~Chapter 17~
“I–Idiot? Did you just call me an idiot?”
“If that’s not idiotic, what is! If you didn’t know the law, you should’ve asked me. Then you wouldn’t have been dragged all the way to the capital for nothing.”
“Oh, come on! Back then it was under duress, but now I’m doing it because I want to!”
Theo looked at me like he didn’t understand a word.
“What are you talking about? Nothing good comes from getting tangled up in the capital. Come back to Bria with me. Right now.”
“I’m going to write a play.”
“What?”
“I’m going to write a play based on what I’m going through right now. Then I’ll return to Bria and take the stage. If I pull this off, they promised to give me the position of troupe leader in Woodville.”
“Troupe leader?”
“That’s right. I’ll be the first woman troupe leader in the Empire.”
Maybe he saw the spark in my eyes — my determination — because Theo had that defeated look on his face.
“Looking at you, I guess you’ve made up your mind. Well, who could stop you? I’m the fool who crossed the Empire for a friend.”
“When we put on the play, you’ll be the male lead, Theo.”
“Seriously?”
The moment I saw Theo’s face light up at the news of a guaranteed casting pass, I burst out laughing.
“Yup. Totally serious.”
“Awesome. I’m already looking forward to it.”
Being with Theo made it feel like we were already back in Bria. I missed the peace I used to enjoy there.
“This is nice…”
“What is?”
“This kind of thing. Bickering with you and then grinning like idiots. I missed it.”
“Told you, no one beats me.”
“Yeah. It’s the most comfortable being with you, Theo.”
People in Bria paid me attention too, but unlike here in the capital, I didn’t have to be tense, fearing contempt and scorn.
Suddenly, I thought I understood why Luna chose to remain in the provinces, hiding her divine power rather than return to the capital.
Luna.
Luna…
Right. Luna!
I’m screwed. How long have I been here without even telling Luna?!
“I–I’m back!”
Thanks to Theo letting me borrow his horse, I managed to return to the Woodville estate before it got too late.
When I said I had to get back to the estate, Theo took me deeper into the forest.
There, a random cottage appeared. Apparently, he got it temporarily while searching for me in the capital. A runaway like Theo probably had no trouble securing a place like that.
I took the horse and arrived at the estate, where we said our goodbyes. He said he’d been away from the troupe too long.
Guess he’s headed back to Bria now that he knows I’m safe. Always in such a rush.
He gave me a suspicious smile and said we’d see each other again soon, but I didn’t have time to question it.
“Miss Joyce has returned.”
Luna came rushing out when she heard I was back.
“Miss Joyce, you’re safe.”
“I’m so sorry, Miss Luna. You must’ve been so worried.”
“If you hadn’t come back soon, I was going to go looking for you.”
Oddly, Luna didn’t look worried — she looked… bright.
She’s just happy I’m back, right?
“There’s a reason I hadn’t gone searching yet. Something good happened.”
“Something good?”
“I was heading out to take the carriage with you when I found Duke Seymour just standing there, staring off into space. I was trying to avoid him while looking for you, but then he spoke to me.”
“What did he say?”
“‘Don’t bother waiting. She left with some man. Didn’t look like a stranger.’ Then he just walked off without even looking me in the eye.”
Was Luna just imitating Duke Seymour…?
Anyway, more importantly… what was the Duke going to say to me today? And why did he care about my whereabouts?
“Jealousy, maybe?”
Whoa!
Count Philip appeared out of nowhere, tossing out his opinion like a review.
“Seeing you with another guy, he probably got jealous. That’s why he got snippy and stormed off.”
“Ha. Snippy, huh.”
So Luna’s impersonation did sound like that to him. Honestly, I had the same thought.
“I wish it were jealousy, but we’re not even at that stage. Actually, the Duke was really upset earlier and charged at me, but I missed the chance to witness that twitching rage. My friend suddenly showed up from Bria, you see.”
“Ah, I see. I thought our little Joyce had already recruited a new male actor.”
“Male… actor? I’m allowed to cast one?”
“As long as it’s someone we can trust? Having a mercenary on hand isn’t such a bad idea.”
Why didn’t I think of that? Theo’s perfect for a second male lead!
He’s handsome, cheerful, and kind.
Even Moon of Coventin had a second lead, so How to Get Dumped by a Duke in 100 Days definitely needs one too.
I’ll ask Theo for help, rehearse together, and when we’re back in Bria — boom — instant performance.
Hehehe. I can see the master plan already.
Nice one, Count Philip.
I better send a letter timed to reach Theo when he arrives at the Spencer Troupe!
The thought of a new character enriching the story set my creative fire ablaze once again.
No.
Huh?
Why isn’t the answer, “Sure, I’ll come to the capital right away”?
Theo, the eternal yes-man, just rejected me for the first time.
And that was it? One measly word?
“Why not?! Tell me the reason!”
I poured out my indignation in a rage-fueled monologue about how great it is for an actor to experience emotions firsthand by stepping into a role — and mailed it off again.
Too much hassle. I hate the capital.
Okay, longer this time, but still no effort.
I didn’t give up. I sent him the rough plot of How to Get Dumped by a Duke in 100 Days I had sketched out.
If that didn’t convince him, I’d let it go. A good actor should recognise a good script.
Finally, after three tries, a long reply came.
I was already planning to come to the capital to see your face now and then.
So that’s why he said we’d see each other soon.
But if I’m going to move there for real, I need some time. Time to wrap things up here, and time to mentally prepare.
Mental preparation?
I still don’t like that you’re in the capital, but if you say you need me that badly, I’ll try to settle things here. Maybe it’ll actually be easier on me to be close by, keeping you from running off in ten different directions.
YES! Persuasion successful!
But there’s one condition for me to accept this role. No matter what happens, you mustn’t fall in love with Duke Seymour. Promise me that.
Don’t fall in love with the Duke? That’s like saying the sun rises in the east.
This is all scripted — how could I possibly fall for him?
“Ugh… Always worrying about nothing.”
Theo had always been the cautious type, adding imaginary problems before anything even happened. I knew that — we’d been through a lot together, after all.
But even with our closeness, I hadn’t shared everything with Theo. There are things you don’t tell even your closest friends.
I’d given him lectures about the feeling of love while he was learning to act… and yet, ironically, I’d never actually been in love.
“It’s not like I never dreamed of love, though.”
I waved his letter absentmindedly and fell into a moment of reflection.
To be fair, Theo’s concern wasn’t entirely baseless. Actors falling in love during a performance was more common than people thought.
In fact, back in school, scene partners often ended up dating, and one troupe I knew in Daehangno had so many couples that not a single member was single.
But what I felt when I saw that wasn’t envy — it was awe. I didn’t think, “I want that,” but rather, “How do they do that?”
Rehearsal. Work. Rehearsal. Work.
That was my life — every moment filled with what I had to do. There was no room left for anything else. Holding someone in your heart takes more emotional space than I’d ever had.
So I made a choice: better to be safely empty than clumsily overflowing. Love? Not essential.
Trying to shake off the thoughts, I picked up my pen.
You know, Theo, love is something I can only feel within a story. I’m not ready to let someone into my heart. I’ve never had a single moment in life with real room to spare, and even now, I’m struggling just to stay afloat each day. For me, love is a luxury.
“Ugh. This is pathetic.”
I crumpled up the letter.
I didn’t want to turn my pain into a shape I had to face. Instead, I sent something short and clear — my resolve.
Okay. Confirmed.
