#5. Ah, one plus one equals two.
On our way to the capital city of the Cassan Empire, Crman, we passed through numerous towns and cities.
After a long journey, we finally arrived at Crman.
The enormous city unfolding before me left me wide-eyed.
“Wow….”
Sure, I came from the capital of the Boleno Kingdom, but the capital of the Cassan Empire, Crman, was on a whole different level.
Lining the well-maintained streets were grand white buildings.
While the structures in Boleno Kingdom are known for their red roofs, the buildings here were primarily white and gray.
The capital was also home to a massive river, with riverboats floating on its surface and people sitting along the riverbanks, enjoying picnics.
The people of Crman dressed slightly differently from us, wearing bolder, more revealing outfits and brighter colors.
And above all, there were fewer mechanical devices here compared to the Boleno Kingdom.
It was a classic scene, the type you’d expect to see in a traditional fantasy world.
As evening approached, the sun slowly began to set over the wide river, casting a reddish glow across the sky and draping the white buildings in a beautiful, fiery hue.
Honestly, it was one of the most breathtaking sights I’d seen in this world. I paused to marvel at the sunset.
“Crman is truly an amazing place.”
“Isn’t it? Crman is one of my favorite cities. You’ll find it even more charming as you explore it.”
“Ah, just seeing Crman inspires me.”
“Oh, are you going to sing us a song?”
“For a fee.”
“…..….”
Normally, we would head to an inn, but tonight, we were staying at a hotel.
A hotel, can you believe it! It had been ages since I last indulged in such luxury.
Though it couldn’t quite compare to the modern hotels I was used to, the elegant and well-kept lobby brought a sense of calm to me.
We had dinner at the hotel restaurant, and I stood up with a smile after the meal.
“Well then, I’m off to take an afternoon nap.”
“…You realize it’s evening, right?”
“But a nap after dinner is the truest kind of nap.”
“You never change, do you….”
“Seraphina, that’s likely just a *food coma.”
“Be quiet… I mean, I’ll let it slide, Ghieuspe.”
“Why are you only letting him off the hook?”
“Because he bravely delivered a lengthy line, didn’t he?”
Crman was a city that really resonated with me.
For a moment, I even forgot about Aurora.
And somehow, my fear of Princess Eva also seemed to fade a little.
After all, I was in the capital of another empire. Maybe I could feel a bit safer here?
***
The Next Day, we decided to attend an opera performance.
Given our past experiences, Aurora always seemed to show up wherever there was anything related to opera. She risked being in plain sight for us to see.
Why she’d engage in such reckless actions, we could only find out if we caught her.
As we entered the theater and noticed the grand staircase at the center of the lobby, I couldn’t help but smile.
The light streaming in from the semi-transparent ceiling window, the vibrant ceiling paintings decorating the area around it, the staircase elegantly carved in the likeness of a graceful woman, and the gentle light from candelabras illuminating various spots — it was all breathtaking.
Though the theater in Trevelora was beautiful, this one was even larger and more magnificent. If I had a camera, I’d have wanted to take a photo right then.
Our seats this time were on the terrace. Standing there, we had a full view of the theater.
A deep blue curtain covered the stage, while a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling and countless lights adorning the dome ceiling’s outer walls illuminated the theater in a stunning display, with red seats and golden walls visible below.
I had never shown much interest in this type of performance before. But perhaps it was the sheer beauty of the theater? I found myself eagerly anticipating today’s opera.
“What’s the title of today’s performance?”
“It’s called ‘Paradise Lost.’”
“Paradise Lost?”
The title was the same as an epic poem from my previous world. Could it be the same work?
“It depicts the scene where Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit and fall. It teaches why one should never cross into forbidden realms.”
Ah, so it’s the same story I know. It seems the intellectual currents of this world and mine are aligned.
Soon, the opera began, and I was quickly captivated by their beautiful singing.
“Did I ask, O Maker, to mold me from clay? Did I beseech you to raise me from darkness?”*
* John Milton, Paradise Lost
The opera was conveying the message that humans must not dare to challenge the realms of gods.
When the performance concluded, thunderous applause erupted.
Moved, I watched the stage with a profound expression and clasped my hands together tightly.
“So this is what opera is all about….”
Until now, the only ‘opera’ I’d seen in this world was Aurora’s chaotic disruption last time.
At last, I felt like I understood the genuine beauty of opera. Perhaps, as Arkhangelo said, this was a gift bestowed by the gods.
“But is there truly a divine realm? What is it that humans mustn’t challenge?”
Raffaelo muttered beside me. After a brief moment of thought, I responded.
“Well, perhaps life itself?”
“That makes sense too.”
Since we suspected that Princess Eva had meddled with the domain of life, I also found myself reflecting a lot on the subject of life.
Could it really be true that Princess Eva had created artificial humans?
What on earth had happened for the original Seraphina to be so frightened that she abandoned this world?
As we left the terrace and merged with the crowd exiting outside, I listened closely, hoping to catch Aurora’s voice.
Instead, I overheard an unexpected conversation.
“Wasn’t today’s performance amazing? I heard the tenor was especially famous.”
“Right? Giovanni is quite the popular tenor these days.”
“Haven’t you heard Phyro’s performance before? How does he compare?”
“Hah! No matter how skilled Giovanni is, he’s still no match for Phyro!”
A person nearby suddenly started singing praises for Arkhangelo.
“Phyro’s voice is something else! It’s truly a voice bestowed by the gods! And his acting is far superior too.”
Arkhangelo, having overheard these compliments, instantly beamed with pride.
“Did you hear that? That’s who I am.”
“Hah, *just my luck to hear that guy get praised here,”
Raffaelo grumbled in exasperation.
That’s right — Arkhangelo was a superstar in the world of opera. I had almost forgotten, being used to hearing his nonsensical chatter. Feeling slightly bewildered, we continued down the stairs.
Just then, a voice called out to stop us as we reached the bottom.
“Oh, the genius tenor, Lord Phyro!”
Someone had recognized Arkhangelo.
“Ha, yes, I am Arkhangelo Phyro,” he declared proudly.
The woman who recognized him blushed and approached him.
“To think I’d have the chance to meet Lord Phyro here! Could I possibly get an autograph?”
“Hmph, I’ll make an exception and sign for you.”
“Yes, then…”
The woman took out a sheet of paper from her pocket.
“Please sign here!”
“Alright, I’ll… huh?”
Just as he was about to sign, Arkhangelo hesitated.
Because there was already writing on that sheet.
And it was unmistakably Aurora’s handwriting.
[To Seraphina Viviana and her companions.]
“What… is this?”
As I blinked in confusion, the woman had already vanished.
In her place, a single box lay on the ground.
“Oh, damn it, it was one of Aurora’s tricks!”
“Wasn’t she just a fan wanting my autograph?”
“No, it was just Aurora hiring someone to mess with us!”
“Th-that can’t be….”
In a moment, Arkhangelo, having unexpectedly lost an enthusiastic fan, wore a desolate expression. But ignoring him, we busily began reading Aurora’s letter.
🍓;
*Food coma, used to describe the feeling of extreme drowsiness or lethargy after eating a large meal, particularly one that is high in carbohydrates, fats, or sugars. The medical term for this is postprandial somnolence.
*’Just my luck’ is an expression used to convey frustration or disappointment when something unfortunate or inconvenient happens to someone, often implying that such misfortune happens frequently to them. It can be sarcastic or self-deprecating.
