A scandal that could turn society upside down occurred. The newspapers extensively covered Enrico Michele and Vivian Carent’s date as if plastering their pages. Everything from their daytime meeting being public, the smiles never leaving their faces, to their outfits and the food they ordered was written about in detail.

And the incident from that day was still being reported on even ten days later. Emilia put down the newspaper beside her with a bored expression.

It had been a while since she went to his mansion for the performance. He also hadn’t visited Emilia’s home separately, and they naturally hadn’t seen each other for a long time. In the midst of this, when she first saw this article, she felt as if her mind momentarily froze.

‘It’s the same today too.’

She didn’t know why she felt this way. Was it because it was shocking to see them dating so openly when he had said he had never even met the princess? After lying to her that he had no plans to get engaged.

‘Yes, I think I feel this way because that lie is so ridiculous.’

If he really got engaged, it was unclear whether their current contract relationship could be maintained. Perhaps she felt uneasy in case he might renege on the contract. That must be why she felt so frustrated.

Emilia took a deep breath and exhaled as she looked at the opera house getting closer through the window. Now there was no time to worry about such things.

Today was the start of the [La Sylphide] ballet performance. It was finally her first stage in an important role, so she needed to focus solely on the performance, regardless of whether he got engaged or not.

‘From the beginning, all I have to do is dance.’

Even if he got engaged, she could continue receiving information as per the contract. The image of Enrico’s back as he turned away holding some woman’s hand flashed through her mind. Emilia stubbornly stared at the theater with a slightly hardened expression. The cool morning air flowed in through the window cracks.

The first day of the performance was busier than any other day. Emilia kept thinking about the stage in her mind while getting her makeup done.

Thanks to her promotion to an important role, she moved from the group dressing room used by the corps de ballet to a dressing room shared by just two people, allowing her to quietly do image training.

As she mentally went through the countless movements she had physically practiced, Emilia slowly opened her eyes at the sound of a knock.

“Emilia, a flower gift has arrived.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

Emilia quietly looked down at the bouquet placed in front of her. Fortunately, the ballerina sharing the dressing room was indifferent to such things and didn’t even glance at the bouquet.

The makeup artist merely mentioned that they were almost done and suggested she quickly check who sent it, but even that was soon forgotten as they had to move on to the next person’s makeup.

She fiddled with the card slightly tucked into the ribbon before picking it up. When she opened the card, a red rose petal that had been inserted inside fluttered down.

−May your value continue to rise.

A wry smile appeared as soon as she saw the card. That damn value, it seemed like it would follow her until death.

Was he constantly emphasizing it as if telling her not to forget her place? She thought she had built up an immunity to those words by now, but hearing them after a long time made her chest feel even tighter.

Emilia looked down at the card with cold eyes before crumpling it tightly. The card, losing its shape in her hand, soon fell into the trash can.

‘Let’s just think about ballet today.’

Getting distracted could easily lead to injury. To empty her mind as much as possible, Emilia closed her eyes again. The sound of a bell urging entrance could be heard from afar. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly.

How much time had passed? A voice calling for standby in the hallway was heard. The jade-colored eyes that slowly revealed themselves calmly gazed forward before turning away.

The sound of the orchestra captivating the audience filled the theater. Then as the curtain rose, the performance began with the scene of the sylph Sylphide suddenly appearing and dancing beside the sleeping male protagonist.

Emilia quietly watched Christina dancing gracefully like a fairy in a snow-white ballerina costume while waiting in the wings.

As she waited for her turn, Emilia continuously moved, rubbing rosin powder on her pointe shoes against the floor and stretching her ankles. When the previous act exited, she prepared to go on stage.

A happy smile appeared on Emilia’s previously expressionless face as the intense stage lights poured over her body.

Although there were quite a few choreographies danced together, it wasn’t like the corps de ballet, so Emilia fully displayed her talent when dancing solo. She didn’t hold back on jumps and didn’t hesitate to lift her legs high. The audience’s gaze naturally gathered on her as she spun precisely without moving from her spot.

As the story of the play progressed, mime gestures and facial expressions were required, but Emilia performed all of it flawlessly. Satisfaction filled the eyes of those watching the play, and gradually more gazes sought out Emilia rather than Christina, the lead role.

After her part ended, Christina nervously bit her lower lip as she watched Emilia dance from the wings. She had done her best and was satisfied with her performance which was better than ever. But the moment she saw Emilia’s dance, a deep sense of defeat shadowed her toes.

Her mood plummeted instantly as if she had stepped in sticky mud. She needed to focus on the performance and not get caught up in other thoughts, but the more she watched Emilia stealing the spotlight in front, the more furious she felt like she was going crazy.

‘I’m the lead, so why do I feel like a supporting character?’

Christina took a deep breath and exhaled her shallow, trembling breath.

‘…No. Don’t think like this.’

It was only the first day of the performance. If she worked hard, attention would gradually shift to her and she would surely establish herself as the lead role. Getting caught up in such negative thoughts now could make even her usually good movements falter, so focusing solely on the stage was best.

Christina gritted her teeth and waited for her turn. Soon, as Emilia entered the wings, the two exchanged places on stage.

As the play gradually reached its climax, with the male protagonist’s despair at seeing Sylphide’s death contrasted against Effie’s marriage to another village youth, the performance successfully concluded.

Clap clap clap−!

Soon, applause poured from the audience like waves. The dancers went out in order for the curtain call, and Emilia moved accordingly, then slowly looked around the audience while catching her breath.

She noticed Alessandro standing and applauding in the central box seat, but quickly turned her head away in case their eyes met, then her gaze stopped on the box seat where Enrico always sat.

“…!”

Next to Enrico sat a woman with black hair neatly coiled up. The woman’s appearance was elegant even from afar, with golden eyes like stage lights flickering between smiling eyes.

‘Could it be that princess…?’

For a moment, she thought she had seen wrong. But it was indeed Enrico’s box seat, and though partially hidden by the curtain, what caught her attention more was the woman whose face showed a smile that wouldn’t leave, visible even from far away.

Emilia felt her body, which had been hot until just now, grow cold. Strangely, her heart beat anxiously.

For the past few days, Emilia felt like she was being tested for patience. Enrico, who suddenly showed signs of possibly getting engaged, and Christina, who kept glaring at her and interfering with her movements, constantly disrupted her concentration.

Perhaps fortunately, though she wasn’t sure, Enrico didn’t come with the princess again after the first day until the last performance of the week. Since he only came to watch on days she performed, if they had kept coming together, her concentration would have likely wavered due to an inexplicable sense of dejection, so it was fortunate.

‘…Should I ask seriously when the performance ends? If the contract remains unchanged even if he gets engaged.’

The moment she had that thought, she felt her solar plexus tighten, but it was only for a moment. Emilia rubbed her stomach and tilted her head.

‘Did I eat something bad?’

When she got home, she should drink a cup of warm tea and go straight to bed. Perhaps because she had been tense all week, her body felt worse than usual.

A warm breeze gently brushed back her hair that was still slightly damp. Though she had just washed, the night breeze wasn’t cold and felt just right. Emilia looked up at the distant sky as she walked towards where the carriage was waiting.

The moon, especially large and round tonight, was so bright it seemed to reflect her inner thoughts completely.

‘I should probably prepare my heart in advance.’

For the possibility that Enrico might get engaged soon.

At the opera ball, he said he had no thoughts of engagement…

‘…Did he actually answer?’

Her eyes, deepened by the night shadows, shook greatly. Her expression gradually hardened as she stared into space as if tracing her memories.

‘He didn’t answer properly.’