Chapter 28
***
The dried lilies were still beautiful, but they paled in comparison to the fresh flowers in the hands of the beautiful young man. Not surprisingly, she felt hot inside.
The dried flower was like her. She tried to calm herself, blaming it on the fact that she still hadn't gotten over her appreciation.
"Your Majesty."
Handmaid Sophia entered the powder room, carrying a silver tray topped with a letter envelope. Lillian glanced in the mirror, glanced at the tray, and then scowled.
"Get rid of all the invitations. I'm not in the mood to go out."
"I remembered you telling Lady Laila in the salon the other day that you were going to see the premiere of an opera, so I brought them."
"......."
Lillian had not forgotten what she had said. Only, she had been drunk on the afterglow of the performance, and what had seemed natural to her then was now terribly off-putting. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say repulsive.
Sophia said politely.
"The premiere of 'The Curtain Rises' is at the Litch Theater. It's a nice, not-too-crowded theater, so why don't you attend?"
Lilian paused to consider whether Sophia's suggestion might or might not have been meant for the Duke of Schwaben. It seemed too trivial a matter for him to be involved in, but perhaps he thought she was too out of the loop.
But even if Sophia was a loyal servant of Schwaben, her orders were not given without consideration of all the circumstances. She had served Lilian for decades, and while she was not in a position to show it, she felt a human connection to her, and so she had given her permission, hoping to bring comfort to her depressed heart.
Reluctance and desire seesawed in her mind for a moment. But Lillian saw no reason why it should not be soon, and she had already told Lady Laila that she would go.
"I will."
She finally managed to get a throaty affirmative.
The maids began to chatter cheerfully.
"You have thought well, Empress. The Litch Theater is a dignified and beautiful place, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it."
"But to have the premiere at the Litch Theater, Lady Laila is quite capable."
"Isn't that all thanks to Her Majesty's favorable opinion?"
"Her Majesty, you're going to take us too, aren't you?"
Lillian only smiled vaguely and didn't answer. The maids were right. It would be a nice change of pace.
***
For the first time in a long time, the Litch Theater was illuminated from the street. It had been a long time since the theater had premiered a work that was supposed to be a big deal.
Although people who wanted to see the premiere of The Curtain Rises sent endless messengers to the Marel Theater and the Litch Theater, only a few received invitations. The Litch Theater itself had few seats to begin with.
Empress Lilian didn't let anyone know she was going to the premiere. She didn't even bring any maids, just a young maid named Frederica.
"I don't want to make a fuss," she said, "I just want to see the performance."
Sophia didn't object, as it was nothing out of the ordinary for the Empress to go to the theater.
When she arrived, the first three carriages to arrive were standing in front of her. A white-masked theater usher signaled to the coachman of Lilian's carriage to wait a moment.
Lilian was not offended, as she had borrowed Frederica's carriage to avoid giving away the fact that the Empress was out. But she was puzzled. She wondered if she shouldn't just get out and go inside.
As she looked out the window, she saw two black-masked guests get out of the carriage in front of her and follow the usher into the theater. The coachman drove the carriage out of the way, and after a short delay, the guests from the second carriage also got out wearing black masks. Frederica said with excitement in her voice.
"I guess there was a dress code."
"Was there?"
Lillian tilted her head.
"You brought the invitation, didn't you?"
"Oh, yes."
Frederica quickly pulled the invitation out of her small bag. Lillian took it and was about to read it by the light of the street lamp when someone knocked on the carriage door.
She looked through the carriage window and saw a man in a white mask. It was an usher from the theater, so she must have been let through by his escort.
She nodded, and the white masked man opened the carriage door.
"It is an infinite honor to have you, Your Majesty."
He held out a single, long-stemmed, fresh lily. Lillian's breath caught momentarily and she pressed her chest. Her heart felt like it was sinking.
This was the man she'd been thinking about every chance she got for the past few weeks. There was no way she couldn't recognize him, even with the mask over his face. Sleek, cool beauty, blue-gray eyes that twinkled mischievously, and blood-red lips.
But Lillian couldn't show that she recognized Zion Miller, for that would reveal that she hadn't forgotten.
Instead, she accepted the lily wordlessly. It was as if the lily had dried up and was blooming anew.
Frederica asked.
"Is there a dress code today? I didn't get it?"
"No. We're giving everyone masks today because we want you to enjoy the performance purely for the experience. You're welcome to not wear them, of course."
Zion spoke in a flirtatious tone unbecoming of an usher and held up the black mask and pamphlet to Lillian.
Frederica was about to take them for her, but she simply took them from Zion's hand first.
"Thank you."
Lillian prayed she didn't sound agitated. Zion handed Frederica the mask and pamphlet as well, then stepped back.
"Please put on your masks, and another usher will escort you both to your seats. I hope you enjoy tonight's performance."
He soon disappeared. Lillian stood still and stroked the stems of the lily. In the carriage ahead, the ushers who opened the carriage doors seemed to be escorting the guests to their seats as well, but they were the only ones who had changed, probably because Zion was the lead actor and they didn't have time.
Was he deliberately taking time out of his day to meet her?
‘It's not weird. I'm a special guest.'
If the Empress wasn't a special guest, then who was? Even as she thought that, Lillian couldn't help but be bothered by the fact that it was Zion, not the theater owner or Lady Laila, and that it must mean something else.
Frederica said, a little excitedly, as she put on her mask.
"This is something new, I know there are masquerade balls, but a masked performance?"
"Probably because I said I'd go quietly."
"Oh, I see! Good thinking on the theater's part, this way, even if someone knows the Empress is here, they won't be able to come up and bother you."
Lillian nodded and put on a mask of her own. The mask, made of black silk, covered her entire face, but it was lightweight and had large breathing holes, so it wasn't uncomfortable at all. The mouth was closed, which was a bit amusing, as if it meant not to speak.
Soon a second usher approached, and she got out of the carriage with Frederica and into the theater.
The seats in the best seats were plush and comfortable, with low curtains to the left and right of the seats so that no one could peek in on her as she sat down.
She sat down and placed the pamphlet and lily in her lap. She opened the pamphlet and realized there was a small piece of paper inside.
She didn't recognize Zion's handwriting, but it was unmistakably his. Lillian clamped her hand over her mouth, feeling her heart beat faster.
[Waiting room 3. After act 3.]
***
Foolish impulse.
Alone in his seat, Ezekiel stared out at the stage, lost in thought.
He had never been interested in opera, but it had been an impulse that had brought him to the Litch Theater in the first place.
He thought he might see Lady Laila again.
He already knew that she would not be on that stage anyway, due to the particularities of the palace's music salon and Princess Loella's temper.
'But as a troupe leader, she's probably here because she cares about this premiere.’
No, not necessarily to see her one more time, but that he would feel the same desire if another woman were standing behind the same production.
So it was a great production that day.
As he leaned back in his armchair thinking this, he heard a slight tug on the sleeve of his robe, and a woman in a black mask entered his space and sat down next to him in the empty seat.
It was Laila. Despite the mask, Ezekiel recognized her at a glance.
***
To donate for extra chapters for my series or to tip me visit my kofi page
Write a comment