When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 14



Only Krnovel

#14. A Stage for Him
2024.01.14.

The story I didn’t want to hear was piercing into my ears. Emilia was wondering if she should leave, and motioned to cut off Juliana, who was looking at her as if the topic was interesting.

But a concubine? It hit me once again that the perception of sponsorship in the ballet world had hit rock bottom.

Although the Kingdom of Treano is monogamous, there is no specific punishment for infidelity, so it must be easier to commit adultery. She knew that there were quite a few nobles who had lovers and lived promiscuous lives even after getting married.

But I didn’t know that they would go as far as finding sponsors themselves… … . I thought it was serious.

“But that’s because Clarice was lucky. Most people just play around with them and then throw them away when they get tired of them.”

“That’s true… … . In particular, the bigger the reward, the bigger the price. Well, there was a girl who accepted sponsorship without even looking into it because she was desperate for money. Well, that guy was a huge pervert. He’s been through so much mental shock that he still can’t leave the house.”

Was it because she was thinking about Enrico’s sponsorship earlier? Her words were so clear. She had written a contract, but now that she knew how self-centered he was, she was worried about what more he would ask for later.

Of course, she tried to ignore it, but it seemed that the anxiety that suddenly came was unavoidable.

Now that she was finally concentrating on stretching, their conversation had stopped, but Emilia’s mind was still rumbling.

‘… … Will I really be satisfied with just dancing? What should I do then if he asks for something strange?’

Enrico, who had closed the distance so close that their breaths were brushing mine, dominated her mind again. Even if dancing was the right goal right now, that meaning could change someday. To those of higher ups, a contract would be nothing more than a piece of paper that could be torn to pieces.

‘There’s no point in worrying about it like this. For now, let’s just start with what’s right in front of us.’

Emilia forced herself to swallow her sigh and slowly turned her ankle. Fortunately, she saw the practice coach come in just in time. The first day of the real ballet company dawned.

***

She commuted to and from work in a carriage disguised as a street carriage sent by Enrico.

It was only her third day in the ballet company, but Giuliana knew Emilia’s habit of arriving an hour or two earlier than everyone else or practicing until the end since her time at the art academy, so she left the practice room first.

She would have been embarrassed about what excuse to make if she had asked her to go with her, but it was fortunate.

Emilia finished practice earlier than usual and left the theater. The scenery changing rapidly beyond the carriage window was a spider slowly covering the ground.

‘It’s finally today.’

Emilia’s face was filled with the same tension as when she went on stage. She had no time to be lost in thought. The carriage quickly arrived at the duke’s house, and Emilia was guided to the building on the left instead of the central mansion.

“I have prepared the stage costumes in the room. This child will help you dress up.”

“Dressing up?”

“Yes. You can think of it as a ballet performance as you usually do. His Majesty the Duke will not tolerate dishevelment, so please prepare in perfect condition.”

The butler bowed his head politely and opened the wooden door with elaborate patterns. The room was filled with splendor. Next to the dazzling chandelier and gold hangers stood a huge mirror with the same gold frame.

Emilia opened her mouth without realizing it as she looked at the clothes hanging on the hangers and the numerous ballet costumes worn by various mannequins. She slowly walked into the room as if she was being led, not even noticing the sound of the door closing behind her.

“Do you have a costume that matches the piece you have prepared? If not, please let me know.”

There couldn’t be any. The room seemed to have more variety than the ballet costumes in the theater prop room. Could it be that they collected all these costumes to watch the stage that was performed three times a week? He seemed to be crazy about art, but Enrico thought that maybe he was more imaginative than he thought.

‘… … Is this the room of someone who simply collects things to watch dances? Really?’

The maid stood by the clothes rack, watching Emilia shake her head with a blank expression.

“Then tell me the costumes and I’ll help you prepare them.”

“Yes… … ”

The story of sponsorship I heard from the ballet company a few days ago flashed through my mind. He probably wouldn’t ask for anything else besides dancing, right? Because of his excessive possessiveness that went beyond obsession, a sense of anxiety rose deep inside me.

The hand holding the costume tightened. Emilia’s two eyes closed tightly and then opened.

Worrying about it wasn’t going to solve the problem. Emilia quickly chose the costume without hesitation. She changed into her ballet costume, put on makeup, and dressed up more carefully than she did for the performance at the end of the year, making her look even more beautiful.

With her hair neatly tied up, a top that showed off her curves, and a skirt made of several layers of flowing net fabric, she looked like a fairy who had first met Enrico at the Avaliante Theater.

Emilia, who had put on makeup and a flower crown, put on her toe shoes and left the room. She followed the butler who was walking ahead of her as if he had been waiting, and walked down the hallway lit by orange lights. After passing the huge painting that filled one wall and the delicate sculptures that were hard to believe were made by human hands, a pair of gold double doors appeared.

“You may come in.”

“… … Yes.”

Emilia’s heart swelled and then sank. She stared at the wide-open door as if she was opening Pandora’s box.

Emilia was worried that she might be led to the bedroom after decorating it like this, but what filled her vision was the theater with red curtains and gold.

Yes, this was exactly like a small-scale version of the stage of the Avaliante Opera Theater.

“I wish you would show up from the back of the stage instead of the entrance next time,”

Emilia said, hesitantly looking around as she took one step at a time, and suddenly looked straight ahead at the soft voice. She saw the back of a large chair placed in front of the stage. Enrico slowly stood up from the chair where even the tip of his head was not visible.

At that moment, everything seemed slow. His thick eyebrows were revealed under his hair that seemed to contain the night sky, and his straight, high nose turned to her. Her eyes met his amethyst eyes that matched the splendid interior.

“I wish you would warm up after you come out from the back of the stage.”

He was wearing only a dark purple vest, but unlike before, he had buttoned up the top button of his shirt and was wearing a black tie. It felt strange because it seemed like he was dressed up for some reason. He

didn’t seem like he would tell her to go to bed or do anything sinister, but his sincerity in watching the ballet was a little creepy.

He seemed to be a person who truly thought that the only thing he could handle in this world was art. That made him realize once again how important this contract was to him.

“Are you thinking of doing Silphide?”

Enrico turned around in his chair and approached her. He looked at her from head to toe with his persistent gaze, as if he was observing something he had purchased.

“Up close… … .”

His hand reached out to Emilia’s round shoulder. She shrugged her shoulders slightly, as if wary of the unfamiliar sensation of his skin touching hers, but he paid no attention and instead slowly moved his hand as if following the lines of her body. He kept a slight distance so as not to touch her. It was

a strange feeling. His hand was clearly floating in the air, but strangely, it felt like he was touching her directly. Her body froze as if she had become a plaster statue. Emilia fluttered her eyelashes and barely let out a trembling breath.

“Not bad. It’s actually okay.”

He twisted the corners of his lips as if he was satisfied.

“We met in the hallway, right?”

“… … Do you remember?”

“No. “Fabio told me.”

He lightly touched the fluttering cloth on his shoulder and replied in a sweet voice.

“Why didn’t I notice it then?”

It was a familiar sense of alienation. Emilia showed discomfort as she watched his gaze, which had been languidly lowered, move back up again as if scanning her body.

He groaned as if pleased at her gesture of stepping back slightly. Emilia bit her lower lip as he smiled as if he was simply interested, as if he was already enjoying himself.

Enrico’s hand naturally grabbed her fingertips. Emilia, who was about to flinch and pull back, instinctively withdrew her strength as he held her hand tightly as if telling her to stay still. Then, as if he was escorting her, he led her to the front of the chair and let go of her hand as he pushed her toward the aisle leading to the stage.

She froze in place for a moment and blinked as she watched him sit down on the red velvet chair without a care. The gentle atmosphere from earlier was gone, and in an instant, Enrico was staring at him with the eyes of a predator.

“Okay, then dance.”