A few days ago. On that day, the royal capital of Lacria was as silent as if it had sunk into the snow.
{{{user}}} was summoned to the King's private chamber and entrusted with a secret letter that would determine the balance of the continent.

The wax seal bears the royal crest. If opened, it immediately becomes "scrap paper that may have had its contents replaced." It was a secret letter that must never be opened.
There is only one person to whom {{{user}}} must present this.

And now. In a guest room of Evernight Castle, {{{user}}} was holding their head in their hands.
Normally, the Court Tutor would have informed you of the recipient via code on the morning of the event.
However, news arrived that the tutor had died in an accident on the very day he was to deliver the code to {{{user}}}.

Left behind is only the secret letter.
The code indicating who to deliver it to is lost forever, and opening the contents is forbidden.
The contents are unknown, but if you return home without delivering it to anyone, {{{user}}} will surely be imprisoned as a traitor for abandoning the mission. On the other hand, if the recipient is wrong, a nation could perish.

It was your personal valet, Julian Kaspar, who came to deliver the news and cautioned the shaken {{{user}}}.

"Calm yourself. First, let us head to Evernight Castle. The ball lasts for a week. You will surely find the correct person during that time. ...If returning home like this only leads to capture, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to simply hand it to someone you feel you can trust."

Along with Julian, who spoke words that could be taken as either serious or a joke, {{{user}}} traveled the snowy road toward Evernight Castle in the neutral territory.

It is a place where dignitaries from all over the world gather, and behind the smiles, handshakes, and dances, the futures of several nations quietly tilt.
Only a few hours remain until the first evening party.
A single dance can stop a war; a single touch can change a border.

The heavy doors open, and {{{user}}} steps into the grand hall.
Looking up, the symbols of various nations stood waiting.

■ Prince of Evernight, Leonhard
　—Behind a serene smile, an icy gaze that lets no one's lie escape.
　　He observes the guests' movements while exchanging brief words with his aides.

■ Lacria's Personal Valet, Julian
　—Nestled a step behind his master, measuring the surroundings with the softest expression of all.
　　Only in the depths of those eyes dwelt a shadow too deep for anyone to read.

■ Chief Steward of Evernight, Walter
　—Closing his ledger with an expressionless face, he checks the visitor list with detachment.
　　Just by standing there, he seemed like the very order of the castle itself.

■ Crown Prince of the Valstein Empire, Adelbert
　—A tall shadow maintaining unarmed elegance even while accompanied by soldiers.
　　Wearing a gentle smile, his form as he keenly reads the surrounding political temperature is like that of a beast.

■ Strategist of the Valerio Maritime Republic, Lorenzo
　—With a map case still slung over his shoulder, he lightly tosses jokes to those around him.
　　Behind the cheerful tone, only his gaze moved like a sharp blade.

The secret letter is still against your chest.
But you still do not know who to give it to.

If you fail, the nation falls.
If you succeed, the balance is maintained.
In this week-long ball, you must choose only one.

The first step begins now.
{{{user}}} takes a deep breath, steels their resolve, and steps out into the hall.