The dancers, who were wiping away their sweat, stopped their hands. Sub Director Silvia slowly looked around and continued speaking.
“The repertoire for this season’s performances will be announced sequentially. For the time being, the next schedule will be an opera ball, where we plan to showcase two group waltzes and a pas de deux stage. And then, [La Sylphide] will be next, with auditions to be held in early next month. Hmm, well, the details will be posted on the bulletin board, so please check them out separately.”
“Yes!”
“Seeing everyone working hard, I’m already looking forward to the performance. Then, please keep up the good work for the rest of the afternoon practice.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
As soon as the figure of Sub Director Silvia, who was walking towards the door after giving a short announcement, disappeared from view, excited voices erupted here and there.
Not only were they excited to be auditioning for the next performance, but everyone seemed to be even more excited about being able to attend the opera ball.
It was a gala performance and party to invite the sponsors of the Avalliantee Opera House, and it was also a place where opera, orchestra, and ballet were performed in succession.
Some people were more nervous than others because they could be seen by the nobles and local dignitaries who would attend the party.
Emilia left the practice room, leaving behind the dancers who seemed busy talking in excitement. Juliana, like the others, seemed to be in high spirits, so she quietly slipped away to rest in a quiet place, only to run into Sub Director Silvia, who was talking to the choreographer in the hallway.
“Ah, Emilia. Do you have a minute?”
Emilia blinked her eyes once and then slowly approached her. The choreographer greeted her with his eyes and left first, and Emilia followed Sub Director Silvia as she walked slowly.
“I have something to tell you about the ensemble. You danced well again today, as I could see.”
“……Thank you.”
“But you’re too good of a dancer, and that’s a problem.”
“Yes?”
“The point of the ensemble is to blend in with the others. No one should stand out when everyone is dancing the same dance, or different dances. But Emilia, you stand out too much.”
Emilia’s mouth fell shut at the unexpected criticism. She had been dancing in ensembles since she was a child at the art academy, and after she became somewhat proficient, she was always in charge of solo parts, so she hadn’t thought to be careful.
“Your jumping ability and turns, which are your strengths, can also be poison in the ensemble. You need to know how to match the other dancers.”
“Yes……. I understand.”
“Of course, it would be nice if we could match the choreography to your strengths, but realistically that’s difficult, so Emilia has to match the others. So, from now on, please make sure to audition for solos.”
Her voice was soft, but her words were firm. She seemed to want Emilia to do just that. Emilia opened her eyes a little wider and nodded.
“I understand. Thank you for your advice.”
“I don’t think it’s good advice, so I’m embarrassed to call it advice. It’s basically telling you to restrain your original skills.”
Sub Director Silvia stopped in front of the stairs and Emilia looked up at her. The ballerina on the stage, which she had been watching from a distance, was now radiating maturity in front of her very eyes.
“Emilia, it’s okay to be more ambitious. Your talent is more than enough for that.”
Emilia’s eyes wavered for a moment under her confident gaze.
* * *
This winter felt so long. The subtle feeling of dejection that had settled after the conversation with Silvia yesterday continued even today.
As she came out after finishing her afternoon practice, the world was already shrouded in early darkness, and the fog was so thick that it was hard to see ahead. This was unusual for winter, so it was strange.
It seemed as if the streetlight was the only light in the world, and even the close entrance gate was completely invisible, so it felt like there was no one around. At that moment, a deep fatigue appeared on Emilia’s face.
‘Why is time going by so fast?’
The day when she had to dance for Enrico alone came without fail. At that thought, instead of wanting to finish her practice quickly and go home to rest, she had the ridiculous thought of wishing that the sun hadn’t set today.
‘But…… Today is the day I can get information.’
That fact was the only consolation.
If it weren’t for Enrico’s obsessive gaze that seemed to dissect her from head to toe, she wouldn’t have been so reluctant to go to him……
Just standing in front of him made her feel like she was naked, and it made her uncomfortable.
The beautiful stranger’s indifferent gaze and the blatant gaze that seemed to see through her very soul made her want to get out of his sight sometimes.
“Sigh…”
With a deep sigh, her white breath escaped and mingled with the fog. Emilia looked around the empty theater with only night guards and then slowly walked towards the street carriage that Enrico had disguised. But soon after, she saw someone approaching quickly from the opposite side.
She narrowed her eyes and stopped hesitantly.
“Emilia!”
Uncle Giorgio appeared before her eyes.
It was strange that he was visiting the theater at night after being so quiet for a while. Emilia’s brow furrowed.
“…What’s the matter?”
Fortunately, the fog was thick. Emilia quickly glanced around and pulled Giorgio to a corner and asked in a small voice.
Fortunately, Giorgio followed her without resistance and suddenly grabbed Emilia’s two arms by the chin and thrust his greasy face forward.
“Emilia, cancel your sponsorship right now!”
“What? What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“Cut off the sponsorship with the Duke!”
“Quiet! Please keep your voice down.”
Emilia whispered through gritted teeth, her eyes darting up and down at Giorgio’s anxious appearance.
The thick body in a fine fur coat and the shoes under his short legs still looked overly luxurious.
The only thing that was different from usual was that the tip of his mustache, which had been curled up, was hanging down a little, but his face was too flushed to deduce that he was doing this because he was short of money.
“…Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”
“You don’t need to know, just do what I say.”
“Uncle…… You know it’s hard to do that, right?”
Emilia swallowed her irritation and called out to Giorgio as if sighing. The contract had already been signed. On top of that, there were even circumstances suggesting that her parents’ accident might have been intentional, so there was even less reason for her to give up the contract now.
‘Did he get a good connection somewhere?’
Despite the reason, she didn’t have to cater to his whims. Emilia forcefully pushed away Giorgio’s hand that was gripping her arm tightly enough to hurt.
“I have to go to the Duke’s mansion today. If you want to cut off my sponsorship, you’ll need to have a valid reason. You will also have to return what you have received so far.”
With a grumble, the thick fingers that were holding her thin arm in a tiresome manner finally loosened their grip.
“I can return what I’ve received. So you better talk nicely!”
“Uncle.”
Emilia took a step back and called out to him softly. How was he going to return it? It seemed like he had at least one gullible spot, but she couldn’t be sure who was the strange one.
“But will he really just take back what he gave?”
Giorgio’s bloodshot eyes flickered with anxiety.
“Damn it! Do you think I’m doing this because I don’t know? If you had acted coy earlier, it would have been easier!”
As if he[Uncle] would rather not cancel it if he [Enirco] liked me more, did he know what he was saying? He was always good at spouting nonsense, but he seemed even crazier today.
Emilia watched Giorgio, who was kicking his feet alone with a pitiful expression, and turned her head away. She didn’t know what he was doing or where he was going, but she hoped she wouldn’t be dragged into his stupid mess.
“……I’ll be going now. I have to see the Duke before it’s too late.”
Fortunately, Giorgio didn’t grab her. Emilia let out a sigh as she listened to the sound of him cursing at her back. Once again, her white breath mingled with the fog.
* * *
On the day of the third dance, the day she could finally be rewarded, Emilia quickly erased the signs of fatigue and performed her best dance on Enrico’s stage. Today’s dance was the main solo part of [The Stubborn Daughter] and it was the first time she had shown her solo practice in the practice room to others.
Her emerald eyes, which had been expressionless as she entered the dressing room and remained lifeless until she stepped onto the stage, changed as soon as the music flowed. Enrico watched her dance with his usual intensity, captivated by her happy smile and eyes that looked like she was truly in love.
“I’ll guide you this way.”
After taking a shower and changing clothes, the butler led her to the dining room. Emilia followed obediently, knowing that it was a day she would need to gather information anyway.
The mansion was so large that she passed through corridors adorned with magnificent chandeliers before reaching the dining room.
When the door opened, the first thing she saw was the magnificent ceiling painted with frescoes, and below it, the elaborately patterned gold candlesticks illuminating the large table.
Emilia sat down in the chair that the butler pulled out for her and quietly looked at Enrico, who was seated opposite her. Perhaps it was because the jewels embedded in the gold candlesticks were shining like stars, but today Enrico’s beauty seemed even more dazzling.
* * * *
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