Lorraine’s smile seemed to make the whole world sparkle. Debbie watched her smile, completely entranced.

Despite her mature, sensual figure, Lorraine was a beautiful woman whose dimples when smiling gave her a particularly innocent appearance. Her bright, cheerful eyes were large and clear like a deer’s, and her small, round, upturned nostrils exuded adorable charm.

Her bouncy golden hair and carefully maintained fair skin highlighted her lovely face.

‘She was pretty before, but now she’s dazzlingly beautiful.’

Looking at her now, Debbie suddenly recalled memories she had forgotten.

Lorraine’s father was a doctor. He had trained his affectionate, sociable daughter from an early age to assist with his house calls, taking her along to help with patient care.

However, instead of learning nursing skills, Lorraine focused more on chattering to patients, lifting their spirits and comforting those worn down by illness. Noble patients would often press candies and delicious snacks from their pockets into Lorraine’s hands.

Her doctor father, who didn’t want his daughter behaving this way, would scold Lorraine to mind her manners.

― Lorraine, don’t bother the patients.

But what could he do?

When noble patients saw young Lorraine being scolded by her father, they would call her back as she was leaving and secretly stuff her pockets with generous amounts of snacks.

Although Debbie wasn’t close friends with Lorraine, she had received snacks from her. Everyone would gather around Lorraine, hoping to get some of the premium treats that only nobles ate.

Debbie, not being particularly sociable, was usually pushed to the outer edge of the circle. Yet the observant Lorraine would notice the excluded child and make sure to give her something when passing by.

― Hey. Your name is Debbie, right? Here, have some too.

Debbie never dreamed that Lorraine had noticed her being pushed aside, let alone remembered her name.

― Do you know who I am?

― Why wouldn’t I? You’re Administrative Officer Jones’s daughter, aren’t you?

That’s probably why she was so touched by the girl. It was the first time someone she wasn’t close with had made the effort to include an outsider.

Of course, food was power among children, and some would share food to become the leader of the group, but this was different.

There was a fundamental difference between a fistful of dry, hastily toasted bread crusts and exotic chocolate treats that most children had never even seen, let alone tasted.

After sharing these precious treats, Lorraine would call for everyone’s “attention.”

― Hey, everyone, look over here now!

In front of the children munching on snacks she could have kept all to herself, Lorraine would clear her throat and sing.

The snacks were payment for listening to her songs.

Opera was the exclusive domain of wealthy nobles.

The children had no way of knowing whether Lorraine was singing something she had properly learned or merely imitating something she had heard once.

Nevertheless, even to the untrained ears of children who had grown up without musical education, Lorraine’s singing was quite remarkable.

― Wow…

Children who had initially gathered for the rare treats would forget to chew, their mouths hanging open as they listened to Lorraine’s singing.

That’s the kind of girl Lorraine was.

Though the same age as the others, she was exceptionally bright and pretty, with a talent that set her apart from the dirt-covered neighborhood children in a way that was difficult to describe.

When was the last time she had seen Lorraine?

Debbie searched her memories.

In Terium, there was a downtown area centered around Seven Chambers Street, surrounded by intellectuals who served the nobility’s needs.

Lorraine’s father was a rather skilled doctor, so they lived in one of the larger, nicer houses in the area.

One winter day, Debbie was returning from the nearby cake shop with a custom-ordered cake she had picked up on her parents’ errand. The cake was so pretty and delicious-looking that she kept peeking into the box as she walked, admiring it with delight.

Crash!

Thud, rumble, clang.

She heard the thunderous sound of heavy furniture being partially destroyed, followed by the splitting of wood mixed with the desperate wail of a string instrument that sounded like a woman’s scream.

― I hate you, Dad!

― No more piano for you!

― No! I don’t want that!

― Just study like I told you! Don’t you understand what lies at the end of music?

― No! I want to be a singer!

― I don’t want to see my daughter ruined! What’s wrong with inheriting the family business and living a comfortable life?

― You don’t understand my feelings, Dad!

― Lorraine!

― No! I’m running away from home!

With a clattering sound, the door flew open and something rushed out, colliding head-on with Debbie.

The cake box in Debbie’s hands was already crushed before it hit the ground, ultimately destroyed completely as it rolled across the floor.

― No! My cake!

Debbie stared blankly at the person who had crashed into her during this unexpected incident.

Lorraine, smeared with whipped cream, was trembling as she picked herself up from the ground.

Debbie should have loudly confronted Lorraine for destroying the cake she had so desperately wanted. However, when she met Lorraine’s tear-filled eyes and saw the red handprint on her cheek, Debbie couldn’t bring herself to say anything.

― Hic…

Lorraine took a sharp breath, then burst into tears and lowered her head to hide her face.

She hunched her shoulders even more and ran away without apologizing to Debbie.

The kind, polite, and considerate Lorraine that everyone knew was nowhere to be found.

― Lorraine!

A beat later, Lorraine’s father rushed out with an axe in his hand.

An axe, of all things!

Debbie was so shocked she stepped backward.

The usually neat man had a terribly wrinkled shirt that day and reeked of alcohol as he looked around fiercely for his daughter.

― What’s so great about music? Singer? SINGER? I’d rather sell my daughter to a brothel with my own hands than let her become a singer!

Lorraine’s mother ran out and clung to his waist, embracing him with her whole body to prevent him from leaving.

― Calm down! I’ll convince her! Please!

― Stay out of this! This is all your fault! Not only did you fail to stop her, but you bought her a piano behind my back? Whose death do you want to see?

― I’m sorry! Now please calm down and put that axe down!

With this unexpected domestic dispute, neighbors opened their windows to look outside. Debbie, watching the couple’s physical struggle right in front of her, cautiously backed away to escape.

Of course, she couldn’t even ask them to pay for the ruined cake and had to return home to face a severe scolding from her parents.

After that incident, Debbie never saw Lorraine again. Rumor had it that she was sent to a convent somewhere far away.

Now, meeting Lorraine again as adults, Debbie was overcome with strange emotions.

She had thought Lorraine would become a singer, but instead, she was a bar dancer…

Lorraine was still beautiful—both her face and her heart. She greeted the other dancers one by one, calling them by name, holding their hands, and asking how they were doing with a dimpled smile.

Then Lorraine’s eyes met Debbie’s.

“…!!”

Lorraine’s pupils dilated momentarily before returning to their normal size.

Since Lorraine had run away the moment they had made eye contact before, Debbie’s lips dried up with fear that she might recognize her and flee again.

Lorraine seemed to notice Debbie briefly but then returned to casual conversations with the other dancers she was close to.

“Lorraine! Please introduce me to the Voluptas stage too.”

A brown-haired dancer named Mari pleaded with Lorraine.

“Why? The Phantom House stage is good too, isn’t it? You were bragging about the high hourly rate just the other day.”

“The clientele is different. I heard at Voluptas, you can pick up at least a baron no matter who you choose.”

“I heard the owner there is really rich. Can you put in a good word with him?”

“No, Mr. Fret is the real power. Try subtly hinting at him.”

“He’s a bit…”

The dancers exchanged glances, avoiding the main point.

“What about him?”

Lorraine looked confused about why they were hesitant.

“The final approval for performances goes through Mr. Fret anyway. So it’s better to ask him directly.”

“Stop it. Don’t you know? My goal is to live a long, quiet life.”

The other dancers laughed at this comment.

“Right. He’s a bit… you know.”

Unable to join the conversation, Debbie was just observing when her curiosity was piqued by the unexpected mention of Fret.

“If you say the wrong thing and get thrown into Raphsa across the street, your life is over.”

“True. No matter how far I fall, I don’t want to end up in Raphsa.”

The dancers all grimaced.

“Raphsa?”

Debbie tilted her head. Jane whispered an explanation in her ear.

“When Voluptas became successful, a similar entertainment venue called Raphsa opened across the street. Mr. Fret was furious, so he drove them out of business and ostentatiously turned it into a brothel.”

“Ah…”

“Raphsa tries to copy Voluptas’s stage performances, but its primary purpose is prostitution…”

While Debbie was listening to the explanation, Mari looked at her with unfriendly eyes and spoke up.

“By the way, who are you to intrude on our private gathering without permission?”

“Right. I’ve been wondering. I’ve seen Jane occasionally, but there’s a completely unfamiliar face sitting here like she belongs. Wouldn’t it be polite to introduce yourself first?”

The black-haired woman next to Mari chimed in with a pout.

Debbie moved hastily, causing the plates and forks on the table to clatter loudly.

“I’m Debbie Jones, a beginner dancer learning from Teacher Jane. Please take care of me.”

She hadn’t intended to intrude without introduction. The problem was that Lorraine had entered before she could introduce herself. Everyone was so excited to see Lorraine that no attention was paid to the newcomer dancer. That’s how she ended up receiving these glares.

“What’s this, Jane? Taking on students already?”

“It just happened that way, Mari.”

Jane forced a smile.

“My goodness, who’s teaching whom here?”

Several dancers, including the black-haired woman next to Mari, laughed at her comment.

“Fired for not being able to dance, yet you have the nerve to want to teach.”

Jane lowered her head, her face turning bright red. Debbie now realized that Mari and Jane didn’t get along well.

As Debbie was about to flare up at the blatant mockery, Jane gripped her hand tightly. It was a signal not to intervene.

When Debbie gave her a look that asked if she wasn’t angry, Jane desperately pulled her hand to make her sit back down.

That’s when it happened.

“Jane has solid fundamentals.”

Lorraine interjected.

“Mari, not everyone learns as easily as you do. Even though Jane may lack agility and flexibility, her posture is nearly textbook perfect. There’s nothing better for a beginner to learn.”

With that single comment from Lorraine, the atmosphere changed completely.