Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Partner for the Play
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The circumstances that led Darsi to seek out Marso were as follows.
Knowing that Ryan wouldn't leave Marso alone, Darsi had been keeping tabs on her schedule for her safety.
He hadn't assigned someone to tail her like Ryan had, but he had a grasp on all her public engagements.
Her visit to the theater troupe where Pitol belonged was one of those.
Deeply impressed by Marso's help, Pitol had been boasting about inviting her to this play, and the word naturally reached Darsi's ears.
He had blocked the vicious rumors Ryan was trying to spread from the start, but plenty of people were still chattering about why she had secluded herself.
Marso's position in high society was peculiar. She was the object of envy, yet also jealousy and disdain.
The reason she hadn't been completely ostracized from society despite the prince's cold glances was her wealth, combined with the new charm she was beginning to show.
Her newfound gentle demeanor toward people and her elegant speech while firmly maintaining boundaries played a part.
Of course, few accepted the changed Marso. It was all too easy to feel inferior to someone who had everything, and that resentment took root easily.
The reason her image didn't shift positively so easily was the envy mixed in.
If Marso had pushed back hard, people wouldn't have dared, but she didn't.
She was trying to show everyone her better side.
The theater would likely be a similar situation.
He recalled her looking weary of human relations. But staying cooped up at home wouldn't make Marso happy. This was the experience of someone with similar memories.
From the moment he heard from Pitol, Darsi had waited for Marso to ask him to go with her. He was relieved there were no other men around her.
But Marso hadn't said a word to him. Why? Darsi felt impatient.
It was the first such emotion he'd felt since pointing a gun at the emperor's temple, assuming everything would go his way.
He quickly changed his mind.
‘Then I'll just go to her.’
Marso wouldn't dislike him showing up. ...Probably.
Pushing aside a faint doubt, Darsi headed to her mansion.
They were supposed to meet the next day, but he figured a day early was fine. And this was for Marso's sake anyway.
Her return to the public eye had to be perfect.
He was confident he could make it so.
The carriage door opened, and the last person I expected to see here stood before me.
Why was Darsi here?
The daze lasted only a moment as I took in his sharply dressed form, recalling how he'd looked when we met at the palace.
His neatly combed hair and suited attire were a far cry from his usual self.
Just standing there, he could captivate anyone. The man, without a hint of disarray, lifted his head to gaze at me.
A faint smile spread across his lips. It was relaxed.
He strode toward me, his tousled hair swaying like willow branches. The face visible through it felt too unreal to be human.
Darsi stopped before me and extended his hand.
“You need a partner to watch a play, right?”
“...I was planning to go alone.”
Dealing with people's stares is exhausting enough.
Darsi offered his hand, but I hesitated to take it.
The face reaching out to me felt strangely unfamiliar.
My cheeks seemed to heat up a little.
I shook my head vigorously. Calm down—Darsi and I are just friends.
I didn't want to ruin our good relationship over uncertain feelings. He was one of the few people I'd befriended on my own.
Finally shaking off my hesitation, I placed my hand in his palm.
Had we ever touched hands before?
The sudden difference made my heart skip a bit.
“Let's go.”
Snapping to at his words, I boarded the carriage with him.
Only after the carriage set off toward the theater could I voice the question on my mind.
“How did you know I was going to the play today?”
“The playwright was bragging about it everywhere. The rumor has already spread.”
Pitol, with his strong personality and straightforward writing, charged ahead regardless of others' opinions. His life was the same.
He seemed to like me for providing melodrama fodder and opportunities for the actors, so he'd been defending me to people.
...But even Pitol probably didn't know if I'd really show up. I'd been waffling on it until this morning.
So how did he know to come here? Lost in thought, a voice pierced my ears.
“Marso.”
Darsi, who had suddenly called my name, looked serious. I matched his tone.
“Yeah.”
He furrowed his brow at my ready reply.
“But why didn't you ask me? You don't have to go alone.”
...Huh? It was an unexpected question. His face, which had seemed serious moments ago, now looked sulky.
Was he upset I hadn't invited him?
“I figured the play's main theme wouldn't sit well with you.”
“Wasn't it the one we saw before?”
He meant the draft we'd watched together. I nodded immediately.
“Yeah. Your reaction wasn't great back then.”
“...You observed me more closely than I thought.”
I agreed with his slightly relaxed remark.
Yeah. I'd paid more attention to Darsi than I'd realized.
I had another question.
“But I never told anyone I was coming today.”
“True. I didn't know either.”
I was stunned when he admitted it so readily. Dressed to the nines and escorting me in a carriage?
My expression must have shown my confusion. Darsi grinned.
“Even if you didn't go, it wouldn't matter. Coming here meant I could see your face.”
...Was that line only embarrassing for me?
I averted my gaze and fanned myself. It felt strangely hot.
“We were going to see each other tomorrow anyway.”
His face, stating the obvious, showed no trace of embarrassment.
“So seeing you a day early is fine. And the content doesn't matter.”
“Oh, really?”
I wish I'd known—I would've invited him first.
As I brightened, Darsi stated matter-of-factly,
“Because you'll be by my side.”
I stared blankly at Darsi. His words hit my head like a hammer. No, my heart too.
Since deciding to stay here, Darsi had become more honest about his feelings.
Not in a romantic sense. Actually, that made me more aware of him.
...Can't a friend say things like that?
I spoke in a soft voice.
“Darsi, you should be careful with lines like that.”
They're bad for my heart. I swallowed the latter part.
Darsi looked baffled.
“No one else to say them to but you.”
“There might be someone in the future.”
“There won't.”
With his possibilities firmly shut down, I had nothing left to say. What could I say to that?
Sweating as I wondered how to respond, the carriage mercifully stopped.
“Whoa, time to get out! We're here.”
I jumped up clumsily but paused.
Darsi had come in a carriage bearing the imperial crest. That meant...
“...Has word already spread that you're a prince?”
“Whispers here and there. The official investiture will be next week.”
“You say it like it's about someone else.”
“Feels that way.”
Darsi chuckled, chin propped on his hand.
“But more importantly...”
“More important?”
He tilted his head slightly and stared straight through me.
“I'm going to see a play with you. In front of everyone.”
“...”
“This is my first time at something like this—you have no idea how much effort I put into dressing up. I even debated using my abilities.”
Grinning, Darsi looked genuinely happy today. Not his usual hollow smile, but one full of sincerity.
He was prettier than I'd thought when he smiled.
Pretty enough that staring too long might enchant me.
“We'll be late. Let's go.”
I took a deep breath inwardly and stood. Darsi nodded and got out first.
Standing before the carriage, he offered his hand again.
His eyes curved gently.
“And I wanted to escort you in the light of day.”
...That word "light" hit home. He'd had to live like he was dead, keeping even our meetings secret.
What must a life hidden from all have been like? I couldn't fathom it.
All I could do was grip his hand tightly.
Hoping the warmth of my hand offered him some comfort.
I took Darsi's hand and looked up.
...Only then did I notice the stares around us.
Some familiar faces, some strangers.
The gazes that first fixed on me shifted entirely to Darsi. Given his striking looks, it was natural.
The surrounding attention didn't seem to bother him; his eyes stayed only on me. That almost obsessive gaze gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.
Darsi's low voice, still smiling, rang in my ears.
“Let's go, Marso.”
In that moment, everything felt like it would work out.
I nodded.
It was time for my halted world to move forward again.