“But my Lady, whose story is this? It’s so fascinating.”
“No, it’s just… a novel.”
“What novel? I’m so curious about the ending.”
“I-I don’t know the title.”
Yes, I’m dying to know the ending of this story too.
We were passing through the square and by the fountain when Ecla suddenly clapped her hands as if she remembered something.
“Oh, my lady!”
“Hm?”
“I almost forgot. I remembered when we got here.”
“What is it?”
“It was given to me by Elome. Apparently, this play is so famous that no one hasn’t seen it these days.”
Ecla handed me the ticket she was holding.
“One of the actors in this play has been friends with Elome for a long time.”
“Elome really seems to know everyone.”
“Why don’t we watch the play to lift your spirits? It’s right in front of us anyway.”
I was a bit tired from running around all morning and wanted to go home, but a play sounded fun.
And more than anything, Ecla seemed very eager to see it.
“Shall we?”
“Yes, let’s watch it together.”
“Alright, sounds good.”
Ecla clenched her fists in excitement, her face brimming with joy.
After stepping out of the carriage, we headed straight to the amphitheater.
‘So there’s a place like this.’
Looking up at the arched structure, I saw the bright blue sky alternating with the bricks. The sunlight was warm, and the breeze was just right.
It was a sky I hadn’t properly noticed before, being so anxious and preoccupied.
“Ecla.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
“I’m glad we came. It’s so beautiful.”
The amphitheater was surrounded by a small garden courtyard and privet hedges. It was grand and majestic, like something out of a history book, with sculpted busts scattered throughout, adding to the charm.
“Isn’t it? I’m so glad you like it, my Lady.”
We walked for a while before entering the theater. The place was bustling with people coming to watch the play and merchants selling their goods, but I found even the chaos enjoyable.
“Ecla, do you know what the play is about?”
“Elome explained it in detail, but I forgot. I think it’s about the love story between a Grand Duke and the daughter of a Marquis.”
A love story between a Grand Duke and the daughter of a Marquis?
I suddenly felt thirsty and cleared my throat.
“Oh my, my Lady. What is it?”
Ecla narrowed her eyes and gently nudged me with her elbow.
“What?”
“You were just thinking about His Highness the Grand Duke, weren’t you?”
“What are you talking about? I wasn’t!”
“I think you were.”
“No, absolutely not. Why would I think about His Highness?”
But Ecla just kept grinning.
“Let’s sit over there, how about that spot?”
I pointed to some empty seats, trying to avoid the crowd.
“Yes, that’s perfect.”
After we settled into our seats, Ecla spoke up.
“My Lady, I’ll go get a pamphlet.”
“Alright.”
Even though we came suddenly, I should at least know what it’s about.
Perhaps because it was my first cultural experience since coming to this world, I felt a bit excited.
Though part of me wondered if I should be relaxing like this.
Anyway, as I was watching an enthusiastic Ecla walk away.
“May I sit here?”
“Yes, of course…”
As I turned toward the sudden voice, a familiar face came into view.
It was Gerlach Cygnus.
“Your Highness.”
Gerlach plopped down beside me and gazed at the distant stage as he spoke.
“I didn’t know you were interested in plays.”
“No, well, I’m not particularly interested.”
I should have just gone home quietly.
I should have just taken the carriage straight home!
“Not interested, yet you’re at the theater, and you’ve met me.”
“……”
“Even that sounds quite dramatic.”
“No, actually, I’m a theater fanatic. I can’t live without plays.”
Just as I completely changed my expression and started nodding vigorously, Gerlach began to laugh while gently shaking his head.
What’s with that? Why is he laughing? Am I funny?
“You really are…”
“……”
“Amusing. You always make me laugh.”
This atmosphere is dangerous.
I needed to change the mood quickly.
“Your Highness, I heard you were very busy preparing for St. Avenley’s Day.”
Why is someone who’s supposedly busy leisurely coming to watch a performance?
“Yes, I am busy.”
I didn’t say anything more but just rolled my eyes. Gerlach looked at me with a languid expression and said.
“Actually, I didn’t come to watch the performance—I came to look around the theater. We’re planning to put on an opera about St. Avenley’s life during the festival.”
“An opera?”
“Do you like opera too?”
Truth be told, I’d never seen an opera before. I’d only caught glimpses of it on television.
I need to think carefully before answering. If I say I like opera here, he’ll definitely ask me to watch it together.
That can’t happen.
“No.”
“Then I’ll have to cancel it.”
I was startled by Gerlach’s words.
“What do you mean?”
“Since you dislike opera, I’ll fire all the performers and ban the opera.”
“What? What are you saying?”
“Instead, since you said you’re a theater fanatic, I’ll change it to a play.”
“Don’t say such nonsense! I like it, I absolutely love it! Wow, why are you being so extreme?”
When I jumped up in protest, Gerlach finally softened his expression.
“You know what?”
“……”
“You’re cute and amusing.”
At his sudden words, I felt my ears turning red. This is really driving me crazy.
Ecla, did she go to print the pamphlet herself? Why is she taking so long?
Right, I should use Ecla as an excuse to leave this seat.
As I anxiously looked around, Gerlach spoke to me in his languid voice.
“Are you looking for someone?”
“Ah, yes. I came with Ecla. She said she’d bring back a pamphlet, but she’s taking too long. Well, this place is quite large, so she might have gotten lost. Ecla has absolutely no sense of direction, you see. Oh dear, this is terrible. I should go look for her.”
It was a good strategy.
Just as I was quietly getting up, Gerlach extended his long, straight index finger and pointed somewhere.
“She’s right there.”
“……”
Where he pointed, Ecla was sitting alongside a young man and Sir Orie.
“Ahaha, when did Ecla go down there? I should bring her back.”
“Why?”
“Ecla is extremely shy around strangers. She really wanted to see this play, but if she’s sitting next to strangers, she’ll be too uncomfortable to focus on the performance.”
As I rambled on, unable to hide my dismay, he spoke again.
“Shy, you say?”
“Yes, she might even cry if we leave her like that.”
“Your maid looks quite happy though.”
Looking more carefully, the man sitting next to Ecla had a familiar face.
I think I saw him when he escorted me home. Ah, the coachman.
“……”
Wow, their laughter can be heard all the way over here.
This is a disaster, a complete disaster!
“Let’s not disturb someone who looks happy. Especially if it’s someone you care about.”
I had no choice but to drop my shoulders in defeat.
In the end, I was stuck watching the play sitting side by side alone with Gerlach.
*** *** *** *** ***
“Father, may I come in?”
That evening, I went down to father’s study with firm resolve.
I can’t waste any more time. St. Avenley’s Day was approaching quickly, and far from returning Gerlach to Leonie, we seemed to have grown even closer.
If I keep dawdling like this, I might really cease to exist.
“What were you doing?”
“Libe.”
I can’t even count how long I spent composing myself and preparing before coming down to father’s study.
But now that I was actually standing before him, the words wouldn’t come easily.
“As you can see.”
Father showed me the papers scattered across his desk with a weary smile.
“You’re busy. I’ll come back later.”
“No, Libe. Sit down.”
As I turned to leave, father stood up from his seat and removed his glasses.
“Do you have something to tell me?”
“No, just… Didn’t you say you’re going to the Imperial Palace in a few days?”
“Yes, they’ve called a meeting for the annual event.”
“You’ll be away from home for quite a while then, going all the way to the capital.”
“Well, Lecton isn’t exactly close.”
Father paused there and slowly smiled at me.
“Seems like you want something.”
“What? Oh, no.”
I waved my hands frantically, but father continued speaking.
“Oliver was just telling me. He said when I go to Lecton, I should buy some shoes for Libe.”
“Shoes?”
“They say it’s very popular among the ladies. Apparently, a shoemaker who recently set up a shop in Lecton is quite skilled.”
“Ah.”
Father continued speaking kindly, but honestly, none of it registered in my ears.
Shoes, to me, were just something that needed to fit my feet, and I already had more than enough pairs to last a lifetime.
As I absentmindedly fiddled with my fingertips, Father spoke again.
“Libe, so what is it you want to say?”
“Would it be alright to invite Sir Nathan Palamedes to dinner tomorrow evening?”
I said it.
“Sir Palamedes?”
Father looked up with a slightly puzzled expression.
“Yes.”
Nathan Palamedes was my fiancé in the original story.
He was also the man who infuriated me by abandoning the villainess, Liberata, and proposing to Leonie after falling for her.
Why invite Nathan to dinner, you ask?
For some reason, in this life, Nathan hadn’t shown up at all.
To escape Gerlach’s radar, I needed him, but instead, Adrian had appeared out of nowhere. The man who was supposed to be my fiancé hadn’t even made an appearance.
Of course, Nathan wasn’t exactly my type. He was overly talkative and emotional.
But now wasn’t the time to care about such things!
“Libe.”
Father called me gently and warmly.
It seemed he was about to say something more serious.
“May I ask why you want to invite Sir Palamedes?”
“That is…”
Where should I even begin to explain?
Because he’s the man who’s supposed to be engaged to me.
Of course, saying that would only earn me strange looks.
Think, what connection did Nathan and Liberata have?
First of all, the Palamedes family was a household that deeply loved art.
They built opera houses, sponsored musicians, and introduced exceptional artists to the Imperial Court.
Yes, that’s it.
“I’ve recently taken an interest in music.”
“Music?”
Father looked at me with an even more puzzled expression than before.
“Our Libe has been acting a bit strange lately.”
At those words, my heart sank without realizing it.
Of course, it’s strange.
Because I’m not the Liberata you know, Father.
“…Hahaha.”
“Yes, you used to only care about pretty dresses, jewelry, and shoes. I didn’t even believe it when you said you were interested in philosophical matters.”
“Excuse me?”
“Oliver told me. He said you’ve been deliberately wearing plain dresses to criticize and point out the extravagance of other ladies. I never realized you were so thoughtful.”
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