IWBFF ~ 14

Chapter – 14

Mina personally greeted each person, handing out small gifts as she saw them off.

Radius, whose feet seemed unwilling to move, finally stepped out of the restaurant.

Everyone who came out wore an expression similar to his own.

“What’s her next performance? I’m buying a ticket no matter what.”

For a moment, Radius thought he had said it out loud—but then realized it was a young woman beside him, her face flushed with excitement. He silently agreed.

Even though he already had fifty tickets for Mina’s performances—box seats and front-row included—he still felt the urge to buy more.

In the car ride home, Radius carefully opened the gift Mina had given him.

Each present was the same size and wrapped identically, but each had a name on it.

Of course, his was labeled To My Secret Patron.

Inside the box was a glass jar filled with colorful candies—and a blue envelope tucked within.

“What… what’s this?”

He carefully unfolded the letter.

To My Secret Patron,

Hello. This is Mina Martínez.

If you’re reading this letter, it means that you’ve either come in person today or sent someone in your stead.

Thank you so much for coming. I really wanted to meet you.

Every supporter is precious to me, but I have a particularly deep sense of gratitude toward you.

I know well that you’ve gone out of your way to help me quietly, never showing your face so as not to burden me.

In particular, I heard that you were the one who helped correct that false tabloid article about my “romance” with actor Ranieri.

I actually found out about that article a bit late, and at the time, it caused me a lot of trouble.

This production—The Duke of Kusakov—was my first as a lead actress.

Before that, I had never been involved in any kind of scandal and didn’t know how to deal with one.

Some of my fans asked about it, while a few of Ranieri’s fans even sent me threatening letters.

I’m rambling. Sorry for the unnecessary story.

Anyway, I heard that you took it upon yourself to release a correction on my behalf during that difficult time.

Thank you so very much. Truly, from the bottom of my heart.

I’m sure you’ve done many other things for me as well.

I believe that I’m able to stand where I am today thanks to people like you.

Please always stay healthy, and may everything you do go well.

I’ll see you again soon with another wonderful performance.

With gratitude,

Mina Martínez

“……”

How could Radius possibly describe what he felt after reading the letter?

He hadn’t done it for recognition—but perhaps, deep down, he had wanted to be recognized.

And now that she had acknowledged him, he couldn’t deny the joy it brought.

“Threatening letters? What the hell. That’s insane.”

Even from that short letter, he could feel how much Mina had suffered through that ordeal.

“From now on, I’ll take responsibility for Mina’s future.”

Of course, what he meant was her career—as an actress.

Radius read the letter again.

My actress knows how to be grateful. How could a person be so perfect?

He popped one of the candies into his mouth.

He’d never really liked sweets before, but the gentle sweetness reminded him of Mina, and he found it… nice.

Then he realized—

Ah. I guess I do like candy.

It’s just that no candy before had ever felt like her.

The first thing Radius did after returning home that night was hire a portrait artist.

Officially, it was to create a new poster for the next lead actress’s performance.

In truth, he simply wanted a portrait of Mina to keep.

He told the theater owner that posters of popular actors would sell well—just like illustrated postcards did.

Naturally, he planned to be among those “many buyers.”

Not only that, he’d heard that photography technology had advanced lately.

So, through the theater owner, he arranged photo sessions for all the actors.

The plan was to sell the photos alongside postcards.

Of course, what he truly wanted was one picture of Mina—hidden among the others.

It’s all part of supporting the theater, he told himself.

Mina’s photograph would go inside his wallet.

Her illustrated postcard and painted poster would be framed and hung on the wall opposite his bed, where he could see them upon waking.

Yet, amid all these elaborate plans, Radius felt a strange melancholy.

Because after The Duke of Kusakov, Mina had gone on break.

Since the fan meeting, he hadn’t seen her once.

He’d heard that she’d chosen her next project and would begin rehearsals soon—but Radius didn’t have the courage to visit the rehearsal hall.

Especially after making such a big deal about never meeting her in person.

I want to see her. To see Mina perform again.

I could pretend I’m just visiting Ornanmentum Theater as an investor… my uncle’s poured enough money into that place anyway.

But at the same time, the thought of facing her as Radius Lorvaker after all his secrecy embarrassed him.

No, I told Anima I’d never meet her directly. Last time doesn’t count—she invited me herself. Still, I couldn’t even say a single word…

Radius began picking songs he’d ask Mina to sing if she ever held another fan event.

That seaside pub didn’t even have proper instruments, but she still sang flawlessly. Maybe next time, I could rent a larger, better venue. Once I get the invitation, I could casually suggest it…

His thoughts were a tangled mess.

If I practice a bit more, I might even be able to accompany her myself. Why didn’t I say anything that day? Ugh.

Even though the moment had long passed, he couldn’t stop regretting it.

He gathered every sheet of music from The Duke of Kusakov, every score from the musicals Mina had ever appeared in.

Then, after finishing his daily work, he practiced the piano.

The songs from “Kusakov” were requested by other fans first. Besides, Mina’s scenes there were a bit too… risqué. Asking her to sing one of those would make me seem like some pervert. The Empress’s number from “Thorn at the Fingertip” might be better.

At that point, Radius was, frankly, a little obsessed.

Barely any time had passed since the fan meeting, and yet he was already practicing accompaniment for the next one that hadn’t even been announced.

Around that same time, he heard that his mother, Thalassa—who hadn’t dated in ages—had a new boyfriend.

“This time, he’s really a good man. My intuition tells me so.”

“Huh? Then what about all the previous ones?”

“Oh, those? They were obviously after my money. But I like young, handsome men, so I dated them anyway.”

Ah, Mother…

“Think about it, Rady. I’ve never really lost out, have I? Whenever a man crossed the line, I cut him off. Why? Because I can afford to. And there are always more young, handsome men out there who want me.”

“And what about Father?”

“Hmm? Oh, Kevin?”

“You didn’t marry him knowing he was going to cheat, right?”

“Oh, no, darling.”

“Really?”

“I knew Kevin wasn’t exactly a good man. But I wanted to pass down those looks of his to my child.”

“…What?”

“I mean, yes—he cheated and we divorced. But I got you out of it, didn’t I? My perfect son. How could I ask for more?”

“……What if I’d taken after the Lorvaker side more, like Lux or Anima? Wasn’t that a bit of a gamble?”