The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 64

A temporary stage was set up in the garden of the guesthouse, with chairs neatly arranged in front of it.

“Ladies, your seats are right up front. After all, you’re the stars of the show today,” a voice declared.

“Then who’s sitting next to me? Sophie, is it you?” Evelyn asked, looking at the two chairs in the front row.

Sophie’s eyes darted nervously in a different direction, and Evelyn shrugged it off. Today was a day of joy, beauty, and happiness. She didn’t want to dwell on complicated thoughts.

“Am I late?” René asked as she walked in, her hands trembling. Laughter erupted when they noticed a large gift box floating above her head. René stood in front of Evelyn, beaming.

“As I mentioned earlier at the tower, it’s okay to offer congratulations repeatedly. Happy twenty-third birthday, Evelyn.”

“Thank you so much,” Evelyn said, smiling broadly. René pointed to her own head with her slender finger.

“If you unwrap this, you’ll like me even more.”

Gasps filled the air as they beheld the enormous gift box.

René turned to Arthur and inquired, “Is there still some time before the performance?”

“Yes, we have about an hour left.”

René shifted her gaze back to Evelyn.

“Well, an hour should suffice. Madam, let’s go to our drawing room.”

Evelyn, oblivious to everything but René’s guidance, entered the guesthouse. A giant gift box followed in their wake.

“I wonder if this is any good,” Evelyn mumbled to herself.

Evelyn gently fingered the hem of her dress. The light green gown suited her quite well, but it felt a bit too casual for attending a theater performance.

“Do you know that the noble ladies used to gather in the Duchess’s garden to watch the plays?” Evelyn nodded her head. Loren’s theater troupe, part of the Duke’s household, had always performed in the Duchess’s garden. It was usually Selice who would summon Evelyn to the tea parties, but thankfully, she hadn’t called her this time.

“They used to say the dresses were incredibly extravagant that day.”

“The dress shops must have made a fortune,” Evelyn replied with a grin. Rene chuckled mischievously as she flicked her finger, causing the gift box to descend to her waist. She looked at Evelyn with a playful smile.

“Shall we join the ranks of those extravagant ladies too?”

Evelyn nodded with a wide smile. She reached out to open the gift box.

“Rene, I’d like to unwrap this myself.”

“Of course.”

Inside the box was a pristine white chemise dress. Evelyn, who didn’t favor ornate dresses, loved the high waistline and the straight, flowing skirt, breaking into a hearty laugh.

The box also contained a matching white bonnet. As she tried it on, Evelyn exclaimed in delight.

“The ribbons are lovely, aren’t they? They match the color of your eyes, Madam.”

Evelyn fingered the long ribbons of the bonnet, savoring the soft silk texture.

“Rene, this is perfect. It’s so beautiful.”

Rene urged her to try it on. With the white chemise dress, Evelyn looked almost like a young girl. Rene glanced at her flushed cheeks and smiled discreetly.

“The bonnet might be better for another time. Your hair, as it is now, looks much lovelier.”

Rene reached for a pearl hairpin from the dressing table and secured it in Evelyn’s hair with a sigh. She mumbled to herself.

“Loren really is a sensitive man,” Rene remarked.

Evelyn’s heart raced when she heard that familiar name. “Could it be… No, it can’t be.”

Rene, studying Evelyn’s expression, continued, “Arranging an event like this for the ladies in the North… Loren is such a sensitive man, isn’t he?”

Evelyn nodded in relief, thinking, “See, it’s not what I thought.”

“Now, shall we go and watch the play?”

The commotion outside signaled the arrival of the theater troupe. Excitement in her heart, Evelyn followed Rene.

****

“Miss, you look absolutely beautiful. Is it a dress Rene gave you?”

As they stepped outside, Sophie circled around Evelyn, admiring her with great enthusiasm. Even the jewelry-wearing ballerina couldn’t take her eyes off Evelyn.

“It looks lovely on you, and it seems comfortable too.”

Evelyn blushed at the compliment that suited her so well.

“Madam, you truly look exquisite.”

“Human, do that all the time.”

“Mom, you’re beautiful.”

Evelyn blushed as she had received more compliments about her appearance than anyone else in her entire life.

“Let’s begin. Please take your seats.”

“It looks like it’s starting. Let’s hurry.”

Upon Sophie’s words, everyone made their way to the area with the stage. As Evelyn and her group arrived, the actors, who had just finished their preparations, bowed deeply.

Evelyn received their greetings with a flustered expression.

“Miss, your seat is right here.”

Sophie pointed to the front row under the stage, indicating one of the two chairs.

Evelyn didn’t ask about the owner of the adjacent seat this time. When she saw Sophie and Arthas exchanging awkward glances, it was clear who the seat belonged to.

Evelyn deliberately raised her voice a tone higher. “It’s the best seat, right?”

“Of course,” came the reply.

She walked toward Libe, who stood beside the eagle. Libe was dressed like a young gentleman today. Evelyn gently took her son’s hand and said, “Darling, will you sit next to Mom today? Let’s play with Mom, not the eagle.”

“Mom, pretty,” Libe replied, nodding his head without understanding the words. Eventually, Libe took the seat next to Evelyn. She sighed with relief when she saw Sophie and Arthas walk away with Libe.

Evelyn and Libe sat in the front row. As everyone took their seats, the play began.

The play had a simple storyline, about a lonely girl locked in a tower venturing out into the world.

A tower with a pointed iron cap shape appeared on the stage. The shape of the tower reminded Evelyn of Tower Pennance, and she couldn’t help but chuckle.

The lights meticulously illuminated the small window on the tower. A small figure appeared in the window, then disappeared. The light-haired girl was the protagonist of this play.

One day, the girl sneaked out of the tower and ran across the plain. As she ran, various flowers started blooming behind her. When the spring breeze began to carry the scent of flowers, this place transformed from the garden of the guesthouse to a nameless meadow full of wildflowers.

Rene marveled, “It seems the theater troupe has an illusionist. Employing an illusionist for a performance, that’s Loren for you.”

Everyone was captivated, watching the stage. Meanwhile, Sophie, who was sitting behind them, whispered in Evelyn’s ear, “Miss, isn’t that the Luar Plains over there? Those round flowers are Centifolia roses.”

Evelyn replied, “Yes, it’s the Luar Plains. Our homeland.”

Evelyn couldn’t take her eyes off the stage because she already knew this story. She had once run across the Huang Liang meadows where the Centifolia roses bloomed. At that time, the person who was with her…

With a loud thud, the girl on the stage, who had been running forward, tripped over a rock. A handsome young knight reached out his hand toward her. The girl, despite being helped to her feet, stubbornly refused to accept his assistance.

The young man continued walking ahead without pushing her, clearing the rocks one by one with his sword, ensuring the girl’s safety.

In the meadow where round flowers danced, they continued like that for a while. As flower petals fluttered above them, a warmth welled up within Evelyn’s chest.

‘This is… a gift from him. Only for me,’ she thought, feeling overwhelmed.

On the stage, the boy and girl embarked on an adventure together.

They teamed up to hunt wild boars, slept on dirt floors in rugged places, and witnessed famous festivals together. With curious expressions, they strolled through a night market, each holding skewers in one hand.

[Congratulations. Is this your first time earning money?]

[What are you going to do with it?]

[Later… I’ll buy skewers at the market. When Libe is a bit older, we can go together.]

Evelyn remembered every words had spoken, no matter how small it seemed.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

On the stage, the festival reached its climax.

Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, the ground trembled, and fireworks lit up the night sky. Even the cheap fireworks falling from the sky looked like shooting stars. People were excitedly yelling and cheering.

Immersed in the atmosphere of a real festival, everyone held their breath and watched the stage.

With the spring breeze, the cheerful music resounded. The actors on the stage stood facing their partners.

The girl, who had been looking at the boy, suddenly leaped off the stage and ran down below. As she approached Evelyn, Arthur and the ballerina, who had been standing behind, drew their swords.

“Those fools with swords, this is part of the performance. Put your swords away quickly.”

At Rene’s scolding, Arthur and the ballerina hastily sheathed their swords, their faces slightly bewildered. The girl in the play looked at the guards and let out a chuckle before walking over to Evelyn.

“You, the star of today, let’s dance together.”

Evelyn was taken aback but took the girl’s hand and stepped onto the stage. She stood facing the girl, the protagonist of the play, her face filled with nervousness.

“I, I don’t know this dance.”

In response to her uncertain voice, the girl laughed. “Just follow the rhythm. You can do it.”

When Evelyn looked down at the stage, she saw Sophie and Libe looking at her with excitement in their eyes.

“Our lady is the best!”

“Mom!”

They exchanged formal greetings as a man and a woman would.

The music began. Just as the girl had instructed, Evelyn surrendered to the rhythm and moved along. There were no refined, practiced moves like courtly dances, but rather a joyful, carefree dance like the dances performed by commoners in the streets. They held each other’s hands, twirled, and leaped around, enjoying a lively and pleasant time until they were out of breath.

Huff, huff. For the first time in her life, Evelyn danced without a single thought on her mind.

Today was her twenty-third birthday.

Boom! Boom!

Fireworks once again rained down from the sky. Colorful flames cascaded above Evelyn’s head, like a shower of stars.