Come to think of it, there had been a strange disturbance in the surroundings for a while now. It felt different from the usual bustle of a crowded audience.
If she listened carefully, she could faintly hear people calling out “Your Grace.”
“What? Duke Hillan? His younger brother?”
The man who had been pestering Kisa widened his eyes, and his companion nodded vigorously.
“Yes, they say he’s a twin and looks exactly like his older brother. Everyone’s greeting him. Let’s hurry over there too.”
The man, clearly hesitant, looked back and forth between Kisa and his companions.
“It was an honor to meet you, Lady Vansfelt. Next time, I’d like to invite you to a better venue on my side.”
But he seemed to have made up his mind quickly, as he hastily bowed to Kisa before following his companions.
Though he clicked his tongue in regret at missing this opportunity until the end, it seemed his desire to make an early impression on the new duke took precedence.
This was unexpected luck for her. Who would have thought the mere rumored existence of Duke Hillan would be helpful?
She couldn’t understand why he had shown up here when he had never appeared at any official occasions before, but truthfully, she wasn’t very interested.
If he resembled his brother so closely, then this new duke would most likely be the type of person Kisa would find difficult to like.
She glanced at the particularly crowded area. Duke Hillan must be in the center there, though he wasn’t visible through the crowd.
Kisa didn’t waste any more time and headed straight for the stairs. She should quickly enter the hall while everyone’s attention was focused elsewhere.
“Oh, there are two chairs here.”
Kisa muttered to herself as she entered the section with her seat in the second-floor balcony. Only two chairs were placed in the fairly spacious area.
The ticket price must have been quite expensive just for that alone, and moreover, this position offered a direct view of the stage.
Seyard must be from quite a wealthy family to give up two such seats.
She had thought his circumstances might not be very good since he borrowed books from the library, but it seems she had been mistaken.
‘Come to think of it, I haven’t heard anything about Seyard’s family.’
She knew that his birthplace was the capital, that he had moved to another region before entering his teens, and that he had recently returned to the capital.
Though she had heard various other details about him that day, information that might hint at his family background was missing.
Surely he had refrained from mentioning it out of consideration for Kisa, who hadn’t revealed her surname first. What a kind person. If only Daniel had inherited half of that temperament.
Startled by her own thoughts, Kisa shook her head to scatter the strange ideas that had popped into her mind. Though it wasn’t a proper proposal, she shouldn’t be thinking such things after rejecting Seyard’s marriage offer.
She didn’t want to think about that ill-mannered Daniel, especially while she was out enjoying herself.
As it was almost time for the opera to begin, she picked up her opera glasses. Today she would enjoy the performance without any distracting thoughts.
The performance was more impressive than expected. “The Lord’s Castle” was, as the title suggested, a love story set in a fictional lord’s castle. The performance depicted the romance between a lord, who was a brilliant strategist and stern ruler, and a woman who became his prisoner.
As some lady had mentioned at the tea party, the singers’ delicate acting stood out, and the orchestra’s music was also very high quality. Above all, the work’s theme, which discussed the meaning of true love, evoked various emotions.
‘However, personally, there were some aspects of the ending that I found difficult to accept.’
As Kisa was leaving the hall, contemplating the lingering impressions of the performance, she made a disgusted face upon seeing the crowd concentrated in one area, just like hours before. What a popular Duke indeed.
“Miss, I’m here!”
Just as she was wondering what to do, Marsha, who had been waiting outside and spotted Kisa, came running over. She frowned and said, “There are so many people. Let’s quickly get to the carriage before you get caught up in it.”
“Y-yes.”
Led by Marsha, she went outside and got into the carriage. As the carriage departed and she watched the opera house receding into the distance, a sense of regret washed over her.
‘In the end, I couldn’t meet Seyard.’
She had hoped to run into him after the performance, but it was too much to expect.
She couldn’t stay behind by pushing away Marsha’s hand, as she worried that man would appear again and pester her. It would be very annoying if he tried to hold her until he got a promise this time.
But she had wanted to meet Seyard and exchange thoughts about the performance. If they had met, she had planned to ask about the aspects of the ending that left her unsettled.
She was curious about his thoughts. She wanted to know how he felt about the performance. What would that man, who had always kindly explained whenever she had questions while reading Theory of Possession, say about this performance?
‘Well, it’s fine.’
Just as Kisa was unconsciously thinking she could share opinions next time they met, she belatedly realized an important fact.
Was there going to be a next time? There was no guarantee she would meet Seyard again anywhere. She didn’t know his surname, where he lived, or when he visited the library.
Looking back, they hadn’t discussed meeting again the last time they met either. During their walk, they were preoccupied with the marriage proposal, and after returning to the reading room, they both focused on their duties as library users.
Then they parted after she received the opera tickets as a gift.
If she was lucky, she might meet Seyard at the library again, but if she kept going to places she didn’t usually visit, the Count would start to get suspicious.
It would be difficult to sneak out avoiding the Count’s eyes, and meeting Seyard by chance would be nothing short of a miracle.
“…Maybe I’ll never see him again.”
The excitement of the opera that had filled her heart until just moments ago cooled bitterly.
About four days after seeing the opera performance, Kisa was summoned to the Count’s office. She thought he might scold her for going to the library, but Count Vansfelt said something unexpected.
“Did you fight with Count Dos’s daughter?”
After that, Melissa had sent two or more letters, but she hadn’t replied to any of them.
“Why do you ask?”
The Count, seated at his desk, glanced up at his daughter who answered his question with another question.
“I had business at Count Dos’s house yesterday, and his daughter said she had angered you by being inconsiderate. She wants to restore your relationship, but you keep ignoring her letters. Is this true?”
“…It’s true that I’ve grown distant from Melissa lately.”
“Make up with her.”
It was an extremely simple answer, without asking more or less about why his daughter had fought with her friend. Although Kisa had usually followed her father’s wishes even in friendships, this time was different.
“I’m sorry. I cannot do that, Father.”
A line creased the Count’s forehead.
“Why not?”
“Melissa committed a wrong that I find difficult to forgive. Her letters contained only excuses rather than sincere apologies. Unless Melissa changes, I won’t become close with her again.”
He sighed and removed his glasses that he only wore when reading text on paper.
“Don’t you know that our families have maintained a close relationship for generations?”
“Just because Melissa and I have fallen out doesn’t mean our families have to as well. Instead, Julian can be friendly with Melissa’s younger sibling.”
At the mention of her brother who was attending university elsewhere, the Count openly frowned.
“It would be even better if you were friendly with her too.”
“I’m sorry. I cannot do that.”
“Why? This is just an issue that could be resolved if you’d be generous this one time.”
“If I let it slide, it’s obvious Melissa will cause the same problem again. I know it.”
“Do you want me to keep hearing complaints from Dos and his daughter?”
“Then I’ll tell Melissa not to drag you into our matters.”
“Kisa!”
Finally, his voice rose.
“You’re not a child anymore! How long will you make such a fuss over trivial matters!”
It wasn’t trivial at all to the person involved. Despite knowing her father’s unfeeling nature, she felt newly hurt.
“I see you’re not curious at all about why Melissa and I fell out.”
“Now it’s my fault? Why are you acting like a child when you’re all grown up?”
“Growing distant from friends is something that happens to adults too.”
“Stop talking back disrespectfully. Make up with Dos’s daughter while I’m asking nicely.”
“I’m sorry. I cannot do that.”
“If you really…”
Just then, as the Count was getting agitated at his daughter who kept repeating the same words like a parrot, there was a quick knock at the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Count, Count?”
It was the voice of the person who worked as the Count’s secretary.
“What is it!”
When the Count shouted irritably, the secretary hesitated but revealed the reason.
“There’s something you need to know.”
“Wait. I’m talking with my daughter right now.”
“But, but… It’s an important matter. I think it would be better for you to check right away.”
Perhaps reading the tension in the secretary’s response, the Count’s anger subsided somewhat. Finally, he let the secretary in.
“What is it?”
“Actually, just now at the mansion…”
The secretary glanced at Kisa, then moved closer to the Count and whispered in his ear. The Count’s face quickly hardened as he listened to the story.
