Chapter 4.1- Honey, Bunny, Pumpkin, Muffin, and Sasha

In front of the Flavium Theater, a crowd of people dressed in various costumes had gathered. From Roman-era generals to the Red Queen of Hearts, it was as if the magic of midnight had awakened all the protagonists slumbering in books.

Sally asked Natalie, who was dressed in a tailcoat instead of a dress, what role she was playing, but Natalie smiled and kept it a secret. Without a cape or mask, she still looked like an ordinary gentleman.

When the grand doors of the theater opened, the orchestra’s performance resonated loudly. The musicians, who were usually below the stage, were seated like protagonists on the balcony of the central hall just for tonight. The marble staircase of the Flavium Theater, the epitome of grandeur, looked like a splendid stage even without additional decorations. 

Under the light of the chandelier, Sally’s eyes sparkled.

“It’s absolutely amazing, Sister!”

Sally’s exclamation was drowned out by the majestic music, but her excited expression was clearly visible to Natalie. Watching Sally regain her smile, Natalie felt proud but unconsciously searched for Mr. Wharton. She kept scanning the crowd, each person wearing a different mask.

A noblewoman in a massive crinoline dress passed by, blocking Natalie’s view. Her red dress fluttered like stage curtains. 

The moment the crinoline curtain parted, she saw the person she had been searching for. 

Mr. Wharton was surrounded by people, exchanging greetings. He wore a pure white suit adorned with a cravat styled like a ribbon brooch. His appearance resembled that of a prince from a fairy tale, or perhaps a pure white angel due to the wings on his back. 

Natalie knew what role Mr. Wharton was playing. The beautiful muse of the phantom, the angel of music. Without a mask, his natural talent completed the perfect disguise.

“Go and say hello.”

Sally spoke. However, Natalie hesitated to leave Sally alone amidst the crowd. Sally, understanding her sister’s concern without needing words, smiled.

“Go quickly, Sister. I want to be alone for a bit.”

Confirming Mr. Wharton’s location, Sally pushed Natalie in that direction.

“You know you can’t just say hello and leave, right?”

After pushing Natalie forward, Sally quickly disappeared into the crowd. As Natalie searched for Sally, her gaze inevitably returned to Mr. Wharton. 

Their blue eyes met. 

Mr. Wharton smiled upon finding Natalie. Even as others approached him to strike up conversations, his attention remained solely on her. Natalie, too, only had eyes for one person in the entire crowd. She approached him, feeling as though his blue eyes were guiding her like stars in the night sky.

Even amidst hundreds of people, it felt as though she could easily find Mr. Wharton. 

Before she knew it, she was standing right in front of him. But now that she was there, Natalie didn’t know what to say and stood awkwardly. A simple “Hello” felt like a foolish greeting.

Mr. Wharton quietly observed her, as if waiting to see how she would greet him. Feeling his gaze fixed solely on her up close, Natalie suddenly grew nervous. Perhaps it was because the orchestra’s music was pounding in her chest.

“You look… wonderful today.”

Natalie offered the clichéd compliment with a nervous laugh. In response, Mr. Wharton softened his gaze and smiled gently.

“Miss Maron, you look wonderful as well.”

Hearing Mr. Wharton’s voice, Natalie’s tension eased, and she smiled faintly.

“You look even more wonderful, Mr. Wharton.”

At Natalie’s words, Mr. Wharton squinted slightly.

“Don’t you think that sounds a bit too formal?”

“Pardon?”

“Even strangers I meet for the first time today call me Mr. Wharton. But if even my lover calls me that, it doesn’t feel quite right.”

My lover.

Natalie still found that term unfamiliar. 

A pure white angel dressed in dazzling white and a ghost dressed in an inconspicuous black tailcoat—it seemed impossible for them to be lovers, let alone friends. 

Unable to close the distance between herself and Mr. Wharton, Natalie could only stand there and look at him. Sensing her hesitation, Mr. Wharton gave a mischievous smile.

“You do know my name, don’t you?”

“I do.”

“Then say it. My name.”

“…Here?”

Natalie glanced around nervously. Names existed to be called, but for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to say it easily.

“If not here, where else would you call me by my name?”

With laughter in his eyes, Mr. Wharton took a step closer to Natalie. Then, he leaned in close to her ear.

“Would you call me when we’re alone?”

Startled by the soft voice brushing against her ear, Natalie quickly covered her ear and stepped back, furrowing her brows.

“Are you teasing me?”

Instead of answering, Mr. Wharton simply laughed brightly.

“I’m not teasing. I’ve been thinking about it since last night. How we should address each other. I thought it’d be nice if we had special nicknames, so I came up with a few options. Pick one.”

“…….”

“Honey, Bunny, Pumpkin, Muffin….”

The more Natalie listened to the options Mr. Wharton listed, the more flustered she became.

“Can’t you just call me by my name?”

“You prefer Natalie?”

“Yes.”

Being called by her name was undoubtedly better than being addressed with all sorts of food-related nicknames.

“Natalie.”

The way he said her name sounded lower, slower, and more ticklish than usual. Natalie shivered slightly.

“Could you call me normally?”

When Natalie asked seriously, Mr. Wharton burst into laughter. His laughter was so innocent that Natalie couldn’t help but feel her mind clear.

“Why? Can’t I call you in a special way?”

“No, you can’t.”

No matter how much her heart lightened, what couldn’t be done couldn’t be done. 

With a perfectly fine name given by her parents, why should she be called by such strange nicknames? 

Natalie rubbed her ear, where his soft voice had brushed past like a gentle breeze. It seemed the problem wasn’t the name but the person calling it. The way her name echoed in her ears like a lingering melody—Natalie, Natalie, Natalie—left her mind in disarray. 

Shaking her head to dispel the ticklish voice, she closed her eyes tightly and opened them again, only to find Mr. Wharton staring straight at her. 

Having his suggestion rejected, Mr. Wharton’s clear eyes now showed a hint of disappointment. The smile lingering at the corners of his eyes faded slightly. 

It seemed this clever man had learned how to use such a look to shake someone’s resolve.

“Even if you look at me like that, it’s still a no.”

“Look at you like what?”

“With sad eyes. Anyway, it’s a no.”

Natalie firmly refused and turned her head. Behind her, Mr. Wharton’s low laughter echoed. 

While Natalie was busy steadying her wavering heart, Miss Windsor entered the theater, dressed in a classic Juliet gown. 

It was perhaps inevitable that Miss Windsor’s gaze fixed on Natalie’s direction. After all, the man who had once been her fiancé was standing behind Natalie.

Miss Windsor approached Natalie—or rather, Mr. Wharton. 

Natalie felt like an intruder standing between the two of them. Feeling uneasy about blocking Miss Windsor’s path to Mr. Wharton, she stepped aside slightly.

However, she couldn’t step too far away. Mr. Wharton had wrapped his arm around Natalie’s shoulder. Startled, Natalie found herself pulled closer to him.

Miss Windsor was equally surprised. Though her initial reaction was brief, she quickly masked it with a smile.

“It’s been a while.”

“It has indeed.”

Mr. Wharton mirrored her smile with his own, but his response was far less sincere. His courteous smile was paired with an indifferent reply. However, Miss Windsor maintained her composure.

“You look well.”

Natalie thought the meaning of those words carried a double edge: both “I’m glad you look well” and “Why do you look so well?” She knew she had to answer carefully. To win Miss Windsor’s favor, she had to show just how heartbroken she had been after their separation.

“My face is always in good shape.”

But Mr. Wharton’s response revealed nothing. Instead of showing sorrow over their breakup, he chose to display his confidence in his looks. Even if his words were true, it was undoubtedly the worst possible answer.

What on earth was he thinking?

Natalie couldn’t fathom Mr. Wharton’s intentions. She tried to figure out his thoughts, but meanwhile, Miss Windsor’s gaze shifted toward her.

“I’m Olivia Windsor.”

Natalie quickly composed herself and met Miss Windsor’s eyes.

“I am Natalie of the Maron Barony.”

Miss Windsor studied Natalie quietly. The silence stretched on, and Natalie felt compelled to break it to ease the tension.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

At Natalie’s words, Miss Windsor let out a faint chuckle.

“I haven’t heard anything about you.”

It seemed Natalie had chosen the wrong words for her greeting. Miss Windsor’s gaze returned to Mr. Wharton, silently demanding an explanation.

Among the three of them, Natalie was the only one nervous about achieving the goal of uniting their love. Mr. Wharton, on the other hand, remained composed, even exuding a relaxed demeanor.

“You may not have heard, but you already know, don’t you? After all, you’re the one who gave me advice, Miss Windsor. It was your words that made me realize who I truly love—”

Mr. Wharton pulled Natalie even closer into his embrace.

“—the one who has stayed by my side, Sasha.”

“Sasha?”

“Sasha?”

Both Miss Windsor and Natalie echoed the name in unison. Mr. Wharton, however, looked only at Natalie with a radiant smile.

“My beloved, my darling, my Sasha.”

Natalie felt that Mr. Wharton’s passionate gaze was less about expressing affection and more about demanding her acceptance of the nickname.

Sasha?

Of all the absurd nicknames, she couldn’t help but wonder what linguistic rules had birthed such a name.