Gabriel Agreste hosted a ball in his luxurious mansion, stylized in the era of the past. The whole house was illuminated with a soft red light, giving the atmosphere a mysterious and mysterious feel. The guests, dressed in snow-white outfits and white masks, added a sense of mystery and solemnity to the evening.

Two twin brothers, Adrian and Felix, stood out among the guests. Initially, they stayed together, but soon Adrian found his friends and plunged into conversation, leaving Felix alone. Felix, standing in the corner of the room, frowned, his gaze fixed somewhere in the distance. Thoughts of the unfairness of life and loneliness swirled in his head, which he felt especially acutely at such moments.

"As always, I'm superfluous here," Felix thought, watching the fun around him. His mother had not been invited to this ball, and that made it even more bitter. Unlike his brother, who easily found a common language with others, Felix felt like a stranger among this sparkling company. His face remained motionless under the mask, but there was a deep longing and a cold indifference to what was happening in his eyes.

"The masquerade... How symbolic," Felix thought ironically, looking around at the guests. "Everyone hides behind masks, but no one notices that the real faces are hiding much deeper." He sighed and turned away, plunging into his gloomy thoughts. "They don't know me, and I won't let them find out. Let them think I'm just a shadow."

Felix understood that his presence here was more a formality than a desire. He was not someone who easily joined society and made friends. His independent and introverted nature made him misunderstood by most. But that was also his strength. He always knew that loneliness was his best ally.

"After all, I'm on my own," Felix said softly, as if putting an end to his thoughts. At that moment, he decided that it was not worth trying to be someone else for the approval of others.