Chapter 50
“I can’t go.”
“I thought so.”
“There’s still more work for me here. You’re doing really well, and more people are seeking out the Forest Troupe. We also have to keep publishing the Imperial Theater News.”
“I thought you’d be a good aide for me.”
Rion said, a bit regretfully.
“I’m sorry I can’t go with you.”
“If only we had people like you in the north as well.”
Rion’s face looked a little lonely as he said that.
“The troupe members got close to the Duke in the end. I think the Duke can make friends too.”
“I’ll try my best.”
Even a slight smile from someone who’s usually stiff can bring such a big surprise. Seeing how open the troupe members had become to Rion, it seemed that if the Duke could handle things alone in the north, there’d be nothing to worry about. But Rion knew it wasn’t that simple for him.
“Contact me if anything goes wrong. You have the pendant, and… you can teleport to the Duke as well.”
Rion nodded.
“Everything packed up?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go. By teleportation, of course.”
Rion smiled slightly, waved his hand, and, just like always, vanished from my sight in an instant.
“Ah.”
It felt like there were still things I wanted to say. I at least wanted to see him off properly or wave my hand, but I just stared blankly at the spot where Rion had disappeared.
“I wanted to say something like… cheering you on… that you’ll do well on your own… that I enjoyed the time we spent together… asking how the plays have been recently… things like that.”
They weren’t things that had to be said, but I still wanted a bit more conversation. I wanted to end our farewell nicely, without it feeling too sad.
“Well, we’ll see each other again anyway.”
Someone like the Duke would have a few reasons to come to the capital. I might even go to the north myself. If the business grows, we might even perform there. Still, it didn’t make the feeling of parting any less bittersweet.
“Is he leaving immediately?”
Rion, after returning home in a single teleport, collapsed onto the sofa.
I couldn’t help but think of Melias staggering every time he teleported. I also remembered the apologetic look on his face when he said he couldn’t go to the north.
“It’s a bit disappointing, though.”
Despite being sorry, his refusal was firm. There was no room for Rion to push. In his view, Melias and he were purely business partners. So, it was a perfectly reasonable refusal, and the reasoning made sense. Yet why did my mentor’s words come to mind—complaining about only visiting when there’s work, never once in a lifetime? I felt an emptiness at the thought that we might drift apart like this.
But through this, Rion realized he had learned something from watching her. Even if he couldn’t fully understand how to win someone’s heart, he could still get a little closer to others and build some familiarity. Whether that would help him govern the north was uncertain, but seeing Melias in action convinced him that it was necessary.
“Things will be different than before. Probably… probably.”
Rion had always done things with certainty. These were tasks he had never attempted before. He reflected on how arrogant he had been, thinking he knew the world, and how narrow his perspective had been. He pressed his eyebrows together; the road ahead seemed long.
“It would have been nice if she went with me. But it can’t be helped.”
He could manage without her. But he wished he could see that radiant look on Melias’s face, that sparkling moment when she shone with the satisfaction of accomplishment. The side of her that he had seen during the banquet, when everyone was looking at the stage—
If Melias looked at him with the same expression she gave Leuke or the troupe members… thinking that far, Rion was startled at himself.
“To think such delusions could creep in… I must be feeling comfortable now.”
Rion lay down on the sofa and fell asleep. When Omilos found him in the early morning, he was utterly shocked.
“Good heavens, you’re going to catch a cold!”
The next morning, Rion departed straight for the north. Melias, coming to the mansion out of lingering feelings, smiled as if she had expected it when she heard he had already left.
“I knew it would be like this.”
Three months after the banquet.
Leuke was thriving both on stage and in high society, showcasing her charm. Other troupes, seeing the Forest Troupe’s success, began requesting souvenirs and consulting, and the business had grown significantly in that time.
“Boss, here are the invitations for Leuke this month. I’ve also organized the actors’ schedules, so please take a look.”
“Yes. Have the settlements with the Seclaire and Wesley troupes been completed?”
“Yes, everything’s done. Seal sales are the highest. Including portraits as bonuses was a good move.”
It wasn’t just a bonus—they had benchmarked the random photo card system. Regular portraits were sold normally, but detailed portraits with different expressions or poses were only obtainable as a random bonus when purchasing the seal. It was a cunning strategy, but effective. The portrait artists’ skills had improved to near-photographic levels.
They had even acquired a printing machine to produce brochures for three troupes and the Imperial Theater News in-house, while also consistently organizing one actor-related event per quarter.
“Leuke’s costume ready for the audience meeting in a week?”
“Oh, yes. Clothes were sent from the shops on Rubian Street for her to wear.”
Rubian Street was lined with dress shops. One of the stores we often visited was located there.
“From which shops?”
“Finster, Nike, and Gale. I think Nike’s is the best.”
The dress sent by Nike for Leuke was deep blue with sparkling decorations, resembling the night sky. It was an empire dress with exposed shoulders and a flaring hem.
“Is it good?”
“Looks fine. What about the others?”
The staff showed two more dresses. One was deep red, similar to the opulent style of the empress’s gown at the banquet. The other was pale yellow, less exaggerated, looking like something a fairy-tale princess would wear. The first one seemed the most suitable.
“I agree, that one’s the best. I’ll deliver the invitations to her and confirm her attendance.”
“Yes, thank you. Also, the year-end charity event. Should we place the advertisement now?”
“Yes, please give it to me when the ad is ready.”
By now, the M.W logo with the wavy design on the newsletter’s ads generated anticipation. The performances and events we produced had earned a reputation as must-attend experiences.
“Melias!”
Leuke entered the office just then. Since business started going well, she had become confident and cheerful. The staff turned to look at her.
“Hah… that’s why you can’t quit.”
“Don’t stare, it’ll wear out.”
Polly, who had braided brown hair, scolded another staff member looking at Leuke. She was the first hire after founding the company, previously a maid at the mansion, and an ardent fan who spent her entire salary just to see Leuke. Her reasoning for hiring: “Leuke’s face is the best employee benefit.”
“Polly looks at her the most anyway.”
“Quiet!”
Leuke brushed past the minor commotion and sat on the sofa in the office, motioning for me to join her.
“Busy?”
I smiled and sat across from her. I had invitations to give her and needed to talk about the upcoming audience meeting.
“Yes, the actors are doing so well.”
“Hehehe. I came because I had no work today and wanted to hang out.”
“Then look at these.”
I placed a pile of invitations in front of laughing Leuke.
“These are the ones she should probably go to. This one seems interesting for her. And this… just check it out if you want.”
Leuke picked up the invitation that seemed most fun. Katia’s salon had declined a bit, but in that gap, others were opening salons and gathering people, so the overall scene felt richer.
“And the audience meeting… will many people come?”
“Yes. Even after selling all tickets, letters keep coming asking if there are remaining seats.”
Leuke’s face lit up. I nudged her.
“Just ask at home.”
Leuke gave me a slight glare and started slapping my arm playfully.
“At home! When are you coming! I need to know!”
“Ouch, that hurts!”
“Finish all your work! Have fun! Meet everyone!”
“Stop hitting me!”
Leuke pouted at me.
“You go out and have fun too, but you only scold me.”
Her hands were stronger than expected. Touching the spots she hit, they were burning hot. Then, she suddenly lowered her voice:
“Have you heard anything about Lady Schacht?”
“No, why? What happened?”
“Nothing happened… it’s just… strangely quiet.”
Indeed, it had been quiet since the banquet. She hadn’t appeared anywhere, and the Schacht troupe had no activity. Their theater remained closed without any news of a disbandment.
“Any reason to be worried?”
“Not really.”
“I’m keeping an eye on the newsletters they bought and the Schacht theater, but nothing unusual yet.”
Of course, if they planned something again, it would be a different story, but for now, nothing stood out.
“If anything happens, I’ll handle it. For now, focus on the audience meeting. And take a look at these invitations too.”
“I’ve already looked. These two seem good if she attends.”
Leuke picked the invitations and handed them to me.
“Great, I’ll prepare accordingly.”
She smiled and stood up.
“Go out early and come back early, alright?”
“I’ll be back quickly today!”
Leuke walked briskly out of the office. Once the door closed, a sigh of relief filled the room.
“Seriously, she’s an unfamiliar sight from start to finish. You may be her sister, boss, but you wouldn’t know!”
The brown-haired staff shivered.
“Even being her sister, you’d be surprised every time. Her messy morning face is so cute, though you’ll never see it, haha.”
“Wow, that’s too much!”
Every day had been happy lately. Just seeing Leuke cheerful filled me with pride and energy.
I resolved to work even harder to bring her only good things.
And so I hoped everything would continue to go smoothly.
Little did I know what might happen at the audience meeting in a few days.
