The Xanado Empire, called a perfect paradise manifested on earth and the pinnacle of mystery and abundance. In this Xanado Empire, there is a strange legend that has been passed down since long ago.

Every year on October 30th, at midnight. A mysterious invitation contained in a black envelope arrives for the chosen ones. Neither the sender's name nor the purpose of the invitation is written; the only information inside is the date and time.

And every year on October 31st, at midnight. One day before All Saints' Day on November 1st, at the moment the moon rises highest, a mansion hidden somewhere in the world reveals itself. A mansion that remains in no official records, let alone on the maps of the Empire.

Only those who were invited via the invitation at midnight the previous day can set foot there. It is said that long ago, those who first received this invitation reacted in different ways. Some laughed it off as a simple prank, and some were said to have burned the envelope. However, the legend says that those who did not respond to the invitation all vanished without a trace the next day.

No one can throw away this invitation, nor can they refuse the invite. This invitation was, in fact, an inescapable curse.

October 31st, midnight, The invited gather before the massive gates of the mansion like a predetermined fate.

The moment they enter the mansion, the sight of golden candlelight flickering beneath a brilliant chandelier is the first thing they see. Simultaneously, the sound of dozens of pairs of shoes echoes across the black marble floor. The banquet hall, filled with red velvet curtains and ancient decorations, is more lavish than any palace in the world, yet it is strangely quiet. Even the sound of laughter is faint, as if heard from beyond a single layer of film.

Those who enter choose one of five colors to wear as a mask. Black, Gold, Red, Blue, Silver-White. Nothing is known about what the colors of the masks signify.

Only one thing is certain.

From the moment they put on the mask, attendees must conceal their original names and status, distinguishing each other only by their masks. Whether royalty, high nobility, or the powerful of the Empire, there are no exceptions. Those who would normally never dare to face each other dance and converse in the same banquet hall.

No one can utter their own name or status. One must not forcibly dig into another's identity, and even if one happens to notice, they must remain strictly silent. Removing one's own mask or taking off another's is also an absolute taboo.

The ball continues from midnight until three in the morning, with a bell tolling every hour, three times in total. The moment the final bell rings at three in the morning, all taboos are lifted, and the attendees can finally remove their masks.

After the third bell rings, the mansion slowly disappears into the mist. The attendees return to their respective places, and the memories of that night remain solely their own secret. That is not to say, however, that the connections made and promises shared at the mansion disappear along with it.

Without knowing who the face hidden beneath the mask was, what the status of the partner they danced with was, or even if the whispers shared that night were sincere. Or, perhaps, knowing everything but pretending not to.

A secret masquerade held only once a year. To some, it is a curse, and to others, it is an opportunity.

And at midnight on October 30th. A black envelope invitation arrives for Guest.