Chapter 129: A Fresh Spark
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 129: A Fresh Spark
I looked up at Loik and gasped.
A murderous fire was smoldering in his eyes as he glared at Lucion. The sheer, heavy pressure radiating from him was enough to make my shoulders hunch instinctively.
Startled by this unfamiliar side of him, I softly called his name. Immediately, Loik’s gaze softened, meeting mine as if the previous intensity had never existed.
He took my hand, which he had been holding by the wrist, and interlaced his fingers with mine, letting our arms hang down.
“Did you enjoy the performance?”
“Yes. It was wonderful.”
Worried that Loik might say something out of line, I hurried to introduce the man standing before us.
“This is… well…”
Come to think of it, how should I introduce Lucion?
As the leader of the Cariso Troupe? Or as the Prince of Rondoris?
While I hesitated, unsure of how to proceed, Loik spoke up.
“I’d heard that Lucion Tarkal had crawled onto my lands like a rat,” Loik growled at Lucion.
A rat? All of a sudden?
I haven’t even signed the contract with the Prince yet!
Just as I was debating whether I should cover Loik’s mouth, Lucion spoke.
“I thought you were all so thick-skulled you wouldn’t even notice. I suppose at least one of you actually has a brain?”
I expected Lucion to be flustered, but instead, even harsher words poured from his mouth.
At his remark, Norton and the other knights straightened up menacingly. In response, several men who appeared to be the Prince’s personal guards quickly moved from the theater entrance to stand behind him.
I knew he had guards with him.
It wasn’t entirely surprising to see Loik and Lucion at each other’s throats.
The Grand Duke of the Empire and the Prince of a kingdom. In a way, they were both beings born to be arrogant. Even if marriage talks had once been exchanged between their families, there was no guarantee they would be on friendly terms.
Besides, they were polar opposites in appearance: Lucion with his brilliant blond hair and slender build, and Loik with his black hair and broad, sturdy frame.
However, I couldn't let them clash any further.
I absolutely need the Cariso Troupe!
I gently shook Loik’s hand as if to soothe him.
“Your Grace, I think Blenheim might be able to host an opera this summer.”
“Is that so? That is good news.”
At that moment, Lucion wore a haughty smirk.
“Your Highness. It seems I must add one more condition.”
“A—A condition?”
“The Grand Duke of Blenheim must personally offer a polite and humble word of thanks to the leader of the Cariso Troupe. I think that would be appropriate.”
“Thanks?”
Loik let out a dry, mocking laugh.
“You’re delusional. My generous Grand Duchess has finally found a use for you, so it’s you who should be giving thanks.”
Lucion flinched for a moment.
“What? Did you think I wouldn’t know who you were?” Loik didn’t miss the opening and continued his sarcasm. “Playing at being a troupe leader… that information was so worthless to me that I simply didn’t care to acknowledge it.”
Loik… I didn’t know you could be this spiteful.
That’s all well and good, Your Grace. But right now, we’re the ones doing the asking!
I gave his leg a light tap with my hand, signaling him to read the room.
For some reason, Loik stared at me intently before pulling my hand closer to himself. He leaned in and whispered in my ear.
“Why am I suddenly ‘Your Grace’?”
His voice sounded strangely dejected, making me swallow a laugh.
“Then am I supposed to just toss your name around in front of a foreign prince?”
When I scolded him in a matching whisper, Loik’s lips curved into a pout.
“I wouldn’t mind…”
“You know how hard I’ve worked to invite this troupe, right?”
“Hurry up and say thank you politely.”
I expected him to nod immediately, but instead…
“…Only if you call me Loik.”
Loik mumbled, his thumb tracing the back of my hand. He looked like he wouldn't budge unless I gave in.
Good grief. It was such a small thing…
But he’s so cute, dammit.
In the end, I raised my voice so they both could hear.
“Loik. Shouldn’t we let the Prince go now?”
Loik seemed pleased by the phrase “let him go,” and he squeezed my hand firmly.
He looked up, instantly donning a mask of polite formality.
“Hosting a play in Blenheim is a fine choice.”
He even had a faint smile on his face.
Lucion, on the other hand, had his brow deeply furrowed. It was understandable; how annoying must it have been to have people whispering right in front of him?
“If you need anything, feel free to ask. I will provide full support.”
At Loik’s magnanimous tone, Lucion’s expression hardened further.
“Annette, shall we go?”
Loik pulled me toward the carriage.
“Prince. Let’s discuss the details again soon. Safe travels.”
“I look forward to seeing you again shortly.”
The Prince forced his lips into a smile.
Lucion watched the Grand Ducal couple depart. Loik continued to glare fiercely at him until the moment he stepped into the carriage.
“Ha.”
Once the carriage finally vanished into the distance, Lucion let out a hollow breath.
“I never thought I’d actually see such a sight.”
He recalled his meeting with Count Pacio not long ago.
At that time, Lucion had just been denied an audience with Princess Pelianes. The Princess had been in a foul mood after receiving a report on the delegation’s lack of progress.
— “Count Pacio, what on earth did you say to make my sister so upset? Did the Grand Duke of Blenheim refuse the marriage proposal?”
— “…”
— “What, for real?”
Princess Pelianes was in a fierce competition for the succession against Alberin Tarkal, the current King’s brother. Since the aristocratic faction supporting Alberin was growing stronger by the day, his sister desperately needed the backing of the Grand Duke of Blenheim.
Though it had little to do with Lucion, who was a bastard son.
From Princess Pelianes’s perspective, the Grand Duke of Blenheim was a match made in heaven. First, his status as a Grand Duke was worthy of a Princess’s husband. Second, he seemed too busy governing Blenheim to covet the throne of Rondoris. Most importantly, he had declared that he would not leave Blenheim even after marriage.
When the Grand Duke had set the condition that they would not even meet after the wedding, his sister, who rarely showed emotion, had cried out in joy.
— “The gods have arranged everything for me.”
And yet, now he was refusing to marry.
— “It seems he has no intention of parting with the current Grand Duchess.”
— “The daughter of Marquis Frais?”
Lucion had swallowed his surprise. What kind of weakness could a man possibly have to refuse to part with the daughter of his enemy?
But what Count Pacio said next was even more shocking.
— “It is understandable. There is likely no one more suited for the position of Grand Duchess than her.”
— “Count Pacio, are you feeling alright?”
Pacio tried to explain how the new Grand Duchess had transformed Blenheim and the Grand Duke, but he failed to make Lucion understand.
— “So… are you saying she’s pretty?”
— “She is beautiful, of course, but I am not merely speaking of her physical appearance. The knights and vassals around her call her a radiant person, like sunshine.”
— “That ‘sunshine’ Grand Duchess has already sent three requests for a performance to Samuel.”
Samuel and the troupe were currently traveling for their regular performances in Rondoris. When Lucion joked that being persistent was also a trait of sunshine, Pacio spoke with a serious expression.
— “The Grand Duchess is someone with an incredible sense for business. I would recommend you meet her if you get the chance.”
— “You want me to meet the Grand Duchess?”
In Rondoris, Lucion was publicly known as a bastard prince who enjoyed wine, women, and song, possessing a handsome face inherited from his mother. The fact that he was actually a quite capable businessman was known only to a few close associates, including his sister and Count Pacio.
— “You’ve been worried about the stagnation of the troupe’s profits, haven’t you?”
— “You don’t actually think the Grand Duchess can solve that problem, do you?”
Lucion had glared playfully at Pacio.
— “I don’t care how much business she’s done; she can’t possibly compare to me in terms of experience.”
Pacio scratched the bridge of his nose as if contemplating how to explain.
— “But the Grand Duchess… how should I put it? She has an incredible instinct.”
— “Instinct?”
— “An eye for potential, perhaps. She points out things that ordinary people would never even consider.”
Pacio had quite actively encouraged the meeting, saying it would be a fresh spark even if they didn't discuss business.
Ultimately, Lucion had accepted the performance request and traveled all the way to Blenheim to meet the Grand Duchess.
Even then, he had no intention of revealing his identity. That was why he had approached her in the ill-fitting clothes of a staff member.
Yet, somehow, he had not only ended up revealing his status but had also been the first to propose creating a new production.
I got completely swept up.
But he didn't particularly regret it.
— “Rather than just making money, wouldn’t it be more meaningful for you, Prince, to create a performance that brings emotion and joy to the people of Rondoris?”
He never expected to hear such words. No one had ever spoken to him, a bastard, about royal responsibility before.
That strangely unprejudiced remark had somehow appealed to him.
Pacio was right. Every conversation he had with the Grand Duchess was a fresh spark.
And above all, it was fun.
Until now, the words he heard within the palace were nothing but criticism, contempt, or temptation. This was the first time he had ever had such a comfortable conversation, free of malice or hidden agendas, while in his capacity as a prince.
Working with her would surely be delightful.
Standing in front of the theater, Lucion reflected on his proposal, then bit his lip as he remembered Loik snatching the Grand Duchess’s hand away. Seeing that cold man wearing such a deceitful, gentle smile…
Lucky bastard.
If he had a wife like the Grand Duchess, he wouldn't dream of divorce either.
As he recalled the Grand Duke’s hand firmly grasping her small, white one, an inexplicable sense of defeat washed over him.
With a slightly dampened mood, Lucion turned away.