Chapter 31
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9. Duke Klaus
….
After the success of the premiere, The Curtain Rises was the talk of the town.
The acting and singing were excellent, even though none of the actors were known in Sirah. The high proportion of dancing and acting provided non-stop entertainment, the stage direction was a new style that had never been seen before, and the idea of watching the show while wearing masks was intriguing.
Above all, there was scarcity. With only two performances a week, and the Litch Theater's small seating capacity, there was competition.
In social circles, being ahead of the curve was a demonstration of power and influence, so even nobles and socialists who had no particular interest in opera entered the fray.
Enthusiasts like the Marquis of Salier lamented.
"Those who don't really enjoy it try to sweep the seats because it's fashionable, and those who really want to see it can't even get in."
The theater's reputation was further enhanced when word spread that the wealthy Viscount Schletz had offered to buy the seats, but that the Litch Theater had refused without consideration.
Of course, there were many detractors.
"Love, betrayal, and revenge," they said, "and it's so tawdry and sensationalized!"
Either way, social circles were reacting furiously.
Lady Laila’s reputation soared accordingly. It was more like soaring than leaping.
"You say Lady Laila discovered a composer who was completely unknown?"
"He didn't even have a song published before 'The Curtain Rises'."
"That's remarkable, because come to think of it, the cast weren't exactly the most famous actors in the Duchy of Raniere either."
"They wrote the plots themselves, and I think they even wrote the lyrics to some of the songs."
"Oh, my goodness... that kind of stuff...?"
While many people commented that it didn't sound like something a lady would write, there were also a growing number of people who were genuinely fascinated by her.
"Don't dismiss it as conventional, but it's admirable that the nobles were able to take the story of a former maid who turned dancer so seriously. You can't do that without exploring universal experiences and human nature."
"What about the direction?"
"Actually, the best part of The Curtain Rises is the staging, which I'm told is Lady Laila’s main contribution."
"It was as if the whole scene became vividly real, even though there were only a few layers of curtains in the background, and the actors' ability to do so was remarkable, but the fact that they even attempted it in the first place...."
There were many noblemen who patronize theater companies and artists, but none of them have gained fame in this way. There was little distinction between praise for the opera and praise for Lady Laila, which meant that the entire social circle was filled with stories about her.
Whereas her former fame was built on her beauty and her ability to entertain, her current fame was built on her artistic eye and her sense of challenge. The two were distinctly different things, and when they were combined, they created an even greater current.
Princess Loella realized this for the first time at the Marquis of Krut's party.
Most of the women were wearing dark satin dresses with simple flowing silhouettes and heavy makeup. Their eyes were lined with long eyeliner, and their lips were painted a very deep, dark red or even crimson color. There were plenty of people who had dyed their hair black before, let alone now.
Loella frowned as she ran her fingers through her once-proud blonde hair. Her irritation spiked. Everyone else was doing it, and it made her feel like she was being outcast.
It wasn't just the color of her hair, it was the way she dressed. The cream-colored dress she'd gotten tailored last month had been so satisfying until she'd put it on. The lace that draped gently over her shoulders shimmered subtly, and the full, flowing skirt that started at her waist was made of layers of thin, luxurious silk and lace that swayed lightly in the breeze as she moved.
But she had to admit, at this moment, it made her feel quite childlike. This was despite the fact that there were still plenty of women who wore similarly voluminous dresses.
Everything about it was unsatisfactory. Loella lifted her cocktail glass in frustration, unable to hide her expression. The people who were trying to win her favor were gathered around her, saying all sorts of nice things, but none of them were catching on.
"I can't tell you how long I've been waiting to hear that the Princess will be here."
"Will you give me a chance to dance with the Princess once?"
"You look so beautiful today."
Then it happened. The door to the party opened and someone walked in. All eyes turned toward it. The attention that had surrounded Loella dispersed.
A small murmur spread.
"Lady Laila is here."
"Well, well. She looks different today."
Laila wore her black hair in a simple updo and a vivid red dress. The bodice, which covered her breasts with several layers of ruffles, was like a tulip, and the small pearl necklace around her neck looked like a petal.
The overall form wasn't all that different from her popular black dresses, but the boldness of her use of color set her apart from the rest. The simple silhouette, which emphasized her figure, left little room for embellishment, making her stand out from the crowd of similar-looking clothes.
Topping it all off was a face as white and beautiful as an elaborate, finely carved statue.
The man who had asked Loella for a dance let out a breathtaking admiration, and he wasn't the only one. Love her or hate her, there wasn't a man in the room who didn't take notice.
Ugh. Loella's hand trembled slightly. The cocktail glass overflowed and the red liquid dripped onto her white gloves.
Her maid, Countess Caroline of Dernburg, noticed and quickly took the glass from her hand. Realizing her mistake, Loella frowned, pulled off her gloves and threw them to the floor.
Thud.
She didn't just drop it, she threw it angrily, and the disparate sound cut through the music. The people standing around Loella turned to look at her, and the Marquess of Krut, who had been walking toward Laila, turned around and hurried over to her, greatly perplexed.
"Your Highness."
She bowed once more, bending her knees politely, and then asked.
"Is there something bothering you?"
"I just threw away my gloves because they got dirty.”
Loella, never one to hide her emotions, replied, letting her annoyance show. The maid who followed the Marquess of Krut quickly picked up the Princess’ gloves.
"I'll have a new pair of gloves ready for you shortly."
"Hmm."
Loella snorted in disbelief. The Marquess of Krut smiled softly, not the least bit agitated.
Tonight's party was bound to be a success. The presence of the Princess always enhanced one's reputation and prestige, and she had succeeded in inviting the hottest guest in society right now, Lady Laila. Her patience was boundless today, and she was happy to oblige no matter what the Princess did.
Laila walked over to greet the party's host and the Princess. The guests naturally made way for her.
This, too, was cause for excitement for the Marquess of Krut. It was no secret that Princess Loella disliked Laila.
The Princess felt that society should look up to and follow her, or if not her, at least her mother, Empress Lilian.
But the reality was different. Despite her beauty, Lilian never became queen of society because of her background. Instead, the position was shared by several ladies of society.
The only reason the Princess tolerated it was because most of the ladies of the court were over thirty years old. It would have been unthinkable for the older ladies, already married, or the older women, to imitate her, now in her twenties. Had they done so, she would have been offended.
But Lady Laila was different; she was only twenty-one, and she had turned the whole fashion of society on its head. She had even devalued the natural blonde color that Princess Loella had boasted of. A mere foreign noblewoman with the title of Lady, and yet the whole of society admired and envied her.
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