Chapter 14
“Did you hear that? Since it sold that much, it’s only natural that—”
“Even if that were the case, the amount is negligible compared to the debt the Young Lady owes.”
“That’s true, but what I mean is the future potential…”
“Alfredo, bring the details of the Young Lady’s debt.”
Alfredo quickly handed a paper to the Count, who in turn extended it toward me.
I looked at it in silence, then my expression hardened.
‘The amount is more than I expected…?’
It was obvious; the paper didn’t just include the price of the theater, but also the money I borrowed to buy jewelry, the value of the porcelain I smashed while drunk, and the costs of my stay and food…
“The price of the chocolate I ate?”
I pointed my finger at the last line of the ledger, where the details became suspiciously meticulous, and an ambiguous expression crossed my face.
Honestly, everything before that made sense; Louisa was the one who did those foolish things, and although I am not her, paying them back is the right thing to do.
But was the chocolate the maid gave me yesterday when I returned exhausted also a charged expense?
What kind of banditry is this?
“Count, were you planning to collect even the price of these things from me?”
It seems the grudge Arno Deintze holds against Louisa is immeasurable.
I felt some frustration, but the Count avoided my gaze and coughed artificially for some reason as if he were embarrassed.
“Ahem.. ahem.. Isn’t that obvious? Money doesn’t grow on trees, Young Lady.”
He is right, but he’s mean.
“So, until you pay all this money back, it would be better for you to focus on the play instead of these trivial matters like breaking the engagement.”
“Why is breaking the engagement trivial? It’s important too.”
The Count ignored my words and continued:
“The price for standing on stage with this necklace will be 30 million Dirk. In any case, I was planning to increase the capital for the White Friars investors. I will add 20 million Dirk as an investment, bringing the total to 50 million Dirk.”
The Count signaled to Alfredo, who placed a bag of gold coins in front of me.
“……!”
50 million Dirk.
That money for which I sold my grandfather’s sword, and the money with which I bought the Emperor’s life, returned to stand before my eyes once again.
‘Interesting.’
“Does the investment money have to be returned as well?”
I asked calmly, and the Count nodded his head.
“The 30 million Dirk is mine, so must the 20 million Dirk intended for investment also be repaid?”
The Count nodded again.
“But I will deduct it from the ticket sales. The total ticket sales so far are 30 million Dirk, so after deducting 20 million Dirk for investment, the amount you will receive now is 10 million Dirk.”
Quick calculations.
30 million Dirk… I was fascinated by this number.
I don’t know how much this equals in Korean currency given the difference in eras, but 30 million Dirk is an amount an average citizen would need ten years of work to accumulate.
I earned this money.. from the theater.
‘Something one couldn’t even dream of in Korea.’
A world where the theater can make you wealthy?
And that world is here?
At that moment, I considered my reincarnation into this novel a blessing.
This was an opportunity; perhaps in the future, I will be able to support myself without needing to stay in the Count’s palace, who hates me.
I buried my face in the plate and began stuffing meat into my mouth quickly.
“……?”
“I have to eat quickly and get out. I have actors who need training.”
The Count looked at me in stunned amazement.
“……”
“……”
This is awkward. I thought about that as I looked out the carriage window.
Somehow, I found myself alone with Leo inside this carriage.
We were on our way to the city center to tailor the stage costumes before going to rehearsal.
The reason for Leo accompanying me was my desire to tailor a better costume for Romeo to match the change in Juliet’s costume.
‘Because I have the money now.’
There was so much I wanted to do; the theater can swallow money endlessly.
‘Perhaps in the next play, I will add more stage equipment.’
I first wanted to renovate the theater, though I wouldn’t be able to do that now because of the daily performances.
‘The stage creaked with every move; I almost died walking on tiptoe in the dark.’
Most importantly, I wanted to establish a theater company and hire actors who truly aspire to act.
To do that, I must hold auditions and create stars with larger sums.
‘I must find faces suitable to become stars with the method acting style I want.’
Theater is essentially the art of the actor.
A single star actor can turn an average work into a smashing success or save a failing one.
In addition, having strong supporting actors will enable me to present deeper works.
The current actors are just passersby gathered in a hurry by Rudy, and they will surely leave as soon as the play ends.
This could be seen from their attitudes during rehearsals.
‘And even Leo Pier is just a passerby.’
Leo Pier will catch the attention of Marquis Burbage and become an Imperial Knight a year and a half from now.
To accelerate that, I thought of several ways to make him catch the Burbage family’s attention.
‘The problem is that I might have to perform at least one more play with him to achieve that.’
With this boy whose beauty masks his terrible acting.
“You.”
I broke the awkward silence and spoke, and Leo smiled brightly.
“What? Weren’t we going to maintain this awkward atmosphere the whole way?”
“Don’t stumble over the soliloquy. It’s very obvious you haven’t memorized that part well, so memorize it more after tailoring the clothes. In that part, Romeo should speak as if enchanted by love, but you move your eyes in every direction trying to remember the words.”
“Were.. you thinking about this just now?”
“What else?”
“I thought my lady was lost in reliving the memory of our kiss.”
“You impudent slave…”
Creeeeeak!
The carriage stopped suddenly and shook violently.
I lost my balance and almost fell on top of Leo.
Leo quickly grabbed my arm.
Good catch.
I felt grateful because he prevented me from falling..
For just one second.
Because in that moment, Leo pulled me toward him.
“…… What are you doing…?”
It was just a slight fall, but with one pull from Leo, I found myself sitting on his thighs.
Leo said in a voice like a whisper while smiling with his eyes:
“My lady, it is difficult for me when you pretend to lose your balance to fall on top of me. It is dangerous.”
I looked into his golden eyes as he uttered this nonsense shamelessly.
The original novel didn’t mention that this boy was this insane.
And in that moment, the carriage door swung wide open.
“Lady Louisa, I am sorry but there is a breakdown in the carriage, you must walk from here…”
The coachman’s eyes widened in shock.
As he hesitated between closing the door or leaving it, some residents of the Duchy who had gathered to see the Deintze crest began whispering as they saw me sitting on the slave’s knees.
“That woman…”
“It’s her.”
Yes, it’s me. Louisa Maecenas.
The extravagant Duchess who was caught red-handed enjoying a tryst with a slave inside a carriage.
I thought about that and gritted my teeth, trying to get off the carriage quickly to enter the dress shop before someone pelted me with stones.
But then, someone rushed toward me.
“This…”
I closed my eyes quickly at the object that was suddenly extended toward my face.
‘Am I going to be hit? Am I going to be stabbed?’
After a moment, I felt no pain, so I opened my eyes to find a red rose.
“I enjoyed watching… the play very much.”
“……”
I looked silently at the rose extended like a sword, then looked at the freckled girl who was holding it silently.
The girl’s hand was trembling violently.
‘This.. is she giving it to me now?’
When I scowled, the girl’s face turned completely pale.
And her friend, who was standing behind her and appeared to be the same age, said:
“I told you let’s go, Elysee. There are rumors saying this Duchess eats humans.”
‘The rumors have reached that point then?’
I scoffed inwardly.
But the girl named Elysee whispered to her friend in a trembling voice:
“But I haven’t seen the Young Lady eat anyone. I saw her for the first time in the play.. she was.. so wonderful.”
Seeing her shy smile made me feel a strange sensation.
I had done my best in the role of Juliet to defend Louisa Maecenas, wishing it would be an excuse for her past actions.
But I never expected there would be someone who admired Louisa Maecenas.
I thought this was far-fetched; Louisa is a woman who deserves to be hated, and everyone thinks this way, for that is human nature.
But there are those who believe what they saw for themselves, not the rumors.
At least this girl in front of me.
I looked at the rose while stunned for a moment.
“I-.. I am sorry if this has bothered you…”
Elysee thought I was staring at her in anger and tried to pull the rose back.
I quickly grabbed the flower.
“Haven’t you heard the rumors?”
“Yes?” Elysee’s shoulders slumped at my cold voice.
“I only collect beautiful things.”
“…… T-.. th-… at…”
When I looked at her, Elysee lowered her head completely, thinking the rose she offered was not beautiful.
I grabbed Elysee’s jaw and lifted it, then smiled with the side of my mouth.
“So, if you want to give me a gift, don’t give me something trivial like this, but give me something like this.”
I printed a short kiss on Elysee’s cheek.
As soon as my lips moved away, her eyes widened.
“Because you are more beautiful than the rose.”
As soon as I finished speaking, the girl’s face flushed red from her cheek to her ear.
Well, I was being honest.
She has a good face; the perfect ordinary citizen’s face, but because of the prominent cheekbones and jaw, she could perform distinctive roles if heavy makeup were applied.
It’s not a face to become a lead immediately, but if she had the skill, she could perform a wide range of roles.
In addition, she said my play was enjoyable, so these beautiful lips speak nothing but the truth.
Anyway…
‘Contact.’
That thing I used to loathe has started happening more easily than I thought.
Is it because I’m already done with Leo’s kiss?
I said to Elysee with a satisfied smile:
“If the play is truly enjoyable, then come to the auditions.”
“Auditions?”
“Yes. I intend to establish a theater company. I will take special care of you for a long time.”
I meant that I would train her harshly, but it seems the girl didn’t understand the literal meaning.
Thud!
I heard the sound of the girl collapsing behind my back from the sheer intensity of the emotion, so I signaled to Leo:
“Come quickly. We don’t have enough time for rehearsal.”
I heard murmurs around me; half of them were cursing me, and the other half were saying in stunned voices:
“Sister… take me… for yourself…”
‘Take you where?’
I don’t know what they mean, but if I continue spreading rumors about the theater company like this, people will gather, right?
I didn’t expect the disasters that would happen in the auditions later, and I was just feeling proud.
