Chapter 101: Highlight(3)
Chapter 101: Highlight(3)
Fortunately, Marie didn't hear Cecile’s whisper, but that didn't mean the situation had improved. As if she no longer intended to hide her feelings, Cecile wrapped her arms around mine and even rested her head on my shoulder.
To an outsider, it might have looked like a heartwarming, sweet scene, but the problem was that I already had a girlfriend. And she was sitting right next to me.
No matter how much I liked Cecile, I had to handle this firmly. Not only would Marie be disappointed, but it was also a matter of basic courtesy.
"Noona. I’m sorry, but please let go."
"And if I don't want to?"
"I think I might start to dislike you."
"... ..."
At my blunt remark, Cecile flinched, seemingly realizing her mistake belatedly. She looked at me with a complicated expression before shifting her gaze to Marie, who was sitting on my other side.
Marie was hugging my other arm tightly, let out a low growl like a cat, as if daring Cecile to try and take me away. Of course, the growl was figurative, but she was openly displaying her displeasure.
To her, Cecile—who was constantly eyeing her boyfriend—must have looked like a sly vixen. Moreover, Cecile’s beauty and charm were equal to, if not greater than, her own, so it was only natural for Marie to be on edge.
‘But surprisingly, she’s not shouting.’
Before, she would have glared with fire in her eyes, screaming at Cecile to get away or asking what she thought she was doing. Now, however, she was simply staying on high alert, her metaphorical fur standing on end.
Perhaps the conversation the two of them had earlier today had caused a change of heart. As soon as Cecile released my arm, I reached over and gently stroked Marie’s hair.
It was a silent gesture to show her that no matter how much Cecile tempted me, I was her boyfriend, and I would never let her down.
"...I'll let it slide just this once."
As I stroked her hair, Marie stared intently into my eyes for a moment before looking away and muttering softly. I could see her lips pouting in jealousy and her cheeks flushing slightly, even in the dark of the night.
How could she look so lovely even when she was jealous? Unable to hide the corners of my mouth from twitching upward, I whispered softly so only Marie could hear.
"If you don't trust me, should I give you a kiss?"
"...You pervert. You really are a red pervert."
I wasn't sure what "red pervert" was supposed to mean, but it was probably a jab at my hair color. I gave Marie’s soft, mochi-like cheek a playful pinch before checking Cecile’s reaction.
Normally, someone would have frowned at such a public display of affection, but Cecile had a look of pure curiosity. She was watching us with wide eyes, showing deep interest as if she were observing a fascinating specimen.
What on earth was she thinking? I asked Cecile, who was still staring without blinking.
"Noona?"
"Yes?"
"What are you thinking about?"
Cecile blinked a couple of times at my question, then turned her head toward Marie. Marie was currently busy trying to cool down her burning cheeks.
After a moment, Cecile looked back at me and spoke with a bright smile.
"I was just wondering if I could ever feel the same emotions Marie is experiencing right now."
"... ..."
"Looking at Marie’s reaction, it’s clear that it feels good..."
"Ahem."
That was a very 'her' answer. I cleared my throat to hide my embarrassment.
In the meantime, Marie seemed to have calmed down, fanning herself with her hand and straightening her posture. A faint blush still lingered on her cheeks.
"So... do you know how the performance is going to proceed?"
Marie asked the question to change the subject. I met her eyes briefly before looking toward the stage (which was actually a plain) and answering.
"First, the Lirus Orchestra will perform. After that, the Matrix Theater Troupe will put on a play."
"How long is the performance?"
"About three hours in total. The Lirus Orchestra will play for about thirty to forty minutes, and the Matrix Theater Troupe will perform for the rest of the time."
"Is it okay without a rehearsal? From what I know, rehearsals are essential for performances like this."
Cecile, who had been listening quietly, asked with a hint of concern. As she said, rehearsals are a must for a large-scale performance like this.
You need to know how loud the sound carries to adjust it, and for a theater troupe, lighting is crucial. It’s basic setting to ensure the characters are brightly lit so every gesture can be seen clearly.
However, the decision to hold the exhibition was made in a hurry, and both the orchestra and the troupe arrived only the day before the opening.
No matter how world-renowned these two groups were, the quality would inevitably suffer if they couldn't rehearse.
"That’s true. But the Lirus Orchestra told me they’ve rehearsed enough, so it should be fine."
"Well, that’s a relief, but..."
"Noona, have you ever heard the Lirus Orchestra play before?"
While talking to the seemingly anxious Cecile, a question suddenly occurred to me. She was a Demon, and until the publication of the Xenon Biography, she had rarely left Helium.
I hadn't heard any news of the Lirus Orchestra or the Matrix Theater Troupe entering Helium either. In the first place, Helium had been a restricted country until recently, so they couldn't have gone even if they wanted to.
This meant Cecile had no prior connection to the two groups, yet she sounded quite knowledgeable about the arts.
"No, I haven't. But we have orchestras in Helium too, so I have some basic knowledge. I also know that the Lirus Orchestra is the best in the world."
"Then why are you so anxious?"
"I’m just worried that they might not be able to perform at their best. The music the Lirus Orchestra is about to play is about Sacran’s life, isn't it? Sacran’s life portrayed a glimpse into the lives of us Demons."
I think I understood what Cecile was worried about. The theme of the music the Lirus Orchestra was about to play was the life of Sacran.
In the Xenon Biography, Sacran showed the tragic yet noble destiny of the Demon race, and his grand finale—ending his life as a human rather than a devil—left a deep impression on the readers.
In short, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he represented the life of the Demon race. Cecile was worried that the Lirus Orchestra wouldn't be able to properly express that depth.
"I think I know what you're worried about. But you don't have to worry too much. This isn't about listening to music and guessing the meaning behind it; people will be listening to the music while already knowing the story."
"What if they play something upbeat?"
"Well... I doubt that’ll happen, but doesn't music always feel different depending on the context? We'll know once we hear it."
Music has a mysterious charm; adding mournful music to a funny situation can make it even more hilarious, while playing upbeat music against a sad scene can emphasize the tragedy in an unexpected way.
Of course, if the Lirus Orchestra was crazy enough to play something like the Turkish March, that would be a different story, but since they were world-famous, there was no need to worry too much.
‘It should be about time...’
On the plain that served as a stage, the instruments for the Lirus Orchestra were lined up. The way they seemed to blend into nature was quite atmospheric and pleasant to look at.
Furthermore, I didn't know what kind of magic the Imperial Palace had cast, but not a single sound from the outside could be heard, even though the festival was in full swing in the village.
Although everything had been prepared in a rush, it looked like things would proceed smoothly thanks to the immense effort Leort and Lina had put in. In particular, their decision to use the plain itself as a stage instead of erecting a building showed their excellent sense.
"Isaac. Look over there."
"Hmm?"
As time passed and people began to gather, Marie nudged my arm and pointed in a certain direction. I turned my head to where she was pointing.
There, I saw Lina, Leort, and the Ters royalty sitting together. Since they were VVIPs, not just VIPs, they were seated in a spot even better than ours to view the stage.
As I was staring at them, each radiating their own unique charm, Lina looked our way as if she had felt my gaze. Her eyes widened slightly when she spotted us.
As soon as Lina saw us, I gave her a silent wave. Lina glanced at Leort and the Ters royalty sitting next to her before acknowledging me with a polite nod.
‘That’s not an easy position to be in.’
At a glance, being an Imperial Princess might seem like a position where one can wield power at will, but a closer look reveals that’s not the case at all.
What’s the point of having power if you can't use it properly? Above all, in a place like that, one has to wear a mask to avoid any trouble.
As I’ve said before, I much prefer people who show their true feelings from the start over those who wear masks to gauge others' intentions. That’s why I’m dating Marie.
"Hmm..."
Thinking of Marie, I turned to look at her.
She flinched when she saw me staring and asked in a stammering voice.
"Wh-why are you looking at me like that?"
"Marie."
"Yes?"
"I just wanted to call your name."
"...What was that for, seriously."
Marie grumbled, looking deflated by my pointless remark. I gave a small laugh and silently took her hand.
Marie, now used to it, gently held my hand back. The soft sensation of her hand warmed my heart.
‘But what on earth happened between Marie and Lina for them to be like this?’
It seemed clear that Lina had betrayed Marie in some way, but I hadn't asked until now for fear of triggering a painful memory. However, looking toward the future, building a friendship with Lina would be a good choice for me, never a bad one.
Once the Xenon Biography resumes serialization, it will become much larger than it is now, and there’s a high possibility of facing pressure from various places. I’ll keep my identity a secret for as long as possible, but nothing lasts forever.
So, it’s inevitable that I’ll have to join hands with influential figures like Lina or Cecile. Even if Marie’s family is that of Duke Rekilis, they might lack the reach to intervene in international disputes.
I quietly watched Marie’s profile as she kept her eyes fixed on the stage, then I spoke.
"Marie."
"Yes?"
"Can you spare some time after the festival? There’s something I want to talk to you about."
At my request, Marie blinked her blue eyes and asked back.
"I don't mind, but where are we going? Is it perhaps another..."
Marie muttered with a mischievous look and gave my arm a playful punch. Feeling a sudden wave of embarrassment, I glanced at Cecile.
Fortunately, Cecile was preoccupied with watching the orchestra’s preparations. In fact, they were currently playing simple notes to tune their instruments, so it was natural for her attention to be drawn there.
Relieved, I leaned in and whispered softly into Marie’s ear.
"It’s not that. I just want to talk to you privately. It’s important."
"Really? Where should we go?"
I thought about where to go and answered without much thought.
"Do you want to come to my bedroom? We can talk over some coffee."
"... ..."
"It’s something deeply related to you."
"... ..."
As soon as I said that, Marie’s reaction was quite unusual. At first, she just blinked as if she hadn't fully processed the situation, but then her face began to turn red, starting from her neck.
Her face remained blank, but her skin turning red made it seem like she had malfunctioned. I was genuinely puzzled as to why she was reacting this way.
While I tilted my head in confusion, Marie let out a deep sigh and covered her face with both hands. Her ears, peeking shyly through her white hair, were as red as they could be.
"Honestly... you're driving me crazy..."
"Marie?"
"The bedrooms in the mansion are soundproofed by default... what are you thinking, saying something like that... and coffee in the middle of the night... just like during the escort last time, you really don't seem to know... what am I going to do with you?"
She was mumbling into her hands, so I couldn't understand a word she said. But it was clear that I had made some kind of mistake.
The reason I suggested my bedroom was that I thought it wouldn't matter since my parents and Marie’s parents were all in the mansion. That was also why I had invited Cecile to my room before.
I grabbed Marie’s shoulders and shook her, calling her name repeatedly. But Marie just shrugged my hands off and continued to rub her face.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for waiting. The Lirus Orchestra’s performance is about to begin, so please take your seats!"
While I was calling Marie, a booming voice from the stage caught my attention. It was a thunderous volume, as if a microphone were being used.
I looked toward the stage and saw a middle-aged man in a neat uniform standing proudly in the center. It was Lirus, the conductor of the Lirus Orchestra, whom I had seen this morning.
I fixed my gaze on the stage, thinking that the long-awaited performance was finally starting. Meanwhile, Marie continued to mutter softly beside me.
"...Should I just pretend I don't know and go?"
"Marie."
"Whew. Fine. It can't be helped. Yeah. It really can't be helped."
It was only much later that I realized.
"Isaac."
"Yes?"
"I'll accept your... 'invitation.' Got it?"
What I had said was the exact equivalent of asking, "Do you want to come over for ramen?"
However, having never participated in high society and having only recently started forming interpersonal relationships, I was severely lacking in basic social common sense.
Furthermore, drinking coffee in the middle of the night is synonymous with saying you don't intend to sleep.
A man and a woman alone in a bedroom, and not intending to sleep... well, you can imagine the rest.
"Okay."
I nodded and answered without a second thought.