TELRO 02

“Money Envelope, I’ll Try Receiving It Once” Chapter : 02

1.

There is a very famous romance novel in the Kaelon Empire that no citizen can not know—if you don’t know it, you’re considered a spy.

Its name is 『Roses Do Not Fall to Frost』.

Based on the real love story of the current Emperor and Empress, this book became a massive hit, and the stage adaptation of it was also an even bigger hit. People even say that if you enjoyed the original novel, you must watch the play.

As a huge fan who deeply enjoyed Roses Do Not Fall to Frost, it had always been my dream to see the stage performance someday.

But the Flower Cart Wheel Troupe, which performs Roses Do Not Fall to Frost, never came to Pennington where I live, so I thought it would remain just a dream.

But finally, at last!

The Flower Cart Wheel Troupe has come to Pennington. Thanks to that, I was able to fulfill my long-held dream.

‘I’ve got my ticket, and I even bought snacks to eat during the show…’

I even took the day off for today.

Actually, I don’t normally have things like that, but maybe because I’ve worked diligently all this time, the gardener, ranch owners, and restaurant aunties and uncles all happily approved my day off.

‘You’ve worked hard all this time, so it’s fine to rest for a day.’

I held my ticket tightly and searched for my seat among the temporary seats set up in the square.

“Excuse me, I’ll pass through—whoa!”

While trying to find my seat, my foot caught on the leg of a chair.

I lost my balance heavily and dropped the basket I was holding as I fell forward.

I managed to grab the back of a chair, so I didn’t fully fall, but my basket full of snacks…

Fortunately, the person sitting to my left caught it.

“Oh, thank you!”

“That was almost a big accident.”

Even though his face was hidden under a hooded robe, a young man’s voice came from beneath it.

His clear, well-articulated voice had a perfect balance between a light tenor and a low tone.

I inwardly admired it, but I hid my feelings and smiled brightly as I accepted the basket he handed back.

“Exactly. I spent two hours going around to buy all these snacks—I almost ended up throwing them all away without eating any.”

I sat down and lifted the basket slightly, then asked the man beside me,

“Would you like some? I went around only the most famous spots. Everything is delicious, no matter what you pick.”

“It’s fine. More importantly, I wanted to ask something…”

“What is it?”

“Can you see me?”

Haha. What a strange question.

I naturally turned my gaze forward.

‘Since I was young, I’ve seen strange things… it’s not the first time I’ve seen ghosts either, but…!’

But I’ve never seen a ghost in such a crowded place!

I muttered under my breath in desperation.

“Ghost, go away… go away…”

I couldn’t run away since the play was about to start soon.

‘It’s okay. It’ll be fine. It’s not my first time seeing ghosts, and he helped me when I almost fell, so maybe he’s not a bad ghost… huh?’

Wait a second. Thinking about it—

‘He definitely caught my basket earlier.’

If he were a ghost, that would be impossible.

“Hey…”

When I turned to ask if he was really a ghost, the man bent over, covering his mouth as if desperately holding in laughter.

“Pffft, haha…”

“W-What? Are you messing with me?”

“Hmm… should I say that’s about right?”

Letting out a short laugh that sounded like a cough, the man straightened up and slowly took off his hood. I widened my eyes at the face revealed beneath it.

Honey-blond hair, the color of shimmering honey. His slightly curled eyes, filled with mischief, sparkled in a deep golden hue.

But even more dazzling than that was his face—so refined and radiant that “statue” or “painting” would suit him better than “handsome” or “beautiful.”

I stared blankly, blinking without even realizing it.

Amused by my reaction, the man let out a small laugh.

That snapped me back to my senses.

“U-um, so…”

‘I should pretend I don’t know, right?’

As if he had read my thoughts, he said,

“You know who I am, don’t you?”

His whisper-like voice was filled with certainty.

I missed the timing to deny it. After hesitating with my mouth slightly open, I carefully nodded.

“Well… of course…”

Seeing me act so timidly, the man lifted the corners of his mouth in a silent smile.

“Right. People living in Pennington can’t not know me.”

I awkwardly smiled along with him.

He was right. No one in Pennington could not know this man’s identity.

Since his succession ceremony two years ago, he had always been seated in high places at every major event held in Pennington.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace…”

Yes. The identity of the man I had briefly mistaken for a ghost was none other than Duke Rudian, who ruled over Pennington and more than half of the Western Empire as his domain.

“It is an honor, but you don’t seem that happy. Your expression is very stiff.”

“What? No way! I’m extremely, extremely happy. I can’t believe I’m talking to you like this. Every morning when I wake up, I always pray for your well-being.”

My rapid-fire speech made him burst out laughing.

It was such a bright laugh it felt like golden waves spreading around.

“Then maybe I’ve been having good days thanks to you. Thank you.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. …By the way, please speak informally.”

“Ah, I’m more comfortable this way. Don’t mind it.”

I definitely minded it a lot…

‘I never thought I’d hear honorifics from him.’

But since the Duke was waving his hand dismissively, I couldn’t say anything more. I rolled my eyes and carefully asked,

“By the way, Your Grace, may I ask why you are here?”

“Of course. I came to watch the play. It’s supposed to be very famous, right?”

At that, my eyes lit up.

So the Duke also came to see Roses Do Not Fall to Frost by Flower Cart Wheel Troupe!

“It’s not just famous—it’s the most famous play in the entire Empire! I only heard rumors myself, but…”

At that moment, a bell rang announcing the start of the performance.

“Ah, it looks like it’s starting.”

As if the Duke’s whisper was a signal, the surroundings darkened as though a curtain had fallen.

It was likely the effect of a magical tool owned by the Flower Cart Wheel Troupe.

‘Let’s focus on the play first!’

This might be the only chance I ever get to see it.

I focused entirely on the stage, devoting all my attention to the actors’ monologues.

* * *

The three-hour-long performance ended with a passionate kiss scene from the lead actors and a grand curtain call.

“Thank you, everyone!”

“Please look forward to tomorrow’s performance!”

I gave them enthusiastic applause as they stood there drenched in sweat from their passionate performance.

“Wow… that was an amazing stage…”

As I leaned back in my seat, half-exhausted, the Duke smiled and asked,

“You enjoyed it that much?”

“Yes!”

“What scene left the deepest impression?”

Even though people were leaving after the show, the Duke showed no intention of standing up and kept talking to me.

Thinking I should get up once the crowd cleared, I answered him.

“Well, the action scenes were so intense that I was sweating just watching them, but…”

“But?”

The most memorable scene was obvious.

“It was the scene where the heroine receives a money envelope from Her Majesty the Empress.”

My answer seemed unexpected, and the Duke burst out laughing.

“That was the most memorable?”

“Yes. Very much so. I’ve been curious since reading the book—does something like giving a money envelope and saying ‘Break up with my son!’ actually happen in real life?”

“It does. You know my younger uncle who was reported missing? In fact, he ran away with a maid he was secretly dating after she received a money envelope from my mother.”

I feel like I just heard something extremely shocking.