Chapter 121

The practice went smoothly as usual.

Today’s practice focused on Act 1.

Prince Hamlet of Denmark, studying abroad, returns home upon hearing the news of his father’s death.

The news waiting for him at home was not just his father’s death.

Right after his father’s funeral, a wedding between his uncle Claudius and his mother Gertrude was to take place.

“Hamlet, my nephew and my son.”

Claudius called Hamlet this without any hesitation.

In silent protest against this outrageous reality, Hamlet wears mourning clothes to the wedding.

“Hamlet, you look as if there’s a cloud over your head.”

“It’s not true, Your Majesty. The sunlight is just too strong, casting a shadow over my face.”

As soon as Claudius and Hamlet exchange these words, Queen Gertrude interrupts.

“My dear son, stop wearing mourning clothes and show some affection towards the king. You cannot waste your life thinking only of your father, who has returned to dust.”

Anthony’s role is that of the ghost of Hamlet’s father.

I glanced at Dahlia, worried she might get bored since Anthony hadn’t appeared yet.

Fortunately, it seemed I didn’t need to worry.

Dahlia, looking intrigued, was quietly focused on the practice.

However, she couldn’t contain her excitement when Horatio delivered the news of the ghost of Hamlet’s father appearing.

I clapped my hands and shouted.

“Skip Act 3! Straight to Act 4!”

Act 3 is where Polonius, a courtier of Denmark, bids farewell to his son and advises Ophelia, Hamlet’s lover, to behave herself.

Its importance is less compared to Act 4, and the script for it wasn’t completed yet.

The ‘Hamlet’ who had exited upon my clap repositioned himself.

This Hamlet is double-cast, both actors having been with our troupe since the beginning.

They didn’t stand out much when they first joined, but somehow they’ve grown this much.

However, since this is the first time both are taking on a lead role alone, delicate direction will be necessary, unlike when I completely entrusted Anthony with “King Lear.”

Hamlet goes to meet the ghost himself.

Indeed, the ghost existed.

“What is happening? What do you want? What should I do?”

After Hamlet’s long, painful monologue, Anthony, playing the ghost of the king, raised his hand.

Despite the lack of lighting and special effects, everyone naturally focused on his fingertips.

He slightly curled his finger inward.

Follow me.

Even without makeup, Anthony excellently portrayed the eerie atmosphere of a ghost.

Was it due to his meticulously calculated movements?

“Wow, ha.”

Dahlia, who had shown no reaction until then, let out an exclamation beside me.

For some reason, I felt a sense of pride.

Fussing over nothing.

Hamlet tries to follow the ghost.

However, Horatio and Marcellus stop him.

“You mustn’t go, Your Highness.”

“Let go of me!”

“Calm down. You mustn’t go.”

“My destiny calls me!”

Hamlet cries out desperately.

He even draws his sword.

Eventually, through the threat of force, Hamlet follows the ghost of his father.

“Straight to Act 5!”

I shouted as soon as the scene ended.

The actors were already in place, ready to continue.

“What do you want to tell me? Speak. I will go no further.”

“…Listen.”

Perhaps Lear and the ghost are similar characters.

Both enjoyed glory in life, were full of self-confidence, and met a tragic end.

However, there was no trace of “King Lear” in Anthony’s ‘ghost.’

The ghost was just that—a ghost.

Anthony kept his expression almost fixed, yet with just a slight movement of his head, he displayed a complex range of emotions.

Dignity, sorrow, anger… and a hint of slyness.

Despite “King Lear” still being performed, I was genuinely impressed by his ability to switch roles so easily.

I had recognized this ever since he played all roles except Pinocchio in the reading of “Pinocchio.”

“If you love this poor father…”

“Oh, my God!”

“Revenge this cruel and horrific m＊rder that violated the laws of nature!”

“M＊rder?”

“M＊rder is always terrible, but this one is particularly horrific, strange, and unjust.”

Hamlet is deeply engrossed in the ghost’s story.

He had already found it very unreasonable that his uncle Claudius and his mother Gertrude had hurried to marry.

The ghost claims that Claudius poured poison into his ear while he was sleeping.

Thus, as his son, Hamlet must point the blade of revenge at Claudius.

Shocked by the background of his father’s death, Hamlet decides to feign madness and bide his time.

“That’s it for today. Good work, everyone.”

I clapped my hands twice, clap-clap.

Then I smiled brightly at Dahlia, who was wide-eyed and beaming.

“For now, this is as much as an outsider can observe.”

“…Give me the contract. Right now!”

The contract was, of course, ready.

Dylan, who had been waiting beside me for some time, promptly handed it over.

Dahlia signed it without properly reading it.

Seriously?

Dahlia, having quickly finished signing, spoke in an excited voice.

“I’ll send the production plan by tomorrow, so please review it as soon as possible. Got it?”

How enthusiastic. Very good.

Oh, before that. There’s someone I need to introduce.

“First, this is the adaptation team you’ll be working with.”

I smiled and gestured to the people standing to the side.

“This is Becky Dartnell, the head of the adaptation team.”

But Dahlia didn’t pay proper attention to my introduction.

Her gaze was fixed on someone.

Her mouth twitched, and then she burst out laughing.

“What’s this? Meeting here!”

Her laughter prompted chuckles from those around.

Even though I knew she and he were acquaintances, I introduced him casually.

“And this is Jacob Hennessy, the adaptation assistant. Hennessy will handle less important parts, so you can freely assign him chores.”

Jacob Hennessy, once a star at the Crestwell Grand Theater.

Right after Oscar lost a bet to me, he flew to me like a bat.

I accepted him on the condition that he follow any script and listen to the adaptation team leader.

When he signed the contract, Jacob had no idea that the ‘adaptation team leader’ he had to follow was his former student.

* * *

After the rehearsal viewing ended, I headed to the palace.

A familiar-faced attendant led me to the tea room.

Since Princess Idvina had started smiling again, it was not uncommon for us to have tea parties.

I smiled and greeted the king’s sister.

“I’m not late, am I?”

“You’ve arrived just on time, Countess Balthus. Please, sit.”

I took my seat.

Even without asking, it was clear that we exchanged the usual greetings and enjoyed a pleasant conversation.

“Countess Balthus, may I borrow Roche for a moment?”

“Of course, Princess.”

And then the opportunity arose.

It was a familiar scene.

Whenever Princess Idvina held a tea party, she would often take Roche around the court.

This was partly due to Roche’s special position, but also to allow the king and me to talk freely.

No matter how much Roche was treated as a quasi-noble, we couldn’t expose all the dealings between the king and me to him.

“…”

But today, Roche hesitated a bit longer than usual.

Taking his time, he gave me a long look.

I pretended not to notice and mouthed, “Go ahead.”

My heart prickled slightly.

Without a word, Roche stood up.

Nodding to me, he escorted Princess Idvina out of the tea room.

I carefully picked up a sugar biscuit with a fork.

Despite my efforts, the biscuit crumbled.

“…I have something to tell you, Your Majesty.”

“Oh, go ahead.”

“It’s something that must be kept in strict confidence.”

I told the king about the situation in the Duchy of Rohitham.

I had mentioned before that caution was needed, but this was the first time I was providing such detailed information.

“Currently, we’ve made contact with the Duke’s close people. They also believe it’s best to bring Rudolf over here. Thanks to the barriers set up by the Tower of Magic, the Red Crows lose their power in our kingdom’s heartland.”

Then I proposed that we could use the cooperation of the Tower of Magic.

The king listened quietly, eyes closed.

“…If you provide full support, the Duchy of Rohitham will be greatly appreciative.”

I spoke confidently.

That should be sufficient.

“To lure the current Duke, Rudolf, into our kingdom where the Red Crows’ power wanes and capture him…”

The king had grasped the outline of my plan perfectly.

“Yes. Since Rudolf, the current Duke, seized the title in cooperation with the Red Crows, he likely knows a lot of information we are unaware of. We can use that information to dismantle the organization. Please grant us your support.”

I waited quietly for the king’s approval.

I was sure he would agree.

But the words from his mouth were unexpected.

“It seems difficult, Countess Balthus.”

…What?

“Are you worried about potential damage to Arlo Kingdom? If so, I believe there is no need to worry about losses at this stage. Because officially, it’s just an invitation for friendship…”

“Losses? That’s not the issue.”

The king interrupted me.

If not that, then what?

I stared blankly at the king, unable to grasp what he meant.

The king continued with a serious expression.

“Your plan, Countess Balthus, completely omits the role of the ‘legitimate duke’ of the Duchy of Rohitham. What role does he play in this? Has he agreed to this plan? If so, why hasn’t he come to see me directly? Why haven’t I even received a letter?”