The Male Lead Knelt Before Me

Veloca shook his head and sighed.

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“I tried to keep it as quiet as possible since becoming involved with him wouldn’t be good, but Bill told him.Damn, that guy sure has a big mouth.”

Bill told Viscount Casaro that I had left the troupe? It’s no surprise he was frightened of me.
He just deceived me.

If I had known this beforehand, I would have kicked him sooner.
That was unfortunate.
I couldn’t help it.

“Anyway, that’s why I was concerned but was everything okay?”

“No, there wasn’t anything like that.”

“I’m delighted to hear that…….”

When I observed Veloca’s anxious expression, I decided to change the subject.

“By the way, Veloca’s name was written as the major starring role.
Congratulations.”

“Only through the words?” Shouldn’t you congratulate me by presenting me with a huge bunch of flowers in this case?”

“I’m really sorry.
I hadn’t given it much thought.
I’ll bring one the next time.”

“Okay.
Next time, bring me a dahlia flower.
You know how much I like dahlia flowers?”

“Of course, I will…….”

“Veloca!”

 

It was a pleasant time chatting.
Suddenly, someone banged the door open and stormed in.
We both stared at the door, where Rael was holding his breath.

Rael’s eyes widened as the eyes became entangled.

“Is that you, Lena?”

“It’s been a long time, Rael.”

Rael approached us swiftly while I greeted him.

Then he sighed as he gazed at my face.

“It truly is you.”

“Is it possible that this isn’t me?”

“No, I didn’t say…….”

Rael shook his hand denying it.
But I can’t keep up with the backbiting.
He must have been very flustered.

Somehow, his reaction to my teasing made me laugh.
Then Rael stopped making excuses.

“I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

“It’s been a while, so I may have teased you without realizing it… I apologize if I offended you.”

“It’s okay, I’m not offended by this.”

“That’s good.”

 

Rael and I exchanged a faint smile.
Veloca intervened just as he was ready to say anything.

“By the way, Rael.
Why did you call me?”

“Huh?”

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“You just walked up to me and said my name.
Is there an emergency?”

Rael exclaimed, ‘Ah!’ in response to Veloca’s comments.
He then tightened his expression.
I could tell something awful had happened just by glancing at his face.

“There’s a problem.”

“Problem?”

“What’s the problem?”

“Well, that’s about Lina.”

Lina? Who is she?

It was the name of someone I’d never heard of.
Veloca said as if explaining to me, as I tilted my head.

“Oh, you haven’t met her yet.
She is a newcomer since you left.
What about Lina, though?”

“She fainted because of a severe cold.
So mother has gone to call a doctor on her behalf.”

“What? But Lina’s role is Isabelle!”

“That is why I am concerned.
Even though it is a supporting role, it cannot be overlooked.
We can’t, however, cancel the show with barely 15 minutes left.”

“That’s a major deal…….”

Rael and Veloca’s faces were cast in shadow.
I got serious as I listened to their talk next to me.

“What precisely is Isabelle’s role? Is it a significant role?”

“In this play, it’s a supporting role.
She’s the male lead’s fiance, and she comes out a lot in the middle and a bit at the end, but…….”

I assumed I could tell without hearing the backbiting.
Despite its brief presence, it was a figure that should never be overlooked.

‘It is undeniably a major issue.’

As Rael mentioned, it would have been preferable if it had been a supporting part, such as a passerby who appears briefly.

The existence of a fiance, on the other hand, was not something that could be addressed solely.

‘Because it has an impact on the plot.’

The lines of both the supporting performers and the main roles might have been ruined.

‘What should we do?’ ‘

I was tapping my tongue with my palms, as serious as Veloca and Rael.
An idea came to me out of nowhere.

“Veloca, Rael.”

Two people with solemn expressions stared at me the entire time.
Looking at the two, I said what I was thinking.

“Why don’t I just take the role this time?”

“What? As Isabelle?”

“Are you serious?”

“I am dead serious.”

Rael and Veloca seemed quite surprised.
Contrary to my expectation that they would quickly accept my offer, they did not.

“You know, Lena.”

Rael opened his mouth after reading my expression.

“I know you’re giving it to us, but you don’t have to overdo it.”

“That’s correct.
Besides, it’s not a reenactment.
It’s a brand-new performance.
It’s a play you’ve never seen before, so it’ll be difficult.”

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“You mentioned Isabelle appearing during the performance.
Until then, I may read the play.
Instead, I’ll need someone to assist me with my cosmetics and outfits.”

“Isabelle indeed emerges in the middle, but……”

The two were unable to reach an agreement.

In reality, I comprehend.

I didn’t know much about this play, and I was also short on time.

Of course, they’re apprehensive about entrusting the role to me.

‘However, I’m confident.’

I barely read the script once and performed on the spot when I initially possessed Lena’s body.

I was certain that if I had even one chance to read the play, I could accomplish it.

Of course, I couldn’t say anything like that.

Because I had to inform them that I wasn’t the real Lena to prove it.

‘There is no way in hell I could say that……’

I couldn’t tell Rael and Veloca the truth, no matter how close we were.

First and foremost, they recognized me and treated me as Lena, not as myself.

Now, if I tell them I’m not Lena, I’m sure they’ll avoid me.

I kept my lips quite as I awaited Veloca and Rael’s choice.

The two of them exchanged a quiet grimace.

I just sat there, appearing anxious, waiting for both of them to make a decision.

How long has it been since?

“All right.”

Veloca stated as she looked at me.

“I know it’s difficult, but please give it your all.”

“What are you talking about? Lena has never seen, let alone practised, the script! And you’d like Lena to play Isabelle?

Rael almost shouted with surprise.

“We don’t have much of a choice, do we?”

“But, Veloca, this isn’t right.”

“That is something I am aware of.
But now we just have two alternatives.
Cancel the show or cast Lena in the role of Isabel.”

Rael chewed his lower lip without saying anything.

When Veloca noticed it, he patted him on the shoulder.

“Don’t be so nervous.
You know how good Lena is at acting.
She already had a lot of stage experience.”

“I am aware of that.
That, however, is not the same as this.
How can she act, no matter how talented she is if she hasn’t practised?”

“You’re right, Rael.
But this is a special case.
You know no one can outperform Lena right now?”

“I am aware of that.
But… I don’t believe this is right.”

“Then there’s just one solution.”

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“What exactly is it?”

“Canceling the show.”

“Do you want to cancel the show?”

“Yes, go out and inform the audience that the concert has been cancelled.”

Veloca shook her hand outwardly, a look of remorse on her face.

“Inform the audience that today’s concert has been cancelled and that they will get a refund.
You’ll be cursed, apologized to, and have fewer customers in the future, but it can’t be helped.”

Rael was unable to move freely.

He was simply switching between me and the door.

There were hints of hesitancy.

“What are you doing here without informing the audience?”

“Let me think about it……”

“The time for thinking is passed, Rael.
It’s almost time to begin the show.
If you’re going to cancel it, wouldn’t it be right to do it before the show starts?”

It was then Veloca softly tapped Rael on the shoulder and told him to get out of here fast.

“…okay.”

He sighed and drooped his shoulders.

“I will put my faith in Lena.”

“Would Lena be willing to do that if you said so? Say it to her in a more pleading tone.”

“It’s all right, Veloca.
He is not required to do so.
I was the one who stated I’d do it first.”

“No.
Veloca is right.
Anyway, I’m in a position to ask for your help, so it’s definitely appropriate to do so.
All right, Lena.”

Rael turned to face me and said,

“It’s embarrassing to say this when I’ve hesitated…… I need you to take on the role of Isabelle.”

Rael’s expression was serious, and it was impossible to imagine he had hesitated before.

“You are not obligated to do this.”

Rael’s concern was reasonable.

And I could see he was relying on me.

If he truly doubted my abilities, he would have cancelled the performance regardless of how much Veloca pushed him.

“I appreciate you entrusting it to me.”

As a result, I was able to respond with a huge smile.

* * * * *

It’s been a whirlwind since then.
I rapidly went through Veloca’s script, recognizing the characters and memorizing the script.

I’d be lying if I claimed I wasn’t in a rush because I was short on time.

The tension got much greater and more intense once Veloca went on stage.

But I tried to think of ‘Isabel’ as gently as I could.

Isabel, as I was told, was the fiancee of the male lead role, ‘Glenn.’

They are together not because they love each other, but because their families have pledged to each other.
Nonetheless, Glenn had affections for Isabelle.

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The issue started when Glenn revealed that he has a crush on a girl.
She was ‘Lucy’, the female lead role played by Veloca.

Unlike Isabelle, an aristocratic antelope from a powerful family, Lucy was a commoner.
Glenn’s family disliked Lucy as a result, but Glenn and Lucy loved each other.

‘It’s a love story that takes place due to a typical class difference.’

I assumed there were no tough lines since it was a natural progression.

Until Isabelle discovered Glenn had feelings for Lucy.
In fact, Isabelle loved Glenn.
Isabelle, on the other hand, stepped down cleanly after discovering that Glenn truly loves Lucy and not her.

Because she wanted him to be happy with his loved one.
Instead of being linked to another marriage planned by her family, she claimed to be the successor of her family.

This progression of the story has a unique meaning for me.
I assumed Lucy would meet another man and live happily ever after.

It was much more so given the empire’s atmosphere.

In reality, there were no limitations on women in the Empire.

She might become the family successor and operate independently if she so desired.

However, it was only possible by law, in reality, it was not.

Most noble families designated their sons as their successor, while their daughters were sent to marry and support their husbands.

It was a highly unusual case for Elena Oreu to be educated as to the Oreu family’s successor.

Even the Baron’s friends and relatives were baffled by the couple’s decision.

So I was startled and amazed to see Count Van Der.

Because it is not a common occurrence.

That might be the reason.

Although it wasn’t the progression I expected, I preferred it this way.

Furthermore, Isabelle appeared to be able to perform well in certain ways since her behaviour in the second half was close to what I had hoped for.

‘I think I can accomplish it.
No, I’m going to make it.’

I softly read Isabelle’s lines and sung along with the song as I rapidly handed the script.

Until Bill, who was watching the flow of the stage, said.

“It’s time to go, Lena!”

* * * * *

The audience was dim even before the performance began.

Perhaps because of the dark atmosphere, Caleb could calmly recall what happened yesterday.

Although he was the commander of the Royal Knights, he was also the head of the Duke of Egon, who had to attend the Imperial Conference every Friday.

It was always the case, and he thought nothing would happen as usual because there was nothing urgent to deal with.

As if ridiculing his thoughts, the deadline for the end-of-month comprehensive report was suddenly moved forward.

He was astonished when Edmund, who had been waiting for him since he exited the conference room, gave him the story while pushing the papers.

‘I wouldn’t have been able to manage the report if it hadn’t been for Lady Oreu.
She was incredible.’

Edmund appeared to be as shocked as he was.

He was hostile to Lena the first time but later praised Iena.

On the other hand, such a reaction was expected.

He didn’t know why, but Edmund seemed to have a crush on Lena.