Chapter 15.
But Lady Katia couldn’t answer my question right away, since she had to greet the next guest.
In the meantime, Leuke linked her arm with mine and led us to our seats.
“Lady Leuke! You’re Lady Leuke, aren’t you?”
A young-looking girl with orange hair suddenly approached Leuke.
“Oh my, hello.”
“Ah, I’m Sasha Omari. I was so surprised to recognize you at a glance that I forgot to introduce myself. You’re truly beautiful.”
“Oh my, thank you.”
“Your dress is gorgeous too! I always thought skirts looked prettiest when puffed out, but that natural silhouette is lovely as well. I’ll have to try it next time!”
“Your yellow dress is very bright and charming, Sasha. It suits you wonderfully.”
“Thank you! I thought you disliked social gatherings. Does this mean you’ll be attending more often? I do hope I get to see you again!”
Sasha’s eyes sparkled with admiration for Leuke, but Leuke’s expression stiffened slightly. After all, it hadn’t been her own choice to stay away from society.
“I never disliked it. My aunt was simply a bit… strict.”
“Ah, I see. But since this is Lady Katia’s invitation, she must have let you come!”
Leuke’s beauty was already somewhat known in rumors, but since she hadn’t been seen in society, people had surely made up unfavorable stories in the meantime.
But judging from the guests’ reactions, it didn’t seem like the rumors were too bad. That was a relief.
“Thank you all for coming. Have you tried the tea in front of you? My father recently imported it from the East. Its sweet fragrance and refreshing taste are excellent. Now then, please enjoy today’s gathering freely.”
Lady Katia, standing at the center, opened the tea party with a light greeting.
I sipped the tea, and it tasted almost like oolong tea I’d had in my past life.
“Ah, actually, everyone—I brought something I’d love to share.”
Sasha, the girl who had first spoken to Leuke, pulled something out of her small bag.
“I’ve been so obsessed with this play recently!”
The moment I saw it, I almost spat out my tea. That’s merch from our troupe!
“Oh! That’s a souvenir from the Forest Troupe! I love them too!”
Would they recognize me? What would happen then? Would they think poorly of me?
While my mind spun in panic, Sasha handed me one of the portraits too.
“Ah, thank you!”
“Isn’t it wonderful? He’s even more handsome in person, you know?”
Thankfully, they didn’t seem to recognize me.
“Ah, I brought something from the Agnes Troupe…”
Another young lady pulled out her own keepsake.
“Actually, I did too…”
One after another, the young ladies produced their own memorabilia, until the whole tea party felt like a photo card fan exchange. Though in this case, they weren’t trading—just showing off their portraits as proof of devotion. The portraits were often of the same person, printed in slightly different styles.
“They’re all a little different—it’s fun comparing them like this!”
“R-really…?”
Caught off guard, I replied without thinking. I should’ve kept quiet, but the unfamiliar logic slipped an answer out of me.
Of course, here no single troupe was considered “official,” so their perspective made sense.
“Isn’t anyone here a fan of Alkias?”
“Oh, me!”
“Leon is charming, yes, but His Highness the Crown Prince’s longing, that heartrending sorrow! Isn’t it just wonderful?!”
“Ah! I always thought it was a shame he didn’t have more fans!”
The girls who liked the Crown Prince lit up immediately, their eyes sparkling as they bonded. The others even shifted seats so they could sit closer together.
“Lady Melias, don’t you care for theater?”
“Ah, me?”
I do like it, but I was afraid of saying too much and giving myself away. While I hesitated, Leuke smoothly cut in.
“Hehe. My sister does like the theater, but neither of us goes out often. Still, we did go see the Forest Troupe together.”
Leuke gave me a little wink. I nearly died on the spot.
Ambushing me with a wink like that—in public, no less!? My heart is already hanging by a thread from seeing that face every day…!
“Truly? How was it?”
“The direction was marvelous. We were completely swept away. Alkias and Leon’s friendship was the best!”
“Exactly…!”
With Leuke joining the conversation so naturally, I no longer needed to speak.
I was glad I’d taken her to see the troupe recently. And seeing her blend into conversation so gracefully made me feel proud to the point of tears.
Of course, it was Leuke’s natural gift. She’d just never had the chance to show it until now.
“But there really is a difference, isn’t there? Look—though the designs are simple, the Forest Troupe’s portraits capture facial details so carefully. And the print quality is consistent across all ten of these.”
Lady Katia suddenly praised our portraits.
“And what do you suppose this little mark means?”
“Hmm, perhaps some sort of code?”
The other young ladies peered at the logo and made comments.
They even noticed the branding!
I was happy they appreciated it, but also flustered beyond words. Leuke quietly poked my side and giggled.
But wait—wasn’t this dangerous?
If people already knew the exact name “Forest Troupe,” wouldn’t that make it easier for the duke to track us down?
“And lately… how should I put it, the plays themselves seem to be leaning in a certain direction.”
Someone cautiously voiced a criticism. Several young ladies nodded as though they’d been waiting for someone to say it.
So, that’s how it is, huh?
“Oh? In what way?”
Sasha asked innocently.
“The Alkias actors, I mean. They used to feel more like strong, kingly figures…”
“Ah, but nowadays the tragic, yearning type seems to be in fashion, doesn’t it?”
Katia grinned, as if to say Exactly.
“Yes, that’s it.”
“I like both, honestly.”
“I personally prefer the earlier version.”
“But wasn’t Forest Troupe’s Alkias always tragic from the start? Ah! Of course, I’m not saying the other troupes are copying them or anything!”
The mood among the fans of different troupes grew subtly tense.
Now that I thought of it, I hadn’t been able to investigate the other troupes recently. I was only now hearing such things.
Still, with Forest Troupe coming up so often, I felt suffocated.
Well, at least no one seems to recognize me.
“Lady Melias.”
Katia suddenly came close, speaking softly so only I could hear.
“Ah, y-yes…?”
Her whisper was so quiet, it made my own voice shrink too.
“It’s you, isn’t it?”
“Wh-what do you mean…?”
“I find your work fascinating. I wonder how far its influence will spread.”
Lady Katia chuckled softly, then drifted away to mingle elsewhere.
“Uh, I…”
What on earth did she know?
I wanted to stop her, to ask more questions, but for the rest of the tea party I never had the chance. Every time I tried to approach, she skillfully slipped away, weaving among the guests.
By the time the party ended, I had no choice but to follow the others out of the mansion. Before I knew it, I was already in the carriage.
“My goodness. Were you really that tired?”
“Tea parties are exhausting.”
“But you did so well! Lady Katia even seemed interested in you.”
“…Is that a good thing?”
“Of course. Everyone longs to be invited to her salon. Only the most successful artists are gathered there.”
“W-wait, what?”
Her words snapped me awake despite my exhaustion. But wasn’t that girl the daughter of a powerful noble family?
Was it really just artistic interest—or was there some political scheme? Could this be dangerous?
“About Lady Katia… she knew about my troupe business…”
“See? She must be intrigued by you.”
Leuke was thrilled that I’d caught Katia’s attention, but even half-asleep, I couldn’t shake my worry.
The Forest Troupe was gaining attention. A high noble’s daughter knew I was selling portraits.
It was good for the business to be known, yes—but if the imperial family really had destroyed the Bisk Troupe, I couldn’t afford to feel only happy.
Maybe this is a chance to prepare, instead.
