Chapter 76: The Final Stage
Stepping down from the carriage, she found herself standing before an opera theater.
It belonged to the Parkssian Troupe, the second-largest in the capital. Recently, it had been struggling with a string of commercial flops, and rumors of its decline were starting to circulate.
Without hesitation, Aracila walked straight into the theater.
“I’m here to see the owner. Where should I go?”
“Would you happen to be Madam Vandemir?”
“That’s right.”
“Please, this way.”
The staff member stationed at the first-floor lobby politely guided her to the office.
Having been informed of her visit a few days prior, the owner greeted her warmly.
“Good day, Madam Vandemir. I’m Roberto, the proprietor of the Parkssian Troupe.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Roberto.”
After seating her on the sofa and serving tea, Roberto asked the purpose of her visit with a face full of curiosity.
“What brings you here to see me?”
“I’ll be blunt. There’s a story I’d like to see turned into a play here.”
“A story, you say…?”
“Adultery.”
Roberto’s eyes widened. He felt a surge of relief that he wasn’t in the middle of drinking his tea—had he been, he might’ve spat it right in the face of the noblewoman before him.
With an unbothered expression, Aracila handed over a document envelope she had brought from the carriage.
“Let me clarify. Not exactly adultery. I’ve already outlined the core of the story. Take a look and see if it can be turned into a proper script and staged.”
“A-ah…”
Looking bewildered, Roberto took the envelope from her, opened it, and began reading the papers inside.
It was roughly the story of a woman who, out of envy, tried to drive a wedge between a married couple, only to face divine punishment in the end.
The subject was provocative, and the plot was quite gripping. However, Roberto couldn’t accept the proposal immediately and hesitated.
“I’m sorry, madam, but… is this based on real events by any chance? If so, we might be risking a lawsuit…”
“Of course not. No one in particular is identifiable, and nothing has actually happened—yet.”
“Still, we have a policy of not staging private matters…”
“Didn’t you say the monthly rent here is fifty million gold?”
Aracila suddenly asked, seemingly out of nowhere. Caught off guard, Roberto nodded.
“I’ll pay two months’ rent as a down payment. And I’ll continue to invest in the theater. I promise to fully support you so you can surpass the Stella Theater.”
The Stella Theater was the largest venue in the capital and had recently enjoyed a string of sold-out performances, leaving Parkssian and Roberto disheartened.
Tempted by the offer, Roberto’s expression shifted. His eyes almost seemed to gleam like golden coins.
“Are you serious…?”
“I am. But in return, you’ll have to stage it exactly as I want.”
Roberto quickly began calculating in his head. With revenues already declining, an investor would be a blessing.
Truth be told, while Aracila’s story left a slightly uneasy feeling, with some polish it could definitely attract public interest and sell well.
“Madam Vandemir! You can trust the Parkssian Troupe with this! We’ll adapt your story into a compelling production!”
Judging that accepting the proposal would be to his advantage, Roberto sprang to his feet and bowed deeply as he shouted.
With the agreement that Aracila would review the final script once completed, the meeting came to a close.
***
Aracila continued to attend the duchess’s gatherings diligently, steadily expanding her network.
She gifted gloves recommended by Iris and would step forward to help if any member of the circle faced trouble.
But what truly solidified Aracila’s standing, surprisingly, was offering personal advice.
“Thank you, madam! I followed your advice, and Lord Shark really changed. When I acted distant, he reached out first, asked to meet, and started showing a lot more interest in me!”
It all began when Lady Harriet, the first to receive Aracila’s counsel, thanked her in front of others, her face flushed with excitement as she grasped Aracila’s hands.
The news that her notoriously aloof fiancé had changed spread like wildfire, and soon others began approaching Aracila like one would seek a famed healer, eager to confide their worries.
“Madam, my close friend secretly met the man I have a crush on—and he confessed to her. Did she approach him on purpose to seduce him?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions. Sit down and have an honest talk with her. Isn’t a true friend more important than a brief crush? Hear her out before you decide.”
“My hobby is horseback riding. There’s a small tournament coming up, and I want to enter, but my husband disapproves. What should I do?”
“Just sign up and tell him afterward. It’s not like entering a riding tournament will wreck your household. Why should your husband have control over that? If you give in for no good reason, it’ll only set a bad precedent.”
“Madam, how do you manage your weight? Lately, everyone around me keeps saying I’ve gained weight and that I should take better care of myself.”
“You haven’t gained any weight at all. Rather than worrying about self-discipline, focus on managing your social circle. Distancing yourself from people who try to undermine your confidence with such ridiculous remarks will bring more benefit to your life.”
Those who had left with Aracila’s advice returned to the next gathering with refreshed expressions.
“You were right, madam. When we spoke honestly, we realized there had been misunderstandings. It wasn’t my friend who approached him—it was that young lord who was weighing us against each other.”
“I… I entered the equestrian competition and won the gold prize! My husband was flabbergasted when I told him afterward, but who cares? I feel so proud of myself!”
“When I first heard people say I’d gained weight, I started to believe it. But after cutting ties with those who said it, I took another look and realized my body was perfectly normal. Mentally, I feel so much more at ease now.”
Naturally, Aracila’s popularity within the circle grew.
Her candid and unaffected way of speaking, combined with the quiet assurance that she could be trusted with any secret, won her the favor of everyone.
Even the Duchess of Keyston was taken aback by how swiftly Aracila managed to win allies to her side.
By the time she had fully cemented her place within the social circle, the script from the Parkssian Troupe had also been completed.
The refined plot went something like this:
A noblewoman, moved by compassion, rescues a woman in distress and takes her into her home.
But when the rescued woman sees the noblewoman’s harmonious family and affluent estate, greed begins to fester in her heart. In return for the kindness she received, she devises a scheme to murder the lady and steal her place.
However, the noblewoman overcomes the crisis, returns to reclaim her rightful position, and the usurper meets her downfall.
Aracila was satisfied with the well-crafted narrative. Once she gave her approval, the Parkssian Troupe accelerated preparations for the production.
On the night of the performance, titled The Lady of the Yellow Rose, Aracila distributed free tickets to the ladies of the circle.
Since most already held a favorable view of her, many readily attended the play. As they began spreading positive reviews throughout their circles, the opera quickly gained word-of-mouth momentum.
It grew so popular that people began offering extra money for scalped tickets. Riding the wave of this success, Aracila discreetly bribed a few newspapers to stir up gossip.
While the specifics varied, the stories shared a common theme: many households had been destroyed by people who had developed feelings for those already married.
The gossip, fueled by the opera’s popularity, quickly caught fire.
“Whether it’s a man or a woman, morally speaking, you shouldn’t touch someone who’s already married.”
“Having a secret lover is technically illegal, isn’t it? People just turn a blind eye, but crossing the line shouldn’t be tolerated!”
“Adulterers, both of them, need to be properly punished. That’s the only way to stop them from doing it again!”
Once she felt the atmosphere was where she wanted it, Aracila sought out Damian.
“Damian, it’s finally time for you to step forward.”
She had arrived at the final stage of eliminating Nora.
***
“Have you heard that Madam Vandemir joined the Duchess of Keyston’s circle?”
Lady Cooper asked the question cautiously, and Nora flinched mid-sip of her tea.
Every young lady at today’s tea party was looking at her. Nora did her best to remain composed as she replied.
“Of course I heard. I suppose she must have been born with a natural charm if even Her Grace took a liking to her.”
“My younger sister’s friend is in that circle, and apparently Madam Vandemir has a very good reputation there. The duchess is especially fond of her, too.”
“…Is that so? I guess she’s just good at managing her image.”
Nora tried to smile as if nothing was wrong, but the corners of her lips trembled involuntarily. Under the table, her hand clenched into a fist so tightly it turned pale.
She had heard the news of Aracila’s emergence into society early on.
At first, Nora hadn’t felt any real sense of threat. That woman, once labeled an oddball before marriage, couldn’t possibly fare well in high society—or so she thought.
There wouldn’t be many people rushing to befriend her, either.
But Aracila had been cunning. Instead of stepping into the spotlight immediately, she positioned the Duchess of Keyston as her patron and began gradually expanding her influence.
She first won over the members of the duchess’s circle and allowed word of her good character to spread organically through them.
As Aracila quickly gained footing in the social world, people within Nora’s own circle began to shift their attitudes.
Backed by a prestigious family, supported by the Duchess of Keyston, and married into the powerful Vandemir ducal house, Aracila had become someone not easily trifled with.
“Maybe we should be more careful with what we say, too. Considering Madam Vandemir even set a new trend in hats, her influence seems far from ordinary.”
***
Explanatory Notes:
Aracila’s Strategy: Her rise mimics a chess game—calculated moves using influence, storytelling, and social optics to sway the elite.
“Lady of the Yellow Rose” (노란 장미의 여인): Likely symbolic of outward beauty masking inner betrayal. Yellow roses can imply jealousy or deceit in some cultural contexts.
Damian: Implied to be Aracila’s ally or instrument in her final revenge against Nora.
Nora: Formerly secure in her social position, she now finds herself subtly isolated as Aracila reshapes societal opinion.
Would you like me to continue with the next scene or analyze character development between Aracila and Nora further?
Here is a complete and faithful literary translation of the provided Korean text, carefully preserving tone, nuance, and emotional depth while ensuring clarity and narrative cohesion:
***
The trend of narrow-brimmed hats had quickly faded after Aracila began wearing wide-brimmed hats to exhibitions and art gatherings.
It also helped that a young lady who had received one of those hats from Aracila wore it everywhere with pride, practically flaunting it.
“That’s right. Even my mother told me not to do anything that might draw the disfavor of Her Grace, the Duchess of Keyston.”
“With Madam Vandemir’s influence being what it is, I think we’ll need to make some compromises.”
“Why not invite her, Lady White? There’s no harm in getting close to her—it might even be beneficial in the long run.”
The young ladies in Nora’s circle were still quite young and impressionable; they were easily swayed and just as easily crumbled.
While they had delighted in slandering Aracila under Nora’s lead, the thought that Aracila might now be in a position to strike back filled them with fear.
It wasn’t as though they had all despised Aracila with genuine hatred, as Nora did.
What nonsense are they spouting now?
To Nora, the leader of the group, such suggestions were utterly unacceptable.
If she were the one to reach out first, it would look as though she were lowering herself before Aracila.
Above all else, Nora had no desire whatsoever to make peace with Aracila. She wanted to see her ruined, cast out of society and utterly destroyed.
“Well, I think such matters need to be approached with caution. Is it really necessary for us to befriend Madam Vandemir?”
“Ah, well… Lady White, you dislike her, don’t you…”
One young lady let the words slip without thinking, then quickly covered her mouth in panic. But it was already too late—Nora was glaring at her with eyes sharp as blades.
“If you say it like that, doesn’t it sound like I have some personal grudge against Madam Vandemir? I’m simply stating things as they are, as I see them. Understand?!”
“Y-yes, of course. I’m sorry, Lady White…”
The girl wilted under Nora’s fierce outburst, lowering her head in apology.
Normally, things would have calmed down at this point. But this time, Nora could not hold herself back.
The fury she felt toward Aracila surged uncontrollably, and she became consumed with the desire to bring her down by any means necessary.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
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