The rainy season, which had seemed like it would never end, was gradually coming to a close, with the hours of rainfall decreasing. Emilia sat in the practice room, stretching her body for the first time in a while.
She was scheduled to rejoin rehearsals starting today, but the atmosphere within the ballet company remained awkward.
Sub Director Sylvia had explained that there was absolutely no corruption in the audition process, presenting the score sheets and reasons for selection one by one, even calling in the relevant personnel to give detailed accounts.
Since few had ever truly doubted Emilia’s abilities, most accepted the explanation. However, a handful stubbornly refused to believe anything, gritting their teeth and rejecting the truth.
It was a mix of pride—their last shred of self-righteousness—and jealousy toward Emilia that had twisted into a stubborn, inferiority-driven resistance.
“You can fake a score sheet easily. I mean, she was already chosen. What can we do now? Just push forward.”
“Exactly. I know Emilia’s good, but if she really has the Duke Michele backing her, then this isn’t something we can just let slide. Doesn’t it all feel a bit shady?”
The problem was, these people were so shameless—their voices were loud. Even when others glared at them, they grumbled on about how they wouldn’t be silenced and had to speak up. Emilia, nearly resigned at this point, simply carried on with her tasks quietly.
Maybe she was half past caring now, but what they said no longer bothered her much. She didn’t even feel anger about them denying her talent. What weighed on her mind was the fact that Juliana still refused to speak to her.
“Emilia.”
While she was watching Juliana stretch on the other side of the room, three fellow dancers suddenly gathered around her.
“Huh?”
“I heard a weird rumor today. Can you tell me if it’s true?”
Something about it felt ominous. Emilia didn’t respond right away but simply raised an eyebrow. But the dancer, apparently uninterested in hearing an actual answer, started rattling off what she wanted to know.
“Do you know the Crown Prince?”
“…What?”
“There’s a rumor going around that you’ve known him since childhood.”
“What are you talking about? Where did you hear that?”
“There’s an opera singer who went to a ball as the sponsor’s partner. That singer said they heard it there. Everyone in the opera company is talking about it.”
It was one thing after another. Emilia pressed her fingers against her forehead in frustration. She had no idea how such a story had gotten out.
Had someone seen them together as children? But even so, how could they have known it was her?
Exasperated by the absurdity of it all, Emilia let out a deep sigh.
“So, Emilia, is it true?”
“We’re not childhood friends or anything. We just met briefly when I was young. I think it’s been blown out of proportion.”
“Gasp. So it is true?”
“Yeah, but we weren’t close, and we haven’t kept in touch. Honestly, the rumor’s just gotten out of hand.”
Seeing how excited the others were getting, Emilia figured that staying there would only lead to more probing. She turned back to stretching, trying to ignore their stares.
The group eventually took the hint and backed off, but soon, loud voices filled the practice room again.
“Didn’t they say she was from a fallen noble family? I thought her household went completely bankrupt. Did she meet him before all that?”
“Maybe. Sounds like they knew each other back then. But could a family close enough to the royal family to be on speaking terms really go bankrupt that easily?”
“Who knows? How would we know the story of someone that famous?”
“She’s amazing. First the duke, now the crown prince? Unbelievable.”
Their tone made it sound like Emilia had seduced them both. The same people who doubted the officials’ words were now buzzing like they’d found fresh prey.
“You really can’t tell by looks, huh? She acted all high and mighty, but I didn’t think she was so quick to hop into bed.”
“Hey!”
Suddenly, a voice thundered from behind. Startled, the group turned to find Juliana glaring at them, her expression furious.
“Enough. The decision was made after a fair review, so why do you keep bringing it up amongst yourselves?”
“What? I just said I don’t find it convincing. Why does that matter?”
Juliana’s eyes widened like she was ready to charge. Emilia rushed over, grabbed her arm, and faced the group.
“Then go talk to the sub director right now. Tell her you didn’t understand the score sheets or the explanations.”
“W-What?”
“If you can’t even speak up directly, then why are you whispering behind people’s backs? Did I do something to you?”
“That’s…!”
The girl looked around, hoping for support from her peers, but they were just as speechless. One of them gave the troublemaker a nudge and finally dragged her away with a sigh.
Emilia let out a deep breath and gently shook Juliana’s arm, who was still glaring at them.
“Juliana, are you okay?”
It had been an infuriating situation, but now that Juliana had stood up for her, Emilia’s mood softened. What had bothered her most was how distant Juliana had become, so even just this small moment of conversation brought her comfort.
Emilia naturally took Juliana’s hand and led her to a quiet corner.
“…Why wouldn’t I be okay? They were all talking about you, not me.”
“It’s okay. I’m used to this by now.”
“You’re way too easygoing. How can you still smile?”
“It’s just… I’m really happy to talk to you again. That’s all.”
Juliana’s gaze lingered on Emilia for a moment. Emilia met her eyes and then spoke cautiously.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve just talked to you instead of keeping it to myself. It’s not that I didn’t trust you—I think I just didn’t want to accept my reality.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. It’s not because of the situation anymore. I really want to tell you everything now. Do you have time? Want to come to my place?”
A bright smile bloomed across Juliana’s face, like a sunflower in full bloom. Her radiant expression made Emilia smile too.
* * *
Emilia took Juliana to her home and told her everything. She considered leaving out the part about her parents, but since she had already decided to open her heart, she thought that picking and choosing what to say might end up causing even greater disappointment.
At first, Juliana listened with a surprised expression, but then her face filled with shock, turned strange, and finally, she shed tears.
When she asked whether Emilia still held noble status, Emilia worried for a moment, wondering if Juliana might be uncomfortable. But when Juliana smiled and said she was glad Emilia hadn’t lost her status, Emilia felt reassured that she had made the right choice in telling her.
‘But does the Duke Michele really see you as just a possession?’
Juliana’s last remark bothered her a bit, but Emilia brushed it off, replying as if it were obvious.
Having lived solely at the Academy after leaving the Viscount’s household, inviting someone to her home felt unfamiliar. But seeing her friend smile made her feel she’d made a good decision.
Juliana empathized so well with her story that, when Emilia talked about Giorgio, Juliana got even more worked up than Emilia herself. If Giorgio had been there in person, Juliana seemed ready to grab him by the collar on the spot.
‘Come to think of it, even though Enrico said he wouldn’t show up, I didn’t expect my uncle to not show even a glimpse of his nose.’
She still wasn’t sure if he was really her uncle, but either way, it felt good not to see his face.
Still, the silence was so complete that it made her uneasy. She wanted to take this opportunity to confirm if they truly shared blood, but it was frustrating that the world didn’t yet have the technology to verify that.
A week passed since she resumed practicing, and then a summons came from Enrico.
* * *
It had been a while since she’d returned to the duke’s estate. Thinking she was being summoned to perform again now that she seemed fully recovered, Emilia tried to head to the usual dressing room, but the butler redirected her, saying that wasn’t the way.
‘Wasn’t I called here to perform on stage?’
The place Emilia arrived at was the bedroom she had stayed in while she was sick with a fever. The butler opened the door, and as she reluctantly stepped inside, she saw Enrico sitting on the edge of the bed.
*Why is he waiting here? Could he really be trying to force something?*
Remembering how he had once said something strange about possessing her body, she instinctively stepped back.
“…Why did you call me here?”
Enrico twisted his lips and slowly stood up from his seat. Instead of answering, he steadily closed the distance between them. As Emilia kept stepping backward, considering whether she should turn and run, she suddenly felt the hard surface of the door behind her.
He didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping. Just as she turned her body slightly to open the door, his hand brushed right past her face and pressed against it.
Emilia blinked in surprise, about to turn toward him—when she caught sight of a familiar man standing in the corner of the room and gasped.
“What were you thinking?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Why are your ears so red? Were you imagining something strange, perhaps?”
As if he had forgotten the intense argument they had at home, Enrico casually spoke to her. Emilia covered her ears with both hands and shook her head slightly. Then, she gave a small nod of greeting to the duke family’s personal physician, who had been quietly standing in the corner since earlier.
Seeing this, Enrico turned away, looking deflated.
“Go ahead and get examined.”
TL/N: LOL. THE SECOND-HAND EMBARRASMENT!
* * * *
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