Chapter 69: The Play (XIV).
Everyone in the audience was speculating what could happen next, the play is quite different from what the novel material is used to… so they were really at the edge of their seats.
When the curtain closed, the villainess was quickly ushered out on the back to get the wedding dress worn and to make sure that her makeup was impeccable.
"Good work, Lady Alarie! Now please follow us so that we can help you wear the wedding dress." Her classmates escort her inside but she stops for a moment.
"What's the scene that they're going to be doing?" (Lady Evelyn) turned back to the stage and saw Analissa's nervous figure who was no longer inside a silly frog costume with her hair tied into a long ponytail.
It seems that her chest has been binded in order to look like a man.
The Japanese streamer was holding the last potion in her hand. She closes her eyes and whispers out a long prayer, 'In the name of whatever god is out there listening to me I ask of you to please! Don't let me do a voice crack in front of all these people when I sing!'
Her classmate took a quick second before she could respond. "The scene is- oh right it should be the one where the prince asks for help from his own kingdom after being missing for years."
"The prince sings in a musical here right? About how he's fallen in love with the princess and that he's not going to take anyone else as his one true love?" The other swoons happily enjoying the tragic romance of the play.
"Kinda sappy if you ask me."
"..." The villainess turns her back away from the classmates that were supposed to help with her makeup and smiles remembering the time at the restaurant where she worked.
'Miss Blanchet, I'm asking you if you can perform… for me today.'
Even if her request was rejected that day. The heroine who has never performed in her life was going to sing in front of many people. An audience eager to see where their love story goes.
"...Give me five minutes."
The two look at one another after hearing her request, give her five minutes?
"Lady Alarie?"
"My apologies but we don't have the time to-"
"Just five minutes. I want to hear her sing." The villainess rarely asks for something like this- something that makes her heart yearning and happy. "I want to see her perform."
"I- we…" The two girls were conflicted on what they should do. Time is of the essence but looking at Lady Evelyn's face it seems that she would be sad if they said no so they gave up. "Okay, just five minutes, Lady Alarie but remember we'll need to work double time after this because the next scene is yours."
"I understand."
Lady Evelyn Alarie was thankful and proceeded to watch her crush do her best on the stage.
…
"Gulp."
Analissa drinks the very last drop of the only potion that she has left. "Whatever happens… happens."
Analissa hopes that the effects of the potion would at least last until the end of the play.
But that's… impossible.
…
The curtain opens once more.
The prince continues on with his journey of bringing back the princess into his arms once more.
With the Duke having his beloved at his grasp, he had no choice to seek help if he wanted to face an entire army head on.
"..." With his own bare feet he walked miles as he found a way to come back.
His clothes might've been for commoners, dirty and frazzled but one thing is for sure. He is determined and unstoppable to get back the girl he has fallen in love with.
"Hah… hah… open the gates." The prince starts banging on the castle walls gates only to be stopped by several guards raising their sword at a royal family.
"Who goes there?!" They shouted rather angrily. They came to take a look at the unknown man's figure and realized it must have been just any other dirty beggar!
"I am the first prince of this kingdom, and I've come back for my brother's help." He stands tall, aware of his status but the guards only laugh and mock his delusions.
No one has ever seen the prince in two years and everyone has thought he had died.
"Hah! The first prince?! Wouldn't you like to joke about that! Don't think too highly of yourself-" He gave another good look at the man in front of him, skin shivering as he realized that he looked awfully similar to their king.
"I am the first son of the royal family that has ruled this land for centuries. I have been missing and I understand if my current appearance has changed but I am the missing prince." He dictated, leaving the guards' mouth agape looking shocked that finally the missing prince was alive and came back home!
"Y-Your highness?!" They all kneeled to the ground upon his presence. "Y-You're back! It's truly you!"
Analissa holds onto her voice, "Indeed I have returned. Will you take me to my brother?"
Lady Evelyn's smile became even wider after seeing the ever so confident, cheeky and adorable Analissa Blanchet turned into a nervous mess.
"She's doing her best." One of the girls beside her mutters out as all of their attention was on the heroine. "I could never have done what she did. Honestly, it's pretty amazing."
"She is amazing, isn't she? Miss Blanchet didn't need to do this for our sake but she's brave and selfless of her to do so." (Lady Evelyn) puts in more good words for Analissa as they continue watching the musical part of the play next.
The next scene consists of cheerful music. A few drumming and strings, set in a comedian yet comforting tone.
"Your majesty, the first prince has come back!" The guards call out in an announcement.
The new king, who is the second son of the royal family has been picked to be the new heir after the first prince went missing. Everyone has thought he died or was kidnapped.
"My brother?! Has he finally returned?!" The actor for the king stands up and tries not to swoon for Analissa who was looking so charming even if she looked like… a beautiful man? He looks upon the guard with disbelief. "Do not joke around with me. My brother has been presumed dead in the two years he has been missing- tell those scamming fiends to leave!"
"Well then your presumption is wrong. I've been through hell itself just to get back to you- brother." (Analissa) tries her best to act like a man. She holds out her arms to give a quick hug. "I thought I had lost you."
"But brother, where have you been?! Do you know I searched every inch of the kingdom to find you?! With you gone I took on father's duties as being the king! Oh- to see you safe is already enough!"
The music changed.
That was the cue for her to sing.
"I am safe indeed but let me tell you of my journey so far." (Analissa) could be seen her legs shaking a bit from the nerves, she raises her hand to the audience as if asking to lend her their ears. "Cursed by a witch for being so selfish- I became a frog. Chased out of my own home, the only cure was to have a kiss of true love!"
"A true love's kiss!" The guards in the background sang as backup creating a good rhythm. "That was all he needed!"
Meanwhile the king is a bit confused, he chuckles before double checking to see if he heard it right. "Pardon me, could it be that I'm mishearing- did you just say the cure was a true love's kisss?"
"No you are not mishearing. A true love's kiss is the way to break the curse!"
"Who would ever kiss a frog?!" (Guards) stomped their feet to create a beating effect based on the choreography. They dance around the prince who kneels, looking in pain.
"It was a difficult time for me in that form, begging and charming all the women I could find hoping they could fix me!" He held his brother by the arms, almost in tears. "It was shameful I tell you, do you think it was easy for me trying to get a kiss as a disgusting frog?! If I do not earn a kiss of true love I will stay as a frog till the day I die."
"I'll call on the women in the kingdom if there's any interest! Perhaps they can give you the true love's kiss!" He waves a hand and gestures to his servants. "Any beautiful noblewoman would fit!"
"Brother no!" (Analissa) wraps one of her arms around the actor of the king. "I have no need for other women. My heart has chosen its pair-!"
Analissa turns unexpectedly to the side.
"Oh brother, tell me who?! Who is this girl that's captured your heart?" The actor for the king shakes his shoulders and the heroine sees someone's figure. She could see the villainess watching her perform with admiration. Lady Evelyn was enjoying seeing her singing.
The heroine almost bit her tongue.
'Lady Evelyn is watching?! I thought she had already gone to the changing room!'
"S-She's a beautiful princess who's going to be someone else's bride!" (Analissa) blurted out loudly with a nervous tone. "I love the way her laughter feels like sunlight on a cold day, the way her eyes hold stories I want to spend my life unraveling, and the way she makes even the smallest moments feel extraordinary. Her kindness isn't just an act but a force of nature."
Analissa's face slightly reddened as Lady Evelyn never parted her gaze with her.
"I love the way she looks at the world with hope, even when it doesn't deserve it, and how she looks at me like I'm worth something more than I ever thought I could be. The flaws, the quirks, the brilliance is everything I didn't know I needed." She feels her presence daunting and ever glowing. "She's the only one who can make my heart beat loud as a drum."
"I love her…. I truly do."
Even now her heart is still pounding.
"…" (Lady Evelyn) places a hand on her chest hearing those words, how she wishes it was true and how- she wishes that time at the altar was not just a ruse.
"But she's to be married soon by force… I don't know what to do."
His brother hearing the tale of what he went through clapped and sobbed. "Oh what joy, you've found true love-! Wait a moment. I have gotten an invitation to one of the marriages taking place. Could it be the same, brother?"
The frog prince's brother tells him all about the invitation that was sent. After confirming that it was the same one, Analissa gasps, kneeling to one knee.
"I need to get her back, brother please! The man she's going to marry is merely using her!" He begged his brother who smiled, lifting him up from his kneel. "I love her, I will do anything to save her!"
"Brother if it's for your sake- I will do everything that I can. However, if we are to approach this do you have a plan?"
…
The singing stopped and then the rest of the play continued. Lady Evelyn was satisfied with the show that they presented and she was ready to leave.
"Well then ladies, shall we go now?"
The two girls that were by her side didn't even notice the five minutes going by.
They were too busy being flabbergasted by Lady Evelyn's smile.
It came without warning, sudden and unguarded, like sunlight slipping through a break in storm clouds. It lit her face from somewhere deep, pulling warmth into her eyes and softening everything else around her. For a second, the noise of the world dulled, and time seemed to step aside to let the moment pass through untouched.
A quiet ache blooming in her chest. The kind of happiness that made her feel unsteady on her feet. The kind of smile you don't forget. The kind people fall in love with.
These past days… it's becoming more common for her to smile like that.
"A-Ah yes, Lady Alarie. I didn't realize it's already been five minutes." They cleared their throat forgetting that they too needed to get going and have the villainess on proper standby for her part of the play.
"Thank you, I won't keep you waiting." She went in first and left the two assistants questioning themselves on her mood.
"I don't know if I should be happy or terrified that Duchess Alarie is starting to smile more often." They watched as the villainess hummed the tune of the song that Analissa was singing.
…
Meanwhile…
On the side of the theater, a bright ginger haired girl covers her mouth trying to hide her smile at the scene she just watched. Oh the ever so cold Duchess Lady Evelyn Alarie smiling at the sight of the commoner who was doing her best, singing on an unfamiliar terrain.
"Sniff… so lovely. Lady Evelyn is watching Miss Blanchet so passionately, truly she cares for her." (Lady Harriot) observed her ship quietly feeling happy and wished that Lord Einsel were there to see it.
PS: He was definitely seeing it.
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