As the participants all took their places, piano accompaniment began to play. The coach standing in front gave instructions with hand gestures, and the participants uniformly took the plié position, the first step in the barre exercise sequence, followed by other basic movements.

Emilia carefully assumed each position without neglecting any movement. Although it was practice for specific steps and poses, she couldn’t let her guard down for a moment, knowing that they were instructed to do this to thoroughly examine those positions. Her tense body began to loosen up, and heat started to rise in her arms and legs.

“Number 17, your lines are beautiful.”

“Ah- That’s Emilia Este. She graduated top of her class from the Academy of Arts last year. She has the benefit of joining as a full member, so her participation in the morning audition is optional, but she came anyway.”

“Indeed… Every movement is flawless. Her posture is good, and her body line is just right.”

“Yes. Not only are her basics solid, but when I saw her at the graduation performance, she was clearly capable of high jumps and executed turns well.”

Head choreographer Chiave narrowed his eyes as if recalling that moment. That day, Emilia Este didn’t just play the role of a fairy; her movements were as if a real fairy had appeared.

Her gestures, like gently swaying in the wind, and the angle at which she effortlessly lifted her leg backward while keeping her waist straight, were so breathtaking that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a work of art.

Even now, her ability to lift her leg higher than other dancers was exceptional. Her movements, seemingly delicate on the outside but solid and flexible inside, made him think that he might be able to incorporate various moves into the choreography that he had been holding back due to the dancers’ skill levels.

“For the choreographer to praise her to that extent, I regret not being able to see it in person that day due to other matters.”

“Haha, I’m worried that I might be raising expectations too high.”

“Hmm- You don’t need to worry about that. There are many flexible dancers, but it’s rare to see one with such strength, so my eyes keep being drawn to her.”

Deputy Director Silvia’s eyes were cool, but her verbal evaluation was gentle. The head choreographer Chiave, standing beside her, nodded in agreement, not taking his eyes off for a moment.

“How about we proceed with the next participant right away? Except for number 17, the skills seem similar, so we’ll need to judge based on other movements.”

“Let’s do that.”

“Wait. I’m not sure if number 17 is that exceptional yet. Besides, saying the rest are all similar… That’s too hasty a judgment.”

Director Carlo glanced at Deputy Director Silvia with a look of disdain.

“You must be new to this kind of situation, but we need to evaluate these things more carefully. We shouldn’t judge based on preconceptions.”

“…I’m sorry you found it to be a hasty judgment.”

“There’s no need to be sorry. I know you’ve had great success as a ballerina, but performing yourself and evaluating others are different things. We also have the role of seeing their potential and bringing it out. Tsk, anyway, just think of it as a learning experience and follow my lead.”

As if to say, “You’ve never even danced yourself.” Just overvalued for working at the opera house from the beginning and sitting in the director’s chair. Deputy Director Silvia’s eyes sank coldly, suppressing the thoughts she couldn’t dare to voice.

Sensing the ominous atmosphere, the coach quickly approached the participants and gave instructions for the next sequence. While hot air filled the interior, a strange chill settled around the judges.

Meanwhile, Emilia’s gaze briefly touched on the director before falling away. A flash of light crossed her calm jade-colored eyes.

As the audition ended, the judges instructed the participants to wait for a while as they would announce the successful candidates after deliberation. Watching the judges move to another room, Emilia, who was the first to go to the changing room, came out into the corridor, wrapping a thick shawl around herself to keep warm.

“Emilia!”

Emilia’s head turned at the sound of someone calling her name happily, as if they had been waiting. Then she noticed a man standing far behind. Tilting her head for a moment, wondering who it was, Emilia’s mouth opened slightly as she saw the face of the man approaching quickly.

“…Antonio.”

It was Antonio Chiavelli, who had been her partner two years ago. He was a talented danseur who had taken the lead role in “Giselle,” the year-end performance, in the year he joined the Avaliante Ballet Company.

Antonio approached with the same boyish face and kind smile as when she had seen him at the Academy of Arts.

“You finally noticed me. I waved earlier too.”

“Oh, did you? I must have missed it while concentrating.”

“Yeah. Looks like it. You’re still doing well, aren’t you?”

“Thank you.”

“The judges couldn’t take their eyes off you. They were particularly surprised by your jumps, and so was I. You seemed to leap even more lightly than two years ago.”

Antonio praised her enthusiastically. At his sincere words, Emilia bowed slightly again in gratitude and looked around once. As they naturally walked down the corridor together, she noticed they had moved quite far from the audition room.

“By the way, shouldn’t you be waiting for the role audition?”

“They said they’d proceed after announcing the successful candidates. It seems they called us from the morning on purpose to observe.”

“Ah, I see…”

She nodded calmly and stopped walking. Antonio, who had stopped with Emilia, noticed her gaze directed towards the changing room and grinned.

“Worried?”

“Yes. I feel more at ease waiting in front.”

“Alright, let’s go back. But what are you thinking of auditioning for? The lead role? I think you could even go for First Soloist right away.”

“No. I’d be happy if I could just become a Second Soloist for now.”

“Second? Why? You should try for the lead role right away.”

To Antonio, who reacted as if he was more disappointed than her, Emilia calmly shook her head.

“I don’t think it’s time yet.”

She had decided to refrain from actions that would attract too much attention, given her involvement with Enrico Michele. Although Enrico Michele might keep quiet well, if the sponsorship contract were to be revealed, it was clear that in this world where low-grade gossip runs rampant, that sponsorship would certainly be distorted into something else.

Foolishly, some people even interpret a ballerina’s sponsorship as prostitution. It was clear that from now on, people would definitely have preconceptions about her ballet.

She had given up her own sense of shame when signing the contract. But she didn’t want to become a daughter to be ashamed of in front of her deceased parents. Also, if Giorgio heard the rumors, he might immediately become anxious and push for marriage with Enrico.

Of course, she knew well that this fact couldn’t be hidden forever. It was just delaying the inevitable, but she wanted to conceal it at least until then.

However, even if her relationship with him were to be revealed, she wouldn’t regret the contract as it was something she had already prepared for in pursuit of the truth. Because her parents were more important than anything else.

‘They say the carriage parts were intentionally missing. And the coachman was found dead outside the carriage.’

What on earth had happened to her parents? Was it really an intentional accident? If so, who would do such a thing?

Emilia’s fingers curled, tensing up. Her fist, white as if blood wasn’t flowing, trembled from the excessive force. She didn’t completely believe his words yet.

How could one believe words without evidence? But if this turned out to be true, the reality was that she needed Enrico to uncover the truth.

‘I’m not an idle person. Rest assured, I’ll discard you as soon as you’re no longer needed.’

Enrico’s words seemed to whisper vividly in her ear. The softly twisted lips, the gentle curve of his eyes despite their lack of warmth. Everything was vivid in her mind, even his peculiarly beautiful face from that day.

“…lia.”

“…”

“Emilia?”

“Ah.”

Focus returned to Emilia’s blank eyes. Blinking once, her vision filled with the sight of her own feet, which had stopped moving.

“Are you okay?”

It seems she had been lost in thought again. Used to this state of mind recently, Emilia maintained a calm expression.

“…Yes. I’m fine.”

“You look a bit pale. Are you feeling unwell?”

“No. I just got a little nervous, I guess.”

At her strangely firm answer, Antonio’s face filled with concern as he parted his lips.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Huh? Okay…”

But before he could speak, Emilia took a step forward, as if cutting off his words. A bewildered voice called out from behind as she moved quickly away, but she didn’t look back.

Emilia’s face was slightly hardened. The pointe shoes she was wearing felt strangely heavy.