Chapter 11
Translator: Missme
Editor: Aru
The next day, at the end of the show, Bill told me again that someone is looking for me.
‘It must be the person the Crown Prince sent.’
As I expected, the person who was looking for me was sent by the Crown Prince.
But, there’s just something unexpected.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Lena. I’m Selvin Van Der.”
That the person in front of me is a woman.
‘But I heard from Bill that the person who was looking for me is a man?’
I couldn’t hide my curiosity.
Her voice was husky, and although her hair was quite short, she was definitely a woman.
Did Bill mistake her for a man because she was wearing a men’s suit?
“I’m a woman.”
“What?”
“Because you’re staring at me too intensely…..”
After wondering for a moment, I soon knew what kind of misunderstanding had occurred.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you’re a woman, but my colleague told me that the person who was looking for me is a man.”
“I see. I’ve been misunderstood a lot, so I said it first. Anyway, you can call me Lady Van Der or Count Van Der.”
Count?
I was really surprised. A woman can inherit a title in this world, but the case itself is not common.
But she also seemed familiar with this reaction. Seeing she’s talking down to the subject immediately, without explaining about it.
“As you heard from His Highness. We’ll get you everything you need, including the access to approach the Duke. I will leave the rest to Miss Lena freely.”
It made me feel uncomfortable to hear the story which I had forgotten.
I took it semi-forcedly because there was no other way to think of it, but I know that what I do is unethical.
Fortunately, though, it is okay if I fail this quest since I already obtained the Imperial oath from the Crown Prince.
Although I couldn’t be paid for the success, it didn’t matter. It was enough to get the advance payment already and, more than that, I originally was going to reject the offer.
‘Let’s roughly match the rhythm.’
After all, the male protagonist will fall for the female protagonist, so why not just wait for the contract to end? Then it will not cause any trouble to Caleb, and I will survive without any problem.
“From now on, I’ll tell Miss Lena what Miss Lena needs to know about our plans.”
I nodded and listened to the Count’s words.
“I will be Miss Lena’s guardian.”
“Did you miss speaking with the sponsor?”
“No, I’ll be Miss Lena’s guardian.”
The Count added.
“Impressed by the performance, I asked for an interview and found out about Miss Lena’s pitiful situation, so I claim to be Miss Lena’s guardian.”
“………”
“I don’t have any children while Miss Lena doesn’t have any guardians, so Miss Lena effectively will become my successor. Miss Lena was thinking about my proposal, but Miss Lena couldn’t refuse because Miss Lena remembered the wishes of the Viscount Oreu couple.”
I didn’t expect she could talk about other people’s past so casually. Well, I wasn’t hurt because it wasn’t my past anyway.
“Of course, I’m not going to announce Miss Lena as my successor right away. No matter how much Miss Lena took lessons as heir, I can’t ignore the gap.”
“………”
“So Miss Lena will be going to learn by my side for a few weeks and then go to the Royal Knights.”
“Am I going to the Royal Knights? But not only I’m not a prosecutor, but I also don’t even know how to use Auror.”
The main task of the Royal Knights is the subjugation of the beast.
Since the Beast was not hurt at all except because of the Auror, all the members of the Royal Knights had to be Auror holders and had to know using Auror.
Not to mention that they have to be good at swordsmanship.
‘She’s gonna let me in a place like that?’
No matter how good I was at kendo since I was young, I was not good at comparing it to a knight let alone Royal Knights.
Besides, I don’t even know if I’m an Auror holder or not.
“There’s nothing to worry about. Miss Lena is not going to be a knight, Miss Lena is going to be a deputy. And the deputy’s task is only to do the paperwork. Miss Lena has taken succession classes, so Miss Lena can handle it without any difficulty.”
Oh, I see……. No! This is not it!
Nodding casually, I raised my head.
“Can I join the Royal Knights as a deputy while working as an actor?”
“I couldn’t tell you before. But I recommend you quit your job as an actor or take a short break for a while.”
Quit being an actor or take a break?
As I looked at the Count with astonishment, she added calmly.
“I’m sorry Miss Lena, but I’ve been trying to respect your environment but I couldn’t. We picked the cause as a point of contact with the Duke.”
“………”
“Especially because Miss Lena’s job is less involved with the Duke, so I recommended Miss Lena join the Royal Knights as a deputy. In addition, the Duke is less likely to attend the banquet so personally approaching the Duke will be really hard.”
“……..”
“I don’t mind if Miss Lena wants to continue to be an actor if Miss Lena thinks Miss Lena can handle both of them, but the troupe is performing almost every day.”
I guess the last reason she added will be backbiting me to stop being an actor.
The thought of quitting becoming an actor made my eyes flutter.
In my mind, I wanted to take a break until this year and then come back, but it probably won’t happen. Because it is possible only if the troupe owner accepts it.
However, I couldn’t refuse the offer just because I didn’t like the clause.
The Imperial oath only applied in a case whether I succeeded or failed.
If I said I’d quit now, I wouldn’t be protected by the Imperial oath. Then I’ll be killed.
“………okay, I’ll quit. But the main performance ends this Saturday. I have to do it until then.”
“I can understand that.”
The answer came back smoothly.
I was worried if she said no, but I’m glad.
“Anyway, Miss Lena can work as a deputy in the Royal Knights and seduce the Duke to attend His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday party as his partner. After that, Miss Lena can go back to the troupe. I thought about it, but I think being an actor is also good.”
So if I get rejected as his partner, do I not have to go to the Emperor’s birthday party?
I was curious, but I couldn’t ask.
The Crown Prince would be upset if he heard what I said.
Let’s go and think about it then.
Afterwards, I signed a guardian agreement issued by the Count, and she, who took the documents, got up without hesitation.
“Then I’ll be back this Sunday morning. And when Miss Lena quits, I think it’s better if Miss Lena tells them exactly the story we’ve planned.”
“Yes, I will. By the way, do I not have to write the contract?”
“If it’s a contract, what…..…?”
“The offer between the Crown Prince and me.”
“We don’t need that kind of contract. We can’t leave any evidence which could blame His Highness the Crown Prince uselessly. Is there anything else you’re curious about?”
I hesitated for a moment. I think there was something I wanted to ask when I heard that the Crown Prince will send a person to me yesterday, but I couldn’t remember.
‘What was I going to ask?’
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t remember.
After much consideration, I shook my head, saying no.
Then the Count got up saying she could come next time.
And only after I saw her off did I realize what I was going to ask.
‘Oh, that’s right. Portrait!’
***
After the Count went back, I went to the office of the troupe owner and knocked decisively on the door.
“Owner-nim, may I come in?”
Soon, a middle-aged woman’s voice told me to come in.
When I opened the door carefully, I saw the figure of the owner of the troupe with her puzzled face.
“Lena, what brings you here?”
“I have something to say.”
“You mean to me?”
The troupe owner looked very interested.
After hesitating, I came up with the main point.
“I’m sorry, but I think I’ll have to quit the troupe after the last performance.”
“………Do you want to quit because you don’t like the job of becoming an actor?”
“No! That’s not it.”
I shook my head. After the period the Crown Prince said was over, I was thinking of becoming an actor again. Of course, it is possible only if there is trouble that will accept me.
‘But it’ll work out somehow.’
It’s annoying to think that I need to come up from the bottom again.
“So may I ask you for some reason?”
I don’t know where to start or how to say it.
After much consideration, I told the same story, which Count had planned and told me, to the troupe owner.
After hearing my story, the owner, who was silent for a moment, opened his mouth.
“So to sum up, you’re not quitting because you don’t like becoming an actor, are you? It’s just that you remembered your adoptive parents’ wishes.”
“That’s right.”
“That means you might change your mind and come back later. Then let’s think about it for a year and wait.”
“What?”
“If you want to come back, come visit our troupe. I’ll take you any time.”
“……really?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
I rather wanted to ask back, “Isn’t it natural to be surprised?”
Whether it’s six months later or a year later, how can someone accept people back when they didn’t even work as an actor?
Moreover, I was saying that I would quit after the last performance, and I was just saying that I would quit suddenly just a few days before.
But I’m surprised that the owner welcomed me kindly.
“I didn’t expect you to say that. I quit all of a sudden and…….”
“It’s not a big deal. If you were the same as before, and you had given up on becoming an actor, I wouldn’t have held you. But you said you still want to become an actor.”
The troupe owner smiled lightly.
“Unlike before, you seem to like your job as an actor now……. Isn’t it?”
“Yes, I like it!”
I nodded my head vigorously and stopped.
Oh, was that too much?
When I slowly looked into the eyes of the troupe owner, she smiled as if she were satisfied with my reaction.
“Yes, that’s why. You’ve done a great job in the last few months. It feels like you’ve become a different person.”
“……..”
“I don’t want to miss a great actor like you. And I’m thinking it’ll be the same when you get back.”
“A…h….”
I bowed my head. I was about to cry.
I was really happy and grateful because it was the first time someone recognized what I did with my strength and passion.
“So if it’s settled and you’re still willing to be an actor, why don’t you come back?”
“I will. I promise.”
I held back my tears and smiled brightly.
**
After telling the troupe owner that I would quit the troupe, I took the check I received from the Crown Prince to the guild and paid off all my debts left asElena Oreu.
And slowly prepared to leave the troupe.
‘I’d better tell Veloca and Rael, too.’
If the Count visits me, it will be revealed anyway, but that will be rude for Veloca and Rael.
Determined, I called the two to my room for a moment in the evening after the performance and carefully brought it up.
That I’m leaving the troupe.
The two who heard me were very confused.
“Even if you’re going to come back…… it’s too sudden.”
“Is it because of the aristocrat who came the day before yesterday?”
Veloca, who was listening quietly, opened her mouth. Does she mean the Crown Prince?
“Did he ask you to marry him? So, are you going to have a love trip?”
“What? No.”
The Crown Prince asked me to marry him?
If he did, there would be no such terrible thing in the world.
“Then why are you taking a break all of a sudden? Did your birth turn out to be a high aristocrat or a hidden heir to a rich aristocrat?”
“Veloca, aren’t you too into the script?”
Is it a secret of the birth topic that would appear in a crazy play script?
“Yeah, I think it’s gone too far.”
Rael was also a bit talkative. Of course, Lena was indeed an aristocrat, but it wasn’t the kind of thing Veloca thought.
‘Rather the opposite.’
Veloca also immediately apologized to see if what she thought was too unrealistic.
“I’m sorry. It’s just a personal matter, so I can’t point it out.…. Don’t you think it’s too much to ask in detail?”
I felt uncomfortable to see Veloca looking at my wits.
No matter what anyone says, Velcca and Rael were the ones who helped me when I first possessed Lena’s body, and they were originally friends.
‘Well, I’m going to tell them about guardianship as the reasons to quit anyway……..’
Of course, I had to tell the real Lena’s past to tell her why the Count came to claim to be my guardian.
‘I’m sorry for Lena, but it’s going to be known anyway, and these two were friends, so wouldn’t it be okay?’
In fact, I know it’s nothing but self-reasonable.
But for a few months, I’ve been Lena, and probably since I’ve had to live as Lena, this situation will surely come.
“Let me tell you, my situation.”
“Are you okay though?”
“Because it’s Veloca and Rael. However, it’s a long story. But if you don’t mind, would you listen?”
Veloca and Rael nodded at my words. They said they could listen to me as much as I want.
Encouraged by the reaction, I continued cautiously.
Adopted by the Viscount Oreu couple as a child, followed by mishaps and a pile of debt.
That I became an actor pretending to be a commoner.
And yesterday’s story about the guardian and heir that was arranged with the Count.
Rael and Veloca were indignant when they heard my story in its entirety.
“You can’t get a title because you’re not their biological child, but you still have to pay debts? What the hell is the law?”
“Yeah, who made that law?”
The sight made me feel strange.
“Hey, Veloca, Rael, aren’t you disappointed in me?”
“Disappointed? Why?”
“I lied about my identity.”
As I talked, my voice got smaller.
“Why is that? Oh, did you want us to be disappointed? Or because you want to be treated like an aristocrat? Do you want me to honour you as Miss Lena-nim and use honorifics?”
“No, don’t do that. That’s not why I said that at all.”
I shook my head.
“I knew it. Well, since you seem to care, I’ll tell you that I don’t care if you’re an aristocrat or not. Because you’re you.”
“Eung?”
Chapter 11
Translator: Missme
Editor: Aru
The next day, at the end of the show, Bill told me again that someone is looking for me.
‘It must be the person the Crown Prince sent.’
As I expected, the person who was looking for me was sent by the Crown Prince.
But, there’s just something unexpected.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Lena. I’m Selvin Van Der.”
That the person in front of me is a woman.
‘But I heard from Bill that the person who was looking for me is a man?’
I couldn’t hide my curiosity.
Her voice was husky, and although her hair was quite short, she was definitely a woman.
Did Bill mistake her for a man because she was wearing a men’s suit?
“I’m a woman.”
“What?”
“Because you’re staring at me too intensely…..”
After wondering for a moment, I soon knew what kind of misunderstanding had occurred.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you’re a woman, but my colleague told me that the person who was looking for me is a man.”
“I see. I’ve been misunderstood a lot, so I said it first. Anyway, you can call me Lady Van Der or Count Van Der.”
Count?
I was really surprised. A woman can inherit a title in this world, but the case itself is not common.
But she also seemed familiar with this reaction. Seeing she’s talking down to the subject immediately, without explaining about it.
“As you heard from His Highness. We’ll get you everything you need, including the access to approach the Duke. I will leave the rest to Miss Lena freely.”
It made me feel uncomfortable to hear the story which I had forgotten.
I took it semi-forcedly because there was no other way to think of it, but I know that what I do is unethical.
Fortunately, though, it is okay if I fail this quest since I already obtained the Imperial oath from the Crown Prince.
Although I couldn’t be paid for the success, it didn’t matter. It was enough to get the advance payment already and, more than that, I originally was going to reject the offer.
‘Let’s roughly match the rhythm.’
After all, the male protagonist will fall for the female protagonist, so why not just wait for the contract to end? Then it will not cause any trouble to Caleb, and I will survive without any problem.
“From now on, I’ll tell Miss Lena what Miss Lena needs to know about our plans.”
I nodded and listened to the Count’s words.
“I will be Miss Lena’s guardian.”
“Did you miss speaking with the sponsor?”
“No, I’ll be Miss Lena’s guardian.”
The Count added.
“Impressed by the performance, I asked for an interview and found out about Miss Lena’s pitiful situation, so I claim to be Miss Lena’s guardian.”
“………”
“I don’t have any children while Miss Lena doesn’t have any guardians, so Miss Lena effectively will become my successor. Miss Lena was thinking about my proposal, but Miss Lena couldn’t refuse because Miss Lena remembered the wishes of the Viscount Oreu couple.”
I didn’t expect she could talk about other people’s past so casually. Well, I wasn’t hurt because it wasn’t my past anyway.
“Of course, I’m not going to announce Miss Lena as my successor right away. No matter how much Miss Lena took lessons as heir, I can’t ignore the gap.”
“………”
“So Miss Lena will be going to learn by my side for a few weeks and then go to the Royal Knights.”
“Am I going to the Royal Knights? But not only I’m not a prosecutor, but I also don’t even know how to use Auror.”
The main task of the Royal Knights is the subjugation of the beast.
Since the Beast was not hurt at all except because of the Auror, all the members of the Royal Knights had to be Auror holders and had to know using Auror.
Not to mention that they have to be good at swordsmanship.
‘She’s gonna let me in a place like that?’
No matter how good I was at kendo since I was young, I was not good at comparing it to a knight let alone Royal Knights.
Besides, I don’t even know if I’m an Auror holder or not.
“There’s nothing to worry about. Miss Lena is not going to be a knight, Miss Lena is going to be a deputy. And the deputy’s task is only to do the paperwork. Miss Lena has taken succession classes, so Miss Lena can handle it without any difficulty.”
Oh, I see……. No! This is not it!
Nodding casually, I raised my head.
“Can I join the Royal Knights as a deputy while working as an actor?”
“I couldn’t tell you before. But I recommend you quit your job as an actor or take a short break for a while.”
Quit being an actor or take a break?
As I looked at the Count with astonishment, she added calmly.
“I’m sorry Miss Lena, but I’ve been trying to respect your environment but I couldn’t. We picked the cause as a point of contact with the Duke.”
“………”
“Especially because Miss Lena’s job is less involved with the Duke, so I recommended Miss Lena join the Royal Knights as a deputy. In addition, the Duke is less likely to attend the banquet so personally approaching the Duke will be really hard.”
“……..”
“I don’t mind if Miss Lena wants to continue to be an actor if Miss Lena thinks Miss Lena can handle both of them, but the troupe is performing almost every day.”
I guess the last reason she added will be backbiting me to stop being an actor.
The thought of quitting becoming an actor made my eyes flutter.
In my mind, I wanted to take a break until this year and then come back, but it probably won’t happen. Because it is possible only if the troupe owner accepts it.
However, I couldn’t refuse the offer just because I didn’t like the clause.
The Imperial oath only applied in a case whether I succeeded or failed.
If I said I’d quit now, I wouldn’t be protected by the Imperial oath. Then I’ll be killed.
“………okay, I’ll quit. But the main performance ends this Saturday. I have to do it until then.”
“I can understand that.”
The answer came back smoothly.
I was worried if she said no, but I’m glad.
“Anyway, Miss Lena can work as a deputy in the Royal Knights and seduce the Duke to attend His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday party as his partner. After that, Miss Lena can go back to the troupe. I thought about it, but I think being an actor is also good.”
So if I get rejected as his partner, do I not have to go to the Emperor’s birthday party?
I was curious, but I couldn’t ask.
The Crown Prince would be upset if he heard what I said.
Let’s go and think about it then.
Afterwards, I signed a guardian agreement issued by the Count, and she, who took the documents, got up without hesitation.
“Then I’ll be back this Sunday morning. And when Miss Lena quits, I think it’s better if Miss Lena tells them exactly the story we’ve planned.”
“Yes, I will. By the way, do I not have to write the contract?”
“If it’s a contract, what…..…?”
“The offer between the Crown Prince and me.”
“We don’t need that kind of contract. We can’t leave any evidence which could blame His Highness the Crown Prince uselessly. Is there anything else you’re curious about?”
I hesitated for a moment. I think there was something I wanted to ask when I heard that the Crown Prince will send a person to me yesterday, but I couldn’t remember.
‘What was I going to ask?’
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t remember.
After much consideration, I shook my head, saying no.
Then the Count got up saying she could come next time.
And only after I saw her off did I realize what I was going to ask.
‘Oh, that’s right. Portrait!’
***
After the Count went back, I went to the office of the troupe owner and knocked decisively on the door.
“Owner-nim, may I come in?”
Soon, a middle-aged woman’s voice told me to come in.
When I opened the door carefully, I saw the figure of the owner of the troupe with her puzzled face.
“Lena, what brings you here?”
“I have something to say.”
“You mean to me?”
The troupe owner looked very interested.
After hesitating, I came up with the main point.
“I’m sorry, but I think I’ll have to quit the troupe after the last performance.”
“………Do you want to quit because you don’t like the job of becoming an actor?”
“No! That’s not it.”
I shook my head. After the period the Crown Prince said was over, I was thinking of becoming an actor again. Of course, it is possible only if there is trouble that will accept me.
‘But it’ll work out somehow.’
It’s annoying to think that I need to come up from the bottom again.
“So may I ask you for some reason?”
I don’t know where to start or how to say it.
After much consideration, I told the same story, which Count had planned and told me, to the troupe owner.
After hearing my story, the owner, who was silent for a moment, opened his mouth.
“So to sum up, you’re not quitting because you don’t like becoming an actor, are you? It’s just that you remembered your adoptive parents’ wishes.”
“That’s right.”
“That means you might change your mind and come back later. Then let’s think about it for a year and wait.”
“What?”
“If you want to come back, come visit our troupe. I’ll take you any time.”
“……really?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
I rather wanted to ask back, “Isn’t it natural to be surprised?”
Whether it’s six months later or a year later, how can someone accept people back when they didn’t even work as an actor?
Moreover, I was saying that I would quit after the last performance, and I was just saying that I would quit suddenly just a few days before.
But I’m surprised that the owner welcomed me kindly.
“I didn’t expect you to say that. I quit all of a sudden and…….”
“It’s not a big deal. If you were the same as before, and you had given up on becoming an actor, I wouldn’t have held you. But you said you still want to become an actor.”
The troupe owner smiled lightly.
“Unlike before, you seem to like your job as an actor now……. Isn’t it?”
“Yes, I like it!”
I nodded my head vigorously and stopped.
Oh, was that too much?
When I slowly looked into the eyes of the troupe owner, she smiled as if she were satisfied with my reaction.
“Yes, that’s why. You’ve done a great job in the last few months. It feels like you’ve become a different person.”
“……..”
“I don’t want to miss a great actor like you. And I’m thinking it’ll be the same when you get back.”
“A…h….”
I bowed my head. I was about to cry.
I was really happy and grateful because it was the first time someone recognized what I did with my strength and passion.
“So if it’s settled and you’re still willing to be an actor, why don’t you come back?”
“I will. I promise.”
I held back my tears and smiled brightly.
**
After telling the troupe owner that I would quit the troupe, I took the check I received from the Crown Prince to the guild and paid off all my debts left asElena Oreu.
And slowly prepared to leave the troupe.
‘I’d better tell Veloca and Rael, too.’
If the Count visits me, it will be revealed anyway, but that will be rude for Veloca and Rael.
Determined, I called the two to my room for a moment in the evening after the performance and carefully brought it up.
That I’m leaving the troupe.
The two who heard me were very confused.
“Even if you’re going to come back…… it’s too sudden.”
“Is it because of the aristocrat who came the day before yesterday?”
Veloca, who was listening quietly, opened her mouth. Does she mean the Crown Prince?
“Did he ask you to marry him? So, are you going to have a love trip?”
“What? No.”
The Crown Prince asked me to marry him?
If he did, there would be no such terrible thing in the world.
“Then why are you taking a break all of a sudden? Did your birth turn out to be a high aristocrat or a hidden heir to a rich aristocrat?”
“Veloca, aren’t you too into the script?”
Is it a secret of the birth topic that would appear in a crazy play script?
“Yeah, I think it’s gone too far.”
Rael was also a bit talkative. Of course, Lena was indeed an aristocrat, but it wasn’t the kind of thing Veloca thought.
‘Rather the opposite.’
Veloca also immediately apologized to see if what she thought was too unrealistic.
“I’m sorry. It’s just a personal matter, so I can’t point it out.…. Don’t you think it’s too much to ask in detail?”
I felt uncomfortable to see Veloca looking at my wits.
No matter what anyone says, Velcca and Rael were the ones who helped me when I first possessed Lena’s body, and they were originally friends.
‘Well, I’m going to tell them about guardianship as the reasons to quit anyway……..’
Of course, I had to tell the real Lena’s past to tell her why the Count came to claim to be my guardian.
‘I’m sorry for Lena, but it’s going to be known anyway, and these two were friends, so wouldn’t it be okay?’
In fact, I know it’s nothing but self-reasonable.
But for a few months, I’ve been Lena, and probably since I’ve had to live as Lena, this situation will surely come.
“Let me tell you, my situation.”
“Are you okay though?”
“Because it’s Veloca and Rael. However, it’s a long story. But if you don’t mind, would you listen?”
Veloca and Rael nodded at my words. They said they could listen to me as much as I want.
Encouraged by the reaction, I continued cautiously.
Adopted by the Viscount Oreu couple as a child, followed by mishaps and a pile of debt.
That I became an actor pretending to be a commoner.
And yesterday’s story about the guardian and heir that was arranged with the Count.
Rael and Veloca were indignant when they heard my story in its entirety.
“You can’t get a title because you’re not their biological child, but you still have to pay debts? What the hell is the law?”
“Yeah, who made that law?”
The sight made me feel strange.
“Hey, Veloca, Rael, aren’t you disappointed in me?”
“Disappointed? Why?”
“I lied about my identity.”
As I talked, my voice got smaller.
“Why is that? Oh, did you want us to be disappointed? Or because you want to be treated like an aristocrat? Do you want me to honour you as Miss Lena-nim and use honorifics?”
“No, don’t do that. That’s not why I said that at all.”
I shook my head.
“I knew it. Well, since you seem to care, I’ll tell you that I don’t care if you’re an aristocrat or not. Because you’re you.”
“Eung?”
