Chapter 21

Oscar smiled. It was a gentlemanly, charming smile, but looking him in the eye, I could tell it was a sneer.

“You’re up for the challenge. Indeed, Marlena Rowissum…… No, Marlena Balthus.”

The undertone of his statement was that I was incredibly reckless.

By deliberately referring to my maiden name, “Marlena Rowissum,” he elegantly turned the criticism of my brazenness back at me.

For a moment, small chuckles erupted from the surrounding nobles.

I waited for Oscar’s next words with an unwavering smile. Perhaps finding some relief as people seemed to humor his “pleasant joke,” he continued with a smoother tone.

“Perhaps Countess Balthus thought theater management looked easy. Don’t you agree?”

He looked around for agreement.

A few nodded at Oscar’s words. Among the nodding heads, I recognized Duke Lopez, president of the Luces Club. A member of the Council, he also contributed literary critiques to newspapers. He muttered to himself in a serious tone.

“Countess Balthus probably only saw examples of theater management from Crestwell Grand Theater…”

Although Duke Lopez’s voice was not loud, the people standing close to him heard what he said clearly. Soon, the murmur began to spread little by little, like a wave.

“Oscar has done such a good job with the Crestwell Grand Theater; Marlena thinks it’s easy to run a theater based on that,” the murmur said.

I looked over at Oscar, who was smiling with his lips pursed.

Suddenly, everyone’s attention had shifted from my relationship with Oscar to my recklessness and arrogance.

‘Can Countess Balthus handle it? ‘

‘If she didn’t even participate in Crestwell Grand Theater affairs, isn’t she essentially inexperienced in theater management? ‘

I can see the doubt in their eyes. Well, it’s natural for them to doubt my abilities.

It’s not like Marlena was ever in the theater business, and theater was never her thing in the first place.

Even so, dealing with the overt skepticism and curiosity wasn’t enjoyable. Whether my expression stiffened or not, Oscar’s smile deepened slightly.

“You shouldn’t talk so easily and without any preparation. Running a theater company is not as easy as it seems, Countess Balthus.”

It was a tone as if pacifying a naive child.

I took a deep breath. Though the atmosphere seemed to shift towards Oscar’s side, I couldn’t afford to lose momentum.

This isn’t only about the debut scene for Marlena Balthus in high society. It’s also a place where I’ve ambitiously announced my new business, unofficially. If I waver under Oscar’s pressure here, people’s expectations of me would plummet.

My theater business?

To them, it would become just a trivial matter.

Even if rebutting him might seem like an insignificant puppy barking at a lion, it’s still better than tucking my tail and retreating.

I lifted my chin slightly, striving to appear confident and natural.

“Not at all. It’s not easy. How could such an important endeavor be taken lightly?”

Unexpectedly, Oscar’s expression changed slightly at this innocuous sound, his blue eyes turning slightly cold. He soon repeated himself in a very small voice.

“Something important?”

I didn’t miss the subconscious muttering.

“Yes, it’s important!”

I was starting to feel confident. A sentence came to mind, one spoken by Oscar’s father, the founder of Crestwell Grand Theater, Kieran Crestwell.

“Life is enriched by first-hand experience on the stage, and not only that, but it penetrates deep into the heart and shapes a man’s values.”

Looking around the room, I locked eyes with the Duke of Lopez. The corners of his eyes crinkled with a hint of amusement. As a critic, he seemed to know who I was quoting.

“‘Culture is an immense influence. It can change the destiny of a people, even of a nation.'”

That would have been a pretty classy retort.

It would have been a noble rebuttal, one that would have meant that while I aspired to challenge Crestwell’s theater head-on, I would take the words of the undisputed authority, the First Duke of Crestwell, to heart as a motto.

I looked at Oscar and smiled broadly.

But his demeanor was a little odd. When I countered him by quoting his father’s words, he showed no sign of correcting me.

In fact, he even looked a little ashamed. His reaction of clenched teeth and frowning made me feel embarrassed.

Those are great words, but as a son, you should be proud…….. Why is he reacting like that?

I stared blankly at Oscar as a realization struck me.

No way…….

‘Is he ashamed of his father? ‘

Why? His father is known for his outstanding skills and excellent character. It didn’t make sense.

I stared at Oscar, his neck slightly flushed, and as silence fell between him and me, the Duke of Lopez broke the ice.

“I recognize your ambition, Countess Balthus.”

“Ah. Yes, Duke Lopez.”

I turned slightly toward Lord Lopez’s direction and nodded respectfully. Through his thin glasses, I could feel his sharp gaze piercing through.

Though he smiled at me earlier, he would undoubtedly side with Oscar. Not only is he conservative, but he also has a personal friendship with Kieran. I shouldn’t let my guard down.

“Sandro Theater.”

He said it as if he were savoring the words with a playful voice.

“It’s a small, cozy, and exquisite space. Yes, you have the space, Count Balthus, but you’re still missing two things to put on a play.”

“You mean the play and the actors?”

Lord Lopez laughed again. It was a laugh that said, ‘My, my, how bold! ‘

That’s exactly the kind of laugh I wanted to create.

I looked around. Everyone was looking at my mouth. I had to wonder. Where was I going to find a playwright and actors to put on a play, now that the Crestwell Grand Theater had taken all the good people?

A light shiver ran down my spine. I straightened my back and declared as boldly as I had earlier when I’d announced that I was going into the theater business.

“I have countless great stories that can serve as original screenplays.”

How many of the planet’s greatest works are in my head.

Someone blurted out a question.

“What stories are you talking about?”

I squinted slightly in the direction of the voice.

“This is a story that none of you know. But I’m sure you’ll love it.”

Someone burst into laughter, but others mocked me, saying, ‘How conceited! ‘ Of course, such remarks didn’t affect me much.

I am someone who endured Oscar Crestwell so well.

Duke Lopez shook his head in disbelief.

“You want to keep it a secret for now? Is it the same for actors, Countess Baltus? ”

The question about the actor gave me pause. This is because the contract has not been finalized yet, and that’s because it’s been less than a day since I had contact with ‘her’…

I couldn’t push her to sign the contract right away, that kind of coercion is Oscar’s thing. I needed to be a little different.

But……. I was in a situation right now where I needed to get the excitement around my show as high as possible.

If the media would listen to me, I could relax a bit, but right now Oscar had shut down all my outlets, and this was the only place I could appeal to.

……I finally had no choice but to say.

“You’re going to see a familiar face.”

If the contract with ‘her’ fell through, she would have to take the stage herself. Whether it was her or ‘her,’ to these people, they were both ‘familiar faces.’

“A familiar face?”

“Are there any ‘familiar faces’ I can take with me?” it sounded like, because the Crestwell Grand Theater is sucking up all the actors in sight.

In the midst of all the puzzled faces, I spotted Oscar, and his expression slightly changed. He must have gotten the hint.

I was oblivious.

“I’ll be working diligently to get the play up as soon as possible, and I hope you’ll be there to see it.”

* * *

Later that day, late at night.

Duke Lopez’s butler knocked on the door of the Duke’s study, carrying a cup of tea that promised a good night’s sleep.

He didn’t wait for permission to enter. It was his routine to serve the Duke a cup of tea at this time every day.

There was no conversation between the duke and the butler. Duke Lopez, now over sixty years old, was free every day. The butler was secretly worried about him.

But that day was different.

The Duke, who was always tired after returning from a meeting of the Luces Club, was curled up in an armchair with his eyes closed, reading.

The butler smiled gently and set the teacup down near his arm.

“I guess something interesting happened today.”

The Duke of Lopez grinned at that.

“Ha, that’s right. Her spirit is amazing.”

“Who are you talking about?”

The Duke didn’t answer the butler’s question. He wondered what Marlena meant about how a great story would make a great play.

It was strange to be curious. Marlena didn’t have the eyes to recognize a good story.

The Duke shook his head and chuckled.

“Well, I’m strangely looking forward to it, even though I’m sure I’ll be disappointed. That’s …….”

Duke Lopez knew better than anyone else that the Crestwell Grand Theater was holding a tight grip on the capital’s performance business. Duke Lopez was curious as to how Marlena could act so boldly.

Is it simply because she is stupid, reckless, and ignorant of the topic?