The Male Lead Knelt Before Me

Caleb saw a clock on the wall of one of the audience seats.

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The time was suddenly drawing closer to the start of the show.

‘I am sorry, but I’m thinking of meeting my friends for a while, so could you go to the audience seats first and wait for me? I’ll be back before the performance starts.’

Obviously, that’s what Lena said, but she hasn’t returned yet.

She might not have been able to arrive since her meeting with her colleagues took longer than she planned, but he was concerned that something unexpected might have happened to her.

‘I should go find her.’

Caleb remembered the last direction Lena was headed.

If he asked around, he’d be able to figure out where she was heading after that.

People will be able to find her since she is so noticeable.

After the decision, he was about to get out of his seat.

The curtain raised and the theatre darkened.
He had no option but to sit back as a result of it.

He wasn’t sure if it was before the concert started, but moving after the show started was impolite.
Whether there’s a lot of audiences or not.

However, he had no option but to continue stiffening up from worrying about Lena.

He sat there rigidly watching the show.

 

Even now, he was debating whether he should go find Lena.

Meanwhile, people who looked to be the main characters appeared on stage and talked and pushed each other in the dark garden.

In the eyes of everyone, they’re like a loving lovers.

When Caleb saw it, he decided to rise up.

He wasn’t a big fan of the play, and he was worried about Lena.

Then the curtain rose.

Caleb, thinking this was his chance, was going to make a move.

“Is that you, Glenn?”

The inside of the theatre quickly brightened, as a familiar voice rang out and reached Caleb.

His thoughts and eyes were drawn to the source of the voice.

There was a woman with her red hair braided to one side.

Caleb could tell at once that she was Lena.

‘Is that a wig?’

Some of the potions created by the priests altered the colour of the hair, but the priests did not readily share the potion they made with outsiders.

Unless it is a gift from a temple-hosted event or is sold for a very high price.

 

There was a strong probability that it was a wig since there was no way the theatre could have purchased the potion with such large sums of money just to execute it once.

It is uncertain why Lena abruptly came out to the stage, but Caleb sat back in comfort that nothing bad had occurred to Lena.

“I know you’re there.
Please answer to me, my love.”

Lena moved carefully to the centre of the stage.

Her red hair, which was illuminated by stage lighting, stood out significantly.

Because it was unusual to him, Caleb felt an unknown sensation of incompatibility.

Caleb wondered if it was possible to feel like a ‘different person just because her hair colour and appearance had changed.

He couldn’t take his gaze away from Lena at the time.

“As expected, you are there.”

Lena, who appeared in the centre of the stage, crept across the man behind the bookshelf on the stage’s left side.

“It’s pointless to hide, Glenn, as I’ve already seen you.”

Glenn groaned and stepped out of the bookshelf in response to Lena’s remarks.

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“What is the matter, Isabelle?” 

“Should I have something important for meeting you? I just want to see you because I couldn’t find you anywhere.
You are my fiance.”

“You must understand that it is merely a formal engagement between families.”

“However, an engagement is an engagement.
Shouldn’t you, as my fiancé, at the very least retain your seat until all the guests have left?”

The sweet yet stiff phrases twisted Glenn’s face.

“I warned you earlier.
I have no intention of marrying you.”

“However, we’ve decided…….”

“Our family made a decision!”

Glenn shouted as though he was yelling at Lena.

“How many times do I have to tell you that the decisions are made by the family, not mine?”

Everyone was taken aback by the tremendous scream, but Lena didn’t appear to be.

Instead, she simply pleads with a pitiful expression.

“Why do you despise me? Please let me know if there is anything you don’t like.
I’ll fix it all.”

“You are not the issue.”

“Oh, Glenn.”

Lena extended her hand and spoke in a singing voice.

“If there’s nothing wrong with me, let’s simply go back.
To those who are patiently waiting for us.”

“Please, please, leave me alone!”

Glenn tossed his hand forcefully, a worried expression on his face.

slap-

Then a ringing sound like a pair of skin clashes.
Caleb was taken aback by the incredible sound.

Lena screamed and placed her palm on her mouth.

Caleb rose up unconsciously, his hand on a sword handle strapped to his waist.

Then he understood it was all a show and calmed down.

Glenn, who had slapped Lena’s hand, was taken aback for a minute before moving on without apologizing.

Lena’s hands were still wrapped around her mouth.

Except for Lena, where the lights turned off and the stage became dark.

Lena clasps her hands together on her chest in the dim light that only lights her.

“Oh, you’re a cold man.
When are you going to start smiling at me?”

Lena smiled regretfully as she dropped her gaze halfway.

Caleb was very unfamiliar with Lena’s figure.

Because she was so different from Lena he knew.

Suddenly Caleb realized the identity of this sense of incompatibility that he had felt earlier.

Because the woman on the stage right now was a ‘different person.’

The woman on stage was Glenn’s fiancee, Isabelle, not Lena.

In fact, Lena’s gaze, expression, gesture, and everything else was Isabelle.

He found out the problem in this manner, although he didn’t feel unusually clear.

When he saw Lena, who was bitterly sketching Glenn, he got annoyed as if he had a thorn in his neck.

‘Why the hell?’

Caleb had no idea what the answer was.

The curtain has been raised once more.
Glenn continued to ignore Isabelle in what seemed to be a party setting.

Isabelle, on the other hand, stole a sidelong glance at him.

Glenn was reunited with the first lady he had met as the storyline progressed.

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The man and woman hugged each other.

“I’ve been missing you, Lucy.”

“Me, as well.”

Isabelle was standing behind the lover whispering sweet words.

When Isabelle, who was hidden behind the wall, observed the secret encounter, her expression became contorted.

Isabelle exclaimed in agony as the two vanished.

“He had a lover.”

A lover.
A lover.
A lover.

Caleb’s ears were pierced by a low-pitched voice.

Lena’s body, which had been trembling as if about to collapse, finally gave way.

A sorrowful song followed.

The eyes, which had been staring into the air the entire time, slowly returned to the audience.

Caleb’s gaze was drawn to Lena’s golden eyes, which were welling up with tears.

Caleb came to a halt, subconsciously gasping.

Lena’s tears shone on her flushed cheeks.

Snap-

The lights are turned off.

Her golden eyes, which had been blazing brightly, became silver-grey in an instant, and she was quickly engulfed by darkness.

The curtain was drawn back.

“Oh…”

The sound of saliva came out of his mouth without his knowledge.

Muscles that have been stiff for a long period are gradually relaxed.

Caleb was then able to exhale after taking a long breath.

The curtain reopened.

Caleb was staring at the stage the entire time, not realizing he was watching the play.

From Isabelle’s frustration when she discovered Glenn had a lover to her declaration that she would overcome it and let Glenn away, to her pledge that she would take over her family.

The audience was overwhelmed with the sound of strong-willed singing.

The face of her who made her decision shone as dazzling as the light.

‘You don’t mind that I used to be an actor? Really?’

Caleb suddenly remembered the question she was asking when they ran into each other today.

‘That is, prejudice.’

And the figure of Lena, who couldn’t get up after collapsing amid the members, her face white from the knight members’ attention and chatter.

‘So…I  assumed the Lord would feel uncomfortable as well.’

That wasn’t unusual for Lena to say.

Who wouldn’t care what other people think?

Cringing and panicking were natural reactions.

Even though he extended his hand, reprimanded the members, and they reflected and were cautious in the future.

It had already happened following the event.

Caleb had no doubt that memory would remain a trauma to Lena.

‘No.’

Moreover.

‘On the contrary……I enjoy it.’

That’s exactly what Lena said.
And her expression, as well as her eyes on the stage, stated it.

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She enjoyed her job very much.

Nothing was more lovely than a person who smiled while doing what she enjoyed.

Caleb wonderfully caught every detail of her radiance.

It was a period when he was recording it inadvertently.

Suddenly, a topic occurred that he had not considered when discussing acting with Lena earlier.

‘She absolutely enjoys it.’

Why did she decide to stop performing and become Count Van der’s ward and temporary deputy?

Caleb was confused as to why.

* * * * *****

Sweat pours down my brow as I take a step back from the stage.

I removed my wig and all of my hairpins.

The hair that had been fixed had fallen out.

Wet hair stuck to the body just as severely as sweaty skin.

I was fanning myself with my hands when Veloca offered me a towel.

“Excellent work.
Wipe it clean with this.”

“Thank you very much, Veloca.”

“It’s nothing, and we should be grateful.”

“Yes, we were able to accomplish it securely because of you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I cleaned my face with a towel and smiled gently in response to Veloca and Rael’s compliments.

“I’m speaking the truth.
In fact, when I initially learned that Lina was unwell, I was totally bewildered.”

“I’m thankful I put my faith in you.”

“Compliment me after finishing the performance.
It’s not over yet.
Let’s both go up there.”

Rael and Veloca nodded and walked up to the stage at my command.

‘I can breathe a little more freely now.’

I entered the waiting area while clutching the wig.

But, curiously, I felt uneasy.

I keep feeling as if I’ve forgotten something.

What exactly is it?

What did I overlook…

Oh my goodness.

“Lord Egon!”

A sigh escaped my lips.

I’m not sure what I’ve done.

I said I would go back before the performance, but instead of going back, I went on stage and performed.

It was a notable omission.

I swiftly changed into a different outfit.

‘All I have to do now is fold the wig and put the costume on.
But how can I confront Lord Egon? I’ll start by apologizing, and then……’

I attempted to arrange my thoughts in my brain step by step, but it didn’t work.

Ugh, it’s not the time to think like this.

Let’s return soon!

With wigs and costumes in place for the next stage, I ran out of the waiting room.

Even though I was rushing out, it seemed like time had already passed.

The curtain call came down as I approached the crowd.

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I chewed my lips and glanced around for Caleb.

It didn’t take long at all.

It was because Caleb was frightening to see over the seats in the audience.

He was wearing a hat, which kept his silver hair hidden, and even though there were numerous tall individuals in the crowd, he was indeed visible.

The lights on the audience’s side turned on and brightened shortly after the curtain call.

Even as others were leaving, Caleb remained still.

He was simply staring at the stage with the curtains totally drawn.

I could see folks leaving the crowd staring at me.

But I couldn’t afford to be concerned about them.

I cut through the crowd and made my way all the way to Caleb’s.

It was before I even called him.
He turned around and looked at me.

“I…”

Before our eyes met, I opened my mouth.

“Please accept my apologies, Lord Egon.”

“…..” “I have nothing to say.
I’m really sorry.”

I added hastily, like if I were a guy being pursued.

I didn’t want to explain anything to Caleb.

All I wanted to do was apologize to him.

“It was said that the person who was originally cast in a minor role became unwell and collapsed.
So I rushed through it, but I didn’t even think about it.
I had no intention of offending…Please accept my apologies.”

How can I be so brazen when I’m speaking?

Of course, if I had recalled Caleb, I would have sent someone to tell him, but I had entirely forgotten about him until the closing of the performance.

But even this won’t be an excuse for Caleb.

In any case, it’s all my fault.

The longer Caleb remained silent, the more anxious I got.

Caleb opened his mouth while I clutched the innocent skirt.

“Are you running right away?”

“What?”

“You seemed not to have removed your makeup.”

Makeup…?

Oh, right!

I hadn’t even taken off my makeup!

I dropped my hand back, attempting to touch my cheek automatically.

It was apparent that rubbing my face in the absence of a facial cleanser would only make my face look weird.

“When I remembered that the Lord was waiting, I felt compelled to go as fast as possible, so I couldn’t think of it.
I’m sorry to have to show you this.
Isn’t it weird?”

I regretted saying the last word as soon as I finished speaking.

‘Why did I ask that question at the end? Because it’s theatrical makeup, it must appear strange to the common people.’

Stage makeup, unlike regular makeup, has to shine brightly under the lights.

As a result, the emphasis was on colour cosmetics with pearl materials and dark primary colours, and it was typical for people who saw it for the first time to be frightened.

So I’m sure Caleb thinks I’m weird……

“No.”

With that, I put a halt to the hand that was caressing my hair.

“Beautiful.”

“…….”

“You were beautiful on stage, as well as now.”