Chapter – 18
Tasha was the first to notice and began cautiously signaling to me.
“Miss Luar.”
“That actor, what was his name again?”
“Miss. Ahem. Beside you.”
“What?”
I had been excitedly looking around when I quickly realized what it was.
Marquis Orelerno had turned his body slightly towards me, crossed his legs, sunk back into his seat, and was watching me.
The fingertips protruding from his firmly crossed arms were tapping on his arm.
As if he were counting the time I was ignoring him.
“Why are you doing that?”
“And how long does the Lady intend to keep me waiting?”
“Huh?”
The gaze of Marquis Orelerno, who was looking at me, grew even more intense.
“The first act is over.”
“……Ah.”
He had said he would tell me after the first act during the intermission. But my brain, in a state of extreme excitement, couldn’t properly recall what I had said to the Marquis earlier. No, rather, from the start…
“Well. Is that such an important topic……?”
At my honest reply, the Marquis’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Can’t we talk about it after the play is over? Look. Even people who, like me, have come to see this play five times are so captivated they don’t even think of getting up from their seats and are chatting with their companions. Ah, how about you, Marquis Orelerno? Do you know about that actor from earlier?”
“Are you referring to Illeo Fedele?”
I was so excited I started rambling on my own. The Marquis just listened quietly. Since he’s also an investor in the play, he must have some interest in new actors too!
I thought very little time had passed, but the jarring bell signaling the start of the second act had already rung.
“Oh no, the second act is starting already! Now that you mention it, what was it you wanted to talk about after the first act?”
The right eyebrow of Marquis Orelerno rose slightly. I interpreted that expression as meaning ‘How could you forget the promise?’ and apologized.
“I’m sorry. If I was rude, I apologize. But you know I’m eccentric, Marquis. Right now, I’m so excited I feel like I could run to the Luar family’s secondary residence barefoot!”
In my current state of intense excitement, I felt I could even manage a generously forgiving smile if Vivian were standing right in front of me.
“Gasp. The second act is starting. Let’s talk after the play is over!”
As the lights began to dim again, I whispered to Marquis Orelerno and made my best ‘I’m really sorry’ face. This time, I meant it. The Marquis made an expression I’d never seen before, but I had no time to dwell on it.
*It’s because I’m such a fangirl right now that I can’t hold a proper conversation. Please wait just a little bit.*
Even if the ceiling of this old theater cracked in two today, I must embrace this play in my heart and die.
* * *
My brain, dominated by adrenaline, processed the subsequent time in an extremely compressed way. Meaning, an hour felt like it passed in fifteen minutes.
After the play ended, I glanced back at the critic sitting diagonally behind me. His face, which always maintained a serious expression, was blooming like a summer rose that had flowered prematurely.
I can’t let my chance be stolen. I’m going to meet Illeo Fedele first.
“Tasha, let’s go!”
“Already?”
Even before the curtain call finished. I grabbed my hat and urged Tasha on. Before Tasha could even gather our things, I swiftly dashed towards the actors’ waiting room to meet the staff and Illeo Fedele.
“Come slowly! I’m going ahead.”
“How can I come slowly?!”
Sorry, Tasha. It must be tough dealing with a fangirl like me.
But I really intend to enjoy myself this life. It’s not easy to find something in life that you can fall so deeply for that you’d abandon everything. Especially something healthy, not alcohol, gambling, drugs, or unhealthy relationships. So, can you cut me some slack?
My heart was pounding. Will I ever be able to tell you about my previous life, where I did nothing but work?
I heard hurried footsteps and looked beside me to see Tasha, who had barely caught up, breathing heavily.
After running so hard, we finally managed to meet Illeo Fedele amidst the crowd.
It was only possible because Paul Berger had stepped forward faster than anyone else to secure a spot for us. The area outside the sweaty waiting room was on the verge of being packed with journalists and fans.
In the wide-eyed gaze of the new actor, who was both happy and bewildered by the sudden attention, I saw my own reflection—the one who had become his first patron.
He must think I’m really strange too, right? Of all people, why is the daughter of the Duke of Luar supporting him? He probably won’t believe it even when he goes home. Right before he falls asleep, he’ll think it’s a dream.
*’I feel the same way.’*
Sometimes, right before I fall asleep, I also wonder if this is a dream. Am I actually a character in someone’s novel? Or since I’ve possessed a character in a novel, should I say I’m the character? Even if I’ve possessed a novel, how is this life possible? It’s truly like a dream…
“Lady. I have suffered a rather unique heartache just now.”
My dream broke.
I quickly snapped back to reality and looked up, my neck straining, at the tall man standing before me.
I handed Illeo Fedele one of my sapphire rings and ten gold coins, promising to support him until he firmly established himself in this field. I told him to use the gold coins for immediate living expenses and to show the ring as proof if he ever needed to see me.
I also added a warning, swept up in the moment, telling him not to cause any trouble anywhere.
Listening to Paul Berger, he said Illeo was a young actor who hadn’t been with the troupe for long. He couldn’t stop praising him, saying he knew he had talent, but didn’t realize he had memorized the entire script—not just his own lines but other characters’ too—and knew all the stage directions by heart. He said he’d definitely take him for his next project.
After finishing my business, Tasha and I safely slipped out through the back door of the waiting room into the staff corridor, and right there, I properly encountered Marquis Orelerno, who had been waiting for me.
The Marquis, with his hands in his jacket pockets, was leaning with one shoulder casually against the cold-looking wall, staring straight down at me.
Seeing his expression, which seemed resolute and hardened for some reason, reminded me of what I had forgotten, making me feel a bit awkward to boot.
“Ahem, so… you were waiting here?”
“Yes. Lady, shall I tell you an interesting fact?”
Marquis Orelerno moved his long arm with an elegant gesture, pointing towards the end of the corridor.
I immediately understood he meant for us to talk while walking, so I moved alongside him, maintaining a suitable distance.
The staff entrance corridor was empty; everyone had either left or was still stuck in the packed waiting room, unable to get out. The red carpet on the floor swallowed the sound of our footsteps.
The slight breeze coming from the exit touched my hot face, starting to cool me down and calm my mind. Yes, I had gotten too excited.
But the Marquis didn’t give me time to fully calm down.
“You are the first woman to stand me up like this.”
My forehead, ever so honest, nearly contorted openly as I sharply turned to look at the Marquis.
He wasn’t one to miss that, of course.
“If you think this is a line, I’m disappointed. Do I seem like the type to use such a cheesy line so openly?”
“If I were to be honest and say you’re capable of anything, would that be impolite?”
“Why on earth are you so honest, Lady? Is it because you have the backing of your family?”
“You seem to be quite honest yourself, Marquis.”
“Is that so.”
An infinitely light reply came, neither an affirmation nor a denial.
“While the Luar Ducal family is indeed a reliable backing for me, since it’s not something I built and maintained entirely on my own, I suppose that would be a mistaken thought.”
Marquis Orelerno, who had been walking with his hands behind his back, let out a light laugh at my answer. Was it a scoff?
“By the way, what you asked me before the first act of the play…”
“I asked you who was the person you had loved romantically and rationally.”
“Ahh. That insignificant question.”
I suddenly became completely indifferent. I never intended to tell him from the start, just what is he so curious about that he keeps pressing the issue?
“That’s rather cowardly of you.”
