When Pride Falls at Your Feet (19 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 13
“You received orders…? From Duke Michele himself?”
“Yes. I’ll serve you wholeheartedly to ensure you experience no inconvenience.”
“Ha….”
A sigh of utter disbelief escaped her lips. Now it made sense—she’d been baffled from the moment Enrico handed her this spacious, single-story house out of the blue: how exactly was she supposed to manage it? Clearly, he’d already planned to assign someone for that very purpose.
Though he pretended they were equal parties to a contract, Enrico’s attempts to control her however he pleased already filled her with disgust. Yet she couldn’t even voice an objection, fearing he might fly into a capricious rage—leaving her stuck in this frustratingly powerless position.
He could’ve at least given her prior notice; this was utterly impolite. Emilia lowered her head slightly and rubbed her face as if washing without water.
Had he deliberately kept it from her? Was this some scheme to monitor her under the guise of managing the house? Or perhaps he’d decided she wasn’t even worth informing—after all, to him she was just another soulless piece of art. A whirlwind of thoughts raced through her mind.
“Shall I draw a bath for you?”
Unaware of Emilia’s inner turmoil, Zabeta remained perfectly calm. Her composed demeanor, as though solely focused on fulfilling her duties, prompted Emilia to drop her hand and lift her gaze.
“That’s fine. But will I be staying here permanently?”
“Yes.”
It was a brief and clear answer. Realizing Zabeta had come under Enrico’s orders, Emilia felt there was no point pressing further. She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them and turned her head.
“The bedroom is this way.”
Zabeta, quick on the uptake, followed closely behind Emilia. Passing through the sitting room and down the corridor, they reached two doors. Zabeta opened the one on the left and spoke.
“This room is your dressing room. Would you like to see it now?”
“…I don’t have enough dresses to fill a room like this.”
“Don’t worry about that. His Grace has already stocked it completely.”
Just as she’d suspected—and precisely why she hadn’t wanted to go in. Zabeta’s words made her want to see it even less. Overwhelmed by sudden exhaustion, Emilia pressed her forehead with one hand and pointed toward the door on the right.
“Then the bedroom is this one?”
“Yes. The bed was warmed just a short while ago. Shall I assist you with changing?”
“I’m fine. But where’s your room?”
Emilia, who had been about to open the door, paused and turned around.
“My room is just here.”
“That one seems too tucked away in the corner. Isn’t there another spare room? I thought I saw one over there.”
“That room is quite sufficient for me. Thank you for your kind concern.”
Zabeta’s usual blank expression softened into a warm smile. Emilia hesitated briefly upon seeing it, then turned away. She gave a slight nod in response to the soft farewell from behind before stepping inside.
The spacious room was softly illuminated by candles flickering on all four walls. The unfamiliar yet strangely nostalgic space filled her vision.
A fluffy-looking bed draped with white lace canopy, green curtains drawn across a large rectangular window on one wall, a table before it, and a small fireplace set into another wall—all stirred deep nostalgia within her.
It felt as if she’d returned to her old home in Bacorta. The interior of the two-story house where she’d lived with her family as a child was nearly identical to this: solid wooden floors, warm ivory-colored bricks, and the small fireplace in every room. She could almost feel her mother’s gentle hands tucking her into bed.
The warmth of Bacorta, which she’d desperately tried to forget when fleeing to the capital, now churned painfully in her chest. Pressing the back of her hand firmly against her trembling lips, Emilia murmured as if sighing.
“…This isn’t the time to get lost in sentimentality.”
She squeezed her eyes shut as if to block out the view. Yet her wildly pounding heart showed no sign of calming—even as the once-warm bed gradually grew cold.
[This is the timeline separator]Emilia arrived an hour earlier than usual and, after warming up, stepped out of the rehearsal room upon hearing commotion in the hallway. A crowd had gathered before the notice board on the central staircase.
She quickly pushed her way through. A casting list that hadn’t been there earlier was now posted.
“Huh? Emilia…?”
Giuliana, who had already been reading the list, turned toward her with an awkward expression. Emilia gave her a questioning look before shifting her gaze to the casting sheet.
She slowly read down the list, which bore names for lead roles and major parts.
“I made it into Liz’s friends, and for ‘Clogs’…? Wait—there’s nothing for ‘Clogs’?”
Emilia’s expression stiffened slightly. Aside from the protagonist Liz, the two major ensemble roles were “Liz’s Friends” and the “Clogs” dance. Everything else consisted only of group village women’s choreography. She’d naturally assumed she’d be cast in the “Clogs” dance—and was secretly shocked to find her name missing.
Had she unknowingly grown complacent? Why had she taken it for granted she’d be chosen?
Was this what Enrico meant yesterday when he said she wouldn’t get all the roles she wanted?
She’d expected to be in both “Liz’s Friends” and “Clogs”…
“Emilia, you’re the only newcomer assigned to two ensemble pieces.”
Giuliana must have also expected Emilia to land the “Clogs” role—that’s why she’d looked so awkward. Still, she tried to comfort her by wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
“Hmph. So what’s so special about that?”
“Ugh… Eva, don’t start trouble. Just leave.”
“Oh? Giuliana, trouble? I’m just showing concern. As a former chief dancer, shouldn’t you have gotten better results?”
Eva, looking smugly between Giuliana and Emilia, wore a haughty sneer. Having always been overshadowed by Emilia’s overwhelming talent and never landing a lead role, she clearly relished seeing Emilia reduced to her level in the ballet company.
“Anyway, hang in there. Come to think of it, we’re both performing on the same day. Let’s do our best, okay, Emilia?”
“Sure. I’ll have to work hard.”
“Exactly. You really should work hard.”
“You.”
“…What?”
Eva responded a beat late to Emilia’s indifferent remark.
“What do you mean by that?”
“It means exactly what I said. Since you’re sharing the stage with me, I’m just saying you should practice hard—that’s all.”
Throughout, Emilia kept her eyes fixed on the casting list. Having said her piece, she turned away without once looking at Eva.
“Hah? Seriously? After all this? How is that supposed to be concern!”
“Eva! That’s enough.”
At that moment, a fellow dancer quickly pulled back Eva, whose face had flushed with anger. The colleague gave her a meaningful glance toward the surrounding crowd. Eva, scowling, rolled her eyes—then flinched as she caught sight of the disapproving stares directed her way and stepped back.
“Let’s go, okay?”
With wounded pride, Eva glared at Emilia’s retreating back. Though she should have felt triumphant, only a vague sense of unease lingered—so she stomped her foot irritably before spinning around and swiftly departing.
“Emilia, are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“…There might’ve been some mistake with the casting list. Everyone was watching only you during auditions—there’s no way the results could be like this.”
Walking back to the rehearsal room, Giuliana fretted beside Emilia, passionately arguing as if she herself had been wronged.
“No. I’m just… going to be content with dancing for now.”
“Really?”
Emilia entered the rehearsal room with a calmer expression than before and resumed warming up near the wall.
After all, she’d deliberately avoided lead auditions from the start to stay out of the spotlight. Seizing this chance to rise slowly wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“Well… I admit I’m a bit surprised. But nothing in life is guaranteed, right? I’ll just work harder from now on.”
Enrico would likely be dissatisfied—after all, he wanted her value to soar—but what could she do? Their contract only required her to dance well on the agreed date. True, she currently couldn’t refuse if he made arbitrary demands, but that was a problem for another day—she didn’t want to dwell on it now.
Speaking calmly, Emilia stretched her muscles. Seeing her composure, Giuliana gave a small smile and began stretching beside her. Since Emilia had already warmed up earlier, she was about to lift her leg onto the barre when dancers from the hallway started returning to the rehearsal room one by one.
“…I wonder what the next production will be?”
“Are you already thinking about the next piece?”
Most were focused on warming up, though small groups here and there chatted quietly. Since Emilia had taken a corner spot, only two dancers came near her—but they seemed more interested in talking than stretching, whispering nonstop.
“This season they said they’d add more productions, right? So there’ll be more roles to take.”
“That’s true—if you perform on stage, you get extra pay. I mean, we started this job to earn money, yet we’re still stuck in limbo.”
“That’s why everyone’s looking for sponsors. Didn’t you hear? Some even sneak into exclusive gatherings using secretly obtained invitations.”
“But isn’t that kind of thing risky? Most sponsorships arranged there are usually… you know.”
“I get what you mean. Clarice, who left last year, got her sponsorship that way. She somehow connected with Count Vallemont and ended up becoming his mistress, didn’t she?”
“What? Seriously?”
“Yeah. They called it sponsorship, but I heard it was basically a lover arrangement. After constantly whining about wanting to quit ballet and live comfortably, I guess her wish finally came true.”
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
_____
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