When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 9



Only Krnovel

#09. Sponsorship Contract
2024.01.09.

“Isn’t it expensive there? Of course, it’s not as expensive as Bersicone, but it’s still a middle-class residential area.”

“Yeah, it just happened to be like that. Things are a bit complicated.”

I didn’t ask for it. Emilia swallowed her last words and raised the corners of her mouth ambiguously.

‘You’ll stay here from now on.’

That was the house that Enrico Michele had almost forced upon her on the day they exchanged contracts.

The contract mentioned financial support, but I thought it was a clause referring to Giorgio Este. But I didn’t think he would support me separately. The moment she heard that, Emilia was about to refuse.

With the money she had saved, she could buy a house on her own in Cornillo, a lower-class residential area. It was a bit far from the theater, but it wasn’t too far away if she worked hard, so it was okay. But Enrico informed her as if he didn’t need to listen to her.

‘Even if you get that much money, it’ll just be Cornillo. How far is it from here? Why are you wasting your time like that?’

‘I thought the night class was voluntary until the performance. Why don’t you come to the duke’s residence right after the afternoon class?’

‘You’re wasting time on the road. Why don’t you think about dancing during that time?’

Enrico stood up as if there was no room for compromise.

Emilia couldn’t argue with his cold and overbearing atmosphere any longer. He left without saying goodbye after leaving a final warning that he wanted a perfect stage and that if he couldn’t do it and blamed the environment, he would pay for it.

After that, his aide Fabio showed up and told her the address he would be moving to. He said he would tell her the detailed schedule on the day he moved and wished her good luck with the audition.

‘The duke seems more like a crazy person than someone who likes art.’

Emilia frowned as she recalled what had happened a few days ago. Even though it was a short meeting, I was a little worried about his appearance, which seemed to be obsessed with art to the point of being fanatical.

He signed it because he was distracted by his parents’ business, but sometimes he spoke as if he recognized himself as an object that he owned, so perhaps this contract was more dangerous than he thought.

“Emilia?”

Emilia, who was lost in thought and staring blankly into space, blinked at the voice calling her.

“Why did you stop talking? What’s the matter?”

Her nervous expression disappeared and she saw Juliana, who was looking at her with a curious and crazy face. Emilia turned her head, lightly wiping her mouth with her hand.

“Ah… … . That’s okay here, but I’ll tell you next time.”

“When next time?”

“First, let’s think about it when you enlist.”

“Huh? What, what is that? When did you arrive?”

Juliana, who had been frowning, opened her eyes wide when she saw the audition room in front of her. She had been walking without thinking, so it seemed like she had already arrived on the third floor.

Emilia patted Juliana on the shoulder, feeling fortunate that she could change the subject. Let’s do well in what’s in front of us first, she tried to tell herself, while pushing the man who kept coming to mind to one side.

***

The audition took place in the ballet practice room. Since it was an audition for new members and also for the ‘Stubborn Daughter’ that would be performed on stage in March of this year, the existing members were also gathered inside.

Since the audition for new members came first, the faces of the existing members standing on the other side and watching were full of interest.

There were some who came to audition from other countries, but most of them were from art schools, so there were quite a few familiar faces, and some even greeted them.

“Why did she come so early to take her seat? She’s not the type of person who wants to quickly stamp her mark.”

Emilia, who was staring straight ahead with a calm face, heard a sharp and sensitive voice behind her.

“Oh, I can hear everything.”

“Isn’t that what you’re saying for me to hear? “You might be wondering why the person who is supposed to be a regular member is here early, not just a symbol of bragging.”

He knew who it was without even looking back. Eva Faberia, the person who had been teasing her and sending her jealous looks whenever she went to the art academy, so she couldn’t help but know her.

Emilia didn’t even look back because it wasn’t worth talking about. She was so pathetic because she was just standing right behind her, babbling so that only she could hear.

“You didn’t even come to the after-party because you were so great? Seriously, you didn’t even know who was coming… …”

Whoever came had nothing to do with her. It was starting to bother her more and more that he was pressing his face against the back of her head. He grabbed Juliana’s arm as if to calm her down, thinking about moving to a different seat or something else.

“You must have been confident on stage, right? But in my opinion, you weren’t very good.”

“Are you talking about you?”

In the end, Juliana turned around as if she couldn’t do it anymore. Eva folded her arms in front of her chest, twisting her lips as if she was satisfied.

“Hmm?”

“Isn’t it a bit much for you to judge someone? You’ve always been mediocre in my eyes.”

“Oh my, I just wasn’t lucky enough to get the lead role, but you’ll always be an extra. Who’s telling someone

they’re mediocre?” “Oh really? But that’s what I should be saying. I know I’m lacking. I’m not really mad. But comparing you to Emilia is a bit much. How can you be nitpicking about the difference in skill? You really have no conscience.”

“What?!”

Everyone’s attention began to gather as the atmosphere became more and more heated. Emilia quickly grabbed Juliana’s wrist and pulled her behind her.

“Stop it. This is an audition.”

Eva’s eyes, already slightly raised, were raised even more fiercely because her vivid orange hair was tied up tightly. Emilia’s two eyes, staring at her blue eyes filled with low emotions, were calm.

Seeing her expressionless appearance, Eva’s eyes flashed with a bright blue light, but it was quickly undone when she saw the people inside.

“… … Anyway, you’re just playing around with each other.”

Eva’s voice, mumbling as if she was being a swindler, was filled with unsettled anger. Juliana rolled her eyes as if she didn’t understand Eva’s behavior of picking a fight first and then getting angry and backing off.

“I don’t understand why you pick a fight like that when you can’t win every time.”

“Just ignore me.”

“Ignoring me is not the first or second time. How many times have you tried to show your jealousy and try to cause discord? If you leave her alone, she’ll cause a big trouble someday.”

Emilia smiled faintly at Juliana, who was grumbling as if it was her own business.

“Thank you. You always help me.”

“Help me. I can’t stay calm like you, so I can’t control my temper, so that’s why I’m like this.”

“You’re honest about your feelings, you know? I envy that

about you.” “Why are you saying such embarrassing things again?”

Juliana mumbled softly as if embarrassed and looked at the judges.

“But who came to the after-party and you’re acting all snobby… I was there too, and, huh? That person…”

Juliana’s eyes widened as she whispered, changing the subject for no reason.

“Why? Do you know him?”

“He came for a moment during the after-party. Oh, you must have been the manager.”

Emilia looked at the man Julianna was pointing at.

The skinny man, who looked to be in his fifties, had his oily black hair carefully brushed back as if he couldn’t tolerate even the slightest dishevelment, and his mustache was twisted up annoyingly, making his sensitive impression stand out even more. His gaze, as he looked around while pushing up his gold-rimmed glasses, stopped at Emilia.

A strange conflict flashed across the face of the director who was looking Emilia up and down as if evaluating an object. The director’s face, which had been narrowing its snake-like eyes as if calculating something, was filled with regret and its gaze was withdrawn.

Juliana spoke first, but she seemed to have focused too much and did not say anything more about the director. Only a momentary uneasiness remained that only Emilia, the person concerned, could sense.

‘Is it because of my mood…?’

Emilia’s head tilted slightly to the side. Her gaze lingered for a moment on the director’s profile, whose nose bridge was particularly prominent.

“The judging will be done by director Carlo Visconti, vice director Silvia Petrucci, and chief choreographer Chiave della Torre. The masters and coaches will participate as assistant judges, and the accompaniment will be provided by pianist Tommaso Paola.”

However, as the judges who were soon introduced one by one greeted the audience and took their seats, Emilia pushed aside her uneasy feelings and focused on the task at hand.

“As stated in the announcement, we will announce the results of the admission auditions as soon as they are over. Those who passed can immediately participate in the auditions for the role of [Stubborn Daughter] that will be held this afternoon, so if you wish, please stay. However, it is not mandatory, so you can leave first, and those who are selected will be automatically assigned to the military service. If you have any other questions, please contact the front desk separately after the schedule is over and we will answer them.”

As soon as the announcement was over, the person in charge of the event bowed and left the audition venue. The commotion that had been going on for a while died down as the man who had been introduced as the coach called out

their names in order. Since the contestants had been warming up earlier, those whose names were called stood in the middle of the barre and took their ready positions.