chapter 31
People truly loved The Thirteenth Knight, yet none of them expected to ever see it again.
The lead actor who played the main character in The Thirteenth Knight was Robio Tamdaze.
The biggest reason why that once wildly popular play from decades ago was never revived again lay in the actor himself.
People had begged Robio to return to the role countless times, but he firmly refused every time—he wanted to take on a variety of roles, not be bound to just one.
And so, Polius, uncharacteristically for his impulsive nature, came up with a careful plan to persuade him.
“I researched his favorite foods, how he likes people to approach him, the kind of tone he responds well to…”
If he succeeded this time, Polius wanted to laugh in the faces of those who said it couldn’t be done.
Even if he were rejected, he planned to keep trying again and again.
He wanted to humiliate Damian, who lived off his own arrogance, and make Melanie, who had left him, drown in regret.
And when it came to dealing with people, he was sure he had the upper hand.
“Damian’s so stiff that people find him hard to talk to, and Melanie’s only real friend is her childhood buddy. They’re both hopeless at socializing—but me? I’m different.”
Normally, as a noble, if Polius said he wanted to see someone, the commoner Robio should have come to him.
Yet today, Polius went all the way to Robio’s home himself, bringing a gift.
He had spent hours preparing lines of persuasion for when Robio inevitably refused—but…
“I’m willing to appear in the video-stone.”
To his utter shock, Robio accepted immediately.
Polius, who had come expecting resistance, was so startled that he blurted out:
“Truly? You’re not joking, are you?”
“Young Lord Polius Beldert, I’m not one for idle jesting.”
Unlike before, Robio Tamdaze’s mind had changed.
Ironically, what changed it was the video-stone Melanie and Damian made together.
In the original novel, the video-stones that Polius produced had never met Robio’s artistic standards—but Melanie’s did.
“Isn’t this simply excellent?”
People had longed to see The Thirteenth Knight again, but if Robio agreed to their wishes each time, he would have had no time left to perform in any other plays.
He loved the work that had made him a star, of course—but the idea of being unable to perform in anything else just to please fans had always bothered him.
“I saw the video-stone of The Black Moon recently. At that quality, even fans of The Thirteenth Knight would be satisfied.”
If the video-stone could match The Black Moon’s level, then fans could keep watching The Thirteenth Knight over and over.
“Truthfully, the main character, Artlun, is a middle-aged man. Back then, I was still young, so I had to use makeup to look the part.”
“Yes, I heard that you were cast in your twenties because your image fit the role perfectly—but now you fit it even better!”
“Now, I think I can deliver an even more convincing performance. Not only in looks, but after living longer, I understand Artlun’s psychology far more deeply.”
Robio smiled at Polius.
“However, Young Lord Beldert, unless the video-stone achieves the same outstanding quality as The Black Moon, it may end up disappointing fans. That’s why I said I was only willing—under that condition.”
“You can count on me. It’s me, not Damian, who manages the Beldert Troupe.”
Polius met the actor’s gaze with confidence.
“I promise you—the best video-stone you’ve ever seen.”
But once he left, Polius’s expression turned grim.
“Wait… I already sold the troupe’s building and disbanded everyone. What now?”
After a moment’s thought, he found a quick solution.
“I’ll just ask them to come back temporarily for the Thirteenth Knight project.”
After all, he had felt guilty letting them go.
And if turning the play into a video-stone made them money too, then it’d be a win for everyone.
He wasn’t trying to exploit them for free.
However—
“They said they can’t come. They’re already working with someone else?”
When he learned that the “someone else” was Melanie, Polius was stunned.
Why did she have to meddle here too?
“I need to make something that rivals The Black Moon’s quality…”
But he quickly regained his composure.
“It’s an old play anyway. I can just stage it similar to how it was back then.”
He could rent another theater and hire a director.
What really mattered was that Robio Tamdaze was returning to The Thirteenth Knight.
“But I still don’t have enough money. And no one’s buying the property I put up for sale…”
Luckily, Polius knew just the right person to partner with—and without hesitation, he went to Marquis Ingda’s estate to meet Josephine.
He proposed a business collaboration.
Josephine wasn’t particularly interested in theater, but at the word business, her eyes narrowed. Still—
“To be honest, I need your image—refined and intelligent, unlike Clotilde.”
“Me?”
“Yes. It has to be you. As latecomers, we have to keep proving we’re better than The Black Moon.”
“…”
“Even though I broke up with Melanie Clotilde, people need to see that I have no regrets—because now I’m with the flower of high society, you.”
Josephine had never said it out loud, but she was sensitive about anything related to Melanie.
Polius noticed it instantly—and used it to his advantage.
Of course, Josephine liked Polius, but she wasn’t foolish enough to enter a business purely out of affection.
Yet, this was Polius Beldert—Melanie Clotilde’s ex-fiancé—who was speaking.
“I don’t even have business funds…”
“You’ll bring a dowry when you marry me anyway, right? We’ll just use it early. If we grow it before the wedding, even better.”
Then he continued, smoothly:
“Our key distinctions from The Black Moon are: first, your image, contrasting Melanie’s—and second, The Thirteenth Knight.”
“But that actor…”
“I persuaded him. Myself.”
“Really?”
“Yes. He even said he looked forward to working with me. He agreed on the very first meeting.”
Having secured the notoriously hard-to-get Robio Tamdaze, Polius brimmed with confidence.
He looked more composed and capable than ever—so much so that Josephine couldn’t help but be impressed.
“If you don’t want to, you can say no. I just wanted to give you the first chance, because I value you.”
“W–wait! I’ll do it! I’ll work with you, Polius!”
And so, Josephine decided to invest her dowry and join Polius’s business.
“I’ve decided to partner with Lord Polius on the video-stone project, including The Thirteenth Knight.”
After hearing his plan, she launched her offensive where she was strongest—high society.
“Wow, Robio Tamdaze himself is playing Artlun? He’s legendary!”
Though The Thirteenth Knight had been performed decades ago, Robio was still such a household name that even young noblewomen were fascinated.
“I was really moved by The Fifth Forest, but my father said Robio Tamdaze was at his best when he played Artlun.”
“Yes! My father said the same thing. I’ve always wanted to see it, but it’s impossible to find a performance.”
Josephine smiled gracefully at their reactions.
Even without saying much, the ladies chattered excitedly—because even those who hadn’t seen The Thirteenth Knight firsthand knew of its legendary reputation.
“Honestly, as you all know, I used to be skeptical about video-stones. I wasn’t sure they could capture the true power of live theater.”
Then, preempting any gossip about her past comments, Josephine added:
“But after hearing Robio Tamdaze speak, I was moved. I couldn’t say no.”
She framed it as though she had reluctantly been persuaded—rather than chasing success.
“She used to mock video-stones, and now that The Black Moon did well, she wants to join in? How hypocritical.”
“It’s funny, isn’t it? She changed her tune overnight.”
Josephine knew people would remember her earlier criticism and gossip behind her back when she announced her partnership with Polius.
“It’s not the same as a live play, of course—but if it can soothe even a bit of the fans’ longing, it’s worth it,” she told them sweetly.
“Oh my…”
“Hearing that, I couldn’t just sit by. So, I decided to help him.”
“Lady Ingda, you’re so thoughtful! I’m really looking forward to your video-stone project with Young Lord Polius Beldert.”
From that day on, Josephine proudly spread the news of her new business venture.
“Like my brother Damian, I’ve decided to try my hand at the video-stone business as well.”
“You’re not joking, are you? Then it’s sibling rivalry?”
And Polius did the same.
He subtly played up the fact that Damian was his half-brother.
And as a result…
