TGDHC Chapter 180

Chapter 180 – The Long-Awaited Opera (3)

“Oh my goodness! Who knew the Grand Duke was that incredibly handsome?”

“I only believed what my husband said—that he’s someone ordinary people can’t even approach!”

Even after taking their seats, the nobles couldn’t calm down.

“And to think he never appeared at official events before. It seems he’s changing now that he has a wife.”

“I’m so jealous. He must truly cherish Her Highness.”

“With the Grand Duke standing so firmly by her side, who in the North would dare treat Her Highness carelessly now?”

They also talked endlessly about the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess’s outfits.

“And the way he wore that lavender cravat! I never imagined that color could look so masculine. Was it tailored at Couteur?”

“My husband must order from Couteur next time.”

“It’s already hard to get an appointment there. Now meeting the madam will be like reaching the stars!”

Even I was shocked, though Cecilia had warned me in advance—so how must everyone else feel?

Sitting near the front, Viscountess Territo listened with interest.
Without thinking, she glanced up at the second floor.

At that moment, she saw the Grand Duchess leaning slightly out of one of the royal boxes.

‘So the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess are there.’

As the Grand Duchess leaned forward to look at the first-floor audience, the Grand Duke suddenly stepped beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist, as if worried she might fall.

Held in his arms, the Grand Duchess spoke to him.

‘How affectionate.’

Then suddenly, the Grand Duke tilted his head and kissed her.

‘Oh my!’

The viscountess quickly looked away.

“What is it?” her husband asked.

“Oh, nothing.”

‘Newlyweds really are something.’

Until the opera began, she kept fanning her flushed cheeks.

Outside the Carmania Theater

Coachviel, dressed magnificently, stared at Antonel’s full-body poster.

‘They replaced me with that country boy who only did small free performances?’

Somehow, the troupe had managed to make Antonel look quite impressive in the poster.

Even I’ve never had a poster this large.

And such a huge theater, too.

Coachviel swallowed his irritation.

Inviting himself to the Grand Duke’s castle might have been too much—but still.

‘The Grand Duchess blushed so shyly in front of me that day. How could she remove me from the cast?!’

He wanted to tear the poster down immediately, but seeing the staff guarding the entrance, he snorted.

‘Do they think the opera can succeed without me?’

Actors like him—who could handle the pressure of a large stage and captivate the audience—were rare.

Just because Antonel could sing a few lines didn’t mean he could take that position.

‘That timid guy who used to tremble all the time won’t survive a stage this big. He’ll make mistake after mistake.’

By tomorrow, the troupe director would surely beg him to return.

This would be Antonel’s first and last performance.

Feeling slightly better, Coachviel entered the theater.

Inside the Audience Hall

“Look, Coachviel is here!”

“Where?”

As Coachviel walked in, noblewomen gasped everywhere.

“Good evening.”

“Coachviel! Look over here!”

Just before the opera began, he slowly descended the stairs, greeting the ladies confidently.

When some expressed regret that he wasn’t performing, he smiled calmly.

“I’ve come as an audience member tonight.”

He had purposely bought a ticket for the first day.

When the opera failed and people complained, seeing him sitting in the audience would make them regret even more.

After the performance, he planned to visit the dressing room and enjoy the sight of Antonel’s pale, embarrassed face.

Full of anticipation, Coachviel took his seat.

But the moment the opera began, it was Coachviel who turned pale.

After the short overture ended, the background scenery on both sides and above the stage suddenly folded away in an instant. A completely new scene appeared.

‘W-What is this?’

In the blink of an eye, Violetta’s bedroom transformed into a garden.

Such a stage transition had never been seen in opera before.

“Wow!”

Gasps filled the theater.

‘Cheap tricks…’

He told himself it was only briefly impressive.

Once the actors appeared, the audience would surely grow bored.

But scene after scene, the audience became more and more absorbed.

“Oh! That terrible man!”

“How pitiful!”

At every dramatic moment, sighs and cries were heard.

The most breathtaking scene was when Violetta, vowing revenge, stood on a snowy cliff singing her oath.

Layered cliff scenery extended deep into the stage, making it look endless.

Whooo—

As solemn music played, the sound of wind suddenly filled the theater. People instinctively looked around, forgetting they were indoors.

Standing at the edge of the cliff, Violetta raised her wine cup.

“I drink the snow that falls into this cup of revenge
and claim the spirit of the coldest winter!
But my heart will burn with fury,
and before the snow melts, my flames will swallow you!”

The moment she drank from the wooden cup, thunder roared and lightning flashed from above the stage.

“Goodness!”

A noblewoman screamed.

Coachviel flinched without realizing it.

‘I’ve never seen an opera like this.’

If only Antonel had ruined it, that would have been something—but because the performance felt so real, even the acting was flawless.

“I will live freely!”

With Violetta’s final cry, the opera ended.

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted.

Coachviel clapped stiffly, unable to hide his shock.

When the actors came out one by one to bow, Antonel appeared on stage.

From everywhere, noblewomen shouted:

“You terrible man!”

“You shameless flirt!”

It sounded like insults—but they were filled with affection.

Antonel waved brightly, clearly pleased.

When Isadora, the prima donna, came out, the reaction was the same.

“Lady Violetta, we support you!”

“We’re proud of you!”

The noblewomen were so immersed that they treated Violetta like a real person.

Coachviel had never received such reactions in his own performances.

Even as the audience rose to leave, their excitement didn’t fade.

“Isn’t he awful? How could he cheat on such a wise wife?”

“Exactly! Maybe it’s because he’s so handsome? Or maybe it’s his voice—it’s dangerously charming.”

“My ears almost melted! I must watch it again soon.”

“Me too! Violetta’s final aria keeps ringing in my head.”

Soon they were discussing coming back tomorrow.

When Coachviel entered earlier, they had called his name excitedly.
Now no one even noticed him.

“On the way out, I’m buying the wooden wine cup Violetta used!”

“I’ll buy all the merchandise! Oh, and Snow Wine too!”

“Didn’t they say only 150 bottles of Snow Wine are sold per day?”

At that, the noblewomen hurried ahead of Coachviel.

Like a defeated soldier, he slowly walked back into the lobby.

“I’ll take one of everything!”

“Two sets for me!”

“Sorry, the wooden wine cups are already sold out—”

“What? No!”

“Five bottles of Snow Wine! With the opera package!”

“Sorry, Snow Wine and even the basic package are completely sold out!”

The merchandise staff were sweating from the sudden rush.

“Only the stationery set, the poisoned bottle, and Violetta’s novel remain! We don’t know when sold-out items will return. Snow Wine will be available again tomorrow!”

Poisoned bottle?

Drawn in without thinking, Coachviel pushed through the crowd and read the description:

“The poisoned bottle used by Lady Violetta for revenge.
Specially crafted for the opera by Dakaru­na of Goldrain.
Contains limited-edition rose water made by the Lakeside Perfume Shop ‘Rozan’ of Valpid Lake.”

“If you’re not buying, please move.”

A lady impatiently pushed past him and grabbed the item.

What is happening?

Wasn’t opera supposed to be elegant ladies lightly waving fans, admiring actors with subtle glances, then quietly leaving in their carriages?

This opera was bursting with life.

Outside the theater, Coachviel stared again at the large poster.

Isadora remained—but the male lead was Antonel.

‘Did I make a terrible mistake?’

A cold fear ran down his spine.

What if his place never returned to him again?