WEER 08

Chapter 08

“I greet Count Hudson. My name is Odelite Seidwin.”

“In a theater company, whether you’re a count or a viscount’s daughter doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re now working in my company. From now on, call me Director. You need to get the title right from the start.”

Though he’d clearly only just passed forty, his face bore terrible traces of time unsuited to his age.

Odelite apologized with proper courtesy.

“I’ve been discourteous, Director.”

“I already checked the script. Duke Adelgart sent it over. It was terrible writing. Neither the female lead nor the male lead are characters that fit current trends, and it’s too commercial to dress up as artistic. In a word, it’s boring. I can see why it never made it to the stage.”

Odelite was amazed that a human could spew out so many jabbing words at another person in one go. The director didn’t even bother with pretenses like ‘but there’s something there.’

He just stared straight at Odelite and continued.

“But since Duke Adelgart insists on keeping you in the company, I have no choice. Learn properly at the company. That’s the only way you’ll pull your weight.”

“Thank you.”

Odelite could only smile gently at the director’s words. She’d rolled through high society for nine years. This didn’t even count as verbal ab*se.

The director raised an eyebrow, seemingly quite surprised she was calmer than expected. But he returned to his fastidious expression and called his secretary, giving orders.

“Show Seidwin around the company and guide her to her room and workspace.”

Odelite bowed slightly toward Marien, the secretary she’d glimpsed very briefly long ago.

Whether she resembled her master or was simply imitating him, she looked Odelite over fastidiously before jerking her chin haughtily, gesturing for her to come out.

Leaving the director’s office, Odelite looked around, newly noticing how much the company’s interior decoration had changed in those nine years.

Nine years from now, this place would be dominated by subtle white marble decorations instead of gorgeous gold ornaments. But Marien, seeing how she looked around while following her, spoke in a rather disapproving voice.

“Lady Seidwin, I understand it’s fascinating, but there’s no need to show such provincial ignorance. This is where you’ll be working from now on, so you can get used to it gradually.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was just unfamiliar with the decorations.”

“Well, you wouldn’t have had opportunities to encounter such splendid things in the provinces. But when you came with Duke Adelgart’s recommendation, should you really be showing such unsophisticated behavior?”

Marien turned left down the corridor and raised her head arrogantly. Odelite narrowed her brow slightly.

In her previous life, she hadn’t had opportunities for direct conversation so she hadn’t known, but somehow Marien didn’t seem to have very good feelings toward Odelite.

At that blatant displeasure, Odelite tilted her head slightly. In her experience, when someone who’d just met her showed hostility like this, nine times out of ten it was for one reason.

‘Is it because of Cherdian?’

Of course, she couldn’t tell if it was romantic infatuation or one-sided worship of a high noble, and since it was purely Odelite’s intuition, she couldn’t easily provide an answer. But since it had nothing to do with her anyway, Odelite just quietly followed Marien.

Eventually, Marien stopped in front of a room at the far end of the second floor of the west annex, one of the annexes attached to both sides of the main building. She took out a key and opened the door, then spoke.

“This is the room Lady Seidwin will be staying in from now on.”

Odelite felt relieved at the room’s surprisingly ordinary yet refined structure. It was quite large, so she’d be able to stay comfortably.

“Normally, only playwrights who’ve worked at the company for a long time can stay here, but in your case, there’s no choice.”

“Thank you.”

“Just so you know, the east annex is mostly where actors with performances tomorrow or the day after stay. I understand wanting to see them directly, but please don’t go there since it could cause gossip. Especially the very top floor.”

“Understood.”

When Odelite smiled gently, Marien stepped out of the room with a disapproving face.

“Now let me properly introduce you to the company. You know that performances usually use the Chasserna Theater, which is exclusive to the Dilot Theater Company, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good. You don’t seem like a complete country bumpkin, so this will be easier.”

Odelite just smiled, finding the primly speaking Marien secretly cute. Marien looked about twenty at most. Though Odelite was currently eighteen, her mental age was twenty-seven, so she could dismiss Marien’s level as just cute sulking.

So Odelite just laughed off the occasional disrespectful remarks.

But when they actually arrived at the first floor of the main building, she stopped walking and froze at the familiar figure entering her vision and the voice piercing her ears.

“Why the h*ll are you telling me not to stay at the company?”

“I’m sorry, but Duke Adelgart—”

“Ha, that’s not even funny. Duke Adelgart cares about my lodging? Stop talking nonsense and give me a room.”

The slightly sharp, pointed voice was irritable, unlike Odelite’s memory. Feeling disconnected from the image of the girl who’d cheerfully struck up conversations, Odelite doubted her own memory.

But the fairy-like appearance still flowed with cunning beauty, and people were restless at her words as she held her head high among the maids and servants trailing behind her.

“Oh my, Lady Lilia Spencer is here. She must be here for tomorrow’s performance.”

“Lilia Spencer…?”

“Ah, Lady Seidwin wouldn’t know. She’s an actress the director and several playwrights quite cherish. She hasn’t debuted yet, but many people have high expectations for her future.”

Odelite composed her expression. This was an unexpected situation. Moreover, it seemed slightly different from what she remembered.

First, Lilia looked much older than she’d thought.

Of course, that could be chalked up to Odelite herself living so disconnected from Lilia’s rumors that she’d mistaken her age, but her personality was also sharper than expected, and most of all, her presence was far more exposed than anticipated.

As Odelite felt puzzled, suddenly Lilia, who’d been standing haughtily, turned her gaze toward Marien and Odelite on the stairs. Interest seemed to spark in her gaze, and Lilia spoke.

“What, did they bring in a new actress to the company without me knowing? Did tastes change already? You said you didn’t like such blatantly beautiful women because they lack charm.”

Odelite didn’t know how to respond to Lilia’s aggressive voice. Lilia’s expression, personality, and manner of speaking—all so different from her memories—were confusing Odelite.

But Lilia raised an eyebrow, seemingly interpreting Odelite’s silence as something. Soon she smiled and walked toward Odelite.

“What’s your name?”

Instead of answering, Odelite examined the complexions of those around her. The woman who’d almost married Duke Adelgart—even if it wasn’t her fault, given high society’s nature, her honor was full of blemishes.

Especially if Lilia had some relationship with Adelgart, they’d obviously find this meeting unwelcome. And proving her thoughts correct, subtle expressions crossed most of their faces.

From their attitudes, Odelite guessed people already knew about Lilia and Cherdian’s relationship.

‘They were already deeply involved before the marriage, and only I didn’t know.’

She didn’t know why someone with such outstanding talent had stayed quiet for years, but Odelite’s mouth tasted bitter. But either way, fundamentally it wasn’t Lilia’s fault. At least not now.

Eventually, Odelite considered briefly before answering.

“Odelite Seidwin, youngest daughter of Viscount Seidwin’s family, Lady Spencer.”

The moment those words left her mouth, Lilia, who’d had a fresh look in her eyes, hesitated. The disbelieving expression on her fairy-like face was rather comical.

But Odelite’s face remained serene. Her face even held elegant dignity, which somehow had the power to make observers unconsciously hold their breath.

But whether she couldn’t properly read that expression or had no intention of reading it, Lilia just blinked. Then Marien beside her spoke with a bright smile.

“Lady Spencer, this is Lady Seidwin, who’ll be working at the company starting today. You’ll be seeing her often from now on.”

“Huh, that, that Seidwin? That woman who almost married Cherdian?”

Lilia spoke while unconsciously pointing at Odelite, looking flustered.

At the clear rudeness, Odelite frowned faintly. Her mood soured considerably somehow. But instead of getting angry, she smiled gently and spoke.

“It’s true I almost married Duke Adelgart. But Duke Adelgart requested to break off the engagement on our wedding day, and I came to this company as compensation for that.”

“Ah.”

Lilia made an uncomfortable expression. Odelite smiled sweetly and continued.

“So would you please stop pointing, Lady Spencer?”

Though she was a shabby provincial noble’s daughter, Odelite had an atmosphere one couldn’t dare approach.

Her previous life’s memories had taught her everything—how to stand, how to speak, how to modulate her tone—and as a result, Lilia’s thunderbolt-like appearance looked endlessly frivolous before Odelite.

But Odelite had no particular interest in Lilia’s appearance. She just felt deep skepticism about her previous life once again at the fact that Lilia and Cherdian had truly known each other for so long.

But what could she do about it? Getting angry at this point seemed more ridiculous, so Odelite spoke to Marien.

“May we continue to other places?”

“Ah… well, sure.”

At Odelite’s demeanor, Marien blinked as though somewhat surprised, then responded with a somewhat reluctant face for some reason.

Lilia, whose round eyes had been shining, still had her gaze fixed on Odelite with her mouth firmly closed.

But when Odelite nodded lightly as though asking her to step aside, she reflexively stepped back. But then, seemingly not noticing there were more stairs behind her and missing her step, Lilia staggered.

“Kyaah!”

“Lady Spencer!”

“Lilia!”

As Lilia staggered, Odelite reflexively reached out and grabbed Lilia’s hand. But since she wasn’t someone who used her body physically, there was no way Odelite could fully catch her.

Though she grabbed Lilia’s arm, Lilia ultimately slid down and ended up falling on her bottom. People around approached Lilia with shocked faces.

“Aah—”

Lilia let out a weak groan, seemingly having hurt her back and bottom. When they hurriedly supported her, Lilia grimaced and slowly got up.

“Are you all right?”

Odelite asked worriedly. Either way, someone had gotten hurt, so she couldn’t help but be concerned. But then a man behind Lilia spoke to Odelite with a solemn face.

“Lady Seidwin, didn’t you just push Lilia?”

“I only asked her to move aside.”

“If you hadn’t threatened Lilia, this wouldn’t have happened, would it?”

Odelite was left speechless. How could anyone possibly see that as threatening?

But she sighed lightly and dismissed his words. There are always people who want to pick fights. Getting excited along with them would obviously look quite ridiculous.