When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 57



Only Krnovel

#57. Flower petals swaying in the wind
2024.02.26.

A scandal that would turn the world upside down occurred. The newspapers covered the date between Enrico Michele and Vivienne Karnt in great detail. Their meeting in broad daylight was public, and their mouths were always smiling. Everything about their clothes and the food they ordered was covered in the article.

And the events of that day were still covered in the article even today, ten days later. Emilia put the newspaper down next to her with a bored expression.

It had been a long time since she had been to his mansion for a performance. He had also not visited Emilia’s house separately, and it had been a long time since they had seen each other. When she first saw this article, her mind stopped for a moment.

‘It’s the same today.’

She didn’t know why she felt this way. Was it because she was shocked that he had never met the princess before and was even dating her? She had even lied to her, saying that she had no intention of getting engaged.

‘Yes, I think I feel this way because that lie is ridiculous.’

If he really gets a fiancée, it’s unclear whether the current contractual relationship can be maintained. She was worried that he might go back on the contract, so she was definitely frustrated.

Emilia took a deep breath and let it out as she looked at the opera house getting closer through the window. She had no time to worry about that anymore.

Today was the day the [La Sylphide] ballet performance began. It was finally her first time on stage as an important role, so she had to focus solely on the performance, and it didn’t matter whether he got engaged or not.

‘All I have to do is dance in the first place.’

Even if he got engaged, she would still receive information as per the contract. The image of Enrico’s back as he turned around while holding a woman’s hand flashed through her mind. Emilia stubbornly stared at the theater with a slightly hardened face. The cool air of dawn flowed in through the cracks in the windows.

The first day of the performance was the most hectic day ever. Emilia kept thinking about the stage while getting her makeup done.

The dressing room that was used as a group during the corps dance was changed to a dressing room for two people because she was cast for an important role, so she was able to do her image training quietly.

She had been imagining in her head what she had done countless times with her body, and slowly opened her eyes that had been closed at the sound of the knock.

“Emilia, I have a flower gift.”

“Ah… thank you.”

Emilia quietly looked down at the bouquet of flowers that had been brought to her. Fortunately, the ballerina who shared the dressing room was not particularly interested in such matters, so she didn’t even glance at the bouquet.

The person who had been doing her makeup said that she was almost done and told her to quickly check who had sent it, but even that was quickly forgotten because she had to go and do the next person’s makeup. She

fiddled with the card that was lightly stuck to the ribbon and picked it up. When she opened the card, the red rose petals that had been stuck between them fell down.

-May your value increase.

I burst out laughing as soon as I saw the card. That damn value, I thought it would follow me until I die.

Was he constantly emphasizing his position as if telling her not to forget it? I thought it would be okay since I had become used to it now, but after hearing it for the first time in a long time, my chest felt even more suffocated.

Emilia looked down at the card with cold eyes and crumpled it tightly. The card, which had lost its shape in her hand, soon fell into the trash can.

‘Let’s just think about ballet today.’

If she had thought of something else, it could have easily led to an injury. Emilia closed her eyes again to clear her mind as much as possible. A bell rang from afar, urging her to enter. Her long eyelashes fluttered.

How long had it been? A voice was heard telling her to wait in the hallway. Her jade-colored eyes slowly revealed themselves and she quietly looked straight ahead before turning her head.

***

The sound of the orchestra captivating the audience filled the concert hall. Then, as the curtain rose on the stage, the performance began with the fairy Sylphy suddenly appearing next to the sleeping male protagonist and dancing.

Emilia quietly watched Christina, who was dancing lightly like a fairy in a pure white ballerina costume, waiting on the wing stage.

Emilia, who had been rubbing rosin powder on her toe shoes and loosening her ankles while waiting for her next turn, prepared to leave after the previous turn. A

happy smile appeared on Emilia’s expressionless face, and the intense stage lights poured down on her body.

There were quite a few choreographies that they danced together, but it wasn’t like when they were in a group dance, so Emilia showed off her talents when she danced alone. She didn’t hold back on jumping and didn’t hesitate to raise her legs high. The audience’s eyes naturally gathered at her figure, spinning accurately and not leaving her spot.

As the story of the play progressed, mime movements and facial expressions had to be performed, but Emilia did it all without any shortcomings. The eyes of the people watching the play filled with satisfaction, and more and more eyes began to look for Emilia than for the main character, Christina.

After her turn, Christina bit her lower lip nervously as she watched Emilia dance on the wing stage. She had done her best and was more satisfied than ever because she had done better than ever. However, the moment she saw Emilia dance, a deep sense of defeat settled over her toes.

Her mood quickly sank as if she had stepped on muddy mud. She had to focus on the performance and not get lost in other thoughts, but seeing Emilia stealing her gaze from the front made her feel even angrier and more like she

was going crazy. ‘I’m the main character, so why do I feel like I’m the sidekick?’

Christina took a deep breath and let out a shallow, trembling breath.

‘… … No. Let’s not think like this.’

It was only the first day of the performance. She knew that if she worked hard, more and more attention would be drawn to her and she would definitely establish herself as the main character. If she got caught up in such negative thoughts, even the movements that were going well could go wrong, so it was best to just focus on the stage.

Christina gritted her teeth and waited for her turn. Soon, Emilia entered the wing stage, and the two people switched places on stage.

As the play gradually reached its end, the male protagonist was left frustrated by seeing Sylphy dying, and Effie marrying a young man from another village, and the performance ended successfully.

Clap, clap, clap!

Soon, waves of applause poured out from the audience. The dancers went out one by one to do the curtain call, and Emilia followed suit, then slowly looked around the audience while catching her breath. She

saw Alessandro standing in the center box seat and clapping, but she quickly turned her head in case we made eye contact, and her gaze stopped at the box seat where Enrico always sat.

“… …!”

A woman with black hair neatly tied up was sitting next to Enrico. The woman’s appearance, with golden eyes like lights shining between her smiling eyes, looked elegant even from afar.

‘Could it be that princess… …?’

For a moment, she thought she had seen something wrong. Enrico’s box seat was right, and a shadow was slightly obscured by the curtain, but more than that, what caught my attention was a woman whose face was so bright that her expression could be seen from afar.

Emilia felt her body, which had been hot until a moment ago, cooling down. Her heart was beating anxiously.

***

Emilia felt like her patience was being tested these past few days. Enrico, who suddenly showed signs that he might get engaged, and Christina, who kept glaring at her and interrupting her path, were constantly disrupting her concentration.

Fortunately, Enrico did not come with the princess again until the last performance of the week, except for the first day. Since he was the only one who came to see the performance on the day he went on stage, if the two of them kept coming together, I think he would have lost his concentration because of some strange feeling. Fortunately, it was.

‘… … Should I ask seriously after the performance? If the contract doesn’t change even if we get engaged?’

As she thought this, her mind suddenly felt blocked, but it was only for a moment. Emilia rubbed her stomach and tilted her head.

‘Did I vomit?’

When she got home, she should drink a cup of warm tea and go to bed right away. She must have been tense all week, so she felt worse than usual.

A warm breeze swept her slightly damp hair. Even though she had just washed up, the night breeze was not cold; rather, it was just right. Emilia walked toward the carriage waiting and looked up at the distant sky.

The moon was so big and round today that it seemed to reflect her inner feelings.

‘I guess I should prepare myself mentally in advance, right?’

About Enrico’s possible engagement. He

said he had no intention of getting engaged at the opera ball…

‘… Did he answer?’

Her eyes, darkened by the night shadows, shook violently. Her expression, staring into space as if trying to recall her memories, gradually hardened.

‘I didn’t answer properly.’

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