Chapter 24.
By the time we almost reached the theater, the sun had nearly set. From inside, voices could be heard—it sounded like they were rehearsing. As soon as we stepped in, everyone turned to look at me.
“Lady Leuke!”
Anna, who had been looking over the script, ran straight toward Leuke. Leuke burst out laughing at the sight of her.
“What’s funny?”
“I thought for sure you’d come running out to greet me like that—and you really did.”
“Well, I’m happy to see you!”
Anna wrapped Leuke in a tight embrace. One of Anna’s charms was how honest she was in expressing affection.
“Sorry… I came in such a plain, worn-out state.”
Leuke rubbed her face awkwardly, embarrassed that she had dressed so simply.
Just then, Shion, who was carrying over some chairs, widened his eyes at Leuke.
“What did you just say?”
Setting the chair down, Shion exaggerated his disbelief.
“Looking the way you do, if you say something like that, people will only scold you.”
It wasn’t one of Shion’s usual ridiculous jokes this time—it was just the plain truth.
“We were working on the script. Why don’t you join us?”
Alex handed the script to me and Leuke. Leuke’s expression relaxed; so did mine. It felt good, having a place to belong.
“I trust you will bring me victory. Return safely…”
Leuke wasn’t even acting, yet she already seemed absorbed in the story. For that moment, I too could forget everything else and focus only on the play. Just a simple reading, and yet she was excellent.
“Hm. So a schemer has been added to the Crown Prince’s circle. Good.”
Reading further, Alex noticed the new element. From the faint smile on his face, it was clear he approved. Shion nodded in agreement.
“The Crown Prince needed more conflict.”
“A schemer?”
I asked, recalling the person we had just seen.
“A sly character who whispers strange things into the Prince’s ear.”
“A threat… If it can be seized, it becomes a powerful weapon. Ah—I see. A wicked sorcerer bent on raising a monster army.”
The schemer character was a mad magician who sought only power, caring nothing for the consequences to the world. Obviously deceitful and suspicious.
“Yes, but the role requires someone sly and tricky, and none of us quite fit the part.”
Indeed, most of the troupe didn’t look the part at all. John and Anna radiated healthy youthfulness, and the others had naturally bright, friendly faces. How Alex, with his melancholy beauty, had gathered only such sunny people was a mystery.
“Shion could probably pull it off.”
“A threat… If it can be seized, it becomes a powerful weapon.”
Shion read the line. He was good.
“But I’m already playing the Duke. Alex would fit, but he has to be the Crown Prince.”
“Ugh, difficult. Maybe we should change the schemer’s character?”
Shion and Alex both nodded.
“Instead of sly, what if we make him ambitious? That’d give us more options.”
An ambitious villain would indeed be easier to cast. Just then, a quiet voice murmured from the side:
“A threat… If it can be seized, it becomes a powerful weapon…”
Everyone turned to look at Leuke.
“N-no, I didn’t mean—”
Caught under their stares, she covered her face.
“I only tried it since I kept hearing the line.”
“…It’s not bad.”
Shion spoke.
“What?”
I was more surprised than anyone. Shion wasn’t one to flatter. Yet, flustered by his own words, he quickly added:
“I mean, not that she’s good at acting. Just… not bad. But her face would stand out too much.”
“You didn’t even consider me, and now this is embarrassing!”
Leuke shot back.
“But really, if you’re interested, why not try joining the troupe?”
Anna suggested kindly. But Shion immediately retracted the idea.
“No. Especially not for a lady. For commoners like us, maybe, but among nobles it ruins your reputation.”
“I wouldn’t mind. If possible, I’d like to try…”
Leuke admitted cautiously.
“No. Absolutely not.”
This time, Alex, who had been silent, shut down the idea.
“Why? Because you don’t want the burden of a noblewoman?”
Leuke asked, hurt. Alex shook his head.
“I’m sorry… but if anyone else comes after us, we simply can’t handle it.”
“Ah…”
Leuke sighed, disappointed. It sounded like a faint lament. Of course, Alex didn’t know the details about Berrington or her aunt, but it was obvious that if a noble lady tried to act, her family would storm in and protest.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
The conversation ended awkwardly. Shion, sensing the tension, blurted out something unnecessary:
“She has talent, so maybe another chance will come!”
Anna smacked him. He wasn’t usually this tactless—why now?
“Well then, someday Melias and I will earn enough to found our own troupe. And I’ll be on stage myself. So don’t expect us to hire you later!”
Leuke turned it into a joke, sparing everyone’s feelings. With that, the reading wrapped up in good humor.
Afterward, we walked home slowly. Neither of us was especially tired, nor did we want to hurry back.
“You know…”
“Mm?”
“If I went on stage, my worth as a bride would plummet. That thought crossed my mind. Awful, right? Especially in front of people who take theater so seriously.”
I didn’t criticize her. I had thought the same thing. If acting lowered her value as a bride, Berrington would give up on her.
“I thought so too. The man came to your house right away, after all. Time is running out…”
“That’s why I’ll have to do well at the salon. At least we still have three months until autumn.”
Her words were optimistic, but her trembling voice betrayed her fear.
“S-sorry, Melias. I don’t want to sound weak, but…”
She tried to hold back sobs, but her words kept breaking until finally tears spilled.
“What should I do, Melias? What can I actually do? Other than waiting to be noticed? Even if I improve or ruin my reputation in society—would either get us what we want?”
“You can do it. Think of it like theater. The tea parties, the salon—they’re the stage.”
Of course she was scared. I was too. I feared I wouldn’t be able to save her—that all my bold words would come to nothing. But I believed in Leuke.
“I was so useless when you drowned… I couldn’t do anything…”
“Who befriended the young ladies at the tea party? Who brought them to the troupe? Do you think Katia invited you to her salon without reason? If it weren’t you, my plan would’ve been nothing but fantasy!”
Some people say show business is all fake—that everything is handed to you. But that’s not true. You have to move with your own desire for the light to shine. Whenever Leuke met people, her eyes said: Today, I’ll be dazzlingly charming.
I didn’t set out to hypnotize everyone. Really, I just trusted her charm and created opportunities.
“I’m not capable of executing a plan on my own. Just because Shion writes the script, does that make the play his? Or Alex’s?”
“No. We create it together.”
Sniffling, Leuke forced herself to answer.
“If nothing else works, I’ll find a way for us to run far away. One way or another, I’ll stop that old man’s marriage. We even have connections with the Northern Duke!”
“Heh… you’re right.”
Leuke, face streaked with tears, gave a small laugh.
“If I become friends with Katia at the salon, maybe I can ask for her help.”
“That’s an idea. And since I’ve agreed to help the Duke, I’ll demand his help in return!”
Trying to calm yourself while holding a ticking time bomb—it’s no easy feat. But neither of us could just sit and cry.
“Hah… Melias. I’ll really give it my all.”
She patted her cheeks briskly, as if to steel herself. I too had to focus on the tasks at hand.
“Yeah. Let’s stay strong together.”
Without further words, we walked home. A maid quietly opened the door with a candle. No scolding aunt, no quarrelsome Amy or Sophie—it was strangely peaceful, as if the day’s events had been a lie. But I couldn’t sleep. Likely, neither could Leuke.
“You seem cheerful, Katia.”
“Ah, I’ve had some fun lately.”
In the royal palace, Crown Prince Alkaios was having tea with Katia. Every gesture—from lifting the cup, to drinking, to setting it down—was smooth and flawless. Yet precisely for that reason, it all seemed unreal.
“Have you found someone interesting among those strays you’ve gathered?”
“Strays? They’re fine artists who are shaping the culture of this kingdom.”
Katia’s face showed no displeasure at his words. On the contrary, she looked amused.
“I wonder when those actors of yours will ever prove useful.”
Alkaios smiled faintly at her. From the side, he might have looked gentle and kind. But his eyes, sharp and unwavering, held her as if reproaching her.
“They’ll collapse once they tire themselves out. Your Highness may go hunting, drink tea… and when his life hangs by the thinnest thread—just a flick.”
Katia flicked her fingers in the air, as if popping a soap bubble.
“And then, give the North to Schacht.”
Alkaios suddenly broke into chuckling, then laughter.
“Ha… hahaha…! More delightful than giving it to that beast in the North would be watching Berrington’s pathetic face.”
Katia shook her head slowly, in weary disgust.
“That man is too petty. Swatting him away feels like driving off a fly—tedious, unrewarding, and dull.”
“Still, he manages to keep Mother pleased.”
Alkaios grimaced, recalling something distasteful.
“So. Tell me about this ‘fun’ you’ve had. Will it be of use to me?”
“Ah… of course. Have you heard of the so-called Warren Viscounty? Though calling them a Viscounty feels generous…”
