Chapter 126: The Unknown Singer
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 126: The Unknown Singer
‘What’s with this stifling atmosphere?’
In this society, if there is no prior acquaintance, a social inferior cannot boldly offer a greeting unless they are formally introduced.
Perhaps because of that, everyone was merely stealing glances in my direction.
I’d rather they just pretend to know me. This curious staring is much more awkward!
At least their gazes weren't hostile like last time, so I suppose I should be grateful for that.
I glanced to my side. The Marchioness, dressed in her newly tailored lavender gown, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the attention.
‘I really need to learn some of that shamelessness.’
I was just beginning to walk, my movements stiff and awkward, when I noticed a woman in a nearby group trying desperately to catch my eye.
She was a noblewoman from a Baronial house whom I had greeted during the last tea time.
“Baroness Wintid?”
The Baroness’s face lit up as she took a step forward.
Following her lead, everyone in the vicinity bent their knees in a deep curtsy.
Relieved to see a familiar face, I stopped and offered a light greeting.
“It’s been a while. Are you here to see the opera?”
She seemed overjoyed to have been singled out from the crowd. With a proud expression, she looked back at her acquaintances and spoke.
“Yes. We were all just saying how wonderful it is to be able to enjoy an opera after all this time, thanks to Your Highness the Consort.”
“It wasn’t all my doing.”
“I heard from Mr. Alcent. He said Your Highness put a great deal of effort into making this performance happen.”
“Oh my, that was actually my—!”
The Marchioness started to chime in eagerly from behind me, but she quickly shut her mouth when our eyes met.
She had promised that in exchange for coming to the theater, she wouldn't say a single word to anyone she didn't know.
“It’s a bit of a shame it’s only for one day,” I remarked.
As the conversation continued, people began to gather around us, their voices rising from here and there.
“To be honest, many people couldn't even get tickets today. We were quite lucky.”
“Still, according to Mr. Alcent, there will be more performances in the future, so we are very much looking forward to it.”
“My knees are bad, so traveling to Rondoris was out of the question. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see an opera again after so many years!”
Amusingly, instead of addressing me directly, they raised their voices behind the Baroness as if they were merely talking to themselves.
“Blenheim is coming back to life thanks to Her Highness. We are so grateful!”
“I go to the lakeside every evening just to watch the fountain show!”
This bizarre scene of collective monologues was funny, yet it made my heart feel warm.
It was obvious that everyone wanted to say something kind to me. It felt as though all my hard work was finally being rewarded.
When the crowd became too dense, Norton leaned in slightly toward me.
“Your Highness. Perhaps it is time to take your seat...”
“Oh dear, I’ve been holding Your Highness up without any consideration,” Baroness Wintid said, placing a hand over her heart, her face flushed with excitement.
“Not at all. I enjoyed talking with you.”
I looked around at the clearly excited crowd and said, “Well then, I hope you all have a wonderful time.”
“We wish Your Highness an enjoyable time as well!”
I left the area amidst the warm atmosphere. As I followed Alcent, I heard exclamations erupting behind me.
“My goodness, the rumors weren't exaggerating!”
“Did you see? She definitely smiled at what I said!”
“How can she be so lovely?”
Please!
Say those things only after I’m far enough away.
I tried to cool my burning neck, caught between the pouting Marchioness and the proudly smiling Raphael.
When I opened the curtains and stepped into the Royal Room on the second floor, an exclamation escaped my lips.
From the protruding balcony seats, I could see the stage as well as the people sitting on the lower floor at a single glance.
The auditorium was bustling with the heated chatter of the audience.
For some reason, I felt deeply moved.
‘I used to only watch performances from the backstage of event halls, and now I’m in a Royal Room!’
Just then, a staff member entered and set down champagne and bite-sized snacks.
“Is it still a while before it starts?” I asked, looking back at Cecilia with anticipation.
“The pre-show hasn't even started yet.”
“Pre-show?”
“I saw the poster earlier... what was the name? Something-nel? Probably just a rookie.”
I wanted to ask what a pre-show was, but I gathered from the context that it was an opening act before the main performance.
Just then, a young man stepped onto the stage.
He had curly hair tied back at the nape of his neck and wore a somewhat rustic, blunt green suit.
Perhaps because no one cared about anything other than the main performance, the noise in the audience didn't subside much even though the actor had appeared.
Without an introduction, the actor began to sing to the accompaniment of the instruments.
“Blooming amidst the white snowflakes...”
‘Oh, he’s actually good?’
Maybe it was because it was the first music I’d heard in six months, but his low yet clear baritone voice was incredibly pleasant to the ear.
‘He really has a powerful, refreshing voice.’
Even though few people were listening, the actor sang with all his heart. In an instant, I was completely immersed in the song.
As the short song ended and I was left wanting more, another song followed. The second piece had a relatively sad melody.
Watching his desperate acting as he reached out his hand, I found myself clasping my own hands together unconsciously.
‘His acting is quite good, too.’
The actor, who had sung two songs in the blink of an eye, gave a bow. The chatting audience offered sparse applause.
Genuinely moved, I gave him a round of enthusiastic applause from the second floor to give him some courage.
“Did you like the singing?” Cecilia asked, looking puzzled by my somewhat excessive reaction.
“Isn't that singer amazing?”
“Well, he is good.”
“You’ll probably faint when you see Cochibiel, then,” the Marchioness snorted from beside me, as if unimpressed that I was moved by such a level of talent.
“He’s famous, so he must be even better, right?”
“Is that even a question?” The Marchioness said, her chest swelling with pride. “Cochibiel doesn't just sing. He moves the very soul.”
“I’ve heard so many rumors about him. I’m so excited!” Cecilia chimed in, clapping her hands together.
Well, if the pre-show singer was this excellent, how good would the main act be?
My heart raced with skyrocketing expectations.
Finally, the lights in the house dimmed, and brilliant stage lights flared to life.
The show began.
Drumroll—.
And the opera performance I had anticipated so much was...
‘It’s terrible!’
Less than half an hour after it started, I was covering my mouth, repeatedly swallowing yawns.
It was a story about a womanizer who meets the woman he loves and gives her his everything. The overall quality of the production wasn't bad.
However...
‘I was wondering why I was craving spicy tomato stew so much earlier.’
Cochibiel, who played the male lead, was far too greasy.
Setting aside the oiled curly hair and the overwhelming sideburns...
‘His pants are too small!’
Listening to his excessive vocal flourishes made my skin crawl with goosebumps.
‘And why does he keep winking like that?’
If he was trying to portray a fatal femme fatale—or rather, an homme fatal...
I don't know. To my eyes, the performance was just a disaster.
‘You said he moves the soul.’
But when I stole a resentful glance to my side, the Marchioness was, surprisingly, completely enthralled by the performance.
‘Is it my taste that’s the problem?’
Regretting the absence of Snow Wine to refresh my palate, I gulped down champagne instead.
It was the intermission after the first act.
Alcent came to the Royal Room and introduced Samuel, the troupe leader.
Since he had rejected the performance requests several times, I expected him to be arrogant, but he was surprisingly mild-mannered.
“Your Highness. The leader would like to introduce the actors to you. Would you like to meet them?”
“Eek! Cochibiel? Of course we have to go see him!” the Marchioness squealed like a young girl.
I wasn't particularly curious about Cochibiel, but I was curious about what it looked like backstage, so I followed Samuel.
As I stepped through the dressing room door, I flinched and came to a halt.
Cochibiel stood there with his white shirt unbuttoned almost to his navel, holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand.
Samuel introduced him with an awkward smile.
“This is the pride of our troupe and the best opera singer in Rondoris, Cochibiel.”
“The humble Cochibiel greets Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”
Dropping to one knee, Cochibiel took my hand—which I hadn't even offered—and kissed the back of it.
‘It’s... it’s too much!’
Did he mistake my frozen expression for shyness?
Cochibiel gave a knowing eye-smile and lifted the bouquet he was holding.
“I offer my heart to the noble Consort.”
“You... don't have to offer your heart,” I muttered softly under my breath as I took the flowers.
Glancing to the side, I saw Cecilia biting her lip hard to keep from laughing.
“My goodness! Cochibiel! Do you remember me? We met in the capital with Her Majesty the Empress.”
The Marchioness stepped forward, nearly bumping my shoulder.
“Of course I do.”
Cochibiel tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear and flashed another eye-smile. “How could I ever forget such a beautiful lady?”
It was obvious he didn't remember her at all. He left a kiss on the back of the Marchioness’s hand as well.
“Oh my! Well, I suppose my face is hard to forget.”
Hohoho. The Marchioness’s laughter echoed through the dressing room.
‘Raphael’s mother, please, what are you doing?’
Raphael looked like he wanted to gag, but even as the other actors were offering their greetings, the Marchioness refused to leave Cochibiel’s side.
“What’s back there?”
“There are dressing rooms behind the stage. Would you like to take a look?”
Alcent stepped in quickly, seemingly remembering that I was the investor.
While the Marchioness was praising Cochibiel’s “heavenly voice” and whatnot, I toured the rest of the backstage area.
“This is the prop room.”
We were looking at the small prop room last.
In the dim light of the interior, I sensed a small presence.
“It seems someone is in here?”
“Who’s in there?” Alcent asked.
A hesitant silhouette emerged from the shadows.