🔊 TTS Settings
Sarah Wigo.
She was a commoner-born actress and the most popular woman in the academy right now.
The play she starred in, Helga’s Death, had already surpassed 5,000 viewers just one month after its release.
“Ah, Simon. My sun, my moon. My breath, my everything. My desire for you is something even death can’t extinguish.”
Every audience member held their breath, staring at Sarah Wigo on stage.
After delivering her final line, Sarah stabbed herself in the chest with the dagger she was holding, her face contorted in pain, before she collapsed to the ground.
‘Wow, she’s really good at acting.’
I was impressed when she delivered such emotional lines, but the suicide scene at the end was even more shocking and amazing, just as the rumors had said.
‘My blood is boiling!’
I had been acting since I was young, having debuted as a child actress, so acting was my life. I started in the entertainment industry because of my mixed-race beauty and unique aura, but regardless of how I started, acting was my calling. I couldn’t help but get excited seeing a veteran actor like Sarah perform so well.
It wasn’t just me who was moved. The entire audience in the theater was stunned, deeply absorbed in the lingering emotions from the performance.
“She’s an amazing actress, right?”
“Yeah, she’s okay.”
Dad, sitting next to me, nodded without much excitement.
‘A talented actress like her, committing suicide at such a young age… The dark side of the entertainment industry is the same in both this world and that one.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly as I looked at the darkened stage.
Sarah Wigo, once a genius actress, would, a few years later, tragically take her own life before even reaching her thirties, just like the character she played in this play.
The gossip lovers would all be busy speculating about the reasons for her suicide, but no one really knew why she made that choice at such a young age.
‘But I know exactly why.’
After watching her performance today, I was sure of it.
‘She probably couldn’t keep acting, living a life she didn’t want. Of course, she would want to die.’
At the peak of her popularity, Sarah Wigo had retired after becoming the mistress of an old count.
It wasn’t uncommon for beautiful commoner actresses to become the mistresses of rich nobles and live comfortable lives.
So when Sarah Wigo announced her retirement after becoming a nobleman’s mistress, her fans were disappointed, but no one really questioned her decision. It was just the usual path every famous actress took.
‘It wasn’t about wanting a comfortable life as a mistress; it was more like a half-threat. I’m sure there are still leeches out there making offers to Sarah to become their mistress.’
Having been an actress myself, I could tell just by watching Sarah perform. She was a true actress who loved her craft and took pride in her work.
But unfortunately, the noble society wasn’t kind enough to let a beautiful commoner actress live freely and act in the way she loved.
‘The acting she loved so much, I hope she gets to do it freely in the next life.’
I stood up, ready to put my plan into action. Dad, who had been sitting with his arms crossed and looking uninterested, glanced up at me.
“Wait here for a little bit. I’m going to get Sarah Wigo’s autograph.”
“What? Wait, hold on…”
Leaving a flustered Dad behind, I quickly headed to the backstage waiting room.
There were already people lined up in front of the waiting room, all hoping to get a handshake or just a glimpse of Sarah Wigo.
I gently nudged a man standing at the back of the line with my fan and said,
“Could you move over a bit?”
The young girl’s voice seemed to confuse everyone, and they turned to look at me.
I made my way through the now-silent crowd and approached the theater staff member guarding the door to the waiting room.
“My name is Rubetria Diolus. I’ve been a fan of Sarah Wigo for a long time, and I came today to see her face.”
“Oh!”
The man’s eyes widened as soon as I introduced myself.
He quickly went inside the waiting room and came out less than a minute later.
“Lady Diolus, it’s an honor to have you here. Please come in.”
“Thank you.”
Powerful connections.
I walked past the envious stares of the crowd gathered outside the waiting room and entered.
Inside, I saw long mirrors attached to dressing tables, and there, sitting quietly in the corner, was Sarah Wigo.
She greeted me with a slightly flustered look.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Diolus.”
‘Wow, she’s even more beautiful up close. No wonder she’s famous in this industry.’
In her early twenties, Sarah was a rare beauty with shiny blonde hair and translucent skin.
I couldn’t help but admire her delicate features as I spoke.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I know it’s rude to drop by unannounced, but I couldn’t resist coming to see your face, so please forgive my sudden visit.”
Sarah’s eyes widened in surprise at my polite greeting.
Even though she was famous, Sarah was still a commoner, and actresses were often seen merely as entertainment for the nobles. They weren’t treated with much respect, so my attitude must have surprised her.
After staring at me blankly for a moment, she quickly waved her hands.
“No, it’s an honor for me. Please come by anytime. This way, please.”
“Thank you. Your performance today was amazing. The monologue of Helga was the best.”
As I sat down in the chair Sarah pointed to, I continued,
“Helga is a character who knows she must let go of her love for Simon, but struggles because her desire for him is stronger. So, Helga’s Death… I think the play should focus on the woman’s inner turmoil as she wrestles with her love.”
Sarah, sitting across from me, paused.
“So, while everyone praises the final suicide scene, what impressed me the most was the part where Helga confesses to herself that she is selfish for wanting to stay by Simon’s side. That inner conflict really made the play hit hard for me.”
“…”
“I may be mistaken, but I felt like you focused most on that part. The acting was just perfect.”
Sarah’s eyes widened.
“Yes, Helga is a character with intense inner conflict. So when I first got the script, that monologue was the most memorable for me. She knows that letting go of Simon is the right thing to do, but her selfishness makes it so hard. The pain she feels because of that…”
Listening to Sarah talk passionately about the character was a little bittersweet for me.
‘She’s a natural-born actress who loves her craft, but she retired so young and ended up wasting away as some old nobleman’s mistress…’
“Oh, and when Helga pushed Isabel down the stairs, that part was great too. The audience probably focused on how shocking it was when Isabel fell, but… for me, it was before that.”
“Before that?”
“The part where Helga hesitated before pushing Isabel. The internal conflict, the mix of hatred and guilt she felt toward Isabel, was incredible. That part was so powerful that I didn’t even notice Isabel falling down the stairs. You must’ve put a lot of effort into it.”
Sarah’s eyes widened.
“Yes! If I hadn’t focused on that part, Helga would have just seemed like a villain who was blinded by love, a one-dimensional character.”
“Exactly.”
“I knew I had to make the audience understand that even though Helga sinned, they could still sympathize with her. So I practiced that scene over and over, especially before going to sleep.”
As Sarah excitedly chattered away, I smiled knowingly.
“I’ve heard a lot of feedback, but there’s something different about your perspective, Lady Diolus. You noticed the part I struggled with the most…”
Sarah’s eyes lit up with joy as she added,
“I’m honored that you came to visit, but I never thought someone like you would have such a deep understanding of theater. I’m really happy. Thank you for your kind words.”
“No, it’s me who should be thanking you for showing such great acting.”
I had been acting nearly all my life, since I was six years old. If my perspective was the same as an ordinary person’s, then there was something wrong.
Sarah, clearly happy to finally have someone to talk to about acting, continued to talk animatedly.
“Lady Diolus, if you don’t mind, I’d love to treat you to a meal and talk more…”
Just then, a frantic knock came at the door, and the voice of the theater staff echoed through.
“Se, Sarah! Count Ergetti is coming!”
Sarah’s expression immediately froze.
Count Ergetti. The old nobleman who had taken Sarah as his mistress in her previous life.
‘I bet he’s the reason Sarah decided to commit suicide.’
Sarah, with a darkened face, stood up and walked toward the door. At that moment, the door burst open.
“Sarah!”
“Count… Ergetti…”
The Count, barging in without any courtesy, looked to be at least twenty years older than my dad.
With a sneaky grin, he grabbed Sarah and buried his face in her neck. Sarah’s face showed clear signs of disgust and discomfort.
‘Isn’t this guy insane?’
I jumped up and quickly walked toward him.
“Stop! There’s a guest here.”
At Sarah’s words, the Count finally noticed me, looking displeased at the unexpected interruption.
“…What’s this?”
His sly hand still held Sarah’s arm.
I couldn’t help but feel disgusted and swiftly struck his hand with my fan.
“Ugh.”
The Count flinched in surprise, and Sarah took a deep breath.
I shot them both an angry look and snapped,
“Take your hands off her.”
