Episode 7
Randell took off his hat and ruffled his messy hair before turning to her.
“Let’s just call this a promotion fee.”
‘That annoying smirk again!’
Autumn was speechless as she watched Randell casually calculating in his head even in this situation.
“Don’t you hear that? The crowd is rushing toward our Austin theater.”
“Y-Yes, I guess so.”
Autumn quickly turned away from him.
‘Ugh, so irritating.’
She leaned quietly against the stairs leading to the outdoor stage and looked around the theater.
‘So this is what it’s like inside.’
This was a restricted area, only accessible to theater staff.
But since earlier, she had been feeling someone’s unpleasant gaze on her back.
“…Just as I thought.”
“What?”
Randell almost accidentally said his thoughts out loud.
‘Too careless…’
He thought to himself.
Even after what happened earlier, that woman still showed her bare face without caution.
There was no guarantee someone would be around to help her if something happened again.
Randell muttered again into the empty space.
“Sigh… From now on, I hope you avoid appearing in public like today.”
Just then, noise came from upstairs.
“Man, this practice never ends!”
This time, Autumn quickly grabbed Randell’s collar and dragged him into a corner.
“If you don’t want to get caught being here with me, hide over here!”
They squeezed together in a narrow space between temporary walls.
Autumn didn’t seem to notice, but Randell’s ears and the back of his neck quickly turned red.
“Th-This is…”
“You said we have to finish what we started.”
“Lucien, you kept messing up your lines today—can you really perform next week?”
“Hey, I do better in real shows. Are you saying your acting is perfect?”
A group of actors passed above them.
Autumn secretly watched them with envy.
“Phew~ We didn’t get caught.”
“Do you want to look around the troupe?”
“Yes!”
As she turned toward the noise, their eyes met again—just a hand’s width apart.
‘Oops, I was too loud.’
Autumn quietly let go of his collar and looked toward where the group had gone.
“Ahem… It’s my first time inside. If it’s not a problem, I’d like to look around before I leave.”
“Well… I’ll have to come back for practice anyway.”
Randell quickly hid the change in his tone.
He returned to his usual expression, but his eyes looked slightly sharper as he stared at her.
“…Alright.”
‘Yes!’
But as Autumn celebrated inside, Randell added another condition.
“In return, there’s a condition.”
“You shouldn’t show your face inside the building either.”
He continued speaking from outside the dressing room.
“…You saw what happened earlier. Your identity can’t be revealed yet.”
Ah, I see.
But as Autumn changed out of her dress, she secretly felt relieved.
“Actually, that’s better for me.”
She and Rosalyn looked similar, but not exactly the same.
For example, Autumn was a little taller—or…
‘The small scar on my knee.’
She rolled up her stockings in the narrow space and checked it.
It wasn’t common for a woman in a fancy dress to reveal her legs, but just in case, she decided to be cautious.
“Also, there’s no need to tell the other actors either.”
“…A secret clause, huh?”
As Autumn stepped out of the dressing room, Randell looked her up and down with crossed arms.
He kept talking.
“Even if it’s not your style, please understand.”
“Thanks. I’ll wear it well.”
Autumn lightly swirled her dress and glanced at him.
“Anyway, just being seen together might make tomorrow’s newspaper front page. You better be careful if you’re going to walk around with me, Director.”
With that, she jumped up from her seat, eager to explore the theater.
“Well then, shall we go to the practice roo—”
But her high heels slipped dangerously under her long dress.
Just then, someone’s strong arm wrapped around her waist and caught her.
She didn’t fall, but she clearly heard his annoyed mumble.
“You lost weight quickly.”
He grabbed her thin wrist with a displeased expression.
“How did he know?”
Autumn’s eyes widened.
“There’s no way the great Rosalyn Kise would stumble in high heels like this…”
“Wh-What? Are you saying I can’t even walk in basic heels? I could wear these with my eyes closed!”
Randell’s offhand comment shook her deeply.
“Anyway, just don’t collapse on stage.”
He continued calmly, as if recalling past memories.
“In our troupe, collapsing off stage is not acceptable.”
Ugh, nagging again.
Autumn almost yawned but held it back—it felt rude in front of him.
“Yeah, yeah! I’ve been dieting hard. You’re good at noticing! Should’ve added that to the contract too!”
“Isn’t that basic?”
‘Tch, like he’s ever been in my shoes… All talk.’
Their annoyed gazes met midair.
‘So stubborn.’
“This is all your fault…”
This man—sharp, picky, and always watching—yet missing the important parts.
He gently placed her back down on the ground.
“Husson.”
“Yes, here you go~”
He knelt and carefully helped Autumn put on more comfortable shoes.
Feeling the gentle touch on her ankle and the more comfortable shoes, Autumn almost thought about being nicer to him.
Then—
“Your hand, please.”
Randell suddenly held out his hand to her.
But Autumn wasn’t used to being escorted.
She hesitated before placing her hand in his.
“Do you even know where the practice rooms are?”
She had no idea.
“The hallway behind the stage—most people don’t know it.”
Seeing her hesitate, Randell smoothly continued.
“I’ll escort you.”
So strict, but can’t he say it more kindly?
This isn’t because she liked it.
“Hurry.”
His voice, used to commanding people, had a strange power.
In the end, Randell lost patience and tightly grabbed her hand.
Thump, thump
It wasn’t because she was nervous. Definitely not.
Was it the excitement of finally walking behind the stage?
Or because she was holding hands with a strange man?
‘Men in the capital must all escort ladies like this… Don’t act so country-like.’
Randell, though expressionless, moved gracefully like he was born with manners.
It was her first time being escorted by such a man…
“Haha, it’s a bit warm, isn’t it?”
“…It seems so.”
She laughed awkwardly, afraid he’d notice her nervousness.
“This is the reception room. When investors visit, we bring them here first. And over here…”
As they toured the theater with Husson’s explanations and Randell’s occasional comments…
Thud, thud
A man—likely a staff member—ran toward them.
“Director! There’s an urgent matter we need to discuss.”
Autumn saw Randell’s expression instantly twist into a deep frown.
He looked annoyed and said coldly,
“Can it wait?”
“It’s really, really urgent.”
Randell sighed deeply and ran his fingeEpisode 7
Randell took off his hat and ruffled his messy hair before turning to her.
“Let’s just call this a promotion fee.”
‘That annoying smirk again!’
Autumn was speechless as she watched Randell casually calculating in his head even in this situation.
“Don’t you hear that? The crowd is rushing toward our Austin theater.”
“Y-Yes, I guess so.”
Autumn quickly turned away from him.
‘Ugh, so irritating.’
She leaned quietly against the stairs leading to the outdoor stage and looked around the theater.
‘So this is what it’s like inside.’
This was a restricted area, only accessible to theater staff.
But since earlier, she had been feeling someone’s unpleasant gaze on her back.
“…Just as I thought.”
“What?”
Randell almost accidentally said his thoughts out loud.
‘Too careless…’
He thought to himself.
Even after what happened earlier, that woman still showed her bare face without caution.
There was no guarantee someone would be around to help her if something happened again.
Randell muttered again into the empty space.
“Sigh… From now on, I hope you avoid appearing in public like today.”
Just then, noise came from upstairs.
“Man, this practice never ends!”
This time, Autumn quickly grabbed Randell’s collar and dragged him into a corner.
“If you don’t want to get caught being here with me, hide over here!”
They squeezed together in a narrow space between temporary walls.
Autumn didn’t seem to notice, but Randell’s ears and the back of his neck quickly turned red.
“Th-This is…”
“You said we have to finish what we started.”
“Lucien, you kept messing up your lines today—can you really perform next week?”
“Hey, I do better in real shows. Are you saying your acting is perfect?”
A group of actors passed above them.
Autumn secretly watched them with envy.
“Phew~ We didn’t get caught.”
“Do you want to look around the troupe?”
“Yes!”
As she turned toward the noise, their eyes met again—just a hand’s width apart.
‘Oops, I was too loud.’
Autumn quietly let go of his collar and looked toward where the group had gone.
“Ahem… It’s my first time inside. If it’s not a problem, I’d like to look around before I leave.”
“Well… I’ll have to come back for practice anyway.”
Randell quickly hid the change in his tone.
He returned to his usual expression, but his eyes looked slightly sharper as he stared at her.
“…Alright.”
‘Yes!’
But as Autumn celebrated inside, Randell added another condition.
“In return, there’s a condition.”
“You shouldn’t show your face inside the building either.”
He continued speaking from outside the dressing room.
“…You saw what happened earlier. Your identity can’t be revealed yet.”
Ah, I see.
But as Autumn changed out of her dress, she secretly felt relieved.
“Actually, that’s better for me.”
She and Rosalyn looked similar, but not exactly the same.
For example, Autumn was a little taller—or…
‘The small scar on my knee.’
She rolled up her stockings in the narrow space and checked it.
It wasn’t common for a woman in a fancy dress to reveal her legs, but just in case, she decided to be cautious.
“Also, there’s no need to tell the other actors either.”
“…A secret clause, huh?”
As Autumn stepped out of the dressing room, Randell looked her up and down with crossed arms.
He kept talking.
“Even if it’s not your style, please understand.”
“Thanks. I’ll wear it well.”
Autumn lightly swirled her dress and glanced at him.
“Anyway, just being seen together might make tomorrow’s newspaper front page. You better be careful if you’re going to walk around with me, Director.”
With that, she jumped up from her seat, eager to explore the theater.
“Well then, shall we go to the practice roo—”
But her high heels slipped dangerously under her long dress.
Just then, someone’s strong arm wrapped around her waist and caught her.
She didn’t fall, but she clearly heard his annoyed mumble.
“You lost weight quickly.”
He grabbed her thin wrist with a displeased expression.
“How did he know?”
Autumn’s eyes widened.
“There’s no way the great Rosalyn Kise would stumble in high heels like this…”
“Wh-What? Are you saying I can’t even walk in basic heels? I could wear these with my eyes closed!”
Randell’s offhand comment shook her deeply.
“Anyway, just don’t collapse on stage.”
He continued calmly, as if recalling past memories.
“In our troupe, collapsing off stage is not acceptable.”
Ugh, nagging again.
Autumn almost yawned but held it back—it felt rude in front of him.
“Yeah, yeah! I’ve been dieting hard. You’re good at noticing! Should’ve added that to the contract too!”
“Isn’t that basic?”
‘Tch, like he’s ever been in my shoes… All talk.’
Their annoyed gazes met midair.
‘So stubborn.’
“This is all your fault…”
This man—sharp, picky, and always watching—yet missing the important parts.
He gently placed her back down on the ground.
“Husson.”
“Yes, here you go~”
He knelt and carefully helped Autumn put on more comfortable shoes.
Feeling the gentle touch on her ankle and the more comfortable shoes, Autumn almost thought about being nicer to him.
Then—
“Your hand, please.”
Randell suddenly held out his hand to her.
But Autumn wasn’t used to being escorted.
She hesitated before placing her hand in his.
“Do you even know where the practice rooms are?”
She had no idea.
“The hallway behind the stage—most people don’t know it.”
Seeing her hesitate, Randell smoothly continued.
“I’ll escort you.”
So strict, but can’t he say it more kindly?
This isn’t because she liked it.
“Hurry.”
His voice, used to commanding people, had a strange power.
In the end, Randell lost patience and tightly grabbed her hand.
Thump, thump
It wasn’t because she was nervous. Definitely not.
Was it the excitement of finally walking behind the stage?
Or because she was holding hands with a strange man?
‘Men in the capital must all escort ladies like this… Don’t act so country-like.’
Randell, though expressionless, moved gracefully like he was born with manners.
It was her first time being escorted by such a man…
“Haha, it’s a bit warm, isn’t it?”
“…It seems so.”
She laughed awkwardly, afraid he’d notice her nervousness.
“This is the reception room. When investors visit, we bring them here first. And over here…”
As they toured the theater with Husson’s explanations and Randell’s occasional comments…
Thud, thud
A man—likely a staff member—ran toward them.
“Director! There’s an urgent matter we need to discuss.”
Autumn saw Randell’s expression instantly twist into a deep frown.
He looked annoyed and said coldly,
“Can it wait?”
“It’s really, really urgent.”
Randell sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his hair.
“Why don’t you go check it?”
“But…”
“I’ll handle it.”
Just then, a woman in a flashy red dress appeared out of nowhere and interrupted.
‘Christine Brigitte!’
Even through the dark veil, Autumn immediately recognized the radiant woman.
rs through his hair.
“Why don’t you go check it?”
“But…”
“I’ll handle it.”
Just then, a woman in a flashy red dress appeared out of nowhere and interrupted.
‘Christine Brigitte!’
Even through the dark veil, Autumn immediately recognized the radiant woman.
