Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Is This What They Call Talent?
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I woke up late in the morning, took a shower with Ophelia's help, threw on some simple clothes, and headed to the dining hall around 10 a.m. for brunch. I'm in England, so I had to have brunch, right!
The brunch at this luxury hotel felt somehow upscale, but it was just scrambled eggs and butter toast on top. There was a simple plate of berries you could eat by hand and some orange juice.
"Meow meow."
"Is it to your taste?"
"Ah, yes! It's delicious."
And it actually tasted good? Is this really English brunch? I feel kinda upper-class now.
After eating, I went back to the room for a bit. Ophelia lightly styled my hair and helped me into some warm clothes before we headed out again. Eleanor was supposed to pick us up in front of the hotel.
—Screeech….
"Oh? You're out early."
"Good morning."
"Hello! Good morning!"
—Beep!
"Yes, good morning. Shall we get in?"
"Sure."
We got into the shiny black luxury car, and Eleanor pulled out two brown paper bags and handed one to me and one to Ophelia.
"Here, take these."
"What's this??"
"Brunch. In case you hadn't eaten yet. Have you already?"
"Ah… we have, but…."
The paper bag felt warm and slightly damp the moment I took it. Inside was avocado toast, a chicken sandwich, and a couple of pastries.
"Smells delicious…."
"Pfft… you can eat it anyway. We're wearing loose clothes."
"R-Really?"
This chicken sandwich smells like a total scam—in the best way. The avocado toast is okay, I guess? Edible. I was kinda craving meat anyway, so perfect.
The pastries had some red jam spread on them and were tasty too.
"Dangdang, want some of this?"
—Beep!!
"Just a little then? I need to eat too??"
—Beep….
"Stingy? You don't want even a piece right now?"
—B-Beep beep!!
I tore off a bit of chicken from the sandwich and shared it with Dangdang perched on my head. Ophelia said she didn't want any pastry, so I ate them all. But the portions weren't huge, so it was fine.
"This is tea—it's warm, not hot, so open the lid and blow on it when the car stops."
"Wow, what kind?"
"Hibiscus~"
I didn't quite catch it properly, and since Eleanor had to grab the wheel again, I couldn't ask.
"Whoa…."
We drove about an hour from Mayfair's Claridge's to South London and arrived here.
"What do you think? Pretty, right?"
"Yes! So pretty!!"
"Eve, take your time looking around the set. I'll talk with Ophelia for a bit."
We arrived at a beautiful garden called May Garden. The garden was huge and pretty, but since it's winter, it was mostly just patches of green grass. The dome-shaped greenhouse in the center, though, was packed with flowers of every color—super pretty.
The grassy hill was well-manicured too, so if you shot it right, you couldn't tell if it was winter or summer. The sky was unusually clear today, so the original plan was to tour the set, get a feel for the vibe, and do some light practice.
But if I did well, they said I could try for first place today.
"Hee hee."
The set already had massive photography equipment everywhere, and people who looked like veterans were huddled together setting up cameras and lights. Some were already shooting?
Come to think of it, I was supposed to come for practice today, so having the full team here felt a bit off.
The people directly shooting and handling gear were a professional team outsourced by Royal Mayfair, and the set boss? was from Mayfair.
They were waving around a rolled-up paper like a baton, barking orders.
"Whoa… they look super scary…."
A bit further away, someone was under the gaze of a huge camera and lighting rigs.
"Gasp..!!!"
Someone I recognized.
"D-Dangdang.. what was her name again."
—Beep..!
"Right..!"
Eloise Whitmore. One year older than me, active for 3 months, 1.8 million Instagram followers—Royal Mayfair's ambassador influencer kid model.
She looked even longer-limbed in person, not like an 11-year-old at all. Would I look like that in a year? Doubt it… she just has that Western mature vibe.
"Heh… doesn't seem cold at all."
—Beep..!
"Definitely a tough rival.. can I win?"
—Shake shake
"What? Get down. Dangdang wants to go home."
—Beep beep!!
She was posing expressionlessly on cue from the set boss, mimicking demos flawlessly.
"Oh.. so that's how it's done. Watch closely, Dangdang. You could model too someday."
—Beep..?
"Like dog clothes or something.. anyway."
I watched Eloise Whitmore's shoot from behind some bushes for a while until break time hit. Adults brought over a brazier with firewood and chairs, setting it in front of her.
The second the camera stopped, her expression flipped—furrowed brows, shivering, piling on two or three more layers.
"What, she's cold too. Not a big deal then?"
—Beep….
"Not fair to say when you're in a long puffy coat? Sorry, got it."
I looked away to talk to Dangdang, then back at Eloise—and our eyes locked for a split second.
—Flash..!
"W-What do I do, Dangdang..! Eye contact..!"
—Beep.. beep beep..!
"Gonna transform into Fenrir now..?! She's that strong..?!"
The moment my arch-rival Eloise Whitmore and I made eye contact, I dove into the low bushes with insane speed. But I think she spotted me—voices from behind….
"Hey, you there. Who are you?"
"Eek..!"
"Why so startled?"
Not an adult voice—more like a sassy villainess young lady. The type to cackle "oh ho ho" behind a fan and demand shoe kisses.
But I wouldn't back down. I stood tall from my crouch and faced Eloise.
"H-Hi..?"
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first? You can't just wander onto a set."
"Ah.. um…."
Just then, the set boss checking photos on the camera turned this way. Then they got up and walked over….
"Who's that kid?"
"Director, some girl I've never seen."
The other adults checking cameras rushed over too, lining up behind the boss (called Director) to stare at me. Right on cue, Eleanor arrived strolling with Ophelia.
"Oh, there you are, Eve. Saying hi to everyone?"
"Ah, I… got caught…."
"Huh? Caught?"
Eleanor glanced around and nodded like she got it.
"Aha, Director. This is the girl, Eve, from before."
"Ah.."
"Oh ho…."
Everyone's faces changed instantly at Eleanor's intro. They stared like scouts scanning battle power—not super positive vibes….
"Eve, Ophelia. Let me introduce—this is Charles Montagu, our creative director for this issue."
The gray-haired set boss called Charles Montagu tipped his beret with a slight nod.
So they call the set boss creative director—manly survival mode, game on!!
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise. Ophelia, was it?"
"Yes. This is our lady, Eve."
"Hm."
Charles grandpa slid down his sunglasses, leaned in, stared at me, and rubbed his scruffy chin. Full pro aura, sizing up my power level.
"H-Hello!"
"Nice to meet you. Eve, right?"
"Y-Yes! I'm Eve!"
When you're innocent, confidence is key. I answered Charles grandpa loudly. He tilted his head at me, then murmured to a lady nearby.
"That outfit?"
"In the car, I think."
"Get it."
"I'll have the kids bring it."
His order cascaded like subcontracting in Korean corps—down to the lowest newbie rushing over with a rack of clothes on hangers in both hands.
"Eve, right? Could you try on one outfit now? No pressure if it's too much."
"R-Right now..?"
Not sure if this was okay, I glanced at Ophelia. She pondered, then nodded.
"If it's too much for you, Princess, you can decline. The contract only requires set visit and light practice today."
"Th-Then…."
I turned to Eloise Whitmore standing nearby. Her watching sparked my competitive fire.
"Ugh..! Yes! I can do it!"
"Oh.."
"Not bad, Director?"
"Hm. She's got talent."
Behind Eve's natural smile was a 1,500 Robux gift card.