“It’s disappointing that after struggling to attend the arts academy, this is what you want. While there may be some like you who seek impure patronage, most people do ballet because they love it. Don’t insult this place with your narrow-minded values.”

A chilly silence descended. Emilia took in Professor Alice’s hardened face and Bella’s reddened face as she bit her lower lip. Soon everyone bowed their heads solemnly.

“This is the day you’ve gained after long preparation. Don’t forget your efforts.”

“Yes…”

“It’s 10 minutes before. Everyone, get ready. And Emilia, Masante.”

Everyone glanced around as they quietly moved to the waiting area. Professor Alice, who had been looking around at them, gestured in the air as if telling them to come closer.

“You two are the leads who need to carry this performance. Are you well prepared?”

Standing side by side with Masante in front of Professor Alice, Emilia gave a small nod.

“Yes.”

“Good. You know this is a great opportunity for you two more than anyone else, right? The Avaliante Ballet Company will be watching you two closely. It’s good to go abroad for auditions, but this company offers the privilege of joining directly as a full member, so try to seize this opportunity well.”

At Professor Alice’s whisper, the expressions of the two briefly but starkly diverged. The face of one who saw hope and one who had resigned – that contrasting change passed by briefly like being carried on the wind.

Soon the two nodded once and turned around to move to their positions. Professor Alice’s hand, which had been about to grab Emilia in puzzlement, stopped as the orchestra sounds began to fill the theater.

Finally, the curtain rose on the stage.

It may be a simple fairy tale, but perhaps a love that blinds in an instant is more dreamlike than meeting an actual fairy.

And when the object of that love is a beautiful fairy? Even if it’s an unrealistic story, a sweet tale that momentarily makes one forget reality was enough to captivate the audience.

Even if the male protagonist ends up losing everything, and the fairy’s wings stop fluttering due to his greed.

Until reaching that sad ending, the fairy on stage enchanted not only the male lead but also the audience, dancing lovingly with her wing-like movements.

The light steps of her toes, the delicate fingertips that made one impatient – just watching seemed to bring a spring breeze, beautiful enough to make one forget the harsh winter winds of reality.

The audience smiled along with Emilia, who was smiling happily as if she had truly become a fairy, and their eyes welled up with tears as they watched Emilia writhe in agony and collapse.

‘Bravo!’

Of course, the performance was a success. The audience’s seemingly endless encore requests and enthusiastic applause filled the theater for a long time.

So much so that the echoes of that cheering still lingered in Emilia’s ears as she sat alone in her room.

“…Why do I feel so empty.”

Emilia’s eyes were vacant as she returned alone to the silent dormitory while everyone else had gone to the after-party. However, her hands fidgeting with the ballet costume on her lap were painfully wistful.

It already felt like a dream that this skirt had fluttered on stage. Perhaps because it was a large dome theater unlike the small-scale performances she had done before, her heart had pounded exceptionally, about to burst with excitement today.

The shimmering movements under the chandeliers, the orchestra sound reverberating so loudly it felt like it would burst the interior, and the eyes of many people gazing at her in rapture as if looking up at her. In that moment, she felt vividly alive and breathing.

The snow falling gently outside the window continued to pile up as if covering memories. Emilia’s eyelashes fluttered briefly at the cold enveloping her flesh, as if telling her to wake from the dream and face reality.

“That’s enough… Let’s go.”

If not now, the chance to escape might never come again.

It was fortunate that Giorgio had tried to take Emilia away as soon as the performance ended, but seeing her surrounded by the crowd receiving congratulations, he had sent a servant to tell her to come to the viscount’s house as soon as the after-party was over.

He probably saw her being acknowledged by many people as increasing her value. That’s why that vile man had obediently gone back first.

She had secretly asked Juliana and slipped out, but once she arrived at the dormitory, it was difficult to pack quickly. She couldn’t take everything, but her movements inevitably slowed each time she touched an item, trying to take even a small memento.

Emilia slowly scanned the room one last time. Originally, it would have been a place she left lightly, expecting a new beginning, but now her heart just felt unbearably heavy.

“…Let’s really go.”

Emilia took a step forward, muttering quietly. Her legs, which had been moving slowly, gradually quickened.

Soon the large door opened and a cool breeze struck her cheeks. Feeling like the snowstorm might intensify if she delayed any longer, Emilia pulled her scarf up to the tip of her nose and strode quickly towards the back gate of the academy.

Although she could catch a street carriage waiting if she went out the main gate, she chose the roundabout way despite the physical difficulty, in case the viscount might have placed surveillance.

Unlike the theater district brilliant with lights representing the splendor of the year-end, the surroundings were dark and filled only with the sound of wind. Emilia walking down the quiet night road relying only on a small lamp was simply numb. Her jade-colored eyes, which had become desolate like someone whose emotions had died, blinked slowly.

‘Will I be able to get an ID? Even if I hide well until the new year, they’ll probably be waiting at the government office… Or should I just get on a ship right away to another country? Staying illegally for a while and then buying an identity… But will the money I’ve saved be enough?’

Perhaps because the cold wind cleared her mind, her thoughts belatedly became complicated. A long white breath escaped between her lips, which were gradually losing color.

“…!”

But then. The sound of crunching snow came from afar. Emilia’s eyes narrowed slightly. Her hesitant steps stopped as she watched the faint light in the distance gradually grow larger, conflict apparent on her face.

Should she stay still, or turn around and run away? Her heart pounded loudly at the approaching presence.

“Lady Este.”

However, before she could choose, the other person approached, calling out to her.

“Do you have a moment?”

Emilia’s eyes widened. An unexpected figure invited her.

“Duke Michele is waiting.”

While politely indicating the carriage parked in the distance.

Enrico quietly watched Emilia enter the carriage. Her movements were excruciatingly slow as she carefully sat down opposite him, shrouded in wariness.

As she hesitated with each step, seemingly conflicted, Enrico’s head tilted slightly as he silently observed her.

“…I greet you, Duke Michele.”

Shadows fell across Emilia’s face following the small light on the ceiling. Her cheeks and nose tip, reddened from the cold, were occasionally visible. And her trembling lips as well.

Enrico’s gaze briefly touched Emilia’s two hands clasped in front of her stomach. Her hands were visibly shaking, just like her lips.

“Sit down. I don’t particularly like being looked up at.”

“Ah… Excuse me.”

Her face looked more composed than expected. However, unlike her calm expression and voice that showed little agitation, her hands were still finely trembling as she sat down opposite him, swaying slightly. Her two hands placed on her knees could be seen clasping together quite desperately, as if praying to god.

Enrico’s eyelids lowered languidly. Beautiful eyes like amethysts embedded beneath were revealed as his eyelids slowly rose. A strange light flickered in those eyes devoid of any warmth.

‘Like a miniature painting.’

Emilia Este’s small face seen up close had perfectly symmetrical features centered around her delicate facial features.

Her large, teardrop-shaped jade eyes that seemed to contain the blue sea, and her well-proportioned lips like red rose petals attached, created an appropriate contrast with her snow-white face that seemed difficult to express even in a painting.

Enrico’s gaze, which had been staring at her aesthetic appearance as if appraising a work of art, naturally slid downwards.

Though hidden by the burnou coat below her long neckline, the lines of her body revealed when dancing had drawn quite elegant curves.

From her slender shoulders to her straight collarbones, her thin waist to her slender ankles. Everything looked delicate, but unlike appearances, her body was firm and knew how to move powerfully.

To the point where her image leaping high as if emitting intense light and fluttering like a butterfly felt as distant as a midsummer night’s dream.

Among living things, nothing particularly satisfied him, but she seemed to have enough value to bring him this far.

But that was it. A woman not dancing did not fully satisfy him.

Enrico leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. His downcast eyes shone arrogantly.

‘Is she not worth as much as on stage?’

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.