TCBCVF 71

~Chapter 71~

Because of these circumstances, I ended up coming to the opera house.

Eva (the young lady) said she had something to take care of and told me to go ahead and wait.

So now I am waiting for her, not doing anything…

‘When is she coming, anyway?’

It’s almost time for the opera to start.

Click.

Just then, the box seat door opened.

I turned around with a happy face.

“Are you here, my lady?”

But—

‘Huh?’

I stared in surprise.

It wasn’t Eva coming through the door…

“Duke?”

It was Duke Claudius!

‘Why is the Duke here?!’

I couldn’t hide my confusion.

The Duke also looked a bit confused, like he didn’t understand what was happening.

“….”

“….”

A long silence.

We just stared at each other.

After a moment,

“Um… I’m sorry.”

The Duke rubbed his forehead and sighed deeply.

“This must be Eva’s doing.”

“Huh?”

“She suddenly said she had a headache and told me to come instead…”

He glanced down at me awkwardly.

“I didn’t know Lady Ansie would be here.”

Ah, Eva…!

I sighed inside.

Of course, I don’t dislike the Duke.

But every time we’re alone like this, I get so nervous!

Then the Duke spoke carefully.

“If you’re uncomfortable, I can leave.”

“No!”

I shook my head quickly.

“It’s not uncomfortable!”

The truth is, he’s the male lead of this world, and Seraphina’s destined man.

It’s honestly a little overwhelming.

But—

‘I don’t dislike it.’

Actually, I—

“If I can watch the opera with you…”

My voice got smaller and smaller.

My face got hot, and I bowed my head.

“I’d be really happy.”

“….”

I used all the courage I had to say that.

The Duke looked at me with a look I couldn’t read.

Then—

“I’m happy to be with you too, Lady Ansie.”

He smiled and sat next to me.

I tried my best to smile back, then quickly looked straight ahead.

But the problem was…

‘I have nowhere to look…’

There was just a thick red curtain on the stage, and the opera hadn’t started yet.

‘What do I do?’

I swallowed nervously.

‘…My heart is beating too fast.’

At this rate, the Duke might hear how fast my heart is beating.

I hurried to say something.

“Come to think of it, Miss Morgan debuted with support from the Claudius family, right?”

“Oh, Eva told you? Yes.”

The Duke nodded.

“From the first time I saw her, I thought she was talented. She really stood out.”

“….”

At that moment,

It felt like my heart was pricked with a needle.

‘This is strange.’

I bit my teeth.

Miss Morgan was an opera singer discovered by the Claudius family.

So of course the Duke would pay attention to her.

‘But why do I feel like this?’

I tried to act calm.

“Did you personally discover her, Duke?”

“Hmm, you could say that.”

The Duke explained calmly,

“The Claudius salon is a bit exclusive, so not everyone can enter.”

“Oh…”

“Miss Morgan used to do chores at the opera house, but I happened to hear her sing.”

His eyes had a warm light.

It showed his affection for Miss Morgan.

“People call someone like her a pearl in the mud. That’s what she was.”

…So, he noticed Miss Morgan himself.

She must be really special.

“But since she’s so talented, I think she would have debuted somewhere, even if it wasn’t because of me.”

I know.

The Duke is very proper and keeps work and personal matters separate. He’s so strict that there has never even been a rumor about him.

No matter what feelings he has, I wouldn’t notice.

And I know it’s foolish to care about someone else’s love life…

Still,

‘My heart feels heavy.’

I forced a smile on my lips.

Otherwise, I felt like all my expression would disappear.

‘Lari, don’t be silly.’

I grabbed my dress tightly.

‘Why do I feel down? I don’t have the right.’

Even if the Duke likes Miss Morgan, that’s not my business.

The Duke is just my friend’s older brother.

He has nothing to do with me.

But then—

The lights dimmed.

The curtain rose.

Under the bright spotlight, Sophia Morgan appeared in a fancy stage dress.

She started to sing.

“Will he come to see me tonight, after twenty-two nights filled with tears…”

Her high notes soared endlessly.

Her voice was truly as beautiful as an angel’s.

And as I listened,

…I felt even more down.

I admit it.

Sophia was very beautiful, and her singing was amazing.

The opera’s story was probably interesting too.

But the truth is—

‘I can’t remember what happened in the opera at all.’

I was so focused on the Duke next to me, I don’t remember the story…

But from what I could see, the opera was a big success.

Because—

“Wasn’t that great?”

“It really was.”

As soon as it ended, the audience was full of excitement and praise.

“Miss Morgan’s singing was wonderful as always.”

“I was so moved, I cried a little.”

“I want to invite her to my party next time.”

“Will that be possible? She’s so popular these days.”

The opera was fun, but Miss Morgan was the star.

Everyone praised her.

‘With that much talent, of course the Duke discovered her.’

I felt myself getting down again.

Just then—

The Duke glanced at me.

“Shall we go, Lady Ansie?”

Huh? Where?

I looked at him, confused, and he shrugged lightly.

“Since we’re here, why not say hello to Miss Morgan?”

He smiled softly.

“Let’s go together, Lady Ansie.”

“….”

Right now, Sophia Morgan is the most popular opera singer in the empire.

All the nobles want to invite her, and many can’t even talk to her.

Getting to meet her is rare.

So the Duke is being considerate to me.

I know that well.

But still…

‘…I really don’t want to go.’

I forced a smile.

“Thank you.”

In front of Miss Morgan’s waiting room, it was actually pretty quiet.

Because she’s so famous, guards stood in front of her room.

‘Wow.’

I was impressed.

The guards bowed deeply and stepped aside as soon as they saw the Duke.

Even in little things like this, Claudius’s influence showed.

The Duke knocked briefly, then opened the door.

“Miss Morgan.”

At his call, a woman in the waiting room stood up and turned around.

“Oh my, Duke?”

Her rich brown hair flowed beautifully over her shoulders.

Her skin was white as porcelain, and her eyes shone like jewels under her long lashes.

She was dazzlingly beautiful.

“Thank you for the flowers you sent me.”

Miss Morgan smiled like a blooming peony.

“If I knew you were coming to the show tonight, I would have tried even harder.”

“No, tonight’s performance was wonderful.”

The Duke replied politely.

The two of them talking looked perfect together.

…I felt even more down.

Right then, Miss Morgan looked my way.