maid didn't mean she had to do everything for you. He was capable of dressing himself, and he also didn't feel comfortable making her do it since they seemed to be the same age. She was just a young lady. Ellis only treated her as a bugging friend who had been by his side since childhood.
"Still, how did no one stop you before leaving without a collar?"
Come to think of it, Mila had asked him if he was really planning to go out like this. Ellis thought she didn't like the outfit, so he changed, and she didn't say anything about the changed fit. How was he supposed to know that she was asking him to wear a collar?
Reaching the end of the short conversation, Lorenz opened the door with a glass window of a small shop. The bell on top of the door tinged as they entered the shop. The shop was fascinating in a frightening way; everywhere he looked, he saw mannequin heads, and they were all different. He wanted to walk further inside, so he tried to take his hand out of Lorenz's hold, who was still holding the door open for Mila, but Lorenz only tightened his grip and gave him a weird stare. Before he could decipher that stare, Lorenz had already started walking with him.
"Do you want a collar for the annual masquerade ball?"
"Yes. I'm also attending this year."
There were probably some collars lying around somewhere in the house with his jewelry—that he had ignored—as Ellis was an omega his whole life, he must've bought them at some point. But for the annual masquerade ball, he needed a new one he had never worn before.
The bald mannequin heads were placed on shelves with their necks intact, and all of the necks had collars on them, each one different from the other. Lorenz glanced at a specific one behind the counter and immediately called the shop owner, who recognized Lorenz already, to pack that one. As the shop owner lifted down the collar that Lorenz had picked for him, Ellis saw that it was a black choker-type collar. He didn't really like it. It seemed too girly for him.
Obviously, he didn't say anything, though. Lorenz even fought to pay for the collar. Afterwards, as they exited the shop, Lorenz gave the collar to him, which was packed with a bow on top of it.
"This is a gift from me. I hope to see you wear it at the annual masquerade ball."
Lorenz spoke with the same rigid tone. Ellis accepted the bag with both hands, despite it being small enough to fit in one hand. He stared at it for a while and then nodded with a smile at Lorenz. The ones who give you gifts are really nice people!
He hadn't been thinking too much when he decided to walk up to the main character. It just turned out that the main character was a nice person. He felt a joy he hadn't felt in a long time. He hugged the bag the entire ride back home.
He couldn't wait to see Lorenz again at the annual masquerade ball.
†††
The days leading to the event passed quickly and slowly as Ellis was trying to get used to his new life and counting the days left till the annual masquerade ball.
Today was the day he had been waiting for, the day of the annual masquerade ball!