Ch.101Highlight (3)

Fortunately, Marie didn’t hear Cecilly’s whisper, but that didn’t make the situation any better. Cecilly now wrapped her arm around mine and even rested her head on my shoulder, as if she no longer intended to hide anything.

This might look like a heartwarming, sweet scene to an observer, but the problem is that I have a girlfriend. And she’s sitting right next to me.

No matter how much I might like Cecilly, I need to handle this firmly. Not only could Marie be disappointed, but it’s also a matter of basic courtesy.

“Noona. I’m sorry, but could you please let go?”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“I think I might start disliking you?”

“…”

Cecilly seemed to finally realize her mistake after my firm comment, as she flinched noticeably. Then she looked at me with a subtle expression before shifting her gaze to Marie sitting beside me.

Marie hugged my arm tightly and growled like a cat, as if daring Cecilly to try and take me away. It’s a figurative expression, of course, but she was openly showing her displeasure.

To her, Cecilly must look like a cunning fox eyeing her boyfriend. Moreover, Cecilly’s appearance and charm were superior to—or at least not inferior to—her own, which naturally made her sensitive.

‘But surprisingly, she’s not saying anything.’

Previously, she would have glared at Cecilly with fire in her eyes, shouting at her to get away and asking what she thought she was doing. But now she was just on high alert, her hackles raised.

Perhaps the conversation they had earlier today had caused some change in her mindset. When Cecilly released my arm, I immediately stroked Marie’s head gently.

It was a silent message that no matter how much Cecilly tried to tempt me, I was Marie’s boyfriend and would never disappoint her.

“…I’ll let it slide this time.”

When I stroked her head, Marie stared at my face for a moment before looking away and muttering quietly. I noticed her pouting lips from jealousy and her cheeks slightly flushed even in the dark night.

How can even her jealous expression be so lovable? With a smile I couldn’t hide, I whispered softly so only Marie could hear.

“Should I give you a kiss if you don’t believe me?”

“…You’re really a pervert. You’re a real red pervert.”

I’m not sure what “red pervert” means, but it probably has something to do with my red hair. I pinched Marie’s mochi-like cheek once and then checked Cecilly’s reaction.

A normal person would frown at such a display, but Cecilly had a curious expression. She was watching us with wide eyes, as if observing us, showing deep interest.

What could she be thinking? I asked Cecilly, who was staring at us without averting her gaze.

“Noona?”

“Yes?”

“What are you thinking about?”

Cecilly blinked a couple of times at my question and turned to Marie. Currently, Marie was busy trying to calm her flushed cheeks.

After a moment, Cecilly took her eyes off Marie, looked directly at me, and spoke with a smile.

“I was wondering if I could feel the same emotions Marie is experiencing right now.”

“…”

“Judging by Marie’s reaction, it must feel good…”

“Ahem.”

That’s a typical answer from her. I cleared my throat to hide my embarrassment.

By then, Marie seemed to have calmed down as she fanned herself and straightened her posture. The faint blush on her cheeks remained.

“So… do you know how the performance will proceed?”

Marie threw out a question to change the subject. I met her eyes once and then shifted my gaze toward the performance area (disguised as a plain) as I answered.

“First, the Lirus Orchestra will perform. Then the Matrix Theater Company will put on a play.”

“How long will the performance last?”

“About 3 hours in total. The Lirus Orchestra will play for about 30 to 40 minutes, and the Matrix Theater Company will perform for the remaining time.”

“Will it be okay without rehearsals? From what I know, rehearsals are essential for such performances.”

Cecilly, who had been listening quietly, asked with a hint of concern. As she said, rehearsals are essential for large-scale performances like this.

They need to know in advance how loud the sound will be so they can adjust accordingly, and for theater companies, lighting is crucial. Proper lighting is necessary to see every gesture of the performers clearly.

However, the exhibition was hastily decided, and both the orchestra and theater company arrived only the day before the event.

No matter how world-renowned these two groups are, without rehearsals, the performance would inevitably lose some of its meaning.

“That’s true. But from what I heard from the Lirus Orchestra, they’ve had sufficient rehearsals, so it should be fine.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

“Have you ever heard the Lirus Orchestra perform, Noona?”

While talking with the somewhat anxious-looking Cecilly, a question suddenly occurred to me. She’s a demon, and until the publication of the Biography of Xenon, she rarely ventured outside Helium.

I hadn’t heard any news about the Lirus Orchestra or the Matrix Theater Company entering Helium. In fact, Helium had been designated as a no-entry country until now, so even if they wanted to enter, they couldn’t.

This means Cecilly has no connection with these two groups, yet from her words, she seems to have a deep appreciation for art.

“No, I haven’t. But there are orchestras in Helium too, so I have some basic knowledge. I also know that the Lirus Orchestra is considered the best in the world.”

“Then why are you worried?”

“I’m concerned that they might not be able to perform to their full potential. The music they’re going to play is ‘The Life of Sacran,’ right? ‘The Life of Sacran’ briefly portrays the life of us demons.”

I think I understand what Cecilly is worried about. The music the Lirus Orchestra will play is about Sacran’s life.

In the Biography of Xenon, Sacran briefly showed the tragic yet noble fate of demons, and at the end, he left a lasting impression on readers by ending his life as a human, not a demon.

In short, it can be said to represent the life of demons. Cecilly is concerned that the Lirus Orchestra might not express this content properly.

“I think I understand what you’re worried about, Noona. But you don’t need to worry too much. This isn’t about listening to music and inferring its meaning; it’s about listening to music while already knowing the content.”

“What if they play cheerful music?”

“Well… that’s unlikely, but music can be perceived differently depending on the content, right? We’ll know when we hear it.”

Just as adding sad music to a funny situation can make it more amusing, or adding upbeat music to a sad scene can emphasize its tragedy, music has a mysterious charm.

Of course, if the Lirus Orchestra were to play something like the Turkish March, that would be a different story, but given their world-renowned reputation, there’s no need to worry too much.

‘It seems like it’s almost time…’

On the plain that serves as a stage, instruments for the Lirus Orchestra are neatly arranged. The way they blend with nature creates a picturesque and pleasant atmosphere.

Moreover, thanks to some magic from the imperial palace, no outside noise could be heard. This was despite the festival being in full swing in the town.

Although preparations were rushed, thanks to Leort and Rina’s hard work, everything seems to be proceeding smoothly. Especially, designating the plain itself as a stage instead of building a structure was a sensible choice that showcased their sense.

“Issac. Look over there.”

“Hmm?”

As time passed and people started gathering, Marie tapped my arm and pointed in a direction. I turned my head to where she was pointing.

I saw Rina, Leort, and the Teres royal family sitting in a row. They were VVIPs, so they were seated in a more suitable position to view the stage than we were.

As I was gazing at them, each exuding their unique charm, Rina looked in our direction, as if sensing my gaze. She seemed to have noticed us, as her eyes widened slightly.

I silently waved at Rina as soon as she spotted us. Rina glanced at Leort and the Teres royal family sitting beside her, then bowed her head slightly in greeting.

‘It’s not an easy position to be in.’

At first glance, being an imperial princess might seem like a position where one can wield power as they please, but upon closer inspection, it’s not the case at all.

What’s the use of having power in hand if you can’t handle it properly? It becomes real power only when you can use it correctly. Moreover, in such positions, one must wear a mask to avoid trouble.

As I’ve said before, I prefer people who show their true intentions from the start rather than those who wear masks to discern others’ intentions. That’s why I’m dating Marie.

“Hmm…”

Perhaps because Marie came to mind, I stared intently at her sitting beside me.

She flinched when she noticed my stare and asked in a stuttering voice.

“Why, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Marie.”

“Yes?”

“I just wanted to call your name.”

“…Really, what’s with you.”

Marie grumbled at my frivolous remark, making a face as if she was exasperated. I smiled slightly and silently took her hand.

Marie also gently held my hand, as if now accustomed to it. The soft touch of her hand warmed my heart.

‘But what happened between Marie and Rina to make their relationship like this?’

It seems there’s a situation where Rina betrayed Marie, but I’ve been avoiding asking about it for fear of triggering unnecessary trauma. However, looking to the future, building a friendship with Rina would be beneficial, not detrimental, to me.

If the Biography of Xenon is serialized again, it will become much bigger than it is now, and there’s a high possibility of facing pressure from various quarters. I’ll keep my identity hidden until then, but nothing lasts forever.

So, it’s inevitable that I’ll need to ally with authorities like Rina or Cecilly. Even though Marie’s family is the Reckyless Duchy, it’s somewhat insufficient to intervene in disputes between countries.

I quietly gazed at Marie’s profile as she fixed her eyes on the stage where preparations were in full swing, and then I spoke.

“Marie.”

“Yes?”

“Can you spare some time after the festival? I have something to talk about.”

At my request, Marie blinked her blue eyes and asked me in return.

“That’s fine, but where are we going? Are you…”

Marie muttered with a mischievous expression and lightly punched my arm. I glanced at Cecilly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Fortunately, Cecilly was too engrossed in watching the orchestra’s preparations. Indeed, the orchestra was currently playing briefly to tune their instruments, so it was natural for her attention to be drawn there.

Thinking it was okay, I leaned close to Marie’s ear and whispered softly.

“It’s not that. I just want to talk to you privately about something. It’s important.”

“Really? Where should we go?”

I pondered her question, thinking about where to go, and then answered without much thought.

“Would you like to come to my bedroom? We can talk over coffee.”

“…”

“It’s something deeply related to you.”

“…”

As soon as I said that, Marie’s reaction was a bit unusual. At first, she blinked her eyes as if not fully grasping the situation, but then her face turned red from her neck up.

Her face remained blank while her skin turned red, making her look somewhat malfunctioning. But to me, the very reason for such a reaction was puzzling.

As I was wondering and tilting my head, Marie sighed deeply and covered her face with both hands. Her ears, peeking shyly through her white hair, were as red as they could be.

“Really… you drive me crazy…”

“Marie?”

“Bedrooms in mansions are basically soundproof… what is he thinking saying such things… and coffee at night too… even during the last escort, he seemed genuinely clueless… what should I do?”

I couldn’t understand anything because she was mumbling with her face covered. But it was clear that I had made a mistake.

The reason I invited her to my bedroom was because I thought it wouldn’t matter since our parents were present. That’s also why I invited Cecilly there.

I grabbed Marie’s shoulders and shook them, calling her name repeatedly. But Marie shook her shoulders as if telling me to let go and was busy rubbing her face.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for your patience. The Lirus Orchestra’s performance will begin shortly, so please take your seats!”

While I was calling Marie, a booming voice from the stage caught my attention, indicating that preparations were complete. The volume was as loud as if a microphone was being used.

Turning my head forward, I saw a middle-aged man in a neat uniform standing proudly at the center of the stage. It was Lirus, the conductor of the Lirus Orchestra whom I had seen in the morning.

I fixed my gaze on the stage, thinking that the long-awaited performance was finally about to begin. Meanwhile, Marie continued to mumble softly beside me.

“…Should I just pretend I don’t understand and go?”

“Marie.”

“Sigh. Okay. This is unavoidable. Yes, absolutely unavoidable.”

I realized belatedly.

“Issac.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll accept your ‘invitation.’ Got it?”

The words I had uttered were exactly equivalent to the suggestive phrase “Want to come over for ramen?”

But I had never attended social gatherings and had only recently started having interpersonal relationships, so I lacked basic social awareness.

Moreover, drinking coffee at night implies not sleeping.

A man and a woman alone in a bedroom, not sleeping… well, you know what that means.

“Okay.”

I nodded and answered without giving it much thought.