Divorce Begins with Remarriage - Chapter 15

Just as she’d heard, many people flocked to the opera house to watch the opera.

And journalists had gathered to see those who had come to watch the opera, even if it was just to pick up some trivial gossip.

“We should be able to pick up something.”

“Hehe. Last time, we managed to uncover Count Milieut’s affair here. Let’s wait patiently.”

A carriage that seemed to fulfill the expectations of the lingering journalists stopped in front of the opera house.

“Look, isn’t that the carriage of Duke Cyrilov?”

A carriage they never thought they’d see in a place like this was pulling in.

And out of it stepped the people who had been the talk of the town for some time.

Roberto Cyrilov.

And.

Berenice Dante.

***

Berenice and Roberto, as directed, linked arms and descended, facing each other with broad smiles.

It was clearly the innocent appearance of a couple deeply in love.

The man’s ears were red, and the woman, who linked her arm with his, wore a shy smile.

“Smile more, Roberto.”

They had agreed to call each other by their names to maintain legitimacy.

In response to Berenice’s words, Roberto cleared his throat.

“Yes, Berenice.”

Berenice intentionally adjusted Roberto’s lapel very affectionately.

“Let’s go in now.”

With Roberto’s escort, Berenice made her way to the box seat.

It wasn’t just journalists who were watching them; everyone gathered to watch the opera was looking at them.

They could already predict what the headline of the next day’s newspaper would be, even without reading the article.

Ignoring the people who were calling out their names alternately, they closed the door to the box seat.

A servant, which comes with the box seat service, was waiting inside to attend to the couple’s needs.

“I heard it’s more fun than they thought. Thank you for coming with me, Roberto.”

“Thank you, too. Thank you for inviting me to such a wonderful place.”

The two exchanged cheerful greetings and waited for the curtain to rise.

A brief yet lingering moment remained between them.

Even as they sipped the champagne served by the attendant and nibbled on simple finger foods, they couldn’t help but be conscious of each other. Despite the spaciousness of the box seat, they couldn’t sit far apart, especially with others watching. Their attempts to sit as close as possible resulted in their clothes, shoes, and fingers constantly brushing against each other.

Their shoulders, which were pressed together, were beginning to numb.

‘Can I even concentrate on this?’

It seemed like they were about to understand why the opera performance recommended that lovers come together. And in a box seat, no less. Cozy, and with their skin touching…

Having set the food on the table, the servant left the box seat.

‘It’s really just the two of us.’

Berenice let out a trembling breath. She pressed her restless heart and swallowed hard enough that Roberto wouldn’t hear.

Although she had been to the opera several times before, she had never been in a box seat reserved for just the two of them.

Berenice stole a glance at Roberto, who was staring at the stage with a stiff expression before the curtain even rose.

Rustle—

In an attempt to adjust her posture slightly, Berenice’s fingertips brushed against Roberto’s arm once again.

Once she became conscious of it, even the smallest movements startled her.

Startled, Berenice cleared her throat.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Berenice hunched her shoulders and turned her head abruptly, but Roberto still didn’t take his eyes off the stage.

‘Am I the only one feeling self-conscious?’

It seems a bit unfair.

So, Berenice took several deep breaths to maintain her composure.

Fortunately, her favorite performers appeared on stage. She used to look for operas in which those actors appeared whenever possible because of their rich vocal abilities.

“I might be able to focus on the opera for now.”

But that was Berenice’s hasty conclusion.

It didn’t take long after the opera started for Berenice to realize why this was an opera for lovers.

‘Why is the plot so sticky¹used metaphorically to describe an attitude that is overly obsessive or lewd?’

Berenice fanned herself, her cheeks continually flushing.

“This is driving me crazy.”

Berenice swallowed hard.

On stage, the female and male performers were singing with passion and dancing as if in a fervent, caressing embrace.

The plot of the opera wasn’t particularly heavy.

It revolved around a woman, compelled by her parents’ decision, to become engaged to a wealthy landowner’s son, despite her lack of affection. One day, while she was at a festival looking for a change of mood, she found herself in danger, was rescued by a poor apprentice knight, and fell in love with him.

The tender gazes exchanged between the apprentice knight and the leading lady, amidst their dire circumstances, were mournful, and their daring embraces were bold.

The leading lady, while saddened by her inability to reject the engagement forced on her by her parents, couldn’t help but develop feelings for the apprentice knight. Whenever the two met, there would always be heartfelt songs and sticky touches that followed.

‘Ah, what am I going to do!’

She had chosen the opera without realizing what it was about…

Berenice froze, clutching her dress tightly.

‘Ugh… Please!’

Berenice felt like crying as the atmosphere grew more intense.

She wanted to pretend to focus on the opera as much as possible, but she couldn’t. She shouldn’t have been so conscious of it from the beginning.

‘It seems like Roberto doesn’t have a care in the world…’

As she thought this, she felt a gaze from beside her. Berenice stiffened and couldn’t move a muscle. But Roberto continued to gaze steadily at her without looking away.

Feeling so tense that her eyelashes trembled, Berenice found it unbearable to withstand his gaze any longer and blurted out,

“Why are you looking at me?”

“Just because it seems like you’re watching attentively. Do you enjoy operas?”

“Oh, yes. I do.”

Berenice tried to appear focused on the opera again, but in reality, all her attention was on Roberto, who was watching her.

Her restlessness was obvious.

Roberto, who was right next to her, couldn’t have failed to notice Berenice’s uncomfortable mood. After alternating between observing the fidgeting Berenice and the stage, Roberto decisively closed the curtain facing the stage.

“Huh?”

Berenice turned her head towards Roberto, startled.

“Why did you do that?”

“Isn’t it difficult for you to watch the performance?”

Roberto asked with concern. In truth, seeing the leading lady’s inability to let go of her love for the apprentice knight even after getting engaged and married made Roberto think that Berenice was reminded of the pain of infidelity.

As the story unfolded, he found it difficult to focus on the opera due to his lingering concerns.

“Perhaps the content isn’t very pleasant to watch. And I’m sure it’s not something you’d enjoy, either.”

It was Roberto’s way of showing consideration, hoping that Berenice wouldn’t be hurt any further.

But after hearing Roberto’s words, Berenice realized he had misunderstood.

And seeing Berenice’s vacant expression, Roberto also realized that wasn’t the case.

“Ah…”

Roberto rubbed the back of his handsome head and started to draw the curtains again, but Berenice stopped him.

“Just a moment.”

Berenice shook her head.

“Someone might be watching, and there were a lot of reporters here today. If we close the curtain and then open it again, they might think we had a fight.”

The curtain hanging in the opera box also symbolizes a secret flirtation.

This curtain was often drawn, especially when watching such a sticky melodrama. She was concerned about what people might imagine from the outside, and rumors were sure to spread.

Berenice cleared her throat and opened her lips. It was easier to speak now that the curtains were drawn.

“I think we picked the right place for our date tonight. If we keep the curtains closed like this, rumors will spread that we are deeply in love.”

It was embarrassing, but thanks to Roberto’s innocent misunderstanding, the atmosphere eased a bit.

Feeling somewhat more at ease, Berenice relaxed her stiff posture.

‘He’s more considerate than I thought.’

Berenice smiled.

The closed curtain made their embarrassing singing seem relatively distant. It felt like gentle background music.

And Roberto reached a peak with the small emotion Berenice felt.

“Next time… it would be better to go see an opera that you would enjoy more. You said you like operas, but it seems like you didn’t fully enjoy it today.”

He hesitated before bringing up that topic.

“You remember when I said I liked operas?”

It was just a casual conversation they had during dinner the other night.

A fleeting exchange.

“Yes, I remember.”

This was just a pretend relationship for appearances’ sake.

A fake relationship to fulfill a deal.

But strangely, Berenice’s heart fluttered.

Perhaps it was because she was comparing his behavior to Livio’s.

Berenice responded softly,

“Okay.”

This man had a habit of making people nervous.

She’d noticed it before, that when they talked, their eyes always met.

His golden eyes, shining like the sun, never left Berenice. The sincere eyes that met hers were filled with warmth.

“Next time… let’s see each other again.”

Whether it was intentional, or if he was pretending to be innocent,

Or if it was genuine.

Berenice’s cheeks turned a subtle shade of red.

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  used metaphorically to describe an attitude that is overly obsessive or lewd