Chapter 2.6

Beth tilted her head.

“Are you saying you’ll return to the palace tonight to work?”

“No, not a work date. A date at the theater.”

“…A meeting at the theater? Is it with a foreign ambassador or something?”

“No, no, not that.”

Having accompanied Carnier to the Crown Prince’s palace many times, Beth had already concluded that their relationship wasn’t romantic. This led Carnier to repeatedly correct her assumption, slapping her forehead in frustration.

“A real date! Just His Highness and me, watching a performance at the theater!”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“I said yes!”

“Wow… Young Lady…!”

After confirming the truth several times, Beth finally covered her mouth.

“You’ve finally done it…! Congratulations…!”

“Ah, uh, thanks.”

Though, it’s just part of the plan.

Even Beth, her closest lady-in-waiting, didn’t know the true purpose of this pseudo-relationship. How could she ever explain it?

‘I hadn’t even thought about watching a theater performance together.’

Until last night, when her sister-in-law Aisha subtly handed her the tickets.

• A date…?

• Hmm, surely, Carnier. You didn’t think working every day at the Crown Prince’s palace was an actual date…?

• N-no, it’s not like that. It’s just… Since it’s all going to end anyway, I didn’t think there was a need to go that far.

The issue was whether her busy fiancé would even agree to it.

Carnier, who hadn’t even dared to hope, was startled when Aisha, who had been observing her, spoke up.

• Carnier, do you ever have alone time with His Highness in the Crown Prince’s palace?

• No…? Not really…

• Hmm, then would you be okay with being dumped in front of everyone, or even within the palace where ears might be listening?

• N-no

• Exactly.

Placing the tickets into her startled hands, Aisha smiled.

• I heard from your brother that His Highness had an external appointment canceled for that evening.

• Oh…

• And I told my husband that I thought he’d be late, so I made plans with you to go to the theater.

• …What?

• So, Carnier. Do everything you can. Leave no regrets.

Recalling Aisha’s encouragement as she firmly clasped her hands with the tickets, Carnier slowly opened and closed her eyes.

“Beth.”

“Yes.”

“I want to look prettier than anyone tonight.”

She had boldly made that declaration to him as well.

Half of it was to prevent him from refusing, but the other half was sincere.

‘Even at the very end… I want to look beautiful.’

Even if not now, at least enough to remain in his memory someday.

Seeing her resolute expression, Beth’s eyes also gleamed with determination.

“…Then we don’t have time to waste standing around.”

It takes time for a woman to prepare herself. Beth immediately knocked on the coachman’s window.

“Max! It’s urgent. Take us to the duchy immediately! Quickly!”

The coachman promptly whipped the reins. The carriage, carrying two determined women, sped toward the duchy.

***

The Gladium Theater was the largest theater in the capital. Its interior was luxurious, and the number of actors appearing on stage often exceeded a hundred. As such, the performances were always spectacular, attracting audiences from various social classes. It was especially popular as a dating spot for young couples, and gifting a theater ticket was considered one of the most common ways to ask someone out.

‘…I’m not sure if he’ll really come.’

As the sun set, Carnier hesitated to climb the stairs after stepping off the carriage. Aisha, who had accompanied her, patted her shoulder reassuringly.

“He’ll come. Otherwise, he’d be missing out on seeing such a beautiful Carnier, and that would be a huge loss.”

Carnier’s face flushed.

To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, she wore a mask to cover her face and donned a golden wig. Her appearance was completely different from usual. The elegant neckline revealed beneath the expertly styled hair by Beth resembled that of a graceful doe. She wore a form-fitting black evening dress adorned with a red rose corsage and a large diamond necklace that sparkled like stars.

Though she had draped a red shawl over her shoulders, its translucent material only added to her allure. It was a bold outfit she wouldn’t normally wear, making it perfect for concealing her identity.

Similarly disguised with a mask, Aisha lightly pushed Carnier’s back.

“Come on, let’s go. Today, no one will be able to resist you, Carnier.”

“…I’m here to get rejected, Aisha.”

“Oh, right. What I meant was, even while rejecting you, he won’t be able to take his eyes off you. Haha.”

“…”

“Now, hurry up, hurry.”

Aisha bustled around, dragging along the hesitant Carnier. Unable to resist, Carnier followed, occasionally glancing at the smile hidden beneath Aisha’s mask.

‘Something feels suspicious.’

But she didn’t have time to question her beloved sister-in-law. They soon encountered a theater staff member waiting to guide them to the most expensive box seats on the highest floor, which they had reserved.

“Thank you for visiting us today. I’ll escort you to your seats.”

Following the staff, Aisha and Carnier headed to the top floor. Since there was still some time before the performance began, the corridors were quiet—an intentional choice on their part.

“This way.”

“This way for the lady.”

At the highest floor, Aisha and Carnier parted ways. Following another staff member, Aisha clenched her fist in a gesture of encouragement.

‘Is she telling me to do my best at getting rejected…?’

While her support was appreciated, Carnier couldn’t help but feel unsure about the situation. With a faint sigh, she turned away. Luckily, the mask hid her expression, and the staff, unaware of her inner thoughts, politely guided her to the box seat.

As the curtain-covered door opened, Carnier, who had been about to step inside absentmindedly, hesitated for a moment.

Out of the two seats in the box, one was already occupied.

“What would you like to drink?”

“I’ll have the same as him.”

“Understood.”

The staff bowed courteously and left the room. Carnier nodded slightly at Luca, the masked knight standing against the wall, before heading to the empty seat.

Even as she gathered her dress and sat down, the man next to her remained silent.

Glancing sideways, Carnier murmured softly with a faintly flushed face.

“I didn’t expect you to arrive before me.”

The man, Servante, exhaled as if sighing.

“…It’s better to avoid drawing attention.”

He habitually pressed his fingers against the space between his brows but stopped midway. His hand was obstructed by the white mask covering half his face.

The rare display of human vulnerability made Carnier chuckle softly.

“You said this was a seat that required a partner.”

“Yes, there are only two seats here. Imagine how lonely it would be to sit here alone.”

“…And you didn’t consider picking just anyone?”

“Well, I did think about choosing someone from among the family’s escort knights.”

“…”

He swallowed a sigh and raised his wine glass.

“I really don’t understand what you’re thinking.”

“Is that so? I thought I’d always made my intentions perfectly clear.”

Their conversation was momentarily interrupted when the staff returned with the wine. The staff placed the glasses on the table and poured the red wine with practiced elegance.

As the staff bowed and prepared to leave, they glanced at Carnier.

“Madam, it may get warm once the performance begins. Would you like me to take care of your shawl?”

“Oh, sure.”

Without much thought, Carnier removed her shawl and handed it over. As her white shoulders, contrasting sharply with her black dress, were revealed, the staff momentarily froze. In the dim light of the box seat, her smooth skin appeared even more alluring.

However, the staff quickly composed themselves and accepted the shawl as if nothing had happened.

Carnier, whose vision was slightly restricted by the mask, didn’t notice this. Meanwhile, the man next to her, who had yet to take a sip of his wine, clenched his hand tightly around the glass.

“If you need anything, please pull the cord. Enjoy the show.”

After the staff left, Carnier reached for her wine glass. But at the same time, Servante set his glass down with a loud clink.

“You’re being too careless.”

“Am I…?”

Carnier, who had expected at least a toast, shifted her gaze uncertainly.

“I didn’t come here alone. Somewhere in this theater, Aisha—the Duchess—is present. We parted ways on this floor, but I heard the security on the fourth floor of this theater is quite good.”

“…”

“Your Highness?”

For some reason, he seemed more upset than she had anticipated.

‘Could it be that he had other plans during this time?’

If that were the case, he would have sent a formal message declining the invitation. The Servante she knew was someone who, despite drawing boundaries, wouldn’t leave her waiting indefinitely.

‘Or perhaps he simply doesn’t enjoy watching performances… But this is the most common type of date.’

Even if their relationship was half-forced, it was still a relationship. Watching a performance together was not only wholesome but also aligned with the “decorum” he valued so much.

Carnier, her eyes darting around, deliberately spoke in an exaggeratedly indifferent tone.

“In any case, you promised me, didn’t you? There are only four days left, so if you could just humor me a little longer…”

“Yes, those four days.”

Servante turned his head. Behind the plain white mask, his crimson eyes glinted coldly.

“Speaking of which, what exactly are we supposed to do during those remaining days?”

“What do you mean…? As I mentioned before, I…”

Servante waved his hand dismissively. Taking the cue, Luca quickly exited the box seat. Once they were truly alone, Servante stopped holding back.

“Now that it’s just the two of us, why don’t you speak plainly?”

“Pardon…?”

“Surely, you can tell me who you’re trying to provoke with this staged romance. Katrina Eseth? Or perhaps Consort Ailette, who recently gave birth to a son?”

A staged romance.

Carnier’s fingertips trembled faintly.

‘…So that’s what he’s been thinking all along?’

It was fine. After all, the purpose of this entire charade was to let go of her feelings for him. She had prepared herself to hear such cold words.

…But.

“…Why do you think I invited you here, Your Highness?”

“To avoid the prying ears of the Imperial Palace? And perhaps, to watch a performance that’s popular in the Kingdom of Weldon, so you could use it as a conversation topic when meeting their diplomats later…”

Servante’s words trailed off.

Carnier had suddenly downed her wine. Unlike her usual ladylike demeanor, she drank it all in one go.

“…You?”

Regardless of his reaction, Carnier emptied her glass in one breath. The sharp sound of her placing the glass down was as firm as Servante’s earlier gesture.

“…You pretended to grant me my wishes, but you never truly listened to a single word I said.”

“…What?”

“I told you repeatedly that I wanted to date you, sincerely and nothing more.”

Down below, people were streaming in to watch the performance. The lower levels were now bustling with activity, but the box seat where Carnier and Servante sat remained deathly silent.

“I’ll say it again. I wanted to date you. Inviting you here was simply a date request, like everyone else does.”

“….”

“It’s true that I wanted to meet you in a place without the palace’s ears. But that wasn’t because I was wary of those opposing us….”

Carnier looked at Servante. The faint bewilderment in his crimson eyes visible through the mask made her smile bitterly.

“I wanted to meet you away from the gazes that see me only as the Crown Prince’s fiancée, so I could express my feelings honestly one more time.”

“….”

“As you probably know, I have feelings for you.”

For a moment, it seemed as though his breath caught. At the same time, the theater lights began to dim.

Just before the darkness fully enveloped the room, her red lips moved once more.

“If you didn’t know, I’m telling you now. I have feelings for you.”

“….”

“So please, if you think I’m useless, criticize me and scold me.”

“…You.”

“Don’t ignore me. Reject me properly. That’s all I ask….”

To completely let go of my feelings.  

Her lips, stained with the color of wine, moved faintly before being enveloped in darkness. All the lights went out, and the spotlight shifted to the stage.  

Yet, in that darkness, the two continued to stare intently at one another.  

Amidst the applause, the actors bounded onto the stage as if dancing.  

He still said nothing. Perhaps he thought it wasn’t even worth responding.  

Even so, he didn’t turn his gaze toward the stage. In the dark, with his mask concealing his face, it was impossible to discern what he was thinking.  

And after a moment passed—  

“…I see. So that’s how it is.”  

Leaving only those words behind, he turned his head completely. If that could be called an answer.  

‘…It’s over.’  

At last, Carnier felt utterly miserable.  

She stood up, not even glancing at the performance that had just begun.  

“…Excuse me for a moment.”  

He didn’t stop her. That, too, was an answer.