Episode 11
‘As expected, I must’ve done terribly.’
Eiryn had performed to the point that she couldn’t tell how much time had passed or if she’d even delivered her lines correctly.
She slowly opened the eyes she had tightly shut.
Then, with a weak motion, she lifted her head to face the audience who had witnessed her first-ever performance.
And after a brief silence—
Clap… Clap clap clap clap!
Applause erupted from the audience, filling the theater.
‘What… what’s going on? A normal person wouldn’t have had enough time to prepare…’
Christine clicked her tongue in disbelief.
Eiryn’s vision gradually came back into focus.
She saw Christine, who had just harshly criticized her moments ago, and the other actors who had watched from the audience.
> “Did she get the script ahead of time?”
> “Incredible. I haven’t even memorized all those lines yet…”
> “And she’s a rookie? She just delivered all that without a script?”
But right now, the murmurs from the crowd weren’t reaching Eiryn’s ears.
‘It’s my first time acting in front of so many people… What am I supposed to do now?’
Awkwardly, she picked up the hem of her skirt, trying to mimic the bow Christine had made earlier to the audience.
“Th-thank…”
> “Christine, that’s enough.”
Then, the voice of the person who had helped her in a crucial moment rang out again.
> “Yes, Christine. For a first performance, this was impressive.”
> “Even Bridget had it rough in the beginning, didn’t she?”
> “Really! That’s enough!”
Christine was fanning her reddened face, clearly flustered.
As Eiryn looked at her, the dazed murmur of the crowd slowly reached her ears again.
> “What was that? She was quite immersed, wasn’t she?”
> “More than that, it’s the first time I’ve heard the troupe leader speak that much.”
> “Troupe leader?”
Eiryn was just as shocked as the murmuring crowd.
Her jaw dropped in realization.
‘Wait, the man I was acting with… was that same guy from before?’
While she was still in shock, Christine approached her.
> “I’ll admit it. But you know you’re still lacking, right?”
Holding her precious script in both hands, Eiryn nodded over and over.
At last, Christine gave her a slightly loosened smile.
> “Even if you haven’t experienced it, your lines must make it sound like you have. That’s the only way people will believe it’s real.”
With a subtle, teasing look, Christine turned and walked away.
> “Don’t take it the wrong way. You’ve got plenty of time to practice. That’s just some advice from a senior.”
> “Wow, you’re not even intimidated by Christine. That’s impressive!”
More curious actors began crowding around Eiryn.
> “Christine went through it too, so don’t take it personally. Besides, the troupe leader brought her himself. She’s definitely different…”
> “Back to your positions!”
At Gandel’s cold command, the crowd quickly scattered again.
> “I heard what happened from Huson.”
Not long after, Eiryn walked down the hallway with Gandel.
‘So… he found out I revealed my face.’
Eiryn braced herself, expecting him to scold her for breaking confidentiality.
But despite her resolve, her shoulders kept shrinking nervously.
> “I-I didn’t mean to show my face on purpose!”
She tried to explain in a flustered tone.
But unexpectedly, Gandel said something completely different.
> “I hope you’re not misunderstanding.”
> “Huh? About what?”
Startled, Eiryn looked up at him with wide eyes.
Then, with a serious expression, Gandel frowned and continued:
> “There is absolutely nothing between Christine, Bridget, and me.”
> “Ah… okay.”
He said it with such gravity and caution that it was almost funny—but Eiryn didn’t have time to laugh.
She had just performed on the stage of Austin Theater.
That thought alone made her hands tremble in excitement.
> “If a young man and woman live together under one roof, rumors are bound to spread. That’s just how exaggerated gossip works.”
Oblivious to her thoughts, Gandel continued to speak at a relentless pace.
> “You know what?”
> “What…?”
> “This is the fastest I’ve ever heard you talk to me.”
Eiryn chuckled softly, finding the situation amusing.
At her words, Gandel’s mouth dropped open slightly. Eiryn continued, looking at the overly serious man.
> “There wasn’t even room for misunderstanding in the first place. People might think you’re making excuses or something…”
> “This is our first meeting, right? I’m not the kind of person who judges someone from just one look.”
When Gandel continued to silently stare at her, Eiryn added one more thing.
He finally smiled faintly.
> “I see.”
Thump, thump.
Her heart pounded again.
> “Well, that’s a relief.”
‘Seriously…’
He smiled with unexpected charm every now and then.
> “This place…”
> “I thought you might recognize it.”
‘Ah!’
Rosewood.
His villa had been built in the same place where Eiryn’s family mansion once stood—burned down in a fire years ago.
> “The mansion burned down 10 years ago. It couldn’t be helped.”
Due to confidentiality, Gandel had arranged for her to stay at his villa in Rosewood to practice acting.
Eiryn leaned out of the carriage window to look outside.
Despite it being afternoon, a thick mist hung over Rosewood, casting a gloomy first impression.
‘I remember seeing the first snowfall when we left the capital…’
She gazed out at what was nominally her hometown.
Though Rosewood was in the southern regions, snow hadn’t yet blanketed the ground. Bare trees greeted her return.
> “I tried to keep everything else the same… What do you think?”
He said this while pressing his hat down on his head.
Then he glanced alternately between his approaching villa and Eiryn, speaking cautiously:
> “I have no hidden agenda. This place holds some meaning for me too.”
But there was one problem.
‘Even if you say that… I don’t remember anything.’
The serious issue was—Eiryn had completely lost all memory of the three years she had lived at the old Rosewood mansion.
She let out a sigh.
> “Who would’ve thought the family would fall not long after I arrived in Rosewood…”
> “Did you say something?”
> “Ah, no.”
After her mother died, Eiryn had lived in Rosewood under the guardianship of her uncle.
Unfortunately, those were painful times—for both her and her cousin Rosaline.
Due to the trauma of those years, she had lost all memories of living in Rosewood.
> “Always be careful with your words, Eiryn. If someone ever asks about those days, just say you don’t remember.”
She could vividly recall Rosaline’s stern expression when she warned her.
Looking at her cousin, who still seemed haunted by those memories, Eiryn sometimes felt that perhaps forgetting was a blessing.
> “Let’s change the subject.”
> “That time… doesn’t bring good memories.”
For her cousin, that day must’ve been the most terrible day of all.
Eiryn noticed the slight twitch in Gandel’s brow.
> “I thought this place might also have some meaning to you, Miss Kiss.”
But Gandel wasn’t giving up easily.
He persistently tried to probe memories she didn’t even have.
> “Some memories are better left buried. You know how Rosewood ended.”
> “That’s what this place is to me, Troupe Leader.”
Her firm voice brought a moment of silence.
And then—
> “We’ve arrived!”
The coachman’s voice rang out.
They had reached the villa built where the old Rosewood mansion once stood.
