The Daughter of Gisela
Olivia arrived in front of the Lih Theater alone. She had considered bringing the manager of the Marell Troupe with her, but decided against it. She didn't know how far her conversation with Ferdinand would go, but it was always better to have fewer ears listening.
Though she had covered her face with a wide-brimmed hat, she was still conspicuous; the moment she stepped out of the carriage, people's gazes pinned themselves to her. To hide her tension, she smoothed the edges of her gloves. It was common enough for a troupe manager to visit a theater, so she told herself it was fine.
As she entered the main gate, a woman who appeared to be an attendant approached her.
"Welcome. How may I help you today?"
"Hello."
She pulled a business card inscribed with the name 'Lady Laila' from her bag and handed it to the woman. The attendant immediately bowed politely and spoke.
"We have been expecting you, Lady Laila. Mr. Ferron, the manager, instructed me to show you around the theater."
"Thank you."
Thinking that Ferdinand had not yet arrived, she followed the woman across the lobby.
"It's very quiet."
"We don't have any performances running at the moment. We don't tend to put on shows very frequently..."
"I heard this place was built originally to stage performances that the late Duchess Klaus desired?"
At Olivia's question, the attendant explained kindly.
"Yes, you are well-informed. These days, music salons are in vogue, and it has become common to build small theaters inside private mansions, but that wasn't the case back then. This place wasn't built for profit, and the reason it remains in operation is largely to honor the late Duchess. We only select and stage excellent performances with high artistic value."
"The Lih Theater is a place of great dignity, after all."
Olivia replied as she followed the guide into the auditorium.
The stage was quite spacious, seemingly large enough to host mid-scale operas, and the seats in the prime locations looked plush and comfortable. Conversely, the second-floor seating appeared capable of holding a large crowd. It was a design that could serve its purpose both as an intimate space for a small group and as an open, public theater.
Olivia smiled, thinking that if the manager of the Marell Troupe saw this theater, he would lose his mind. But that wasn't the important issue for her right now.
The attendant told her to look around freely and stepped back outside. Olivia slowly crossed the auditorium and climbed onto the stage. She didn't have a specific purpose; she was simply looking around.
Ferdinand arrived just as she was looking up toward the stage ceiling. Sensing a presence, she turned around to find Ferdinand entering the seating area.
He, too, was alone.
"I have kept a lady waiting. My apologies, Lady Laila."
"It is quite alright."
"You looked like a scene from a play standing on that stage; I found it difficult to approach you carelessly."
"I was just thinking that despite being an old building, the equipment for the stage machinery is excellent."
Olivia brushed off Ferdinand's words as she replied. He cleared his throat and spoke.
"I fear you might think me frivolous. But I was sincere. The image you showed me last time was so impressive..."
"Thank you for your kind words. Regrettably, I am not an actress; once the performance of 'The Curtain Opens' begins in earnest, someone else will take on that role."
Olivia offered Ferdinand a smile as she spoke.
"It is a magnificent stage and auditorium. Is the backstage area just as impressive?"
"In terms of facilities, it is second to none. Would you like to see it?"
He extended his arm as if to escort her. Olivia lightly slipped her arm through his. The two slowly crossed the smoothly maintained stage and headed toward the back.
Only then did Ferdinand open his mouth, as the sound echoed too much on the stage.
"If this were a matter of finding a theater for the premiere of 'The Curtain Opens,' it would have sufficed to discuss it with Mr. Ferron. May I harbor some expectations as to why you insisted on speaking with me?"
"That is not the reason."
"I am disappointed."
"I was hoping you might be able to create an opportunity for me to see Duke Klaus."
It was a sudden request, but Ferdinand replied without hesitation.
"What power do I have to arrange a meeting between the ailing Duke and a Lady? I am not even a member of the Klaus family."
"And yet, you are trusted."
"I believe you are under some misunderstanding."
Once again, Ferdinand answered immediately. It was as if he were a man who had long practiced his responses to such questions.
"It is true that the Count of Zeppelin is a collateral branch of the Klaus family. However, the bloodline is now quite distant from the direct line."
"The direct line of the Klaus family consists only of the elderly Duke himself; there are no young people. I think it is common to rely on the youth of a collateral branch."
"Haha, collateral branches vary. I believe the next in line for succession is Lord Weissenfels. You seem to be under some..."
"After all, you have been entrusted with the Lih Theater."
Ferdinand realized he could not simply laugh off Olivia's words. And he realized that unless she was certain, she wouldn't be able to speak so directly about the Klaus family, not even to probe him.
He had been so tense the moment the name Klaus was mentioned that he hadn't realized it.
He unlinked his arm and stepped back to face Olivia. In the quiet backstage, her pale face stood out clearly in the darkness.
Olivia spoke in a calm voice.
"The Lih Theater is a building for the late Duchess, the current Duke's mother. The Duke cherished his mother deeply, and he would not have entrusted this theater to just anyone."
"Is that the extent of your evidence? Regrettably, you are mistaken. I was simply the only one with an interest in music..."
"Then, shall I use the fact that the late Empress Dowager loved this place very much as my evidence?"
Ferdinand could not reply immediately this time.
Olivia looked at him with clear, bright eyes. That face was far removed from the flamboyant appearance of Lady Laila he had met at the music salon last time.
He felt a sense of déjà vu once again at her cool, composed demeanor, as if she had been carved from crystal. Where had he seen this face before? But even now, he could not recall.
Olivia calmly continued.
"Tell him that the daughter of Gisela wishes to see him."
"...What do you intend to do once you see the Duke?"
Ferdinand did not know who Gisela was.
Could he trust this woman? He wasn't sure. Little was known about Lady Laila. It was said she was a relative of the Andex family, but then, was the Andex family trustworthy?
Ferdinand didn't know much about the Andex family. He knew they were among the royalist nobles, but who could guarantee they hadn't defected to Schwab?
Even if the Andex family remained royalists, the question followed: could royalist nobles be trusted? The Duke, lying on his sickbed, had long since stepped away from politics. If she was trying to drag him out now to confront Schwab again, Ferdinand had to stop it.
Olivia continued with a calm face.
"Very well. I would have liked it if you could deliver the message, but I know it is difficult for you to trust me right now."
"Lady Laila."
"Then I shall state my second request. I wish to invite the Empress to the premiere of 'The Curtain Opens' here."
"........."
"The purpose is for a secret meeting."
"A secret meeting..."
Ferdinand muttered. He understood that she intended to seduce the Empress. In fact, many troupes seduced high-ranking nobles in such ways to secure them as patrons.
But here, at the Lih Theater? It was absurd.
"What is your true purpose?"
"To bring down the Empress's authority and cut off her hands and feet. To create a hole in the Imperial Palace."
Olivia said firmly.