Chapter 13
Chapter – 13
Sunrise followed a grueling night of drills.
She shuffled into the dining hall, disheveled beyond recognition.
The toll of rehearsing till first light weighed heavy. Sustaining the run ahead meant prioritizing recovery now.
A throat ravaged by sickness would doom the production’s centerpiece.
Disaster loomed in her mind. Her talents eclipsed the cast’s amateurs, though faintly. Placed amid elite performers from her old world, she’d falter hard.
Drilling their prior flubs topped today’s agenda.
She pried open heavy lids and crammed in toast. Anxiety swirled at facing their ineptitude once more. Fresh vision seemed a luxury worth any price, funds permitting.
Hauling talent drained coffers, rigging illumination bled more, attire and scenery devoured the rest. Leo Pier had shredded Juliet’s garb the day before.
Blamed on unchecked power. Their tender exchange twisted into mock warfare?
His sulky accusation—your doing, Master—stunned her silent. Such childish pique from him?
No second thoughts lingered. That finale lip-lock? Impulse edged calculation. Vibrant staging sparked chatter, moved tickets. Real frenzy craved edge—aggression, as aguro captured it.
Hooks defined spectacle. Pristine grace won claps, faint praise. Gossip bait pulled outsiders in. Talk fueled expansion beyond core fans. Excess tarnished, like lead’s glaring flaws.
Top draws packed heated embraces, bombshell twists, stinging cheeks akin to kimchi ssadaegi.
The embrace won her pick.
Revulsion gripped her at intimacy, yet triumph dulled mortality’s shadow. Selectivity wasn’t hers. Lip brush, scarcely a seal. Scant embraces marked her existence, smooches nil—raw contact defied import. Unease persisted. Leo’s mortified grimace tugged sympathy. She’d usurped his inaugural, scripted for romance’s core.
Canon cloaked his rogue act in inexperience; her seal unlocked it. Yet he lunged, engulfing her mouth. Engulf nailed the frenzy. Lessons hinted at merged intimacy; practice devoured wholly. His dive showed in ragged air, musk, micro-shudders. Role-deep actors alone shared such fusion. Their duo’s outline ignited frenzy.
Insane royal clinches mid-performance! Whispers scorched the streets.
Debut crammed two-thirds of cavernous boxes—three hundred maxed. Bargain rates, solid Count yield. Elite perches charged tenfold premiums. Profit surged. Mad royal’s visage lured over script. Bookings cratered post-curtain.
Her ploy promised packed houses ahead. Hype wielded unmatched pull. Count’s aid might swell. Cast mellowed post-triumph; nourish before cues.
Even lean Korean stages banqueted troupes richly. She scanned the Count opposite across barren expanse.
Debt choked cash pleas. Grimace led pivot. “Mulled ending our union?”
Affirmation seemed certain. He’d eyed the smash brewing. Flight risk gone, scandal shared, grounds ironclad. Production haze dimmed her stake in the nod.
“Negative.”
“Truly?”
Shifted priorities.
“Plotting revenue spikes via your venture.”
“Factor us in sometime…”
“Your storied gem captivates the realm. Aware?”
Arno’s spite-tinged eyes bored in. The prize.
“That vault-raider fable? Plundering kin’s hoard at death’s door?” Tales infested the land. Extravagance amid sickbed rang true, treasury-scale lied. Escape stripped her vaults bare, creditors snapping heels.
“Precisely that.”
“Here it rests.”
“How?”
Sapphire collar gleamed beside gem-crusted silk, Arno’s tone unyielding. Claimed as hers? Estate heist?
“Purchase escapes memory…”
“Not yours. Mine. Secured southern lode fresh. Artisans queued, capital boutique for gems and garb awaits.”
Purpose dawned; she braced.
“Stage it.”
Predicted. Spotlight finery flashed endorsement. Her era deemed quaint; theirs hailed savvy.
“Brilliant stroke.”
Quiet.
“Business instinct serves you well, Count.”
Sincere nod. Realm’s spotlight burned her. Juliet’s veil sought grace on her wild repute, mere thaw. Opulence’s venom lingered deep. Drama nudged rethink. Antagonist allure her ceiling. Mega-gem debut? Probes flew: origins?
Loathing bred envy-mimicry.
“My cut?”
Placement poised to soar, she pressed firm. Play’s pull amused him enough for ties.
“Cash infusion. Five million Derrc.”
“Twenty.”
Easy smirk.
“Ten.”
“Thirty.”
“Escalating now?”
Crease marred his forehead.
“Stock surges live. Speak, Alfredo—our run’s tally?”
Alfredo, spat-braced, faltered.
“Ah…”
Volumes implied.
“Total wipeout.”
Startler. She pivoted to him.
“Evening’s?”
“All dates, every house—gone.”
Stunned hush. Inferno outpaced dreams.
Lips clamped shock tight.
