🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 36
Florian had been sitting in a box seat on one side of the first floor ever since he left backstage.
The audience seats were packed, and the play had begun. Comical acting, grand music, and dazzling stage mechanisms captured everyone’s attention and made them burst into laughter.
But Florian could not properly focus on any of it.
“Are you worried about me?”
Astrid’s clear voice echoed in his mind like a mountain reverberation.
Florian admitted it to himself. Yes, damn it. He was worried. Worried she might fail. Worried the people gathered here would see her fail. Worried rumors would spread. Worried those rumors would hurt her. Because he—.
He, Astrid?
Florian paused. He couldn’t find the rest of the thought. He lowered his head and let his sharp mind churn.
Why was he worried about Astrid?
“Because I staked this season’s social performance on you.”
Phew. Having found a satisfactory answer, Florian relaxed and leaned back into his seat.
“Right. After this performance, I should formally suggest promoting the Paudanal fabric line. She seems to have a talent for drawing attention…”
As his thoughts shifted toward business, the confusion in his mind gradually settled.
No, more than just settling, he was already designing a new dress for her. Simply having her appear at various events wearing it would guarantee strong promotional effect.
His peaceful immersion in business thoughts was dragged back to reality by a loud narration.
“And yet, what awaited the Pausto party after barely escaping the Sea of Monsters was a siren!”
It had begun. Florian’s calm heartbeat began pounding again.
“Being with her is terrible for my heart. Next time I see the doctor, I should ask to increase the dosage.”
The curtain covering the stage slowly began to rise.
Through the gap beneath it, he could see Astrid’s dress hem shimmering in the light. Without realizing it, his clenched hand was damp with sweat.
Please don’t freeze. Please sing like you did in the carriage.
But contrary to his wish, Astrid’s face looked pale, overwhelmed by hundreds of gazes. She was a stand-in, not a trained actress, so it was only natural.
Florian exhaled deeply and rubbed his forehead. His palm came away damp and cold with sweat.
I should have stopped her more firmly.
“The siren! Everyone cover your ears! Musicians, play louder!”
It was Pausto’s line. At the loud voice, Astrid finally seemed to regain her senses, flinching and looking around.
Florian clasped his hands together and stared at her with trembling eyes. As if his silent plea reached her, their eyes met for a brief moment.
Astrid found Florian, and as if she had never been stiff, she lifted the corners of her lips into a seductive smile.
She took a deep breath, relaxed her shoulders, and began to sing in a clear voice.
Who dares to intrude upon my sacred sea with a filthy bow of a ship?
This is a warning, this is a warning.
This is not a place for those born on land.
This is not a place for those who cannot breathe underwater.
This is not a place for those who kill their own kind.
Return to where you came from.
The first verse carried a slight tremor, but after that her tone became smooth and flawless. Her vocal control was comfortable and steady.
Matching the warning in the lyrics, she sometimes wore a fierce expression, then at the next shift of the melody changed to a pure, innocent smile.
But if you refuse to return,
This is an invitation, this is an invitation.
You, born on land, shall die in the sea.
You shall breathe underwater in ecstasy.
Ah, you will know nothing of death.
You will forget even the way back with joy.
Astrid swayed her arms gently in rhythm with her self-created melody.
Even though hundreds of candles lit both audience and stage evenly, Florian felt as if a single beam of light was shining only on her.
Her on the stage, him below.
He remembered the first time he saw Astrid sparring with Rosana. Her outside the window, him seated in the shadows. Just like a world outside the window, the world on stage seemed designed for her alone. There was no place for Florian in it.
Born of the land, in my sea, ah, in my beautiful sea.
Breathing beneath the water until the chest is filled with salt.
Humanity of killing and being killed, freed from its cycle.
Life is an irreversible journey, a journey with no return.
Only using this sea as a cradle, sleeping forever.
Smiling peacefully as she sang, she seemed completely free of tension now.
Florian felt relieved that the song was nearing its end, yet he was also overwhelmed by confused emotions.
To steady himself, he did what he always did: he sorted his emotions, named them, and placed them into glass bottles.
Relaxing tension, relief, worry, surprise, and something he did not want to admit but was there jealousy and admiration. And a sense of déjà vu from a melody that felt strangely familiar.
Only using this sea as a cradle, sleeping forever.
Only using this sea as a cradle, sleeping forever.
In my embrace, in this sea, I dream sweet dreams.
At last, grief something like grief, an inexplicable longing stirred by her melody. Florian felt something hot roll down his cheek.
“Hey. Were you crying?”
“What are you talking about? You were spacing out during the performance.”
Their first conversation in hours. It was far from warm.
Astrid looked him over and smirked.
“Your eyes are red.”
“Dust. The theater’s ventilation is terrible.”
Florian pretended nothing was wrong and wiped near his eyes with a handkerchief.
“So you were moved to tears by my song. You are more sensitive than I expected, Mr. Orteze.”
“Yes, yes. I was deeply moved thinking about fabric sales skyrocketing, Lady Del Ponto.”
Astrid lifted the hem of her dress and curtsied playfully, and Florian returned a lazy, half-hearted bow.
Soon, Lucio and Lola, both sweaty from the performance, approached. They were the only ones truly emotional.
“My lady, thank you so much. Truly, how can we ever repay you?”
“Don’t worry, Lucio. This was also a special experience for me.”
Lucio kept bowing repeatedly, hands clasped tightly, while Astrid waved him off in discomfort. Sensing the mood, Lola gently pulled Lucio away.
“You’re making her uncomfortable. Stop it. By the way, my lady, did you compose the melody on the spot?”
Florian pretended not to be interested but listened closely.
“No. It was a lullaby my father used to sing. I thought it suited the lyrics.”
Florian nodded slowly. Lullabies that soothe children are similar everywhere, and they often trigger nostalgia.
If that gentle melody touched something buried too deeply to remember, tears would not be strange.
The only question left for him was that as far as Florian could remember, neither his father nor his mother had ever sung him a lullaby even once.
After the first season performance of “Heroes of the Sea,” the theater hall was livelier than ever.
People discussed the more refined stage mechanics, the more skilled acting, and the choral performances without pause.
But the biggest topic was the new siren who replaced Delia.
“What the reason is, I don’t know, but she was incredible, wasn’t she? Lady Del Ponto.”
Horge, too, spoke about Astrid with a slightly excited expression. Alejandro did not respond.
“She can really sing. Makes you want to invite her to the launch ceremony, doesn’t it?”
“Horge.”
Alejandro called his friend’s name firmly, instead of answering. Being dragged into an unexpected schedule had left him in a bad mood.
The invitation tickets Horge had prepared, expecting Lady De Cabello to attend, were now useless and had been handed off to Alejandro.
And now the very person he least wanted to be mentioned had appeared on stage. It felt like the entire continent was conspiring to trouble him.
“You were completely focused too.”
“Objectively speaking, it was a good performance.”
After the first line, the singing was stable and pleasant.
Even those who knew the replacement actress, and those who did not, were surprised at first. But soon everyone was absorbed in her voice, Alejandro included. Like a true siren.
The fact that Lady Del Ponto came from the sea made her even more fitting for the role.
“She’s really a strange girl. Pirate ship, bell tower, and now appearing on stage.”
“Hm.”
Alejandro nodded.
Then a voice came from the crowd.
“Sir De Navarro! Lieutenant De Galicion!”
Looking down, they saw a young lady being half-dragged by a slightly older woman, Marisa de Cabello.
Marisa looked like she was resisting but it had little effect.
“Inga, let’s go back now!”
She hid behind Alejandro and Horge. An awkward silence fell.
Alejandro wisely stepped back.
Horge cleared his throat and greeted the young lady.
“Good evening, Lady Del Gado.”
“Good evening, Sir De Navarro,” Inga began, only to be quickly covered by Marisa’s hand.
“I-I-I’m sorry for my cousin’s rudeness.”
“It’s quite all right, Lady de Cabello.”
A pause followed.
“Thank you for the invitation. I’m sorry,” Marisa said.
“I understand. It must have been an unexpected proposal.”
“No, I was actually happy about the invitation, but…”
“My sister won’t go anywhere without Lady Del Ponto!”
Inga clung to Marisa’s arm.
“My sister likes me very much.”
“That’s… how it is.”
Marisa closed her eyes in embarrassment, and Horge rubbed his forehead with a sigh.
So this is how it is. Just when he thought inviting Lady Del Ponto would solve everything, another obstacle had appeared.
Now, who exactly was supposed to deal with that ill-mannered girl?
