Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Theater Premiere
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The theater was smaller than I'd imagined. Or maybe the one in our mansion was just too grand.
Humans really are creatures of adaptation, after all.
As we stepped inside, I spotted Pitol greeting the arriving guests.
He was bowing busily to everyone, but the moment he saw me, his teary eyes sparkled, and he came dashing over.
“Lady Marso!!! You've come!”
“…Thanks for the invitation.”
“No, no, it's an honor just that you've graced us with your presence. And this gentleman beside you—is he your fiancé?”
Pitol asked with a beaming smile. Wait, how did he get that idea? I'd made sure no one knew about any romantic interests of mine publicly.
I shook my head in horror.
“No, this is my dear friend.”
“A dear friend... Hold on, a face like that isn't common...”
For Pitol, who worked in a troupe overflowing with handsome faces, to be this surprised meant Darsi's looks were truly exceptional.
Meanwhile, Pitol kept muttering something to himself nonstop, and suddenly his face turned ashen.
“N-No way, you're the prince who's about to be crowned...”
He must have finally realized Darsi's identity, because he bowed deeply. The murmurs rippling through the crowd around us did the same.
But Darsi himself seemed utterly unconcerned. If anything, he looked a bit pleased. Though there was no real reason for that, so it was probably just my imagination.
“Stand up.”
Darsi helped Pitol to his feet soon after.
“I'm looking forward to the play.”
He flashed a grin, and gasps of admiration rose naturally from those around us. Even for people used to Ryan, Darsi's appearance was like a whole new world.
It was the same for me.
He wore a smile much like the one from our first meeting, spoke in that familiar tone, but there was an air of nobility about him that made it impossible to treat him casually.
For a fleeting moment, he felt like someone from a distant world, stirring an inexplicable unease in me.
What quelled that anxiety, at least somewhat, was the warmth from his hand. The reassuring sensation that he was still right there beside me dispelled the unpleasant feeling.
Darsi came to a stop at our seats.
I halted alongside him and noticed someone bowing to him ahead of us. It was Rido.
It had been a while since I'd last seen his face. Come to think of it, I'd been strangely unable to catch sight of him lately. Despite him being the lead actor in the play.
As I started to give Rido a quick nod in greeting, Darsi stepped in front of me, blocking the way.
Rido and Darsi stood facing off.
...What was this pairing?
Peeking from behind Darsi's back, I could see Rido looked terrified.
Our eyes met. Rido gave me an awkward smile before quickly slipping past to my side.
Had Rido and Darsi ever crossed paths before?
Tilting my head at the unexpected combo, I hurried forward to stand beside Darsi.
Something had happened between them that I didn't know about.
“What happened with Rido?”
“There was something.”
But Darsi didn't answer straightforwardly. Shrugging it off, he seemed to think it was no big deal.
“I just gave him some advice.”
Seeing my unconvinced expression, he added belatedly, perhaps feeling a bit guilty.
It didn't sound all that credible either... but with no proof, I decided to let it slide for now.
We settled into a private box on the second-floor balcony overlooking the stage. A pair of opera glasses, like oversized magnifying lenses, sat ready in front of us.
I was grateful Pitol had given me these seats. The place was already noisy enough; sitting right up front would have spelled disaster.
I might not have been able to focus on the play at all.
I turned my head and froze. I'd realized who was sitting in the booth right next to ours.
“…Resuan.”
She looked even more pallid than the last time I'd seen her, but it was unmistakably Resuan, seated there.
She'd been staring blankly into space, but at the sound of my voice, she startled to her feet. Her still-watery eyes reminded me of our previous encounter.
Not a pleasant memory, so I narrowed mine, but Resuan bowed first.
“I didn't expect we'd end up seated so close, Marso. I'm sorry. It wasn't on purpose.”
Her apology to me was straightforward. No flowery words, no talk of wanting to get along like before.
Resuan quietly took her seat again. Behind her, I saw Kaisen enter.
...It was actually surprising. I'd assumed she'd come with Ryan to a place like this.
Had my change in behavior influenced her feelings, causing this shift too? Now that I'd cut off contact with Resuan, there was no way to know.
Kaisen looked startled upon seeing me, then fixed his gaze on Darsi standing beside me.
Darsi gave him a small nod. Kaisen bowed politely in return.
It seemed the two knew each other.
“How do you two know each other?”
Kaisen was the Knight Commander, and Darsi a hidden prince. Was even this part of some backstory I didn't know?
“We've shared battlefields.”
“…Battlefields?”
“Marso, do you think all of Emperor Kies's achievements are truly his own?”
“If not his... then whose in the world?”
Kaisen had been born a slave and risen to Knight Commander, which required racking up feats in countless battles. Being thrown into that many fights was inevitable.
Emperor Kies was famous for fighting in nearly every one himself.
He had never lost a battle.
Or so everyone believed. That Emperor Kies had never been defeated in any fight.
But that was a false premise.
He hadn't been the one fighting in the first place.
“...”
The unexpected revelation left my mouth hanging open.
Even though he was a mage himself, he'd had to deal with other mages.
Perhaps the guilt from that was one reason he'd wanted to leave it all behind. I wondered quietly.
Despite the half-lidded smile in Darsi's eyes, they somehow looked like they were crying.
Seated next to Darsi, I placed my hand firmly over his dangling one. Just as his warmth had soothed me earlier, I hoped mine could do the same for him.
“Darsi, let's watch the play without any other thoughts.”
I murmured, fidgeting with the back of his hand.
A soft chuckle escaped him at my words.
I whipped my head around to see Darsi propping his chin, nodding.
“How could I think of anything else with you right here beside me?”
His gentle voice wrapped around my ear like silk as all the lights in the theater dimmed.
The play began.
As I'd suspected, Pitol was a genius.
He masterfully blended tropes like secret births, mother-in-law conflicts, and half-sibling rivalries into an absolute comedic masterpiece.
Dark subject matter, but he handled it without letting it get too heavy, drawing you in nonstop.
There was even a slap scene midway, and per my subtle suggestion, using dough instead of a real hit was a stroke of genius. No kimchi here, after all.
It was comedy gold that even nobles couldn't resist laughing at.
To avoid offending the nobles, most characters were commoners or mages.
The atmosphere stayed lively and cheerful throughout.
As soon as the play ended, every noble leaped to their feet clapping. Plenty shouted for encores.
And I thought:
‘This is going to be a hit.’
I could sense Pitol's big break coming.
The place would be packed from tonight onward.
Finally, Pitol took the stage for curtain call.
As he spoke of the people who'd brought him this far, it felt just like an awards ceremony. If there were an Oscar for Best Screenplay here, he might've swept it.
And among the names he called out was mine.
“And to Lady Marso Etwar, who made this play possible today, I send my infinite gratitude.”
Pitol stared straight at me as he clapped. The theater filled once more with applause.
As the cheers died down a bit, Pitol spoke his final words.
“And someday... I hope the world learns of Lady Marso's grace, which will enable our troupe's boundless growth.”
A perfect finale.
It felt a touch abrupt, but his words weren't surprising.
Through my magic tools, I'd monitored their rehearsals and fine-tuned the expressions.
I knew there were others who lamented not having access to such convenient devices.
Sharing that experience binds people together. Just like how actors often befriend other actors.
Because of our contract, rival troupes couldn't be told, leaving some probably stomping their feet in frustration.
Today, Pitol and the troupe had given all the glory to me while thoughtfully crediting the other performers too. They'd done everything they could.
Proof they weren't just selfish folk.
Amid the nobles, I felt a flicker of long-lost humanity returning.
If I'd truly planned to hole up in my room forever, this situation might've irked me.
But I'd decided to step forward again, which was why I was here.
Eyes turned to me. Who among them truly welcomed the current state was anyone's guess.
But it didn't matter to me anymore.
The days of hiding in my room due to my disgust with people had become experience points, leveling me up. I was more steadfast now than before.
Of course, I couldn't overlook the man still holding my hand beside me as part of the reason.
“It's not bad, but your screening room is way better.”
Laughter rippled at his comparison of the troupe to my private theater. No matter how great mine was, it couldn't match the real thing.
“I guess I'm still not used to crowds.”
Darsi murmured softly, casting his eyes downward. Pretending to be vulnerable didn't suit him at all. He looked more like a leopard hiding its killer instinct than a rabbit.
Realizing his words weren't landing, Darsi continued slyly.
“I want to listen to music in your room...”
He leaned in close to whisper in my ear in an instant.
“Will you grant me the honor of an invitation to your room?”