Chapter 70: The Play (XIV).
The last scene of the play shocks everyone, the curtains close- the demise of the princess was clear. She is to be forcefully married to a man who doesn't love her and only wants her for the sake of the crown.
But thankfully the frog prince has been given time to stay in his human form in order to save his princess.
Analissa Blanchet is truly giving it her all.
When the singing concluded and everyone was on board with the plan to save the princess they closed the curtains, Lady Serene taking charge.
"Next scene change! The main characters should prepare while we have an intermission. Close the curtains and get ready to change the set!" (Lady Serene) orders and they did as they were told.
"Lower the curtains! And help me carry some of these heavy tables for the altar!"
"Slow down!"
"Careful putting it down alright?"
The heroine who just finished singing, now in a new tailored fit size of her prince costume wipes the sweat that was running down on the side of her face. In her pocket was the last empty bottle of the voice changing potion that was given to her for free.
"There's no more left."
After this… there's no going back.
"Whew…" (Analissa) stretches her neck as she gets out of the middle of the stage and decides to rest her feet, taking a chair that was prepared for her by a classmate.
"Miss Blanchet, you can sit here if you'd like." One of the girls offered with a genuine smile and Analissa lowered her head a little feeling a little happy. "Thank you."
She sat down and rested, looking over the intermission of the play while loosening her collar.
"Miss Analissa you've done really well!"
"Omph!"
Suddenly a hand landed on her shoulders, it was the actor for the evil Duke Pierre. He smiles and watches the intermission with Analissa. "Thank you… erm… you're Lord Chauver right?"
"Lord Keith Chauver, yes. I know we haven't spoken but I just wanted to say thank you for volunteering to be the prince. My family has been really looking forward to this play, especially my little sister." He gazes upon the audience where one in the private boxes there was a little girl who paid great attention to the play.
After all it's her big brother that's been casted as the antagonist, what's cooler than that?
The heroine thinks if she has ever heard of that name, she doesn't remember anything game wise but in terms of looks Analissa remembers vaguely of some character in the background that looked exactly like him.
'Oh right he's one of the side characters in the game. I think I often see him in a few of the game arts… The only difference is he usually doesn't have a face there and only shows his mouth.' She recalls back to that time, ah yes what good art it was. Pretty goofy but it shows that in the game he had no significant part in the story, but what if it's in the real world?
'I guess he's a lot more handsome when it comes to face to face.' She shakes her head. "It's nothing Lord Chauver, everyone has worked hard on this play… it would really be a shame if the play was ruined."
The hard work that they put in, imagine if the play did not continue!
'It was almost ruined because of me… no- because of that selfish masochist! Lord Ein!' She shifts the blame on herself and then the good Lord who is truly at fault.
Whatever excuse he has after this play, Analissa will not have none of it.
"Ah right, do you think we can help around the set? Maybe they need some extra hands…"
"I don't think we need to. We can just take a break and watch the intermission, they're singing about the exciting forced arranged marriage after all it'll be unfortunate if we missed it." The sound of Lord Keith's voice was mixed with sarcasm.
The noble girls and noblemen were dancing around, clapping their hands and celebrating the newest union.
"Our kingdoms will unite! Hooray for her highness! Such a spectacle like this is quite a delight!"
"The North and West will be together! A marriage so perfect even I can't believe it's true!"
"This is the first time I've seen such loveee~! Love between the princess and the duke, how thrilling and sweet!" The singing continues, their skirts fluttering as the two twitch their eyebrows giving a look of disagreement.
Analissa chuckles awkwardly, "The lyrics… Lord Ein made this."
"Yes… that he did. if I'm being honest, milady some parts of the play I noticed that it was a bit over the top." (Lord Keith) listens to the rest.
Analissa looks down realizing what scene would be next. "In the middle of the song Lady Evelyn will appear right by the altar right? The prince will almost die from trying to save her and in return they'll need to…"
The kiss…
"..."
Now that Lord Ein abandoned his role, does that mean-
Lord Keith opens his mouth to answer but before he could continue…
"Well-"
A tall figure walks over looking very happy to see that her prince charming has been resting. "Miss me already?"
Analissa jolts in her chair, not expecting the villainess standing behind her. "Lady Evelyn-?!"
The gown shimmered like moonlight on still water, woven from the finest silk and embroidered with delicate silver threads that danced in the candlelight. Its bodice, adorned with crystals and pearls, hugged her form with regal grace, while sheer lace sleeves draped softly over her arms, etched with floral patterns as intricate as frost on a windowpane.
The skirt flowed in layers of ivory and soft blush, cascading like a waterfall down to the floor and trailing behind her in a sweeping train that whispered secrets of royalty and romance. A veil as light as a dream crowned her golden tiara, completing the image of a bride destined for a fairytale.
It left the heroine astounded and unable to look away.
"You look-" She tries to find the right words but for that one moment it seems that she couldn't say anything but only swallow the lump forming in her throat, trying not to melt.
Horny and normal brain cell must be fighting for their lives inside of Analissa's mind.
'The villainess is really… she looks really…' Inside her brain the three braincells were swooning and wished this stupid wedding was real instead of a play.
Lady Evelyn waits for Analissa's answer and is a bit expectant. "Yes?"
"You look really beautiful."
"...!" The villainess, with a slight flush carefully tucks a loose hair behind her ear accepting the compliment, her heart beating really loud. "T-Thank you, Miss Blanchet. I'm quite delighted to hear you say that."
Lord Keith felt a little out of place, he wanted to say something but from the way these two talked to one another it was hard to break the somewhat sweet atmosphere that was brewing. He stares at Lady Evelyn, one could consider the two of them close acquaintances, their family being relatively close in negotiations.
He would often see her at parties, balls, meetings or just house visits- they tried to get along when they were teenagers never getting close though he has gotten good at reading her face.
In all of his life knowing the cold daughter of the Alarie family.
He has never seen her smile so widely like that.
"Go away, go away, go away… shoooooo… let them be…"
"...?" Lord Keith Chauver who admired the heroine, who also wanted to ask her out to be his girlfriend felt like… A heavy and dark aura was glooming over from one of his classmates.
"Hisss…!" It was Lady Harriot who wanted the heroine and the villainess to be left alone together for goodness sake. This man is getting in the way of her one true pairing!
Lord Keith lowered his head down, glancing slightly to check if what he's feeling was right. The ginger haired girl was still glaring, it's as if she was telling him to go and mind his own business.
"Ah right I need to go back to the changing rooms for a bit of a touch up. I'll be back before our part, Miss Blanchet. I'll leave the two of you alone for now." Feeling uncomfortable he excuses himself, breathing a sigh of relief.
Analissa felt that something was off and confided with the villainess, "What was that all about?"
He seemed to be in such a hurry.
"I'm not quite sure… However, I'm thankful for Lord Keith." (Lady Evelyn) couldn't care less about him, the only thing she's seeing right now is the girl right next to her. The only person that made her feel this way- a pulling feeling like an anchor against the deep sea, a flood full of thoughts and just…
She can't explain it.
She can't be away from it.
She can't believe her heart beats for it.
"I have all your time all to myself before the next part of the play continues."
"...!" (Analissa) has the tip of her ears turning red, what the hell is wrong with the villainess saying things like that without a second thought! It sounded like something else!
She immediately tried changing the subject, "L-Lady Evelyn! I'm sorry I volunteered to be the frog prince in this play without saying anything to you in advance. It was a shock to me. I didn't believe that I had the guts to act like this in front of so many people. Lord Ein just left us for some reason, I bet it's a stupid one." He's been making a few naughty mischief here and there.
Lord Ein is still currently enjoying the play outside with all the other parents.
Cheering Analissa on.
"I don't know if I made the right choice, your ladyship. I wonder if I'm holding everyone back with my mediocre acting or if I got some of the lines wrong. I'm just… I hope I'm good enough."
'So dashing, adorable and charming. Miss Blanchet… The role of the prince suits you so. I could tell that it took you much courage to do this. No one has asked you to do this role yet you do it because it shows that you care.' They watched the intermission together, the sound of the singing blending softly in the background. "You look quite fetching in your costume, Miss Blanchet. Serene really does a fine job altering it with such a limited time."
"You think I look good in it?"
"Mm… you look very good. Miss Blanchet, what do you think of everything that's going to happen after this?"
"Huh?" (Analissa) was baffled with that question. "Um… honestly, your ladyship I am not sure. I don't know what you mean by 'after this'. Do you mean the play or something else? Because… I am not sure either."
She tried coming up with an answer but for two, if she means after this play then she'll tour Farrah around as promised.
But if she means after the school festival then most likely be studying or working a few extra shifts to get some extra cash.
Lady Evelyn chuckles but she doesn't answer, "Miss Blanchet, if you think about it… this will be our second time."
"Second time?"
"Mm." (Lady Evelyn) who cannot continue any further with her discussion being bonded by a powerful spell, she took an oath with the other senior students that she's not to speak of that happy day ever again.
So she merely raises her hand to show her the ring that they've gotten as a souvenir from the marriage booth and chuckles with a flushed face.
"It will be our second time."
"O-Oh…" The heroine bites her lip finally understanding what she meant by 'second time', the memories of the marriage booth surfacing. It may have been merely a marriage booth but she never expected for Lady Evelyn to still be wearing the ring on her finger. "It's our second time getting married. Even if it was all fake and staged, still quite the twist. I truly… I don't know why this keeps happening to us."
It feels like fate's cruel joke.
"I don't mind it."
"Y-You don't mind? Ah right! I mean it's only a fake marriage after all and you know at least we got some practice beforehand for the play- ahahaha!" She laughs it off some more. "I-I'm glad we got some practice so you know I won't mess this up!"
Lady Evelyn tilts her head, leaning over her shoulder. "Miss Blanchet."
She says her name. "Don't be nervous nor think that you'll mess up. I admire your courage for taking a step when the class is in trouble. I have no doubt that from now on… things will get better."
Analissa feels the villainess' hands gently clasping her own, their eyes meeting in a gaze and for a moment the noise of the play has faded into a blur that made everything feel- overwhelming.
"Once the school festival is over… Can we go somewhere?" The villainess's thumb brushed gently across Analissa's knuckles, her gaze unwavering. "Just the two of us?"
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