IDNT 69

Chapter 69:

The opera house hadn’t been rented out in its entirety on purpose.

“You’ve put some thought into this.”

When Crown Prince Anasis remarked so to Layla in a low voice, she smiled faintly and replied,

“I’m always thinking for Your Highness. As your loyal subject, of course.”

She made sure to emphasize that last part before walking ahead.

It would have been far more expensive to rent out the entire opera house. But money wasn’t the reason they hadn’t done it. If they had, rumors about the crown prince watching the opera with the Baemar lady wouldn’t spread nearly as widely.

Layla wanted this matter to blow up. If the gossip made the pair seem truly close…
Then the impatient Baemar lady would be the one to propose first.

Layla already knew, from the original story, what kind of person the Baemar lady was. She was the type who, once her love came true, would no longer seek the man.

It was far better for someone to realize the futility of unrequited love on their own than to have someone else tell them. And besides, the crown prince wasn’t worthy of her love.

Compared to the depth of the lady’s feelings, Anasis was a man who pursued only practical gain.
It was hard enough to convey genuine feelings—if they were false, all the more so. And lies would be exposed quickly.

Layla knew that very well.

“Oh my, it’s been a while since I’ve watched from such a high place.”

The seats for ordinary nobles were down below. But the crown prince, the lady, Layla, and Rainier—disguised as the Rutenberg crown prince—were seated in an interior balcony between the first and second floors.

This was a VIP box with an excellent view of the stage, close to the orchestra—a perfect spot to enjoy the performance.

“By the way, Your Highness, the glass in front of us is made of a special material,” Layla informed him.

“From here, whatever we do can’t be seen from the audience seats.”

“I see.”

At her words, the crown prince smiled. Seeing her look so bright and rabbit-like made him think she was charming. Then, regaining his composure, he escorted the lady to her seat.

They sat in the order: the lady, Anasis, Rainier, Layla.

There were only two long seats, clearly meant for pairs to sit together.

“Would you like some wine?”

“That sounds nice.”

The moment they sat down, Rainier stood, and Layla rose to follow him.

“My lady, would you like something to drink?”

“I’m fine, Layla.”

“Then what about Your Highness?”

“I won’t refuse either.”

Anasis thought Layla had deliberately asked him second, acting as if she knew he should treat the lady well. But the way he kept forcing a smile every time their eyes met—as if to hide some sadness—continued to irritate him.

“There’s a VVIP-exclusive attendant over that way,” Rainier said.

“I see. Let’s go, then.”

Layla agreed lightly, though her real purpose was to give the crown prince and the lady some time alone.

Once outside, she opened the door and, seeing the attendant, told him,

“The crown prince and the Baemar lady are alone inside right now. Don’t interrupt them—under any circumstances.”

“Yes, understood.”

Closing the door, Layla moved toward a nearby display case filled with liquor. Rainier’s arm was loosely wrapped around her waist as if to hold her close.

“What will His Highness Fernando have to drink?”

“I’ll have a different kind of wine…”

“Lips. That kind of talk is banned.”

“…”

“Where did you even pick up such an old-man joke?”

“I told you I’m a genius. I don’t need to learn—it just comes naturally.”

Layla chuckled at his words, then glanced around. Fortunately, no one else was nearby. The opera was about to start, so all staff had returned to their posts.

No one could enter the VVIP room until the bell rang, and the liquor display was in that room as well.

A little further on was the very VVIP box where the crown prince and the lady were seated.

“How many are we at now?”

“We have plenty left—about ten thousand?”

“I remember we were in the three-hundreds. Liar.”

When Layla lifted a bottle from the shelf, Rainier reached out, caging her between his arms with a grin.

“Does this feel threatening?”

“You do look threatening… though with the mask on, I can’t be sure.”

When she teased him, Rainier removed his mask—revealing a face so dazzling it was startling every time she saw it.

“Every time you look at me like this, my heart races.”

“I’m not sure what you mean by ‘like this,’ but I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Do you need blood?”

She froze for a moment at his words before meeting his gaze. Rainier smiled faintly, leaning close enough that their lips could touch if she moved.

“There’s no blood,” she said, seeing that his lips—though soft-looking—were uninjured.

Rainier then bit his own hand. Watching him smear the blood from his thumb onto his lips, staining them red, Layla moved in first.

This time, he stayed perfectly still.

“That’s three hundred forty-nine, right?”

“Then this makes it three hundred forty-eight.”

He reapplied the blood to his lips, and she kissed him again, tasting it.

The strange expression on his face unsettled her—like he wanted more, yet didn’t deepen the kiss. She wondered if he was teasing her and looked into his eyes.

At that moment, he grabbed the back of her head and drew her into a deep, hungry kiss.

“Mmph…”

Startled, she trembled briefly before responding to him.

Once he began moving, he kissed like a man unable to control his desire—exploring her lips fiercely, his hot breath filling her lungs.

When their lips finally parted, his expression was one of bliss mixed with sorrow, leaving Layla oddly satisfied.

“I’ll head back first.”

“…Yes.”

He bowed his head, and Layla, cradling the bottle, started toward the VVIP box.

But then—

‘This isn’t our seat.’
‘Then it’s over there?’
‘Ah, right.’

She instantly recognized the male voice—Sonnet.

‘Told you that bastard had a mistress!’

Perhaps because of Hugo’s earlier comment, Layla set the bottle on the floor without thinking, tiptoeing to the door and peeking out toward the staircase.

“I want to loosen this bonnet.”

“I told you, no.”

“Then can I retie it? The straps are too loose—it’s hurting my ears.”

Sonnet’s conversation partner was a woman.

With a sigh, he untied her bonnet halfway down the stairs. Her hair spilled over her shoulders in a cascade, framing her face.

“Tie your hair back.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The pink-haired woman smiled shyly as she gathered her hair, and Sonnet placed the bonnet back on her head and tied it. Then he donned his own hat.

“Let’s go. We’re over there.”

“Yes.”

She followed one step behind him as they descended the stairs together.

Layla suddenly noticed the handkerchief tied around his arm—it was the one he’d taken from her. An indescribable feeling welled up inside her.

“So he really does have a lover, it seems.”

Rainier’s voice came from behind her, oddly lighthearted.

“You sound happy.”

“Not at all. I’m sad—worried for you, my lady.”

“Then hide your mouth.”

She sighed, looking at his lips still tinted red from her lipstick.

She’d braced herself for this after hearing it from Hugo before, but seeing it with her own eyes felt strange. The Sonnet she’d known was clearly an act. And there had been a reason he hadn’t fallen for Sieber.

Maybe everything was turning out differently because the story had strayed so far from the original.

“You don’t look pleased.”

“My fiancé is with another woman.”

“And you’re with another man.”

“This is business.”

“Business that includes kissing? Your future husband’s going to have a rough time.”

“Good thing it’s not Rain, then—right?”

Rainier pouted and said nothing.

“I wouldn’t mind, even if it hurt sometimes. I know that if I did my best, my husband wouldn’t stray. Whether a man cheats depends on the woman.”

She didn’t understand what he meant at first, but when she did, she ignored it and turned away, heading back inside with the bottle.

Rainier placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I wasn’t trying to tease you—or upset you. I just got carried away because I was so happy.”