Chapter 44

The date for the premiere of the first play at the Balthus Theater has been set.

A month before the premiere, a promotional banner was hung on a high-traffic street.

It had a black silhouette of a boy’s side face on a yellow background.

However, the boy’s nose was long enough to reach the end across the long banner.

Above the nose was a promotional text.

The boy’s long nose was designed to emphasize the promotional text by creating an underlying effect.

You did 000 and your nose got longer…….

A catchphrase that piques curiosity.

Below the banner, the title of the play, ‘Pinocchio’, along with the premiere date and a map of the theater, were neatly arranged.

Oscar Crestwell looked up at the banner and frowned.

“Not a bad painter.”

Objectively speaking, it was a banner that aroused curiosity.

Right now, even Oscar was starting to wonder why the boy’s nose was so long.

Moreover, the artist was so skilled that the imprint on the banner, painted in simple shades of black and yellow, was so powerful.

It was also clear that Marlena was determined to differentiate herself from the Crestwell Grand Theater.

Whenever they promote a play, they usually make the banner as colorful as possible. People can’t help but be drawn to the banner by its splendor.

But Marlena used the exact opposite strategy to grab people’s attention.

Simple, but powerful.

The contrast between yellow and black was so striking that even those uninterested couldn’t help but turn their heads.

In addition to the banners, posters were placed on bulletin boards throughout the capital.

Such simple and sophisticated promotional materials had never been seen before.

It was as attention-grabbing as it was unfamiliar.

There were even reports of poster thieves stealing them to put them up in their own rooms.

The way people were responding to the unfamiliar promotion was unexpectedly heated.

Oscar couldn’t stand it.

“Either they didn’t have the money to fill the space, or they didn’t have the taste. I guess they got lucky that their crappy strategy worked, and the public is a pig and a dumbass.”

He was being deliberately sarcastic.

However, the artistic skill of emphasizing the character through silhouette alone, and the color scheme that maximized contrast were not the work of a cheap artist.

Moreover, the placement of the elements was impeccable.

Such a minimal yet not empty composition was not something an untrained person could achieve.

In some ways, it could have been even harder to create than the colorful promotional materials Oscar always puts out.

But Oscar didn’t know that.

Although he went about his business with characteristic ruthlessness, the idea that performing was a shameful thing was so ingrained in his mind that he neglected to study allied business.

The part of the theater business he was most eager about was media ties.

It was the most efficient strategy in a market that was monopolized by capital.

Most people were too foolish to think for themselves, so they absorbed the opinions of those they believed to be intelligent.

Once again, Oscar did what he did best.

He bribed the press with a box of gold bars.

In response to his expectations, an article immediately appeared that ridiculed Marlena.

《The height of simplicity, promotional materials for ‘Pinocchio’… … ‘Poor’ Balthus Theater?》

Underneath the headline, scathing criticisms followed, suggesting that despite Countess Balthus’s ambitious business plans, they might be running a lackluster operation.

But that wasn’t all.

The other half of the article was devoted to the fact that on the same day as the Balthus Theater’s premiere of Pinocchio, the Crestwell Grand Theater was also debuting a new production.

In effect, it was a promotional article for the Crestwell Grand Theater’s new production.

* * *
“Unscrupulous!”

Katarina shuddered as she crumpled up the newspaper.

“They were already working on their play, and they threw it out on the same day as ours on purpose!”

I shrugged and spoke up.

“When did the Duke of Crestwell ever have common decency?”

“He said the Countess lacked vision. But that poster was excellent!”

I soothed Katarina.

“Didn’t you expect him to come out despicably? Come on, let’s practice.”

Katarina clenched her jaw and stumbled through the practice room door.

I picked up the crumpled newspaper she had dropped on the floor and crumpled it tighter.

I threw it directly into the wastebasket, and it made a cheerful sound as it landed.

For some reason, Oscar seemed to be grinding his teeth, as if wanting to crush me, after a few meetings with me.

But really, why is he overreacting so much?

Is it because he suddenly feels threatened that I’m too competent and wants to keep me in check?

Or maybe…….

‘Is it because he doesn’t want to pay alimony?’

I crossed my arms, my mind racing.

I wonder how many free invitations Oscar will hand out this time, maybe twice as many as usual?

He’s more concerned with keeping me in check than I expected, so he can’t afford to be snobby.

Even if he gives up some ticket revenue, my theater will be empty and his will be packed, which is exactly what Oscar wants.

But I won’t let him have his way.

“Oscar still doesn’t realize that my target audience for the play is children.”

He doesn’t realize that there’s money to be made in content for children.

If he did, he would have gotten into the children’s theater business a long time ago.

He’s stuck in the stereotype that it’s adults who buy tickets.

So, of course, he doesn’t think I’m aiming for a niche.

Even the much older Duke of Lopez has already figured that out…….

Oscar is thorough in what he does, but his thinking is rigid, lacking flexibility.

* * *
The Crestwell Grand Theater’s new production of “The Fawn” and Balthus Theater’s inaugural production of “Pinocchio.

The premiere dates of the two productions coincided.

As soon as the Balthus Grand Theater announced the premiere date, the waiting Crestwell Grand Theater announced that they would they would also hold their premiere on the same day.

Oscar predicted that Marlena would object.

‘Well, if she does, I’ll just jab at her confidence in her own play.’

He chuckled to himself as he imagined what he would say to her when she came to him angrily.

But contrary to expectations, Marlena didn’t show up.

The reaction of the Balthus Theater was tepid.

It was like a “whether or not” situation.

In fact, they didn’t seem to see what the Crestwells were doing at all, and they were eager to promote their own show.

Oscar was a bit perplexed by the different reactions.

He had planned to show his superiority by tearing them apart like a puppy.

Nervous that his plan had gone awry, Oscar went to the regular meeting of the Luces Club.

Marlena hadn’t been to a meeting in a while, busy with her theater company.

Oscar steadily solidified his position in noble society by consistently attending without absence.

Among the familiar members, Oscar, holding a champagne glass, glanced around at the people.

“By the way, did you receive your invitation to the premiere of the Balthus Theater’s play?”

“Oh, yes.”

A nobleman tipped his champagne glass, his beard soaked with the golden liquor.

He smirked at Oscar.

“But I declined. I had other matters to attend to that day.”

The “other matters” referred to attending the premiere of the Crestwell Grand Theater’s new play.

“Oh, me too.”

“So am I, Duke of Crestwell. I have my hands full.”

The nobles gathered around Oscar nodded in agreement.

Oscar’s spirits lifted as he realized that Marlena must have been feeling a bit down after the string of rejection letters.

He clenched his teeth to keep from smiling.

“It’s a worry. Perhaps I haven’t been considerate enough towards a newly emerging theater company.”

Still, he couldn’t help but let his voice lighten a bit.

“That would be like stepping on a child.”

People laughed at the cruel, arrogant joke.

What happened in the club lounge buoyed Oscar’s spirits.

He checked with his other connections, but none of the big names were going to Marlena’s premiere.

The thought of Marlena looking dejected in an empty, shabby premiere hall thrilled him.

And so, the day of the premiere arrived.

Oscar was picking out clothes in his closet when a suit caught his eye.

It was the suit he wore the first day he met Marlena.

As soon as she saw him in it, she fell in love with him and chased after him.

A memory that had once been horrifying now made him laugh.

Oscar took out the suit and put it on, then headed out of the mansion.

He even bought a colorful bouquet from a florist and held it in his arms.

He headed straight for the Balthus Theater, not the Crestwell Grand Theater.

After all, his theater would be packed with important people anyway.

He wondered if Marlena would be embarrassed if he gave her a bouquet of flowers.

Filled with anticipation, Oscar took his steps forward.