Chapter 153 – Basic Skills
“The director knows I’m an investor, right? I have no intention of staging some failed old script.”
“I didn’t just bring any script.”
Perhaps sensing I was displeased, Lucion leaned forward slightly.
“This is actually a work by Berlini.”
At that, Cecilia—sitting next to me—gasped.
Judging by her reaction, Berlini must be a very famous playwright.
“But didn’t Berlini pass away two years ago?”
Cecilia, who had been wary of Lucion earlier, couldn’t hold back her curiosity and slipped into the conversation.
“I bought this script before he died.”
Lucion explained that Berlini, who lived lavishly, hit financial trouble and sold all his lesser-known works at once. Lucion purchased them before anyone else could.
“It would be troublesome if another troupe used it and became successful.”
In other words—he bought everything just to stop others from doing well.
“It still flopped, didn’t it?”
“There was a reason it failed at its premiere.”
Lucion gave a bitter smile.
“The story is about a noblewoman taking revenge on her husband, who committed adultery. But a few days before the premiere, the lead actress herself was caught cheating. So the performance crashed and burned.”
But he said the script itself was very fun and turned the cover so the title faced me.
“If we want a completely new opera, it would take at least a year.”
“A year?”
“Even if the script is written quickly, composing, arranging, and rehearsals will require about that long. Even if you use pre-existing music, you’d still need at least six months.”
Only then did I realize I’d been too naïve.
Of course a new opera wouldn’t magically appear in a few months.
I had underestimated how long it took.
‘But even so, one year feels like such a distant future for me.’
Thinking that way suddenly made this script look far more appealing.
“The story is set ten years ago, so the script will need some revision.”
I looked at the title.
Hmm. The title absolutely had to go.
“At the banquet before, Your Grace gave me an excellent criticism.”
Lucion raised his well-shaped eyebrows.
— ‘While the male lead falls in love, suffers heartbreak, jumps off a cliff, and even gets shot… does the heroine make a single choice of her own?’
He was referring to what I had said about a different opera’s heroine.
“That wasn’t really criticism….”
I felt a little embarrassed.
“But after hearing it, this script came to mind.”
If he said so…
After thinking for a moment, I picked up the script.
“Fine, I’ll read it.”
“I’ll leave the script entirely in Your Grace’s hands.”
Lucion smiled softly.
“You know noblewomen’s tastes much better than I do.”
He said I could hire another writer to adapt it, if needed.
I nodded, and seeing that, Lucion naturally shifted the subject.
“Do you enjoy horseback riding?”
“Horseback riding?”
He asked with innocent curiosity.
“I wanted to ride around the land near the castle, and it would be an honor if you joined me.”
I knew the Grand Duchy had many fine horses.
With over a hundred knights, the stables were enormous, and the nearby plains were perfect for riding.
But I had never gone myself.
“Perhaps this afternoon?”
Lucion smiled brightly.
A smile clearly meant to disarm people.
He must have been confident I would accept.
However—before I could answer—Cecilia cut in with an icy expression.
“Your Grace is fully booked this afternoon.”
“…Huh?”
I had deliberately cleared my afternoon schedule, though.
But when I looked at Cecilia, I realized she had made an excuse on my behalf to decline the prince.
“Ah, right.”
I played along and turned to Lucion.
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to accompany you.”
“Tomorrow, then?”
He asked cheerfully.
“Your Grace also has a full schedule tomorrow morning. Isn’t that right, Advisor?”
Cecilia answered for me and looked at Perel.
“Well… there are multiple meetings with the administrators….”
Even Perel took her side.
“O-oh. Yes, that.”
“What about the day after tomorrow?”
Lucion’s eyes narrowed.
“Well… Her Grace is extremely busy. She rarely has any free time.”
“That’s fine. I have plenty of time while I’m here.”
Lucion lifted one corner of his lips.
“I’ll match whatever time works for Your Grace. Surely you’re not refusing again?”
Cecilia’s lips trembled with frustration.
Not wanting to force her to keep covering for me, I finally spoke.
“I’m sorry, Prince. But I can’t.”
His expression stiffened slightly.
“May I ask why?”
I rubbed the bridge of my nose awkwardly.
“I don’t know how to ride a horse.”
“…Pardon?”
Cecilia, Perel, and even the knights standing far away showed visible shock.
Apparently, a Grand Duchess from a noble family not knowing how to ride was quite unbelievable.
‘Even if I’m an illegitimate daughter, surely the Marquisate should’ve taught me basic noble skills, right?’
No one said anything, but I could feel the unspoken judgment in the air.
Only Lucion maintained a calm smile.
“Oh dear, I was too careless. I should’ve asked first.”
“It’s fine.”
He tried to cover it nicely, but…
Horseback riding really must be considered a basic noble skill, or he wouldn’t have asked so casually.
‘Is not knowing how to ride that embarrassing?’
But I couldn’t lie—he’d find out immediately.
“If you need a guide, I’ll assign a knight.”
I met Norton’s eyes near the door, and he bowed slightly.
“I’m not familiar with the back trails either, so riding with a knight would be much safer.”
Lucion’s eyebrow twitched in displeasure before he gently asked:
“Or… may I teach Your Grace to ride?”
“You, Prince?”
“As I said, I have plenty of time. Even if you don’t like riding, learning it could be useful.”
And maybe—you’d grow to enjoy it.
He lifted his chin playfully.
“It’s bragging, but I won the riding competition three years in a row. I’m not a bad teacher.”
He smiled proudly.
“But I can’t show something so ungraceful to a foreign prince.”
I smiled back.
“I do have my dignity as Grand Duchess.”
His face flickered with faint disappointment.
“That’s unfortunate.”
“I should get going. I’ll read the script and let you know.”
I stood without delay.
Lucion rose just as slowly.
“Please visit me whenever you wish.”
Any reason from Your Grace is welcome.
His handsome eyes curved gently.
***
I returned to my room, though I had no actual next appointment.
I leaned comfortably against the sofa.
At least Cecilia didn’t seem upset anymore.
Instead, she acted like someone who’d accidentally learned a secret they didn’t want to know, watching me carefully.
Since I had time, I picked up The Woman in the Flames to start reading.
Just then, Cecilia hesitated and asked:
“Your Grace, you weren’t offended, right?”
“Offended? Why would I be offended?”
“No, just….”
Cecilia mumbled.
“I should have told the prince Your Grace is delicate.”
She was worried my dignity had taken a blow.
I shrugged.
“I just never got the chance to learn horse riding.”
Honestly, I didn’t remember the original Annette clearly, but I doubted the Marquis would’ve taught her properly.
“Why? Is it really that shocking that I can’t ride?”
“No! Not at all!”
Cecilia waved frantically.
“It’s just cultural differences. In the North, the roads are rough, so even noble girls ride more often.”
She added the excuse quickly.
“And I don’t know how things are with noblewomen in the Capital.”
“I see.”
I answered, flipping the script open.
I had turned only one page when Cecilia spoke again.
“Your Grace, do you… want to learn horseback riding?”
Hmm.
I thought for a moment.
I’d never seriously considered it, but judging from everyone’s reaction, maybe it would be good to learn.
“Well… if I get the chance?”
Having a hobby wouldn’t hurt.
Cecilia nodded quietly and fell silent.
At last, I began reading the script.
“I’ll read. You can relax too, Cecilia.”
“Yes, yes.”
Her tone sounded distracted, but I ignored it.
I was deep into the script when—
“Your Grace, I need to step out for a moment.”
“Go ahead.”
The script was getting interesting, so I nodded absently.
Cecilia returned when I was about halfway through.
She sat down again—only to wriggle restlessly in her seat.
Cecilia staying still would have been odder, so I didn’t pay much attention.
Until—
Knock knock.
Whitley entered the room—
And Cecilia shot to her feet.
