“Disappointing to see that after all the hard work at the art school, that’s what you want. There might be others like you who are aiming for impure sponsorship, but most people do this because they love ballet. Don’t insult this place with your narrow-minded values.”
A heavy silence descended. Emilia looked at Teacher Alice, who had a hardened expression, and Bella, who was chewing on her lower lip with a flushed face. Soon, everyone bowed their heads with a familiar face.
“This is the day we’ve been preparing for so long. Don’t forget all the hard work you’ve put in.”
“Yes…”
“It’s 10 minutes before the performance. Everyone, please wait. And Emilia, Masante.”
Everyone exchanged glances and slowly moved to the waiting area. Teacher Alice, who had been watching them, beckoned them to come closer.
“You are the main characters who will lead this play. Are you well prepared?”
Emilia, standing side by side with Masante in front of Teacher Alice, nodded slightly.
“Yes.”
“Yes, you know that this is a great opportunity for both of you, more than anyone else? The Avallante Ballet Company will be watching you both closely. It’s good to go abroad for auditions, but this ballet company offers a special privilege to join as a regular member right away, so take advantage of this opportunity.”
At Teacher Alice’s whisper, the expressions of the two split dramatically for a moment. The faces of those who saw hope and those who gave up, the stark contrast passed by briefly like a change carried by the wind.
Soon, the two nodded once and turned to go back to their seats. Teacher Alice’s hand, which was about to grab Emilia, who seemed puzzled, stopped at the sound of the orchestra filling the auditorium.
The curtain finally rose.
* * *
[La Sylphide]
It can be called a simple fairy tale, but the love that blinds you for a moment may be more dreamlike than meeting a fairy.
But the object is a beautiful fairy. Even a far-fetched story is enough to make the audience forget reality for a while, and the sweet story is enough to captivate the audience.
Even though the male protagonist loses everything and the fairy’s wings stop flapping because of his greed.
Until the sad ending, the fairy on stage danced lovingly with her wings of dance, captivating not only the male protagonist but also the audience.
The graceful movements of her fingertips and the delicate fingertips that made her heart race seemed to evoke a spring breeze just by looking at her, and she was so beautiful that she made you forget the harsh winter wind of reality.
The audience smiled with Emilia, who seemed to be happily smiling as if she had become a real fairy, and shed tears as they watched her fall down in pain.
‘Bravo!’
Of course, the performance was a success. The endless requests for an encore and the enthusiastic applause filled the auditorium for a long time.
Emilia was still sitting alone in the room, the sound of cheers still echoing in her ears.
“……Why are you being so vain.”
Emilia’s eyes were empty as she returned to the dormitory alone, which was now deserted while everyone went to the after-party. However, her hands, stroking the ballet costume on her lap, were full of longing.
It already seemed like a dream that this skirt was fluttering on stage. Was it because it was a large dome performance hall unlike the small-scale performances she had been doing? Today, for some reason, her heart was pounding so hard that she thought it would explode.
Under the chandelier, the dazzling gestures and the sound of the orchestra that seemed to burst her insides, and the eyes of many people who were gazing at her as if they were worshiping her. It was only at that moment that she felt like she was truly alive and breathing.
The snow falling softly outside the window piled up as if to cover her memory. Emilia shivered her eyelashes for a moment in the cold that seemed to wrap around her flesh as if to wake her from her dream and face reality.
“That’s enough… Let’s go.”
She knew that if it wasn’t now, her chance to escape would never come again.
Giorgio was about to take Emilia away after the performance, but he was caught in the crowd of well-wishers, so it was a blessing that he sent a servant to tell her to come to the viscount’s office as soon as the after-party was over.
Perhaps to many, being recognized like that would have been seen as a way to increase her value. So, that despicable man must have gone back first without a fuss.
She had managed to slip away with Juliana’s help, but once she arrived at the dormitory, it was hard to pack her bags quickly. She couldn’t take everything with her, but she couldn’t help but slow down as she touched each item, trying to take a little bit of her memories with her.
Emilia took one last slow look around the room. This was a place she would have left with a light heart, looking forward to a new beginning, but now her heart was just heavy.
“…Let’s really go.”
Emilia muttered to herself softly and took a step forward. Her legs, which had been moving slowly, gradually picked up speed.
Soon the big door opened and a cold wind hit her cheeks. Feeling that the snowstorm was about to intensify if she delayed any longer, Emilia pulled her scarf up to her nose and strode towards the back gate of the art school.
Unlike the brilliantly lit theater street that showed the splendor of the end of the year, the surroundings were dark and only the sound of the wind could be heard. Walking along the quiet night road with only a small lamp to guide her, Emilia was just blank. Her emerald eyes, which had died of emotion, blinked slowly.
‘Will I be able to get an ID? Even if I hide until the new year, I’m sure the authorities will be waiting for me… Or maybe it’s better to just get on a boat and go to another country. I could stay here illegally for a while and then buy an ID… But will the money I’ve saved be enough?’
Perhaps because she was facing the cold wind, her mind became complicated belatedly. A long white breath escaped from her lips, which were gradually losing color.
“……!”
But then, she heard the sound of footsteps crunching in the snow in the distance. Emilia’s eyes narrowed. She stopped her hesitant steps as she watched the faint light getting closer and closer.
Should she stay still or turn around and run away? Her heart pounded as if it would burst at the sound of approaching footsteps.
“Lady Este.”
However, before she could choose, the other person approached her and called out her name.
“Would you mind me taking a moment of your time?”
Emilia’s eyes widened. An unexpected figure had invited her.
“Duke Michele is waiting for you.”
He politely pointed to a carriage parked in the distance.
* * *
Enrico silently watched Emilia enter the carriage. Her actions, cautious and guarded as she settled opposite him, were slow and deliberate.
Enrico’s head tilted to one side as he quietly observed her hesitating at each step, as if every move was a decision.
“Greetings, Duke Michele.”
A shadow fell across Emilia’s face, following the small light hanging from the ceiling. Her cheeks and nose, reddened from the cold, were faintly visible. And so were her trembling lips.
Enrico’s gaze fell for a moment on Emilia’s hands clasped together in her lap. They were shaking just as much as her lips, plain to see.
“Sit down. I don’t particularly like being stared at.”
“Ah… I apologize.”
Her face was calmer than he expected. However, in contrast to her composed expression and seemingly unaffected voice, her hands, which had settled into the opposite seat with a slight tremor, were still shaking finely. Her hands, placed on her lap, were clasped together as if in prayer.
Enrico’s eyelids drooped languidly. Beneath the slowly rising eyelids, his namesake eyes, like sapphires set in stone, were revealed. A glint of ice flashed in his eyes, devoid of any warmth.
‘Like a delicate flower.’
Seen up close, Emilia Este’s small face was perfectly symmetrical, centered around her delicate features.
Her large emerald eyes, shaped like drops of water holding the blue sea, and her well-proportioned lips, like the petals of a red rose, were in such perfect contrast to her snow-white face that they seemed impossible to express even in a painting.
Enrico’s gaze, which had been admiring her aesthetic appearance like a work of art, naturally slid down.
Underneath her long cape, her body line, which had been revealed when she danced, was elegantly curved, even though it was not visible.
Slender shoulders, straight collarbones, a narrow waist, and slender ankles. Everything looked slender, but unlike her appearance, her body was firm and strong.
The way she leaped high, spreading her arms like a butterfly, bathed in intense light, felt like a distant dream of a midsummer night.
Nothing in his life had ever truly satisfied him, but she seemed to have enough value to bring him here.
But that was all. The woman who didn’t dance wasn’t quite perfect enough.
Enrico leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. His lowered eyes gleamed arrogantly.
‘Is she not worth as much as she is on stage?’
****
If you want to support the Translator, Translator’s Ko-Fi:
Thank you so much dear translator for the chapter!❤️🔥