Chapter 28
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Entering the Oscar Theater Troupe
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Come on in. Everyones gathered.
The first day I stepped into the Oscar Theater Troupe.
I shuffled timidly into the rehearsal room at Oscars urging.
Whats this?
The theater owner brought in a new recruit himself?
Himself? Whats the kid even do? He looks like a total child.
As the young, scrawny me entered the rehearsal room, the troupe members sharp glares stabbed right at me.
Now, now, cut it out. This is Noah, whos joining the Oscar Theater Troupe starting today. Lets all get along.
What about the casting?
A sharp voice cut in at Oscar Pitts words.
Hell be taking the role of the male leads friend in the new play were putting on.
I nodded quietly from the side.
Id already memorized the script Oscar had handed me perfectly.
Not just my own key supporting role, but the male leads lines, the female leads, and every single other characters as well.
But that one remark from Oscar sent massive ripples through the room.
Everyone was resentful that some random kid whod rolled in out of nowhere was snatching an important role.
I noticed the unkind stares and glanced at Oscar.
Oscar didnt give a damn and just started rehearsal.
Once rehearsal began, the troupes bullying stood out even more.
Today was the first script read-through for the new show.
Everyone read their lines from their seats, but every time I opened my mouth, the air in the room turned ice-coldI could feel it all over my body.
Even back home, where Id unknowingly been starved of my parents love, Id been invisible to the servants.
The tutors had paid me less attention too, since it was obvious the youngest son wouldnt inherit anything.
Id thought Id endured plenty of cold shoulders in Battenberg Castle up to now, but that had been a delusion.
I realized firsthand that Id just been a frog in a well, throwing tantrums all along.
At least in the castle, everyone had to treat me kindly because I was the youngest young master.
No matter how powerless I was inside the castle walls, crossing me wouldnt do them any favors.
But in the Oscar Theater Troupe, I was just plain Noah.
The troupe members treated someone like me with endless coldness.
To them, I was nothing but a rival whod suddenly appeared and stolen a role that couldve been theirs.
Their harassment was something I could endure.
It wasnt pleasant, sure, but with Oscarsomeone who valued my talent more than I didbacking me up, I found some peace of mind.
And more than the hardship, I got lost in the thrill of acting alongside others.
When I was performing, I could think of nothing but the acting.
Fortunately, as rehearsals progressed and we started syncing up on stage, they began to see me differently.
That emotion was spot-on this time.
Whew, I almost fell for Noah for real there.
Hey. Snap out of ityoure a guy, and sos Noah.
It wasnt kindness because I was from Battenberg Castleit was goodwill toward the Noah who acted well.
Little by little, I got hooked on blending in with them, laughing and chatting away.
Hooked to the point where the Oscar Theater Troupe was all I could think about.
Maybe thats why I dove into acting so obsessivelythe first taste of true camaraderie Id ever had.
And the biggest relief? No one knew I was the youngest son of the Battenberg ducal family.
Id never been so grateful that, for once, being the youngest meant I didnt have to show up for official events.
In the troupe that accepted me, I worked harder than anyone, had more fun than anyone, and performed better than anyone.
The Oscar Theater Troupe members welcomed me as one of their own in no time.
There was one twist left.
It turned out theyd known all along I was the dukes son but pretended not to.
I learned that later, and since it felt like consideration rather than discrimination, gratitude outweighed any sense of betrayal.
Noah! Lets nail it again this time!
Every time we started a new show, the members would turn to me and shout that, along with Oscar.
I still cant forget those beloved voices.
Wow.
And now.
Stepping into the script reading room, I recalled that time long ago for the first time in ages.
Long tables stretched out so people could face each other, crowded with folks at every seat.
Actors and staff among them, no doubt.
Siu, your seats right here.
I grabbed the staff members handsoft and squishyand headed to the table closest to the head spot.
Sunbae-nim. Sius here.
The staff let go of my hand and called out to someone.
It was an elderly actress whod been greeting others warmly.
Oh, the star of the show finally graces us. So youre Siu.
Hewwo.
Oh my, hes just too cute.
Hes definitely on the small side. But look how sharp he is.
Five years old and his baby face is already perfectperfect, I tell you.
Tank you.
I bowed politely at the familiar wave of praise from the other actors.
Siu, this is actress No Younghee, wholl be playing your grandmother. You two are paired up to act together.
Wow.
I checked who she was and widened my eyes round.
I finally met her!
The grandma who always played warm mothers in movies and dramas.
They called her the healing point these days.
She starred in so many feel-good movies that healed the heartshed stuck in my mind.
Sunbae-nim, wuv to meet chu.
I clung straight to No Younghees knee and said it.
Id always admired her acting anyway.
And when I got the final casting notice, I checked the listand there she was!
Meeting in person someone I saw on TV every day felt so exciting and surreal.
Seeing No Younghee up close sparked instant fandom.
One look, and I could tell she was genuine from her smile.
Her vibe matched exactly what Id seen on screen.
Pwease take good care of me.
I bowed deeply from the waist once more.
Oh my, a young actor with some real manners.
Sunbae-nim, hes just too adorable.
Haha, the youngest child actor here, and not a single tantrum.
The actors standing around tossed comments her way in amazement.
Most of their names and faces didnt match up yet in my head, but I greeted them politely with a bright smile anyway.
Wed be seeing each others faces every day from now onthis was basic courtesy.
They werent at their own seats, but it seemed like theyd come over to pay respects to No Younghee, who looked like she had the longest career here.
Hm, perfect.
So the real power player here is my grandma character.
Seeing you in person makes you even cuter. Come on, kiddo, take good care of me too?
Yes! Gwanny!
We hadnt even started the script reading, and Id already called her grandma.
No Younghees eyes went wide in surprise at my bold choice of words, and the actors around us lost it over how cute it was.
At least no one here was the type to ruffle my hair willy-nilly.
Alright, actors! Time to start the script reading!
At Jo Yi-sus shout, the actors whod been scattered greeting each other hurried back to their seats.
I hopped up onto my spot next to No Younghee.
Oh, youre Siu, huh? Hey there.
Hm? Hewwo. Im Han Siu.
Haha, Im Yoo Jung-seok. Gonna be your daddy for the next five months.
Hm. Pwease take good care of me.
Another actor Id quickly noted from the casting list.
Yoo Jung-seok, whod play my dad in the show, sat down next to me.
After No Younghee, he was the one Id be acting most with, so I flashed him a big grin and greeted him.
Uncle had flipped out the most over Yoo Jung-seoks casting from the list.
Siu, this guythis guys a big deal, right? Huh? Super famous in theater. He always does leads... Wow, he must really want this show.
And predictably, hed nagged for an autograph.
Moments like this made it easier to believe he was blood with my elegant mom.
Yoo Jung-seok in person had a gentle, roguish vibe that fit the goofy, immature dad role perfectly.
And so, with No Younghee on my left and Yoo Jung-seok on my right, I gazed toward the head of the table.
As always, Jo Yi-su sat there with her curly bob tied back tight, but the seat next to her was still empty.
Jessica hadnt arrived yet.
I idly scanned the rehearsal room.
Then a loud noise drew my head that way.
Waaah!
Whats that?
Looking over, there was a cluster of child actors my ageno, a bit older than me.
Kids cast in bit parts for this show, probably.
Even from afar, they looked rowdy.
This production would run for about a month and a half.
Bit roles didnt have much screen time, so usually one actor per part, but child actors were different.
Due to their unpredictability, double-casting was standard for even bit roles.
That explained the ten or so extras gathered.
Some clung to their moms whining, others openly glared at me in the lead seattotal mix.
Huh? Wait a sec.
I glanced at the seats across from me that I hadnt paid attention to till now.
Opposite us sat the double-cast leads for Team B, paired like our team.
Ah, thats him.
He looks older than me.
The child actor cast as the grandson for Team B was glaring at me...
Glaring?
Whys he glaring at me?
To suddenly get hate from a kid Id never met before.
Ridiculous, but what could I do.
He was still too young to hide jealousy or rivalry properly.
I flashed a bright smile his way.
Like it or not, wed be facing each other for five monthsno need to fight.
The chaos settled quickly.
Actors found their seats, and it was clear at a glance who was who.
I matched faces to the casting list and attached photos in my mind.
Back as Noah, Id memorized thick scripts in a single day.
Memorizing actors faces and roles was a breeze.
Still just five, but as a lead, this was basic to properly carry the show.
I paired them up in my headwho played what, and a rough sense of their filmography.
Worth bugging Uncle nonstop yesterday to learn about each one.
Mm-hm, that actor did a bit part in that drama recently.
Doesnt look anything like the photo.
Oh, that ones debuting in a big show like this for the first time.
She looks tense.
Gotta chat her up during break.
Too bad none of the actors here were from Emergency Iron 777.
The show needed so many actors that theyd skipped RUN auditions.
I was cross-checking each one when the rehearsal room door burst open.
Everyone, nice to see you.
Jessica Brown, the blue-eyed woman from auditions.
Her long blonde hair swaying loose, she took the prime seat next to Jo Yi-su at the head table.
Just her entrance and greeting filled the room with tension.
Shall we get started, then?
As expected.
Her effortless command dominated the rooma masterful directors charisma.
I wondered what style this director would use to steer the play.
My little heart thudded away as usual.