CHAPTER 88…………………………………………….
“Is that really true?”
Luna’s face lit up when she heard the news.
“Of course. I struggled quite a bit trying to figure out what kind of ending would be best.”
“Wow… I’m really looking forward to it.”
Seeing her eyes sparkle made me want to spill everything about the play. Giving the Woodville family the privilege of hearing the plot before anyone else in the world—of a story written by their favorite author—was something I could easily do.
The thought of making them feel like specially treated fans made me puff up with pride, and the corners of my lips rose on their own.
“So, the story is…”
“Wait!”
Philip suddenly shouted, clutching his waist.
It was the place where he’d been stabbed during the war, caught in an ambush. Seeing him grimace in pain sent a wave of worry rushing over me. His dry cough only doubled my concern.
“A d-doctor… quickly!”
“J… Joyce…”
My mind turned into chaos, and I didn’t know what to do. Then, breathing heavily, he slowly called out to me.
“Stop…”
“Stop what?”
“Don’t say it… the plot. If I know in advance, it won’t be fun… cough.”
After finishing, he returned to a calm expression. His coughing had already stopped.
“You didn’t seriously scream just to say that, even though it hurt?”
“How can you call it ‘just that’? Even if my wound reopened, it was something I had to prevent.”
Well… if he hated spoilers, I couldn’t help it.
“Then just cover your ears for a moment, Father…”
When I turned to the mother and daughter, they also covered their ears at the same time.
“Huh??”
Molly and Luna gave awkward smiles.
“Sorry, Joyce. We don’t really like knowing the ending ahead of time either.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Joyce.”
Tch. I thought they’d be happy if I told them first.
I liked, once I finished a play, to dramatically recount everything from beginning to end to someone nearby. Usually Theo had to listen, but it was obvious the Emperor didn’t have time for that.
I thought the Woodville family would be perfect substitutes…
But I couldn’t exactly tell a story involving Peredil to Peredil.
<How to Get Dumped by the Duke in 100 Days> was based on my life in the capital, so of course Peredil appeared. Even the Woodville family did too.
But I didn’t include the real events exactly—I twisted them slightly.
The beginning: a poor actress, crushed by repeated failures and about to take her own life, receives a request from a family opposing the duke. Her mission is to seduce him.
She stays in the capital, always longing for the glamorous noble life…
But she realizes that living as an actress—performing—is what truly makes her happy.
In the end, she rejects the duke’s proposal and leaves the capital on her own.
I was quite pleased with myself for creating a plot that was similar, yet different.
The audience would never imagine I’d be crazy enough to stage something based on my real life. Only someone unbelievably bold would do that.
And the ending…
A woman who could live comfortably enjoying everything in the capital chooses instead to walk out the door herself and pursue the path of acting.
That was what I loved most.
The play’s ending would blend with my own story—how I returned to Bria to chase my dream.
Then people would naturally admire me for pursuing my dream, and it would draw attention to the theater troupe.
The only concern was that people might speculate my relationship with Peredil ended the same way.
Unlike the heroine rejecting the hero, in Coventin I would be the one dumped by Peredil.
So if I just casually mentioned in an interview later that I’d been dumped, wouldn’t that prevent trouble?
Or maybe some gossip-loving noble ladies would spread it for me.
If Peredil’s name became too much of an issue, I could always return to Bria and create one flashy scandal to distract everyone.
I’d always preferred attention over indifference, after all.
The moment I worried Peredil might hear about me and get hurt passed quickly.
Why would an ex-lover care?
Especially one who was the one who threw me away.
“From now on, I’ll really be getting dumped in earnest.”
“Then that means the day you leave is soon, Miss Joyce.”
At Luna’s calm question, I nodded.
Then I slowly took in the faces of the Woodville family.
I’d grown truly attached to them.
Woodville had always treated me generously, without lacking anything during my time in the capital.
Thinking of the farewell I’d been putting off, a pang of sadness rose in my chest.
“Joyce…”
Philip’s quiet voice made tears sting at the corners of my eyes.
I looked at him, expecting words like It’s sad to part or Time went too fast.
But instead, his face was bright.
“The Woodville troupe was already being prepared.”
I couldn’t hide my disappointment.
“Ah… yes…”
Luna and Molly looked the same.
Seeing the Woodvilles smiling so cheerfully made me feel strangely hurt.
Was I the only one sad about parting?
Maybe they were fans, sure…
But living together as strangers pretending to be family might have been uncomfortable for them.
“Joyce, you don’t look well. Are you dissatisfied with the Woodville troupe? If you need anything, please tell us freely.”
“No! Of course not. It’s more than I deserve. I think I just froze because it’s finally sinking in that I’ll soon be the troupe leader.”
I waved my hands and forced a smile for Molly, who was watching my mood carefully.
It had started as an exciting meeting.
But I ended up returning to my room feeling bitter.
Because I’d realized the Woodville family’s feelings were different from mine.
I’d been burned by pointless expectations so many times…
And yet I was disappointed again.
Well, they were kind to everyone.
Maybe they simply weren’t treating me in any particularly special way.
If I’d known, I should’ve thought of a way to get dumped by the Woodvilles too.
If they hated me, leaving would be easier.
But I couldn’t bring myself to wrinkle those sunlit faces with sadness.
So I would part with them happily.
I would leave smiling.
I promised myself that.
Later…
“I thought Joyce wasn’t planning on leaving since she hadn’t mentioned seducing Duke Seymour. But seeing her prepare so diligently… I guess she always had it in mind.”
In the empty space the fake daughter left behind, the fake father spoke with a hollow expression.
“How hard it must have been for her, living a restricted noble life. She never chose to come here in the first place…”
“That’s right. She’s already a woman, and an actress too. It’s not an easy road. If she stayed as a noble lady on top of that, it would just add another prejudice she’d have to endure. Noble girls with jobs are scorned endlessly.”
The mother and daughter, who had hidden their expressions until Joyce was gone, now wore regret openly.
Molly sighed softly.
Luna stared down at the ground.
Then her gaze lifted at her father’s strange words.
“Still… I do have one hope.”
“Hope, Father?”
“Duke Seymour.”
His confidence only made him less trustworthy.
Luna could guess what he was thinking, but she asked anyway.
“Why is the Duke your hope?”
“I think Joyce has fallen in love.”
Of course.
A laugh escaped Luna automatically.
Unlike her father, who had only recently begun to like Joyce, Luna had been her devoted fan for years—so her amusement was tinged with pride.
“Miss Joyce is an incredible actress. There’s no way she’s fallen in love with the Duke. She’s always said in interviews that emotions only stay on stage. The moment she steps out of a role, the feelings disappear.”
“Exactly, dear. No matter how much the capital is buzzing with rumors that Duke Seymour is in love with Joyce… unless Joyce truly loves him, how could the Duke become hope?”
Even with mother and daughter united against him, he refused to lose his certainty.
Luna, deciding it was pointless to argue, stood up to leave.
Convincing her father wouldn’t bring Joyce back to Bria.
Better to spend this time preparing to say goodbye beautifully.
“Just like your mother.”
Her father’s words stopped her.
“What’s just like her?”
“Joyce’s eyes when she looked at the Duke. They were the same as your mother’s eyes when she looked at me.”
Was that why his certainty was so irritating?
Luna rolled her eyes, thinking he was using Joyce just to be sentimental.
Her mother, meanwhile, looked at him lovingly.
“Joyce told me an interesting proverb recently.”
“What proverb?”
Curiosity made Luna pause again.
“Love and sneezes cannot be hidden.”
