CHAPTER 84…………………………………….
Do I feel like I want to act?
It’s more accurate to say I’ve never considered not acting. I’m planning to act soon… Strictly speaking, I’m even acting right now…
I wonder how Peredil would react if I told him I wanted to act.
I didn’t answer hastily because I was thinking about his reaction, but he spoke first.
“There aren’t many noble ladies with careers around me. No, I’ve never even seen a lady who wants a career. Come to think of it, was the reason I wanted to take your class to raise awareness about theater actors?”
“That’s right. Compared to opera singers, who are treated as noble, theater actors are widely considered lowly.”
“Yes. You were a woman with that sense of mission. That’s why I fell for you. But still, I’ve never once asked if you wanted to act again.”
He raised his wine glass and took a sip. He stared at it, swirled it lightly, and took a long time to bring it to his lips, but in truth, very little wine was gone. Perhaps he treated it like a potion that gives courage.
After swallowing the wine, he spoke after some thought.
“Do you want to act?”
“When? I’m always thirsty.”
I spoke my inner thoughts calmly.
The reason was clear. There’s no need to act if I don’t want to. And lying about not wanting to act again would be too obvious.
He got up and knelt on one knee in front of me.
A sudden proposal?
I thought he might propose, but he rested his head on my lap. Then he wrapped his arms around my waist and hugged me.
Hmm… Is he drunk? I felt embarrassed, thinking he was showing this overly intimate affection because of the alcohol. I tried awkwardly to pull his hands from my waist, but it wasn’t easy.
“W-what if someone sees us?”
“You seemed like a free bird.”
“Excuse me?”
I stopped moving my hands, having heard something I couldn’t understand.
“I mean the way you were thinking about acting just now. You looked like a bird ready to fly off somewhere… I felt I had to hold on to you.”
I gently stroked his dark hair with a bluish sheen, still resting on my lap. He closed his eyes peacefully and let me touch him.
“You do that again… worrying…”
Is he still afraid I might fly away? Even though his face looks calm, his arms tightened around me. And the more he held me, the tighter my heart clenched.
It must be some kind of animal instinct. Otherwise, as the day of our separation drew near, he wouldn’t feel this anxious so often.
Even without conflict, he struggles thinking about the end. Once Theo’s campaign against Ska is over, I should start detaching myself.
For now, I delayed our farewell scene, reasoning that I didn’t want to disturb his busy schedule. I didn’t even consider that this was a trivial form of care for him, who leaned on me without knowing anything.
“You may feel impatient because your heart isn’t at ease, but once Theo returns and the empire stabilizes, you’ll be fine too. You said it was a simple campaign, right?”
“Yeah… that should be the case.”
“I’m worried because my father is going too, but I’ll trust you, Duke.”
“Don’t worry. Everything will turn out fine.”
Three days after the campaign was announced and Theo set out for Ska, news reached the capital that Count Philip had been stabbed and collapsed.
“I should have gone with him.”
Night had fallen, and Peredil and Noah came to Woodville themselves. Despite their busy schedules, they willingly came to soothe their lover’s worries, and as if by chance, we met.
Luna cried without restraint. Who could stay calm after hearing that her father had been stabbed?
“Don’t cry so much, Lady Luna. His life isn’t in immediate danger. He has the grace of divine power, which they don’t, so he should recover.”
Noah stayed close, comforting her, but her tears didn’t stop. The skin under her eyes had turned red and looked sore.
“I thought it would take at least five days to get from the empire to Ska, but you arrived earlier than expected?”
“No. The Count was attacked before reaching Ska.”
Peredil answered my question with a dark expression.
“Before reaching Ska? You mean… the attack happened even before leaving the empire?”
“Yes. The clash occurred in the northernmost region of the empire, Rayon. I suspect they were already preparing troops from the Casca Kingdom. It might be connected to the nobles.”
Noah held Luna’s exhausted hand tightly and finally spoke.
“Lady Luna, I will officially declare war on Casca in the empire tomorrow. Fortunately, thanks to Duke Seymour’s strategy, we had already deployed a stealth force to Ska. Casca’s army cannot compare to ours, so if the stealth force joins from Ska, we can secure victory. Although the experienced Count is absent, with the healing from the accompanying Divine Knights, he should return safely. I guarantee it.”
Noah’s determination was evident. His words were convincing, but did Luna really hear them? She looked as if she might faint at any moment.
Her lips moved without expression, like a person in a daze.
“I’ll go.”
“No, Lady Luna!”
“I feel like a burden. My divine power is top level in the empire! But at this time, an abnormal reaction occurs, so I’m excluded from missions because it doesn’t sync with Prince Theodore… I want to go heal my father. Please allow me to move to the battlefield, Your Highness.”
She cried like a child, showing her desperate heart. Weak Noah couldn’t respond and remained silent. It would be difficult for him to either grant or deny her request.
Peredil spoke for the silent Noah.
“I think the timing of Lady Luna’s abnormal reaction was intentional. The timing is perfect, so even if she goes, her powers may not sync with the Count.”
Indeed, it was strange. She matched the emperor well, but her powers didn’t align with Theo, who shares the same bloodline. If she went, she could have been a huge help.
“I still want to go, just in case. Maybe the reaction will disappear by the time I reach Rayon.”
Her reason was gone. She stood, ready to run straight out the door.
“No, sister. Father wouldn’t want you to go.”
I stood in front of her and hugged her. Luna struggled to get free.
“Let go! Please let me go! I have to go!”
Her will was too strong. Words couldn’t reach her, so I used all my strength to hold her firmly. Looking straight at her now-fixed form, I shouted as if my throat would break.
“She’s family! How can I not stop you? How can I not stop my sister from going into a war zone with her own feet?!”
Tears poured out instantly. She stood still, as if a soul had entered her. I wiped her falling tears with my sleeve, and I also hugged her tightly, crying aloud.
Molly, who had stepped aside, came out and hugged us.
“Joyce is right, Luna. Your father said it’s better you’re not at the battlefield. Could he fight knowing you’re there?”
Thankfully, Luna didn’t resist anymore and stayed quiet. Noah took her to the garden to get some fresh air. She followed, holding his hand.
Peredil sat beside me, worry in his eyes. He gently hugged me, who had cried so much over stopping Luna. It calmed my unsettled heart.
War. Since becoming Joyce, I had avoided coming to the capital because of wars. I didn’t want to lose my renewed life to war again.
This war was different from the one in the original story.
Originally, it was a noble uprising—so it happened in the capital, the center of events.
But now it’s a war against foreign forces. Since it starts at the border, there’s still time before it reaches the southern capital. The best outcome is that it doesn’t reach the capital at all.
I asked, my voice squeaky, to the one patting my back in his warm embrace.
“Duke, how about giving a wartime encouragement speech for the empire’s citizens?”
