The Curtain Rises
In her first life, when she had first dipped her toes into the capital’s social circles, she had heard the rumors. It was said that Empress Lilian had taken such a fancy to a young actor that she had unclasped her own necklace and gifted it to him.
Phrased that way, it might have sounded like a trivial matter, but the necklace was a piece of jewelry of immense fame. Furthermore, because the story went that the Empress had been alone with the actor and emerged with a bare throat, it had ballooned into a massive scandal.
For a woman of noble status to take a lover was not exactly unheard of, and since the Emperor was indifferent, the matter would have likely blown over had it been left alone. The Schwaben faction would have surely intervened to smooth things over.
But the scandal reignited months later. The rumor was that the Empress had attempted to run away with the man. And that actor? He had been found as a corpse, floating in the Renos River that cut through the capital.
She did not know what had driven the Empress to do something so reckless. Was it love? A desperate desire to escape? Or some other reason entirely?
What was certain was that it was possible to seduce her.
"It’s a dangerous job," Olivia said, her tone grave.
She had warned Zion from the very beginning, when she first recruited him. She had told him she wanted him to seduce a high-ranking noblewoman, and that he could very well die in the process.
Zion had replied with a casual, easy laugh.
"Great risks and great rewards—that is what I pursue. Do not worry. I am a man who enjoys walking the tightrope."
He had said as much, but Olivia still couldn't feel at ease pushing someone into such a perilous position, which was why she had warned him once more.
Zion flashed that same playful grin.
"A man doing dangerous work is sexy, isn't he?"
"I can't tell if you're joking or serious..."
Olivia let out a sigh and scrutinized him with a probing gaze. She found it difficult to understand Zion. His eyes were far too clear for him to be merely a gambler addicted to danger.
Perhaps Zion had another motive. After all, it was Zion who had sought out the Marel Troupe first. She had heard that upon hearing they were headed for the Sirach Empire, he had requested to become a member.
He was a man with suspicious corners. But having decided to trust him once, Olivia did not press further.
One could not build complete trust in a mere four months. However, there was no one more suitable than Zion. Above all, she could not afford to waste time or opportunity.
In any case, the most important part of this endeavor was not what she was entrusting to Zion, but what she had to do herself.
"Fine. If you're sure."
She said this and showed Zion the invitation.
"It’s a musical salon held at the Imperial Palace. Her Majesty the Empress and the Princess will be in attendance. I intend to bring you and Luna along. We will be performing The Curtain Rises, so keep that in mind."
"...Don't tell me the person I have to seduce is Her Majesty the Empress?"
Zion’s expression faltered for a moment, as if he’d been caught off guard. Olivia answered calmly.
"Yes."
"That really was a dangerous job."
"If you’ve changed your mind, you can still back out."
"No, I haven't."
He stroked his cheek, his blue-gray eyes darkening as if lost in thought.
"You know very well that I’m looking for a grand stage to play on, don't you? There is no stage larger than the Sirach Imperial Court."
His tone was still light, like a joke, but Olivia could see his gaze sinking into a profound depth.
"You don't need to walk such a dangerous tightrope. For now, catching her eye is enough."
"Understood."
Zion agreed readily.
Olivia decided to stop worrying. She knew exactly how far the Schwaben faction would tolerate, so she could ensure things didn't become truly fatal.
Zion said cheerfully,
"Then, shall we start the rehearsal now?"
"Me?"
"Yes. You have to help me do a good job. If you’re standing in front of me, I think I’ll be able to play the role of a man in love quite well."
This was truly a joke. Olivia could laugh it off because she knew perfectly well that Zion didn't have a shred of such feelings for her.
Ezekiel flipped through the final document and pressed his tired eyes with his fingers for a moment. But when he lowered his hand, his blue eyes were once again clear and cold.
"What is the remaining schedule?"
His chilling voice echoed in the office. The aide answered quickly.
"You must attend the musical salon held at the Imperial Palace."
"...How bothersome."
He spat out the words. It wasn't that he had forgotten. It was a schedule so annoying that he couldn't erase it from his mind.
However, he could not skip a salon held at the Imperial Palace—especially a gathering hosted by the Princess for the Empress.
Meeting Princess Roella was a truly tedious affair. She was quite the beauty, and if he had to choose, she was technically his type, but his time was far too precious to spend hours in a boring meeting just to look at a pretty face.
Their physical relationship was certainly enjoyable. But one couldn't just spend all their time in bed when dealing with a fiancée who was an Imperial Princess.
There was no fun to be had outside of that. They didn't converse well, and they had almost no common topics. Since it was a political marriage anyway, it would be better if they drew lines, maintained appropriate courtesy, and parted ways early. But Princess Roella struggled to keep him by her side for as long as possible, chattering incessantly.
Whenever she looked at him with eyes burning with passion and obsession, he felt as uncomfortable as if something sticky were clinging to his back.
'I suppose it can't be helped, as half of her blood is common.'
He had never said it out loud, but he often thought as much.
Regardless, it was a gathering he could not refuse. He needed to meet the Empress at least once, too. He had heard news that she had been unusually listless lately.
Empress Lilian was a woman without ambition. He had raised her to a position she wouldn't have dared to look up to, considering her origins, yet she grew increasingly lethargic, as if she were dissatisfied with something. He was worried she might do something foolish.
The Empress still needed to hold her place. Princess Roella was there, but for seizing control of the Imperial Palace, the Empress was ultimately better than the Princess.
"Hmph."
He left his office and headed toward his mansion.
After a quick wash, Ezekiel changed into clothes suitable for the evening salon. When his gaze suddenly met his reflection in the mirror, the maid who had been grooming his hair blushed and lowered her head. The comb slipped from her hand.
"Eek! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!"
The maid knelt on the floor in a panic.
Ezekiel felt a surge of irritation. He couldn't punish the maid just for dropping a comb, so he simply glanced at her and turned his gaze away.
The butler, who had been serving nearby, quickly had the maid dragged out.
Ezekiel brushed his hair back roughly and looked into the mirror. There didn't seem to be anything left to groom.
People were tiresome beings. Governing a collective was an interesting task, but individuals generally bored him. Ezekiel often felt the urge to sweep people away as if cleaning up bugs. He knew he shouldn't, of course.
'They aren't much different from bugs, anyway.'
Thinking this, he held out his hand. The butler quickly helped him put on his white gloves.
Ezekiel stepped out of the dressing room and strode out of the mansion. A magnificent carriage drawn by four horses, bearing the crest of the Schwaben family, was waiting.
He climbed inside. The carriage departed for the Imperial Palace.