Chapter 74
—
Apologies come easy when spoken.
Anyone can do it.
Expressing sincerity with money is no different.
Of course, I almost fell for the pure gold ring she gave me.
If one truly seeks forgiveness, they must take action.
For instance, with their body.
With that conclusion, I came to the theatre with Lea.
“Indeed, it’s much bigger than Lunemoon.”
“This is your first time, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
We immediately began cleaning.
The stained-glass windows installed throughout the walls could be opened to the outside.
This was another design by Hugo.
A theatre with windows.
Even in modern times, this isn’t common.
I opened them all to ventilate the space.
A cool breeze flowed in, softly stirring the air inside the theatre.
I picked up the trash scattered on the floor and wiped the stains and dust with a damp cloth.
“Lady Lea.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve finished this side, so could you handle that side?”
“Oh.”
I occasionally gave Lea instructions.
She followed them surprisingly well, without much complaint.
How did this once prideful girl become so reformed?
I remember her always being convinced she was right.
Unfamiliar with compromise.
Perhaps her exile brought about some sort of epiphany.
Such narratives aren’t uncommon.
Jeong Yak-yong wrote Mokminsimseo during his exile after the Catholic persecutions.
Dante, too.
It’s a well-known story that he completed The Divine Comedy during his exile.
Just as hardships gave these individuals time for inner reflection,
If Lea used her brief time to look back on herself and was reborn as a completely different person,
If she decided to atone for past misdeeds born from pride and ambition,
‘It’s not entirely implausible.’
I had a feeling the ending might turn out very differently than before.
As I was lost in thought, Lea, crouched somewhere, suddenly stood up and exclaimed,
“All done!”
When I checked, the floors and seats from the first floor to the second were spotless, practically gleaming.
Does this woman have a talent for cleaning?
“You’ve done an excellent job. I didn’t expect this level of thoroughness.”
Since I truly hadn’t, I spoke honestly.
“Call me anytime.”
“Then tomorrow as well.”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“No, I was just joking.”
Requesting more felt like taking advantage of her.
We left the theatre together.
As we locked the doors securely and turned, the soft moonlight illuminated her hair.
Then, for a moment,
She hesitated, looking at me as if she had something to say.
“May I come to watch the performance?”
“As much as you’d like.”
It has been quite a while since she last heard me play, hasn’t it?
“This time, I’ll only watch, I promise.”
Was she implying she wouldn’t stalk me after the performance?
Smiling bashfully, she boarded the waiting carriage.
Walking the solitary path to correct past wrongs amidst everyone’s mistrust won’t be easy.
For a moment, I found myself wanting to cheer her on.
After all, everyone deserves a chance to decide to be a better person.
“Well then.”
Until the festival ended, Lea stayed at the Duke Dressel’s estate with her father.
The next day.
At dawn, Edward visited the theatre, and upon seeing the already spotless seating area,
He reportedly stood there in a daze for quite some time.
Ah.
I forgot to inform him the cleaning was finished.
A comical mishap.
***
Performances hinge on one crucial element.
Sound? Lighting?
No.
The lineup.
Think of it like a college festival.
We got some politician giving a speech, while the other side has the most popular idol?
There’s nothing more infuriating than that.
It’s enough to make you question why you’re even paying tuition.
That principle remains true even in this other world.
Though the students’ opening performance during the ceremony was meaningful in its own way,
It didn’t garner nearly as much attention as today.
The reasons are plenty, but first and foremost—
The return stage of Aria, the once-trending child singer of Jubel.
“Is it true?”
“I still listen to that song sometimes!”
News more perfect for inciting excitement and nostalgia among the audience couldn’t exist.
“The Crown Princess herself will be on stage?”
“Stop making ridiculous claims.”
“No! I heard it straight from Edward!”
“What! Bring Edward here immediately!”
And an unexpected whirlwind hit again with the issue of Elize’s performance.
Elize is beloved by all citizens of the Empire.
To a degree beyond imagination.
There was even a petition in the past to deify her. That says it all.
“Edward! Is it true?”
“They’re saying Her Highness will perform today!”
The nearly riotous nobles swarmed the theater and bombarded Edward with questions.
His answer to them—
“Yes.”
That single word was enough.
“Ohhh!”
“Open the theatre doors now!”
It was more explosive than any powder keg.
While Diana drew less attention compared to these two,
Rumours began to build, embellishing her status as my apprentice.
“She’s the hidden sister of Sir Anton…”
“No, I heard she’s the daughter of a wealthy southern noble. Marriage talks are already underway…”
“There’s even talk that they have a child together…”
“What!”
Where do these rumours even originate?
Though most seemed to realize they were baseless gossip, taking them lightly.
Thankfully.
In any case, today’s performance featuring these three drew tremendous interest.
And the front of the theatre quickly filled with a massive crowd.
***
“There’s a strange rumour going around outside.”
Behind the theatre stage.
I arrived early, thinking I’d prepare, and headed to the waiting room, only to find Victor there.
As soon as he saw me, he carefully asked,
“Is it true?”
“What is?”
“The rumour.”
“Haa…”
I let out a sigh while keeping my expression as serious as possible. Sensing the tension, he quickly adjusted his demeanour.
“I apologize.”
“Do you think it’s true?”
“Well, probably not.”
“Let’s just focus on the preparations.”
Just then, Diana and Aria came into the waiting room.
“Let’s start the rehearsal.”
The performance order was Diana, Elize, and then Aria.
It felt a bit awkward having Elize in the middle, but she and Diana were instrumentalists, while Aria was a singer.
Placing Aria at the end seemed like the right decision.
More importantly, the song Aria would sing today was perfect for the finale.
This was, in a way, a timetable that worked best for everyone.
I went up to the stage with the two of them to check the sound and confirm the movements.
The audience hadn’t entered yet.
As long as the doors remained closed, no sound from inside could be heard.
We were able to finish the rehearsal comfortably.
After that—
“It’s about time they should be here.”
I waited nervously for the important guest to arrive.
How much time had passed?
The commotion outside began to spill in, and Edward came running, panting heavily.
“They’re… here!”
***
All eyes in the room turned to the Emperor.
His long cape swept across the floor, producing a soft sound.
I knelt before him.
“Thank you for granting us the honour of welcoming Your Majesty. I am infinitely grateful to meet you again.”
He nodded and solemnly responded,
“It is a splendid festival. Just as Elize said.”
I glanced toward the back of the Emperor.
Elize was there, along with Luhan and Therese.
Everyone was here.
It was, without a doubt, a tense moment.
The pressure was enough to nearly give me arrhythmia.
Carefully, I stood and guided the imperial family to their prepared seats.
This place was originally nothing more than a simple sound booth.
But with meticulous attention, it had been remodelled to resemble a temple.
All in just one day.
The walls were adorned with golden decorations and antique patterns, and velvet-cushioned chairs had been arranged.
We had put considerable effort into this and various other details, but—
The Emperor, seemingly indifferent, sat down without comment.
Then, gazing forward, he muttered,
“The stage feels rather far.”
“But the sound should be impeccable.”
“Well, that’s sufficient.”
At that moment,
“Don’t worry… or rather, pay no mind to it.”
Elize slid next to me and whispered.
A few guards glanced at me with distrustful eyes, but she paid no attention to them.
“He seems quite pleased.”
Well, I suppose she’d know best.
After all, she’s his daughter.
Elize approached the Emperor and whispered something to him.
It seemed like she was letting him know she needed to leave to prepare.
Then, walking back toward me, she said,
“Let’s go.”
***
“Haaa…”
“It’s okay. Take a deep breath and clench your fists.”
“Haaaa… Haaa…”
“Your Highness, Your Highness? Look at me.”
She was on the verge of breaking down.
As soon as we arrived at the waiting room together, Elize plopped into a folding chair.
When I asked what was wrong, she admitted she had lost all confidence.
“I, I didn’t even prepare properly… Ugh… I can’t even remember the sheet music…”
With the performance looming, extreme nerves seemed to have triggered a panic attack.
This was a common occurrence.
A disaster, almost.
Something no one could predict, and even the person experiencing it couldn’t control.
Not wanting to show this side of her to others, I had already sent everyone outside.
I was left with two options.
Cancel her performance and proceed with just Aria and Diana.
Or somehow bolster her confidence and get her to sit at the piano, mistakes or not.
There wasn’t much to think about.
The first option was undoubtedly safer.
After all, there was the matter of maintaining the Crown Princess’s dignity.
“I’m, I’m sorry… Ugh… For failing to keep my promise…”
Now that we were alone, Elize reverted to addressing me formally.
For some reason, I found this more comfortable.
Anyway—
“It’s not Your Highness’s fault.”
She couldn’t have predicted this.
The venue was packed with people.
The attention was overwhelming.
And the stage was larger than expected.
Most people would try to endure such pressure, but failing to do so wasn’t a personal failing.
Human emotions weren’t designed to handle such situations perfectly.
Sometimes, fear could feel overwhelmingly large.
In fact, it was probably because Elize was so accustomed to standing before others that she was trembling so much now.
One might think the opposite should be true, but fear grows in proportion to what’s at stake.
The more you have to lose, the greater the fear.
And the more you have to lose, the more you have to overcome.
For some, mistakes are just mistakes.
For others, mistakes are the end.
Elize was the latter.
It wasn’t something she could simply be told to shake off.
“Please, take your time and rest.”
Leaving her sitting quietly, I went outside and called for Victor.
I told him, as indirectly as possible, that we might need to cancel Elize’s performance today.
“Should I go announce it?”
“No. I’ll do it.”
I asked Victor to help Aria and Diana prepare, then returned to Elize.
“Please wait here a moment. I’ll summon the guards to escort you to a comfortable place.”
“Ugh…”
For now, ensuring her comfort was the priority.
As I began to move, something rattled in my pocket.
‘Wait.’
I quickly reached into my coat.
I felt a glass vial.
I pulled one out.
‘Could this work?’
Originally received from Margrave Rosley.
A healing potion.
It clears the mind and alleviates pain instantly.
Would it be effective in this situation?
Another item:
A memory potion.
I’m not sure if it applies to sheet music, but…
If there’s even the slightest chance.
If only she can recall the notes perfectly, transferring them to the keys would be effortless.
Her hands already know where to go.
It would certainly help her confidence.
Having been driven to this point, I felt an overwhelming urge to test it.
But what if it doesn’t work?
Worse, what if it’s poisoned?
It’s a general rule not to consume food or drinks given by others.
A single mistake can lead to trouble.
As I was lost in such thoughts, Elize asked cautiously.
“What… What is that?”
“It’s a memory potion. With just one sip, you could remember anything—”
Before I could even finish explaining, she snatched it and gulped it down in one go.
“Ah!”
“Phew!”
There was no turning back now.
If anything happens to her, my life is forfeit.
Just then—
“Give me the sheet music! Now!”
“What… What sheet music?”
She abruptly stood up, bypassed me, and grabbed the pile of papers discarded on the floor.
Then, she began reading them with intense focus.
As if she intended to engrave each note into her mind.
“I must remember… remember… Oh, this is it…”
She mumbled incomprehensible phrases, and then—
“I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Her voice was bright and clear, without a hint of doubt.
‘Is this… a placebo effect?’
I hadn’t even given her the healing potion.
The idea that increased memory could boost confidence—a completely absurd theory—had somehow worked.
Did she now firmly believe she wouldn’t make a single mistake?
Feeling resigned, I could only nod.
—
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