Chapter 137…
Violet, who had been watching them with a worried expression, hurried over.
“Cynthia, that was amazing! Today you were really like a true Bailey.”
“R-Really?”
“You were quite violent and ill-tempered. Just like it was your natural self.”
“Looks like Dale’s image control is finally paying off.”
Letting out a small breath, Violet quickly headed down the stairs to the basement. Just as the ladies standing behind them had said, the performance was about to begin.
Cynthia and Violet descended the stairs at a brisk pace and entered the reception room located underground.
Wow, it’s big.
She barely had time to be surprised by how much larger it was than she had expected before masked attendants stepped forward and guided them to their assigned seats.
Tesion, who had been following behind, read the room and pressed himself against the wall, hiding his presence.
“This is a great seat! We’ll be able to see really well!”
Violet whispered excitedly as she sat down. Cynthia nodded in agreement.
From here, I should be able to recognize Joel!
The stage was closer than she’d expected, close enough to carefully examine the dancers’ features.
Straightening her posture, she recalled the description of him from the original novel.
Small build and cute looks, right? Innocent, boyish charm during the day, but a dangerous allure at night… Ah—no, that’s not it.
She shook her head, brushing away her messy thoughts.
Just then, the lights in the reception room dimmed, and the large curtain covering one side slowly slid open. Behind it, a small stage was revealed.
“Oh? I think it’s starting!”
Violet whispered. As the stage preparations finished, the ladies filling the reception room fell silent, holding their breath.
Soon, music began to flow from somewhere, and dancers rushed onto the stage from both sides in formation.
“Ah….”
Startled by their unexpectedly bold outfits, Cynthia instinctively looked away. Why are they wearing so little…? I can’t even look properly.
“Wow…”
She heard Violet murmur a quiet gasp of admiration beside her.
Without so much as a greeting to the audience, the dancers immediately began to move. Each time they twisted their bodies to the rhythm, the smooth curves of the muscles clearly carved into their upper bodies were laid bare.
When Cynthia finally managed to look straight at them, the dance felt less obscene and more… beautiful.
This could practically be called art, couldn’t it?
She almost felt sorry for having misunderstood the secret salon all this time—the performance was outstanding. Once she fixed her gaze on the stage, she completely lost track of time. Before she knew it, Cynthia had been utterly absorbed for a full two hours.
When the lights brightened and thunderous applause rang in her ears, Cynthia snapped back to her senses and jumped to her feet.
Wait! I was so caught up in the performance that I completely forgot to look for Joel!!
“A standing ovation? Were you that moved?”
“Huh?”
At Violet’s words, she turned her head and realized that while everyone else was still seated gracefully, she alone was standing tall.
Oh no…! Why did I do that?!
Flushing with embarrassment, she quickly plopped back into her seat.
Soon, the velvet curtain closed completely, hiding the stage, and the ladies who had filled the audience began to stand and leave one by one. Waiting until most of them were gone, Cynthia leaned toward Violet and whispered discreetly.
“Violet, do you remember… among the dancers, someone with a smaller build and a cute impression?”
“Small and cute? Oh… is that your type?”
“It’s not my type…! Just—do you remember him?”
At her question, Violet rolled her eyes thoughtfully.
“Well, there was someone like that….”
“Really? Which part did he appear in?”
Violet glanced somewhere, then curled her lips into a smile.
“Isn’t it him over there? He seems to have been waiting for you.”
Cynthia quickly turned her head and saw a short dancer standing near the entrance of the reception room.
Fluffy hair, a shy and innocent-looking face, and gentle eyes… Unlike his nearly bare appearance on stage, he was now properly dressed, hands clasped politely in front of him as he waited. He matched the description of Joel from the original novel perfectly.
That’s Joel!
Certain of it, Cynthia stood and walked toward him. As she approached, Joel bowed his head and spoke.
“Greetings, Lady Bailey!”
Judging by her light green eyes, he must have assumed she was a Bailey.
“Joel?”
“Yes! How did you know my name…?”
Joel’s eyes widened as he looked at her. His blue eyes—just like those of an angel in a famous painting—were fixed on Cynthia.
Just as I thought!
Cynthia smiled in satisfaction and spoke.
“I actually had something to say to you too, Joel. Were you thinking the same?”
“Yes, but…”
He trailed off and glanced awkwardly somewhere behind her.
Huh? What’s wrong…?
Following his gaze, Cynthia turned around—and flinched in surprise.
At some point, Tesion had come up close and was standing firmly behind her, staring at Joel with a cold, sunken gaze.
Looking up at the much taller Tesion with frightened eyes, Joel took a small step back and asked,
“W-Who is this gentleman…?”
“Oh, this is my escort knight—”
“Then why is he looking at me like he’s about to kill me? I pose absolutely no threat to the lady…!”
Exactly!
Cynthia reached back and grabbed Tesion’s hand.
“Knight, in front of others, you’re supposed to wear a n-nice, pretty expression, you know?”
“……”
At her words, Tesion very slightly lifted the corner of his mouth.
No—that’s a sneer!
It might have been his idea of a kind smile, but what curved his lips was clearly a mocking laugh. Seeing Tesion’s icy smile, the color drained even further from Joel’s face.
Not that expression—your usual gentle, warm smile!
Just as she turned to scold him, one of the masked attendants approached them.
“Milady, all of today’s performances have concluded. We apologize, but for cleanup—”
“Huh?”
Looking around quickly, she realized that the reception room, once full of people, was now completely empty. Servants holding cleaning supplies stood about awkwardly.
Startled, Cynthia quickly turned back.
“Oh, I’m sorry! Joel, instead of this, shall we go somewhere quiet and talk?”
“Yes, I’ll guide you.”
Still looking frightened, Joel nodded hurriedly.
The place he led them to was Lady Bianca’s private garden. As Cynthia looked around the quaintly arranged space, Joel spoke.
“Lady Bianca treats us dancers very kindly. On performance days, she allows us to stay at the mansion.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“She even allowed me to use this place, since I especially love flowers and trees. She’s truly a wonderful person.”
“She really is!”
Cynthia nodded absently.
It did seem unusual to grant dancers the privilege of a private garden, but for her, it was actually perfect. In a place like this, they wouldn’t draw the attention of the Baileys or anyone else.
After briefly looking around the small garden, she spoke to Joel.
“Then please tell me what you wanted to say to me.”
“Before that…”
Joel lifted his eyes and glanced at Tesion, who was standing pressed close to Cynthia. Like a small herbivore facing a carnivore, he widened his eyes, then quickly lowered his gaze.
“I would like to speak… just the two of us, alone.”
“And what kind of trick is that supposed to be?”
Tesion snapped irritably at once. But Joel ignored him completely and instead gently grasped the hem of Cynthia’s dress.
“You’ll… do that for me, won’t you?”
Blinking his deep, beautiful, ocean-blue eyes, he gazed softly up at Cynthia. His long brown eyelashes fluttered gently up and down like a fan.
Wow… what is this?
Cynthia parted her lips slightly at the sight of his face. Only then did she understand why Lady Bianca gave Joel such special treatment.
He’s the real deal… a truly beautiful angel!
Meanwhile, Tesion, looking down at Joel as he blinked incessantly as if something were in his eyes, let out a hollow laugh. He found it absurd—what kind of filthy intentions this man thought he was displaying right in front of Cynthia.
