Chapter 12
Translator: Missme
Editor: Aru
“What Veloca says is true, I’m a little surprised, but that doesn’t mean you’re not the Lena we used to know.”
I bit my lip without realizing it. Because I’m not the ‘Lena’ they used to know.
“So let’s just relax your expression. This matter wouldn’t change our relationship.”
“Yes, and I actually ever thought that you’re part of an aristocratic family before.”
“What? How?”
I was frightened. I never told her, but she already thought that I was an aristocrat.
“By any chance, has any aristocratic habit infiltrated my act without me knowing?’
It was when I was on my toes.
“I just had that feeling. For a commoner like us, should I say you know a lot? For example, how to count and treat nobles. You were the first one to teach me how to treat a noble.”
As I reminisced, I remembered that when Lena first started acting, I remembered that she taught Veloca one thing after another.
Looks like Lena’s being an aristocrat has been noticed for a long time before.
“And your behaviour, or should I say, is too good-natured when speaking?”
“Veloca, does that mean we’re not too good-natured?”
“It means I’m not surprised if Lena is an aristocrat because I’ve always thought so. Get the context, you idiot!”
Veloca slammed Rael in the back while Rael said, ‘It hurts! Veloca!’.
Thanks to them, I laughed as if I had never felt bitter.
Hahaha— Veloca and Rael, who were puzzled for a moment by my pouring laughter, laughed together.
* * *
Even after confessing my identity, the relationship between the three of us remained.
But the time we could be together wasn’t that long.
This is because the last performance day has come.
‘Today is the last day.’
I was sad to hear that I can’t be on the stage for a while, so I acted and sang harder than ever.
Having poured everything out like that, I fixed my makeup and changed into plain clothes.
Because the Count said she’d pick me up on the day of the last performance.
I was looking around to see if I missed anything last, and I heard a voice crying through the window.
I opened the door to take down the bags I had packed in advance, then saw Rael and Veloca standing there.
“Rael, Veloca? What is the matter?”
“I’m here to help you with your luggage. It’s hard to move along.”
“……and see you off at the same time.”
“Thank you.”
There is no reason for me to decline. Actually, I had a lot of luggage, so it was quite hard to move by myself.
I was able to move my luggage easily with the help of Rael and Veloca.
When I came down to the first floor, the Count was already here.
She was talking with the theatre owner when she noticed me coming.
“Is that all your luggage?”
“Yes.”
“It’s less than I thought.”
I smiled lightly at the Count’s words. Actually, I also thought it would be more than this. There were so many clothes and shoes in Lena’s closet.
But when I packed my luggage, most of them were stage costumes, and there were only a few clothes Lena bought. So that was all the luggage.
‘Just going with what I need for now, if I need another later I can buy a new one.’
I paid off my debt and looked back, thinking lightly about the remaining money. I saw people working in the theatre company, including Rael, Veloca, and The owner.
In fact, we’ve only been together for about three months, but I was sad to say goodbye because I already got attached to them. Although it’s not like we’re going to break up forever.
I couldn’t even say goodbye because my heart was somehow feeling tingled, but suddenly Rael called me.
“Lena, will you take this?”
What Rael offered me was a flower pot. The flower pot, small enough to wrap all my hands around, was full of light green leaves.
“What’s this?”
“It’s Jasmine. The flowers haven’t bloomed yet, but the merchant said they’ll bloom soon since I think they resemble you……. That’s why I bought it.”
What does it mean that I resemble Jasmine?
I wondered, but I accepted his gift pleasantly.
Anyway, it meant he bought it thinking about me.
The gift was enough in its meaning and worth it.
“Thank you. I’ll cherish it.”
“It would be nice to come with that flower when you come to the theatre again.”
The moment I heard those words, the dead plants that had been growing in my hands for a long time passed quickly through my mind.
Oh no. I’m not good at growing plants.
“As much as I can…… I’ll try my best to grow it and not let it die.”
My voice trembled. It was quite a grim answer for me, but Rael seemed to think it was just a joke.
“You’ll be able to raise them well.”
Since he said that with a big smile.
‘Ugh, my conscience is stabbed.’
If he had seen dead plants on my hands, he would never have said that.
I tried to turn a blind eye to Rael’s smile. Instead, I held the flower pot tightly and looked at Veloca. Veloca shrugged her shoulders.
“I didn’t prepare anything. It’s not like we’re breaking up forever, and you’re going to come back anyway, right?”
Did I tell Veloca that I would come back after the Emperor’s birthday party was over?
Questions arose at the moment, but I couldn’t remember saying so no matter how hard I thought about it. So this was clearly Veloca’s only wish. Of course, I’ll be back later…….
Seeing Veloca looking at me stubbornly made me smile.
“Thank you, Veloca.”
“What?”
“Thanks to Veloca, I was able to adapt well here. Ever since I first came to the theatre till now.”
As I was speaking what’s on my mind, I realized that I had spoken my thoughts so much that I added a few words in haste. At my end, Veloca hit me in the arm with a mean smile.
“Oh, it hurts, Veloca!”
“I didn’t hit you that hard. You’re exaggerating.”
It really hurts.
I rubbed my arms and looked at Veloca in tears, but she only shrugged.
“I think it’s punishment for talking like someone who’s going to break up forever.”
“That’s unfair.”
“If it’s unfair, you can come back as an actor and hit me too.”
“Veloca, Lena is not as violent as you are…… No, I made a mistake.”
Only then did Veloca relax her eyes as Rael waved.
Then she looked at me and pulled me as hard as she could. I was a little surprised by the sudden hug, but I soon hugged her.
“Take care of yourself, come visit me often, okay?”
“Yes, I will.”
I nodded and her arm wrapped around me fell off.
Lastly, I bowed to the theatre owner who came out to see me off. She smiled kindly and waved at me.
After saying my goodbye, I was about to get on the carriage.
“…… Miss Lena! Miss Lena! Please wait!”
Not far away was a big, brown-skinned man like a bear running by my name.
When I saw a man running over with dark brown hair, my face hardened without realizing it.
“Oh, that man?”
Veloca, too, recognized the man and couldn’t control her facial expression.
I’m sure she did because the man was Herschel Themis, the knight who had been persistently coming to me for three months and begging me to hit him!
I haven’t seen him for a while, so I’ve been relieved, but I can’t believe he showed up like this.
‘What do I do? Should I tell him to leave?’
But it was faster for Herschel Themis to run to here and shout than for me to make a decision.
“I hear you’re leaving the troupe. Is it true?”
(T/N: he speaks like a man in historical drama)
That way of speaking, I never get used to it. In fact, I’ve talked to Veloca about it before. He looks like he’s in his mid to late 20s, and his way of speaking doesn’t look good on him.
I was embarrassed. I was wondering how he knew this.
“Why can’t you tell me? Are you really leaving the troupe?”
At Herschel’s urging, I came to my senses late. Oh, wait, I had a different idea. So anyway he asked me if I was really leaving?
“Yes, that’s right. But how does Sir Knight know that…….”
“It doesn’t matter now! If quitting the troupe is true, are the rumours true?”
Rumours? What rumours?
As soon as I tilted my head, the man shouted.
“That you’re being sold to some bastard!”
Herschel’s rumbling cry shook the air.
What, I’m being sold?
It was ridiculous nonsense to the point where I doubted my ears.
“I heard everything! That you owe a debt, and that he offered you a position in government using the debt as an excuse!”
The more Herschel spoke, the more I couldn’t manage my facial expression.
‘Who else is this rumour coming from?’
Of course, as Herschel said, it was right that I owed debt.
But the debt had already been paid clean with the money I received from The Crown Prince.
Besides, the rest were all untrue. The Crown Prince has never offered me a position in government.
I opened my mouth to explain. But it was faster for Herschel to act.
Suddenly he sat on one knee in front of me. And reached out to me.
“I think this is better, please marry me!”
“…… what?”
“I have no fiancée, and my parents are dead. Although I have one older brother, you can rest assured that he’s not involved in my private life.”
Herschel shouted in a very loud voice as if he could not see my embarrassed expression.
“Even if I am not good enough, I can reassure you won’t starve for the rest of your life! Rather than become the mistress of any bastard, please be my wife!”
By all means, Herschel already threw a bomb.
‘What the……..’
With a low sigh, I looked into the eyes of Count Van der without realizing it.
Maybe because the Crown Prince has been demoted to ‘some bastard’.
Herschel Themis doesn’t know about it but Count Van Der is one of The Crown Prince’s people.
Isn’t it obvious that she must feel bad when she hears something like that about her boss?
“Thanks for your words, but I can’t accept your offer, Sir Knight.”
“How come? I thought you and I were meant to be……and becoming my wife is better than some bastard’s mistress?”
Well, I’m not going to be a mistress!
“It’s a misunderstanding, Sir Knight.”
“Then tell me! Why are you leaving the theatre all of a sudden? What’s that bastard coming for, by visiting you recently?”
“That’s, I can’t tell you.”
I had no intention of telling my story here, so I shook my head resolutely.
“How are you so cold-hearted between us?”
No, when did you and I become so close that we became ‘us’? I have no memories of that?
“And why have you been staring at him? Is he the one who wants to get you into the government?”
Herschel, who has been begging me so far, turned to Count Van Der.
At last, her expression, who had been watching all this, became strange.
Meanwhile, Veloca, who knows the Count’s true gender, looked frantic with laughter.
Rael was reluctant to laugh and frown and said.
“This person is not the kind of person as Sir Knight thinks.”
“You don’t even have to hide it from me! How dare he make such an offer to you! You, come on out! Aren’t you ashamed to hide behind a woman?”
The louder Herschel shouted, the more embarrassing I was.
Look, the person you mistook for a man is actually a woman!
I wanted to shout loudly in my heart, but I couldn’t tell if I was allowed to talk recklessly, so I just bit my lips and looked around.
In the hope that anyone can help me.
It was then that I saw Bill watching all this from afar.
As soon as our eyes met, Bill flinched and quickly hid.
At the same time, I was able to sense the identity of the person who caused this trouble.
‘So, it’s you! You said it!’
I found out who started the ridiculous rumour, but I wasn’t happy at all.
Knowing this now didn’t help the situation at all.
“You! Didn’t you say that you’re an aristocrat?”
“Yes, but…….”
Herschel openly asked Count Van Der.
At this point, she accepted with a quivering look that it was hard for her to ignore Herschel anymore.
“So, if you’re an aristocrat then you must know the noble duel. A duel with our pride on it”
In this world, a noble duel is a duet between two aristocrats by revealing their names and identities and then throwing gloves to fight over what they wanted.
Regardless of their status, they can apply for a duel, and if one side asks for a duel, the other side has to accept it unconditionally. They also had to accept the consequences, and there was no retaliation afterwards…… That was the definition of the noble duel I knew.
“You are an aristocrat, and if you think of Miss Lena, please do not avoid it and accept my duel.”
Oh, my God, you’re really going to do that?
Even if this duel consisted purely of Herschel’s illusion, I need to stop it! But how?
“My name is Herschel Themis, and I challenge you as the second son of Count Themis.”
Herschel had already taken off all the gloves on his left.
He raised his hand as if he were throwing gloves. Now I really don’t have time to think.
Oh, I don’t know.
Slap–
The leather gloves slapped one side of the cheek and fell off.
At the same time, there was a sound ‘gasp’ coming from all over the place.
Chapter 12
Translator: Missme
Editor: Aru
“What Veloca says is true, I’m a little surprised, but that doesn’t mean you’re not the Lena we used to know.”
I bit my lip without realizing it. Because I’m not the ‘Lena’ they used to know.
“So let’s just relax your expression. This matter wouldn’t change our relationship.”
“Yes, and I actually ever thought that you’re part of an aristocratic family before.”
“What? How?”
I was frightened. I never told her, but she already thought that I was an aristocrat.
“By any chance, has any aristocratic habit infiltrated my act without me knowing?’
It was when I was on my toes.
“I just had that feeling. For a commoner like us, should I say you know a lot? For example, how to count and treat nobles. You were the first one to teach me how to treat a noble.”
As I reminisced, I remembered that when Lena first started acting, I remembered that she taught Veloca one thing after another.
Looks like Lena’s being an aristocrat has been noticed for a long time before.
“And your behaviour, or should I say, is too good-natured when speaking?”
“Veloca, does that mean we’re not too good-natured?”
“It means I’m not surprised if Lena is an aristocrat because I’ve always thought so. Get the context, you idiot!”
Veloca slammed Rael in the back while Rael said, ‘It hurts! Veloca!’.
Thanks to them, I laughed as if I had never felt bitter.
Hahaha— Veloca and Rael, who were puzzled for a moment by my pouring laughter, laughed together.
* * *
Even after confessing my identity, the relationship between the three of us remained.
But the time we could be together wasn’t that long.
This is because the last performance day has come.
‘Today is the last day.’
I was sad to hear that I can’t be on the stage for a while, so I acted and sang harder than ever.
Having poured everything out like that, I fixed my makeup and changed into plain clothes.
Because the Count said she’d pick me up on the day of the last performance.
I was looking around to see if I missed anything last, and I heard a voice crying through the window.
I opened the door to take down the bags I had packed in advance, then saw Rael and Veloca standing there.
“Rael, Veloca? What is the matter?”
“I’m here to help you with your luggage. It’s hard to move along.”
“……and see you off at the same time.”
“Thank you.”
There is no reason for me to decline. Actually, I had a lot of luggage, so it was quite hard to move by myself.
I was able to move my luggage easily with the help of Rael and Veloca.
When I came down to the first floor, the Count was already here.
She was talking with the theatre owner when she noticed me coming.
“Is that all your luggage?”
“Yes.”
“It’s less than I thought.”
I smiled lightly at the Count’s words. Actually, I also thought it would be more than this. There were so many clothes and shoes in Lena’s closet.
But when I packed my luggage, most of them were stage costumes, and there were only a few clothes Lena bought. So that was all the luggage.
‘Just going with what I need for now, if I need another later I can buy a new one.’
I paid off my debt and looked back, thinking lightly about the remaining money. I saw people working in the theatre company, including Rael, Veloca, and The owner.
In fact, we’ve only been together for about three months, but I was sad to say goodbye because I already got attached to them. Although it’s not like we’re going to break up forever.
I couldn’t even say goodbye because my heart was somehow feeling tingled, but suddenly Rael called me.
“Lena, will you take this?”
What Rael offered me was a flower pot. The flower pot, small enough to wrap all my hands around, was full of light green leaves.
“What’s this?”
“It’s Jasmine. The flowers haven’t bloomed yet, but the merchant said they’ll bloom soon since I think they resemble you……. That’s why I bought it.”
What does it mean that I resemble Jasmine?
I wondered, but I accepted his gift pleasantly.
Anyway, it meant he bought it thinking about me.
The gift was enough in its meaning and worth it.
“Thank you. I’ll cherish it.”
“It would be nice to come with that flower when you come to the theatre again.”
The moment I heard those words, the dead plants that had been growing in my hands for a long time passed quickly through my mind.
Oh no. I’m not good at growing plants.
“As much as I can…… I’ll try my best to grow it and not let it die.”
My voice trembled. It was quite a grim answer for me, but Rael seemed to think it was just a joke.
“You’ll be able to raise them well.”
Since he said that with a big smile.
‘Ugh, my conscience is stabbed.’
If he had seen dead plants on my hands, he would never have said that.
I tried to turn a blind eye to Rael’s smile. Instead, I held the flower pot tightly and looked at Veloca. Veloca shrugged her shoulders.
“I didn’t prepare anything. It’s not like we’re breaking up forever, and you’re going to come back anyway, right?”
Did I tell Veloca that I would come back after the Emperor’s birthday party was over?
Questions arose at the moment, but I couldn’t remember saying so no matter how hard I thought about it. So this was clearly Veloca’s only wish. Of course, I’ll be back later…….
Seeing Veloca looking at me stubbornly made me smile.
“Thank you, Veloca.”
“What?”
“Thanks to Veloca, I was able to adapt well here. Ever since I first came to the theatre till now.”
As I was speaking what’s on my mind, I realized that I had spoken my thoughts so much that I added a few words in haste. At my end, Veloca hit me in the arm with a mean smile.
“Oh, it hurts, Veloca!”
“I didn’t hit you that hard. You’re exaggerating.”
It really hurts.
I rubbed my arms and looked at Veloca in tears, but she only shrugged.
“I think it’s punishment for talking like someone who’s going to break up forever.”
“That’s unfair.”
“If it’s unfair, you can come back as an actor and hit me too.”
“Veloca, Lena is not as violent as you are…… No, I made a mistake.”
Only then did Veloca relax her eyes as Rael waved.
Then she looked at me and pulled me as hard as she could. I was a little surprised by the sudden hug, but I soon hugged her.
“Take care of yourself, come visit me often, okay?”
“Yes, I will.”
I nodded and her arm wrapped around me fell off.
Lastly, I bowed to the theatre owner who came out to see me off. She smiled kindly and waved at me.
After saying my goodbye, I was about to get on the carriage.
“…… Miss Lena! Miss Lena! Please wait!”
Not far away was a big, brown-skinned man like a bear running by my name.
When I saw a man running over with dark brown hair, my face hardened without realizing it.
“Oh, that man?”
Veloca, too, recognized the man and couldn’t control her facial expression.
I’m sure she did because the man was Herschel Themis, the knight who had been persistently coming to me for three months and begging me to hit him!
I haven’t seen him for a while, so I’ve been relieved, but I can’t believe he showed up like this.
‘What do I do? Should I tell him to leave?’
But it was faster for Herschel Themis to run to here and shout than for me to make a decision.
“I hear you’re leaving the troupe. Is it true?”
(T/N: he speaks like a man in historical drama)
That way of speaking, I never get used to it. In fact, I’ve talked to Veloca about it before. He looks like he’s in his mid to late 20s, and his way of speaking doesn’t look good on him.
I was embarrassed. I was wondering how he knew this.
“Why can’t you tell me? Are you really leaving the troupe?”
At Herschel’s urging, I came to my senses late. Oh, wait, I had a different idea. So anyway he asked me if I was really leaving?
“Yes, that’s right. But how does Sir Knight know that…….”
“It doesn’t matter now! If quitting the troupe is true, are the rumours true?”
Rumours? What rumours?
As soon as I tilted my head, the man shouted.
“That you’re being sold to some bastard!”
Herschel’s rumbling cry shook the air.
What, I’m being sold?
It was ridiculous nonsense to the point where I doubted my ears.
“I heard everything! That you owe a debt, and that he offered you a position in government using the debt as an excuse!”
The more Herschel spoke, the more I couldn’t manage my facial expression.
‘Who else is this rumour coming from?’
Of course, as Herschel said, it was right that I owed debt.
But the debt had already been paid clean with the money I received from The Crown Prince.
Besides, the rest were all untrue. The Crown Prince has never offered me a position in government.
I opened my mouth to explain. But it was faster for Herschel to act.
Suddenly he sat on one knee in front of me. And reached out to me.
“I think this is better, please marry me!”
“…… what?”
“I have no fiancée, and my parents are dead. Although I have one older brother, you can rest assured that he’s not involved in my private life.”
Herschel shouted in a very loud voice as if he could not see my embarrassed expression.
“Even if I am not good enough, I can reassure you won’t starve for the rest of your life! Rather than become the mistress of any bastard, please be my wife!”
By all means, Herschel already threw a bomb.
‘What the……..’
With a low sigh, I looked into the eyes of Count Van der without realizing it.
Maybe because the Crown Prince has been demoted to ‘some bastard’.
Herschel Themis doesn’t know about it but Count Van Der is one of The Crown Prince’s people.
Isn’t it obvious that she must feel bad when she hears something like that about her boss?
“Thanks for your words, but I can’t accept your offer, Sir Knight.”
“How come? I thought you and I were meant to be……and becoming my wife is better than some bastard’s mistress?”
Well, I’m not going to be a mistress!
“It’s a misunderstanding, Sir Knight.”
“Then tell me! Why are you leaving the theatre all of a sudden? What’s that bastard coming for, by visiting you recently?”
“That’s, I can’t tell you.”
I had no intention of telling my story here, so I shook my head resolutely.
“How are you so cold-hearted between us?”
No, when did you and I become so close that we became ‘us’? I have no memories of that?
“And why have you been staring at him? Is he the one who wants to get you into the government?”
Herschel, who has been begging me so far, turned to Count Van Der.
At last, her expression, who had been watching all this, became strange.
Meanwhile, Veloca, who knows the Count’s true gender, looked frantic with laughter.
Rael was reluctant to laugh and frown and said.
“This person is not the kind of person as Sir Knight thinks.”
“You don’t even have to hide it from me! How dare he make such an offer to you! You, come on out! Aren’t you ashamed to hide behind a woman?”
The louder Herschel shouted, the more embarrassing I was.
Look, the person you mistook for a man is actually a woman!
I wanted to shout loudly in my heart, but I couldn’t tell if I was allowed to talk recklessly, so I just bit my lips and looked around.
In the hope that anyone can help me.
It was then that I saw Bill watching all this from afar.
As soon as our eyes met, Bill flinched and quickly hid.
At the same time, I was able to sense the identity of the person who caused this trouble.
‘So, it’s you! You said it!’
I found out who started the ridiculous rumour, but I wasn’t happy at all.
Knowing this now didn’t help the situation at all.
“You! Didn’t you say that you’re an aristocrat?”
“Yes, but…….”
Herschel openly asked Count Van Der.
At this point, she accepted with a quivering look that it was hard for her to ignore Herschel anymore.
“So, if you’re an aristocrat then you must know the noble duel. A duel with our pride on it”
In this world, a noble duel is a duet between two aristocrats by revealing their names and identities and then throwing gloves to fight over what they wanted.
Regardless of their status, they can apply for a duel, and if one side asks for a duel, the other side has to accept it unconditionally. They also had to accept the consequences, and there was no retaliation afterwards…… That was the definition of the noble duel I knew.
“You are an aristocrat, and if you think of Miss Lena, please do not avoid it and accept my duel.”
Oh, my God, you’re really going to do that?
Even if this duel consisted purely of Herschel’s illusion, I need to stop it! But how?
“My name is Herschel Themis, and I challenge you as the second son of Count Themis.”
Herschel had already taken off all the gloves on his left.
He raised his hand as if he were throwing gloves. Now I really don’t have time to think.
Oh, I don’t know.
Slap–
The leather gloves slapped one side of the cheek and fell off.
At the same time, there was a sound ‘gasp’ coming from all over the place.
