When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 67



Only Krnovel

#67. What Relationship
2024.03.07.

Emilia’s eyes shook violently in shock. The part she was most worried about popped out. That’s why she tried to hide it, but the rumors that had been growing bigger and bigger under the surface rose to the surface with more bubbles.

“Hey- That’s not right. No matter what, in terms of skill- Huh!”

“Eh, Emilia?”

The people who had been slowly opening the door were startled when they discovered Emilia inside. Emilia took a deep breath.

“Did you, did you hear?”

“… … You must have heard. Can’t you see her expression?”

“Haa… … .”

The dancers who were going to work gradually got closer behind the person who was scratching his head as if in trouble. The dancers gathered one by one, wondering why they were standing in front of the practice room door instead of going to the changing room.

“What, why are you doing that?”

“Aren’t you going to change clothes?”

“Oh. That’s… … .”

“How far did that rumor spread?”

Emilia opened her mouth calmly. Even if she kept pretending not to know, it wouldn’t die down once it had already spread. The people who had been watching each other opened their mouths with expressions of bewilderment.

“Everyone in the theater must know. The vice-chairman warned them at first, but it had already spread so much that they couldn’t control it.”

“That’s right. We all talked about it too, so we found out too late.”

One of them rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders.

“Emilia, since it’s already come to this, why don’t you just be honest with me?”

“That’s right. Do you know Duke Michele?”

Emilia’s mouth opened heavily as she slowly scanned the gazes that were so focused on her that it was burdensome.

“… … If we know each other? How is that different from before?”

Even if Enrico had helped drive out the director, the problem had already started when the director revealed his absurd side. I could confidently say that I didn’t receive any help from him in terms of my skills, auditions, or anything.

But I couldn’t stand it when he just talked down to me, denying my efforts so far.

“Huh? So you’re saying I received sponsorship from the Duke?”

“I didn’t receive the kind of sponsorship you guys are thinking of. You know I worked harder than anyone else, right?” He

subtly pointed out the question they had about the selection of the main role that they had mentioned earlier. Some nodded in agreement, but the problem was that not everyone seemed to think the same way.

“But Christina was the same.”

“Hey. Why are you suddenly bringing up her?”

“No, that’s right. You’re talking as if you were the only one who worked hard, but Christina worked so hard that she was nicknamed the practice bug.” “

That’s true. In the end, she was pushed out by Emilia for the main role.”

Emilia clenched her fists and exhaled deeply.

“So what you’re saying now is that I don’t have the skills to be a main role? Are you questioning the audition selection process?”

“No, that’s what you’re saying.”

“Emilia. I understand that your situation is a bit difficult, but each person’s subjective opinion is about their skills. Do you really have to interpret it so extremely?”

“That’s right. If someone were to see you, they would think that your skills are overwhelmingly overwhelming? They would have some doubts. To be honest, you’ve already become a main character as soon as you enlisted this year, so isn’t it understandable to think that way?”

The other person reacted with a stinging attitude as if they were being stabbed for no reason, and Emilia let out a deep sigh.

People who were advocating that you shouldn’t ignore your skills and people who were spouting out nonsense like, “If you really knew Duke Michele, who knows if he got some extra points because of his influence?”

Giuliana, who had come up next to her, grabbed Emilia’s arm and pulled her back.

“Everyone, stop it. If you have any doubts about the audition selection process and results, just ask them!”

“Oh my, even if the part you were suspicious of was true, would you tell me?”

“Why are you undermining the premise that it’s true?”

“What on earth is going on?”

The practice room, which had been growing increasingly chaotic, suddenly became quiet. People split to either side, and Vice-President Sylvia appeared, walking toward them with her shoes making a sound.

“… … I heard something, but I think I need to properly address this situation.”

Everyone’s mouths fell silent at the sight of Sylvia looking around with a cold face. For a moment, Emilia and Sylvia’s gazes collided with empty space.

***

The stage, with the red curtain drawn, was empty as if waiting for its owner. Enrico sat on a chair in front of the stage, leaning his head against the backrest while lazily exhaling white smoke. Ash fell finely from the cigarette that was precariously held between his fingers.

“It has already been confirmed that the rumor has spread throughout the Avaliante Opera House. Furthermore, it has reached the ears of the rich and famous, so it is expected to spread in high society soon.”

Fabio spoke to Enrico with his head slightly bowed. Enrico, who had been staring into space and taking a deep drag on his cigarette, tilted his head slightly as if he was assessing something.

“It’s surprising that it hasn’t spread yet. Was the crown prince involved?”

“Yes. It seems that His Highness the crown prince is surprisingly keeping the rumors to himself. However, the problem is that there are also speculations that Miss Emilia has some kind of relationship with His Highness the crown prince. There are even rumors that the two of you knew each other in the past, as there is testimony that His Highness the crown prince did not leave immediately on the day of the accident and continued to monitor the situation.”

“… … It was Alessandro.”

Enrico’s eyes furrowed in displeasure. The corners of his lips, slightly raised, gave off a strong sense of indignation. It seemed like it had been quiet for a while, but now that it was

time, it was out of the question to intervene. ‘You have what you deserve, but you want too much.’

Eleksandro, who was staring at Emilia with greedy eyes, stood out. He quickly hid it, but the obscene desire he had shown at the masquerade was too strong.

Desire… … . Wasn’t he in a position to discuss it?

Enrico put a cigarette in his mouth, and the feeling of her lips brushing against his skin brought back memories of what had happened a while ago.

It was the first time. It had made his mind so hot. He wanted to keep touching her, and he wanted to get even more deeply involved. The intense desire that evaporated all his reason was dangerous, so much so that he wouldn’t even notice if it dragged him into the abyss.

Once he had her body, would all this interest naturally disappear? Even though he had made a contract, she was just like Emilia had said, on stage. He didn’t mind the quiet silence when he was with her. But there was no reason for him to accept everything because that was okay.

If she keeps rejecting him, is there any need to coax and covet her? After all, she had nothing to hold onto, so she had no choice but to cling to him.

Would this thirst go away if he completely coveted her?

Enrico felt his mouth dry again, perhaps because of the cigarette. He put out the cigarette and picked up the glass of water next to him and brought it to his lips.

“Shall I bring some wine?”

Fabio, who was looking at him strangely, asked cautiously. Enrico waved his hand and put the glass down.

Since his kiss with Emilia, he had strangely not been drawn to wine. He kept thinking about the scent and taste he had smelled from her. He didn’t want to make a fuss in his mind for no reason.

“Now that I think about it, I’m annoyed.” He

didn’t understand why he had to take care of her every situation. As a member of the royal family, he always got everything he wanted. And she was one of them. But he didn’t understand why he didn’t feel like it was completely his, and why he had to reach out first.

He wasn’t the one who was missing, so why did he keep acting like he was missing? Emilia, who comes when she comes and goes when she goes. If it was okay to be with her in the quiet silence, then he could have called her and kept her by his side, and if he liked her lips, he could have coveted them.

But why did she, who had so many regrets, keep repeating unsuitable rejections?

Enrico felt like he knew what she was thinking, but then he didn’t. He thought it couldn’t be the affection she was talking about, but then he thought it couldn’t be. He thought that it was just a possessive desire to have her body, but he also wanted to have her heart.

And even in the midst of his complicated thoughts, he wanted to see her.

‘… … In a situation like this, why don’t you come to me first and ask for help? Why do I always go there on my own?’

Enrico clicked his tongue briefly and closed his eyes tightly. At that moment, Fabio, who was next to him, suddenly approached the subordinate who had come. They were talking about something, but they were torn apart when Fabio turned around, and Fabio immediately approached Enrico and bowed his head.

“I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince is currently heading to Miss Emilia’s house.”

Enrico’s eyes shot open.

***

Emilia was sitting on the carriage seat, staring straight ahead. Although she had no choice but to accept Vice-Director Silvia’s suggestion that she should go home early today and focus on her treatment since she couldn’t practice, she couldn’t help but feel hurt.

Silvia’s appearance temporarily silenced the commotion. He said that the questions about the selection of the main characters were stories that went against his belief in running a transparent ballet company, and that he would soon call the relevant people together and disclose the selection process and scores, so he asked them to refrain from speculation.

What Emilia felt more heartbroken than all the speculation was seeing Giuliana looking at her with a worried face and eventually avoiding eye contact. More than anything else, she felt so sorry that she hadn’t told her from the beginning.

The carriage gradually slowed down and the sound of the horses stopping could be heard. Emilia tightly closed her eyes and opened them again.

‘Let’s focus on the treatment for now. It won’t be good to rest for too long.’

Emilia, who thought she should apply the medicine the doctor gave her as soon as she got back, stretched out to open the carriage door, but stopped when the door opened first. As the door slowly opened, Alessandro came into view.

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