Book 9: Chapter 6: The Bluish Grey Malice (1/2)
”As you can see, this Glenn Dudley will be acting as the hero.”
Mabel introduced a friendly-looking young man with golden-brown hair to the cast members gathered backstage.
My, my, my?
Eliane, who played the heroine role, showed an ostensible calmness and tilted her head, but the gleam in bluish-grey eyes was darkened.
Why is it not Lord Felix? Why is that person not the substitute when I was the heroine? …ah, that's right, this Glenn Dudley guy probably begged them to make him play the hero role. He must be.
As Eliane was calming herself down by telling herself that, Mabel, the director who had brought Glenn, said as she lifted the rim of her glasses with a grim face.
”For your information, this Glenn Dudley boy… was recommended directly by His Highness Felix.”
Hah? Eliane tried her best to hold back the unladylike voice that almost come out of her mouth.
Felix recommended him? Another man, to act as Eliane's partner?
How can such a thing be allowed? Of course, it can't. Felix was supposed to be Eliane's partner. It would be unacceptable to assign another man to Eliane.
Moreover, with a man who looked like he didn't have a shred of decency!
”I'm Glenn Dudley! I've never done any acting before, but I did a lot of playing Ralph the hero when I was a kid, so I think I can manage it!”
Everyone in the room wondered about how he could be so confident when he only did was playing the hero in his childhood. Even Eliane did think so.
The other cast members looked at Glenn with eyes full of uncertainty. Eliane would have liked to do the same, but since she had to maintain her upbringing, she spoke to Glenn with a smile that was typical of a dainty young lady.
”I am Eliane Hyatt, I play the role of Amelia. I hope we could work together to bring the best play.”
”…you play the Amelia role?”
Glenn blinked his eyes and turned his gaze down to look at Eliane. Seeing him up close like this had shown them how tall his figure was. The smaller Eliane had to tilt her head back to look up at him.
”You seem so different from the cool Amelia I'd imagined.”
The rest of the cast members froze at Glenn's words. Eliane, too, kept her soft smile but the fire of anger quietly lit in her bluish-grey eyes.
The heroine, Amelia, was described as a strong, noble, and wise woman. It was understandable why the role of Amelia was not suitable for the somewhat dainty Eliane.
Even with this problem, Eliane was chosen because she was one of the three most beautiful women in the school—while the more important reason was that she's the cousin of Felix Ark Ridill.
To Eliane, Duke Crockford was her great uncle. As the school under the control of Duke Crockford, Eliane held the same high position as Felix. Therefore, the people around her took this into consideration when they selected Eliane to be the heroine.
Even Eliane was already aware of the fact she didn't make it to the top three at the school secret voting for the role of heroine Amelia which was held before the play.
…to put it simply, Glenn Dudley's innocent remark had incensed Eliane's anger completely.
Of course, Eliane wouldn't allow her anger to show on her face, instead, she acted modestly like a gentle lady.
”Admittedly, I am not nearly as good as the great Queen Amelia. Nevertheless, I will do my very best, so I hope we could work together in the play.”
Keeping up appearances, Eliane showed him a beautiful smile on her pretty face.
Oh, what a foolish guy… I will prove how mistaken you are to try forcing your way standing on this stage with me…
While sharpening the blade of malice in her mind.
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”While we're at it, why not take a special seat and watch Dudley's valiant performance?”
So said Felix and brought Monica to the special seat where he had been sitting in the first half of the play.
”W-Won't I will be scolded if I sit in this seat?”
”You're also a member of our student council. So, there's nothing wrong with that.”
For the record, Lana had gone backstage to fine-tune the costumes. She said the work would probably take until the last minute, so it would be difficult for her to come back to the audience seat.
This meant that Monica would be sitting next to Felix, watching Glenn perform on stage. Doubly as bad for her heart.
As Monica was holding her stomach, Felix turned his attention to the white rose ornament on Monica's chest.
”That flower ornament… did Cyril give it to you, by any chance?”
”O-Oh, yes. He said it was a charm that would save me from embarrassment for the rest of the day.”
When Monica nodded her head as she answered, Felix, blinked in surprise.
”Is that so? So Cyril said that. Well, it is very like him… I guess.”
Felix mused to himself and stared at Monica's neck for some reason.
When she saw that his eyes were scrutinized a little bit—well, really a little bit, as if he was unhappy, Monica unconsciously put her hand on her neck.
”U-Uh… U-Um… Oh, yes, will Glenn… be okay?”
The way she tried to change the topic might be sounded a bit forced, nevertheless, she did indeed feel curious about Glenn.
Monica's mind wandered to the ballroom dance class where she first met Glenn.
The memory of Glenn saying ”I've never done it before, but I will manage it somehow!” as he cheerfully dancing in a circle together felt so nostalgic in her mind. She honestly can't imagine this play… will be ended well.
But Felix didn't seem to be particularly worried. In fact, he seemed to be somewhat enjoying it.
”Hmm, I think he'll be okay. You can see he's got some guts. I guess that's a disciple of a renowned magician for you.”
”…huh?”
Monica knew that Glenn was an apprentice magician, but she had never heard of him being the apprentice of a renowned magician.
Come to think of it… I heard that Glenn came to this school at the behest of his master…
But who exactly was a magician that Felix refers to as ”renowned”?
Monica tried to vaguely picture the high-ranking magicians she knew in her mind, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.