Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Unexpected Rumors
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Etwar Marquis House. That was the only point—they frequented the Etwar Marquis House.
"Lady Marso Etwar is nothing like the rumors."
Whenever the actors asked about Marso, Rido would tell them how beautiful and kind she was.
Of course, no one believed him easily. They just said his eyes must be clouded, that he seemed smitten with her.
In truth, it wasn't wrong. Rido had fallen for Marso, who had watched his performance so earnestly at the Etwar estate.
She was the first to watch his acting seriously and praise it sincerely for the acting itself, not his looks.
Marso had even given him a chance to improve his acting.
Rido knew intuitively.
In his life, he would never meet another person like Marso, who had no greed and accepted him as he was.
As an actor, he had met countless women. None had looked at him with eyes free of desire and ambition like hers. She was the first.
Of course, he knew his place. He didn't even dream of marrying her.
Rido had taken the male lead role in a new script this time. After nailing this role, he planned to ask Marso at the end to take him as her lover later.
It felt awkward to say it himself, but he had striking looks and a fine voice. He thought there was no reason for Marso to refuse.
Meanwhile, after the play ended that day, Pitol dove into writing a new script using the material and inspiration Marso had tossed his way.
He wrote every day, sleeping only two or three hours, but Pitol was happy.
Because Marso Etwar had gifted him materials to usher in a new era!
A playwright's job was inherently lonely.
Pitol had been agonizing over what script to write next, and Marso understood that perfectly.
She provided fresh ideas and even gently suggested how to use them. Pitol loved her ideas. They were brilliant!
And so, the first draft of the script was taking shape.
A grand epic blending a secret birth, a love triangle escalating to a quadrangle, the long-awaited marriage, and revenge...
Pitol could boldly say, even from the draft alone, that this work would succeed.
It would bring a new wind to the theaters.
Marso's proposal, started for seclusion, was thoroughly making her name known.
Before meeting Darsi again, I successfully recorded a total of three plays. It was a shame there were no close-ups since I recorded from afar, but at least the people's expressions were visible.
The only regrettable part was that Pitol hadn't finished the makjang drama yet.
'The draft is excellent, though.'
Skimming the script Pitol had brought today made me even more excited. True to form as a playwright, he had arranged the elements I suggested perfectly.
It was a drama mixing sweet potatoes and cider that any Korean would recognize. A work with devilish charm that frustrated viewers yet kept them hooked would be born.
"Today's will really be like watching a movie."
I sat in the drawing room, waiting for Darsi again. Just then, a knock echoed from the door.
The servant who entered handed me a letter envelope, saying Rido insisted I receive it, then left.
"What is it?"
A pleasant fragrance wafted from the letter envelope. Darsi should arrive soon, so I could read it later. Rido's soft, dreamy face came to mind.
Rido's acting improved day by day. His increasingly delicate emotional performances were exquisite.
I never knew monitoring was so vital for actors. The immersion improved, making lending the recorder worthwhile.
It was great for me too, watching their acting evolve. Seeing it from a producer's perspective rather than an audience member's felt fresh.
"What's that?"
As I set the envelope on the table, Darsi's voice rang out.
Startled, I looked up to see him with legs crossed, waving lazily. His eyes sparkled gently between strands of silver hair.
"Hello, Darsi. Long time no see."
Instead of answering, I changed the subject. Darsi's eyes narrowed.
He leaned toward me. His face, seen up close, was as precise and beautiful as a god's sculpture.
"I'm quick on the uptake, so dodging like that doesn't work. So, what's that?"
Was it his soft voice? My ears tickled.
"A letter from an actor. I lent him the recorder."
"Recorder?"
"The name I gave the magic tool you made for me. The actors wanted to use it. Your magic tool must be impressive."
"That's odd. Didn't you say it was just for you? What happened to your grand ambition of building a theater?"
"I'm not using it all day...? I will build the theater. But since I'm there mostly at night, I'm lending it out."
Darsi crossed his arms and furrowed his brow. His bangs fell slightly, half-covering his right eye.
His enigmatic expression seemed displeased. It resembled the look from our last meeting. Had something in my words offended him?
"That's troubling. My abilities can't be known to everyone."
His low voice flowed into my ear. After pondering, I asked.
"...? You're a merchant, right? Wouldn't more people knowing be better? And I didn't say you made it. Just that I commissioned and produced it."
"I'm kidding. I can make jokes too, you know?"
Darsi shot back with a smile. But I couldn't quite believe him. Darsi was intuitive.
When he said things like that, there was always a reason. Even if it was a reason only valid to him.
As I blinked at him, Darsi pulled something from his pocket.
"Here, I perfectly made the magic tool you commissioned this time. Attach this to the part where the so-called recorder emits the screen, and the image will be much larger."
The round magic tool Darsi handed me looked like a lens. The rim was tinted purple, but the center was transparently glass-like.
Seeing magic tools born from modern knowledge and this man's genius was always fascinating.
'I only explained it briefly.'
How genius was he to whip up exactly what I wanted without even principles?
I couldn't understand why the book never mentioned him. Someone like this should have tangled with the protagonists somehow.
...Unless he died.
A chilling thought. I stared at Darsi, then shook my head.
No, stop with the weird ideas. He said he's a merchant. Merchants don't tangle with every noble, so that's probably it.
Ryan might have blocked male merchants approaching Resuan out of jealousy.
I changed the subject.
"Darsi, I want to commission another recorder just like this one."
"Why? Isn't one enough?"
"I'll keep one at the theater for the actors and make another for the theater. Money's no issue. The payment is..."
"There's something I want to ask seriously."
Just as I was about to say name your price, Darsi spoke up. What?
With a slight frown, he asked.
"Why go to such lengths?"
"...What?"
As I blankly repeated, Darsi narrowed his brow and spoke in a lowered voice.
"Why bother taking care of people like that? The actors can manage themselves. Just use it as you want."
"Helping is my choice."
"Don't do something stupid."
His assertive eyes gleamed blue.
"You think that will erase the grudges against you? They'll just pretend they're gone..."
I knew he meant well for me, but I'd already considered it.
I cut him off and said flatly.
"I know."
"..."
"But not everyone's like that in the world."
I'd decided to live my way. I'd chosen not to care about others' gazes, so if I wanted to help, I would.
Whatever they said didn't matter if it didn't reach my ears.
And helping didn't strain my finances.
It seemed an unexpected answer. Darsi pressed his lips tight and blinked.
"And I don't get hurt by people I never expected anything from in the first place."
He propped his chin, frowning faintly.
"You mean you expect nothing from them?"
"Yeah."
As he gazed at me with unreadable eyes, I continued steadily.
"This benefits my life too."
"Helping them?"
"They thank me, and I can review the recorded performances. Helping the actors benefits me more."
"Ah."
Darsi nodded at my words.
He must have remembered me saying I was tired of people. Knowing he said it for me felt good.
He seemed prickly on the outside but soft within. A decent guy, maybe.
Soon, Darsi asked casually.
"You heard the rumors going around lately?"
Rumors were plentiful. I didn't see why I needed to know. I hesitated.
"Do I need to?"
"It won't hurt to know."
Hmm, not keen. I asked seriously.
"Can't I just live without knowing?"
"Listen. It's about the people coming to your estate, so it won't fade easily."
About the troupe? Didn't seem like bad rumors... I finally agreed.
"Rido the actor started openly taking your side. A guy who ignored all noble suitors until now—so the rumors are spreading like wildfire."
"Hmm."
He must have been deeply moved by my sincere support for his acting.
It felt good to see sincerity pay off, but...
"For example, stories that you've taken him as your lover."