The day of the announcement had finally arrived. The stage, large enough to support more than ten people, was decorated beautifully, and rows of chairs were lined up before it. Thankfully, they’d been blessed with good weather, and gentle rays of sunlight beamed down upon the scene.
“Weather’s the one thing we can’t control, so I was a little worried. Luckily, it’s clear and sunny out,” Claus commented.
“Yes! Luck is an important factor too. I think it’s a good omen!” Jeanette said happily, and spotted her father in the distance. She had invited him to attend the announcement. “Father!”
Noticing her, the baron walked over. He seemed to be in good humor.
“We’re going to unveil something truly wonderful!” she told him. “I hope you’re looking forward to it!”
“Oh? Indeed, I look forward to seeing what form the imperial mine’s diamonds will take,” he replied.
“Right!” Jeanette said, then glanced to his side. During past events, he had always attended together with Leila. But of course, now that they had divorced, the woman wasn’t present.
Her father must’ve realized what she was thinking, as he smiled forlornly. “Are you thinking about Leila?”
“Oh, no! I just thought about how you two really did separate... Sorry, I didn’t mean to remind you about it!”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it,” the baron reassured her. When he spoke next, there was a slightly distant look in his eyes. “She left the house, just as I told her to. I asked Gilbert to investigate where she went, and it looks like she joined a monastery far from here.”
Jeanette listened to this with surprise. From what she knew, Leila had received a large settlement from the baron after their divorce. And since this was Leila, Jeanette had been convinced the woman would insist on living in the capital no matter what.
“I’ve heard monastery life is very tough, since they have to be self-sufficient,” she said. “Will she really be all right...?”
“Who can say? I don’t know. But...perhaps she had some things to think over.” He was referring to the way Leila had sold off her biological daughter as collateral for her own debt. “Maybe she finally realized the depth of her sin. Or maybe she was stricken with guilt... Whatever the case, our paths won’t cross again. Still, we were once husband and wife. I think I’m allowed to hope for her to find a new path for herself in the monastery.”
“Right.” Jeanette nodded earnestly. “I do want Ms. Leila to atone for how she treated Ariel. But one day, I’d like her to forget all of her pain and resentment, and live out her days with peace of mind. Life is long, after all!”
Leila had given Jeanette all kinds of “rewards,” and even when the woman had tried selling her off, Jeanette had never harbored hatred toward her. This might’ve been because she didn’t think Leila had ever given her any painful memories.
After a while of chatting, the baron left for his assigned seat. When Jeanette next looked around, she spotted more attendees arriving. “Lady Christine! Your Excellency! I’m so glad you came!” she exclaimed, rushing over to the Pablo couple.
Christine was in high spirits, and she gave Jeanette a warm hug. “Jeanette, this is incredible! I’ve never seen a stage like this before!”
“Me neither,” piped up the duke. “To think I’d see a stage like this not in a theater, but out here in the middle of the city... You two have come up with yet another novel idea.”
While they were impressed, the embarrassed Jeanette began explaining. “These days, plays are something you’d only see in the theater. But in the past, there were a lot of traveling theater troupes who’d perform in places like this.”
“Goodness, is that so? You even have such detailed knowledge of history!” Christine remarked, happily complimenting Jeanette.
The bashful Jeanette then led the couple to front row seats. Indeed, today’s surprise they’d been secretly planning was a play that would be performed as part of launching the new product.
“A play? And just what do you plan on performing here?” asked the discontented Kyuriakris. Today, he’d come as a member of the audience, rather than as a Roussel Corporation employee. He still seemed to be sulking over the fact that Jeanette and Claus were hiding something from him.
“You’ll see once it begins,” Claus said. He looked to be in the best mood ever as he led Kyuriakris to his seat.
“The seats are packed, milady! There’s even people standing to watch!” Sara called out as she surveyed the area.
They’d arranged rows of chairs, all of which were now tightly filled with people. The front row was reserved for the nobles Jeanette had invited directly, while the others were a varied mix. There were well-dressed ladies and gentlemen, as well as store workers who had come from the nearby shops, still clad in their aprons. There was a man with a whip attached to his belt, who must’ve been a coachman. A shoe-shining boy was present too, and a woman from some restaurant had brought a few of her children along.
Everyone had been lured in by the idea of being able to see a play for free. Some had even closed their shops for the day just to attend.
Once the right moment arrived, Claus signaled the facilitator. Then, he and Jeanette sat in the front row to watch the course of events.
“Thank you for your patience, everyone!” the facilitator began. “The play being performed today is called The Princess’s Marriage.”
The audience members whispered among each other. “Is that a famous play?”
“I’m not sure. It’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Well, as long as it’s interesting, that’s enough for me!”
In the midst of all that, a trumpet sounded to announce the start of the play. Someone suddenly shouted offstage. “Christine, that’s enough! Do you even understand the fact that you’re a princess?!”
The curtains drew back, revealing a young woman straddling a fence. Her straight hair was platinum blonde, and the sight of her made Duke Pablo exclaim in realization, before he clamped his hand over his mouth.
Next to him, Christine was pressing both her hands to her lips to stop herself from making any sounds and watching the stage while stifling a giggle.
“Ugh, why did the noisiest one of them all have to find me today?” the actress lamented.
“What’s that supposed to mean?!” demanded the male actor as he stepped onto the stage. He was a brunet whose bulky build resembled a bear’s.
Indeed, this play was about the beginning of Duke and Duchess Pablo’s romance. Originally, Jeanette had considered making their story into a novel. But Claus’s idea went with the story perfectly, so Jeanette had collaborated with Christine and adapted it into a play instead.
When Claus explained as much, Kyuriakris finally grasped what was happening. “I see,” he said with a nod. “But why a play? And why a love story?”
“It’s related to the product, of course. Just keep watching.”