Chapter 23
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Lillian panicked, thinking the woman was pleading with her. But the next moment, the woman jumped to her feet and threw the red silk scarf she had wrapped around her wrist.
Swish!
With the audience's eyes glued to the scarf, the song began. A rich voice filled the room, instantly captivating everyone's eyes and ears.
The woman said she was a maid in a noblewoman's entourage. She had grown up innocently in the countryside, but one day she caught the eye of a noblewoman who came to town to visit her, and she became her maid and came to the city.
The pay was good, and the owner was kind. She loved dancing - here she gave a truly great dance performance by herself, without a partner - and often went to the dance hall with men.
And one day, while at the theater, she happened to run into a boy from her childhood neighborhood. He had grown into a very handsome young man.
In a gesture of love, the performer turned toward the door through which she had appeared and stretched out her arms. There, the ladies gasped for a moment at the sight of a beautiful, wheat-colored, coriander-haired man with a bouquet of lilies.
The man walked in with the normal gait of a guest, not an actor. But four steps, five steps, he came to the center, and each time he faced the woman, his steps gradually turned into a dance.
Finally, the two fell in love. A double chorus of eternal sweetness began, and the woman's fluttering sleeves and light blue skirt danced around him like a wind nymph. Each time she did, he placed a flower in her hand and pinned it to her waistband and collar. It was as if he was trying to cover her in flowers.
It was a fine love song and performance, but it was tacky, Loella thought. This was what they had to do to be invited to the palace. The male actor was handsome, and the female actress was stunning.
She glanced over at Ezekiel, who was still sipping his wine with boredom.
‘I wonder if I could make him jealous?’
As she thought this, the song stopped and the band's playing faded. A single flower remained in the man's hand.
The strings lengthened, as if they were going to end it, and then began to play something completely different.
"Then, the woman appeared."
The female actress narrated.
"The woman I didn't recognize. She appeared as if she were drifting through the mists of night."
The white muslin curtain moved.
The man who had been looking at the woman turned to the curtain and fixed his gaze on it like a nail.
His lips parted slightly, and his expression was unlike anything he had ever shown before. Even though you couldn't see the look in his eyes or his expression unless you were in the front row, everyone in the audience could tell that the man's heart was racing.
They couldn't help but think, what's behind the curtain?
A woman embraced him from behind. The man sang in a low voice.
"Fearful, angry, mocking, expectant."
The woman backed him up with the same lyrics.
Layer after layer, the curtains opened.
"And yet I can't help but look, I can't help but hope, I want it to last forever, this can't be love."
"Love is what we do."
"I love her, so this is not love. And yet, I can't help but look, I can't help but hope."
The ten layers of curtains parted to reveal a human silhouette, a woman whose beauty alone was recognizable.
The man stretched his hand forward as if mesmerized. The audience felt the same way: they couldn't help but wonder what the woman behind the two remaining curtains looked like.
She hugged him tighter, but he took a few steps forward as if he didn't even notice. The woman loosened her grip and collapsed into his arms, as if she had lost the strength to hold on.
Finally, the last curtain opened.
Inside it, standing still with her head slightly bowed, was a breathtakingly beautiful woman. A wide-brimmed hat hid her face from view, but the exposed lips and chin were enough to imagine the beauty of what was hidden. The black silk dress that flowed down her body was so simple in design, yet so sensual.
Loella absentmindedly glanced at Ezekiel once more, and her head jerked in his direction.
Ezekiel didn't notice it as he was staring at the woman with unfocused eyes, as if mesmerized. No, he didn't lose focus, but it was as if he could see her clearly, as if she was the only thing in the world.
Thirsty as hell, he drained his wine glass without even realizing what he was holding.
"Ezekiel."
If Loella hadn't called, he would have stood up. At the sound of her sharp voice, Ezekiel suddenly realized he'd been staring at the mysterious woman in fascination.
"I knew it was foolish, I knew it was a sin, but I couldn't look away."
The male actor wasn't done singing yet.
He slowly approached the woman in the curtain and handed her one last lily. At the same time, the music ended.
The lights went out. In the darkness, the actress's final narration rang out.
"And just like that, she had stolen my fiancé away."
The performance seemed to end there. When the lights came back on, the three performers stood before the Empress.
Silence reigned in the salon for a moment. The emotions that had been assimilated by the man were still lingering in the air.
"Bravo!"
The Marquis de Salier, a lover of opera, was the first to jump to his feet and applaud.
"Excellent! It was only two songs, but they were well- made!"
"It was wonderful!"
The people clapped together as if finally coming to their senses. Even Empress Lillian applauded and spoke words of praise.
The last woman to appear slowly removed her hat and bowed gracefully to her.
"My name is Laila, of House Correr, from Laniere. Thank you for enjoying my humble craftsmanship."
The face behind the hat was as beautiful as anyone could have hoped. A few gasps escaped from the crowd.
"She is as beautiful as rumored!"
"Excellent!"
As good as the Marel Troupe was, Lady Laila’s behavior was even better.
Many people knew that she might be insulted today. It was a music salon that Princess Loella had invited her to, and she had read the intentions.
But Laila didn't sing or dance; she simply stood behind the curtain and accepted the flowers offered by the leading man. She was participating in the performance, but not acting as a cast. It was a very smart move on her part.
The people looked at Princess Loella with interest, but she was looking at Laila with a pale face, far from anger.
Empress Lillian didn't seem to realize it and spoke again in praise.
"I've heard rumors before that Lady Laila has a fine troupe, but I didn't expect it to be this good. Is there a story behind it?"
"It's a small music salon, so I haven't arranged it this time, but our playwright and composer are already working on it."
"I'd like to see that."
The Empress said, looking at the two actors standing behind Laila. Laila smiled.
"Of course. There would be no greater honor than to be the first to present it to Her Majesty. Besides, there is something I would like to ask you...."
"Tell me."
"It would be a great honor if you would allow our actors to present their greetings to Her Majesty in person."
The Empress nodded, her face turning slightly red.
Laila stepped aside and the two actors stepped forward. The female actress bowed first, bending her knees politely.
"My name is Luna of the Marel Theater Company, and it is the honor of a lifetime to be able to greet Your Majesty like this."
The male actor stepped forward next. In his hand, he held a single lily.
"I am Zion Miller of the Marel Theater Company. I offer my greetings to the Empress."
His demeanor was not as perfect as Luna's. The way he tilted his head and offered the flower, as if expecting to make eye contact with the Empress, seemed both rude and charming.
Lillian didn't rebuke it and accepted the lily. Her heart seemed to sink.
***
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