When My Enemies Began to Regret - Chapter 36

13. The Main Character’s Personality (1)

Translated by alyalia

 

About an hour later, as the maid told me, one of Jalier’s servants guided me to the dining room in the mansion.

 

‘I knew this would happen.’

 

There was a large table where the whole family could sit around there.  However, only one person was waiting there, not deviating from my expectations.

 

“Does the Duke Jalier skip meals?”

 

“Now you have to call him ‘father.’ He went down to inspect the territory. He probably won’t be back until dinner due to a delay.”

 

“What about your brother?”

 

“He doesn’t want to run into me.”

 

Aloken Jalier. A sharp-looking man with black, like my hair, sat arrogantly in a chair. He raised his hand and pointed to the opposite chair. I sat down without saying a word.

 

“Even if this meal is a little lacking, please bear with it. The kitchen servants are paying close attention to the meals with the intention of serving their best for the young Lady of Celcius.”

 

“Even if it’s not that fancy, I would be happy just to eat with father.”

 

“If you refuse their sincerity, the giver will be ashamed.”

 

The conversation followed a series of remarks that would not be a problem for others to hear. However, since we didn’t have much to talk about, the topic of the conversation quickly dropped, and the conversation was cut off. We soon started eating the food on the table made of high-quality ingredients.

 

‘Carl said I shouldn’t neglect to eat.’

 

I have no appetite, but I aim to train my body, so I forcibly shove meats into my mouth.

 

“Vanora.”

 

And while I was asking the servant to bring more pieces of duck meat, a voice that I was getting used to rang across me. When I looked up, Aloken was looking straight at me.

 

“Will you go out to town with me after finishing our meal?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I bought a seat for the opera because I thought you would feel bored during the stay.”

 

I gave him a cold stare while no one was looking. This stare meant ‘don’t fool around’ no matter who looked at it. However, Aloken didn’t look at my stare and took out the wooden theater ticket from his arms.

 

“In this place, foxes come out often and disturb people, so it is troublesome for the young generation, but things have improved since my father’s generation. So where do you think they will spend their remaining time as the hunting for foxes becomes less?”

 

“Is it by opera?”

 

“I can guarantee you this place has the best entertainment.”

 

Aloken cut his portion of food into bite-sized pieces, put it in his mouth, swallowed it without chewing it a few times, and continued the conversation.

 

“I’m sure it will be fun to see the best actor in the Kingdom on the stage for today.”

 

“But that—”

 

“Don’t tell me Lady Vanora will send me to the opera alone? How kind of the Lady I fell in love with! I hope you will come with me.”

 

Before I could answer anything, he smirked and blocked the path of choices.

 

‘Is this person really a human…?’

 

I couldn’t stand to resist saying harsh words in my mind and widened my tnote keyword=”sanpaku eyes.”]Sanpaku eyes refer to eyes in which either the white space above or below the iris is revealed[/tnote]

 

* * *

 

Creek, thud.

 

“What are you planning all of a sudden?”

 

After the meal, I got into the carriage to head to the opera at Aloken’s suggestion. I complained as I was forced to board the carriage.

 

“I’m not interested in opera.”

 

“Neither am I.”

 

“Then why did you make us go to the opera suddenly?”

 

I would pretend to be sick as soon as the engagement ceremony was over if I knew this would happen. I was so annoyed that I had to do something useless.

 

“Vanora, you probably have nothing to do in the mansion.”

 

“I was going to do a transcript of a theology book. Come to think of it, there were no pens and papers in my room.”

 

“Is that your hobby? That’s probably… why I’ve got a very educated partner.”

 

Aloken sat opposite me, even in the carriage, just like in the dining room. Sitting with his legs crossed, he brought a high-quality long sword around his waist instead of the cane he carried in the capital.

 

“…”

 

I leaned against the back of the carriage, looking at the sword’s pommel that hung on his waist.

 

“You’re doing this to show our relationship to others, right?”

 

Aloken politely corrected my sarcastic attitude and responded as I calmly talked about it.

 

“In fact, the Duke is very pleased with this engagement. For some reason… you’re really helping to solidify my position as the successor.”

 

“He also told me that you’re lucky to have a fiancée like me.”

 

“…Did he change his mind after getting sick? I think he has decided that it is better for me to become the heir to stabilizing the family.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Anyway, I have to hide that this engagement is not a contract as much as possible like Lady Vanora’s circumstance…”

 

Aloken made no expression talking about his father. He seemed to have a cold personality, just like the rumors circulating in the capital in the future.

 

“Well, I’m only staying in the North for a while, so I should focus on the act even during this time.”

 

But looking at my own face reflected in the window, it was not that different from his expression. 

 

* * *

 

13. The Main Character’s Personality

 

Opera.

 

It was one of the main entertainments for the nobles, with actors singing and telling various stories. However, I had never seen it before. I was uncomfortable being in a crowded place. I hid my face and was afraid others would recognize me as the ugly and gloomy Vanora Celcius.

 

But this life is different. Now that I have already committed serious crimes, what should I be afraid of?

 

“Hey… the most expensive seat upstairs. Could it be the little Duke Aloken?”

 

“You’re right. Isn’t this his first time coming to the opera? Oh my! Then, the person next to him is the rumored fiancée!”

 

“I can’t really see her. That’s too bad. But doesn’t she look elegant even from a distance? Hahaha, or is it just me?”

 

It was the center of Duke Jalier’s territory. In addition, since the handsome young man sitting next to me was Aloken Jalier himself, it was expected that we would get their attention.

 

“Is everyone here to see the performance or to see you?”

 

I said that as I looked down at the people downstairs. Aloken glanced at me, then turned his gaze back to the stage.

 

“!”

 

Before long, this large theater, built in the suburbs, was filled with nobles and wealthy people. Soon, the inside of the theater was darkened as if the play was about to begin.

 

In the process, I spoke to the man sitting next to me.

 

“How long does this opera last?”

 

“It hasn’t even started yet, but you already asked when it will end?”

 

“I’m just curious.”

 

“It’s about three hours long.”

 

Aloken, sitting with his chin on his chair, turned his head toward me and raised the corners of his mouth.

 

‘Indeed, his smiling face is like a painting.’

 

I inwardly admitted that he had a handsome and attractive face that widened my eyes.

 

“The screenwriter and the actors have a good reputation, so you won’t be bored.”

 

“…”

 

“Most testimonies said… it moves people’s hearts.”

 

People used to be moved by works that were complete. It was the same for books, sculptures, and paintings. So I said, “As you already evaluated it, I guess this opera would be great,” and talked to him more.

 

“Was it touching to you too?”

 

“Ah, it’s starting now.”

 

But before my fiance’s answer came back, the opera’s first lines began.

 

(Ooo, my love. I have come a thousand miles to meet you.)

 

(I too have lived a hell of a time to meet you!)

 

The title of this opera is none other than {Europa}. It was a love story based on a holy relic that is said to give you eternal youth. This legendary story is commonly known.

 

‘So this is how opera actors act. Their acting is very exaggerated.’

 

The opera’s main character, Argo, is a man who lives eternal life. He has loved a lot so far and started a family, but all of those he loved have grown old, ill, and left him behind.

 

‘…the sound of the song is good.’

 

So, the man named Argo vowed not to fall in love anymore. Still, he fell in love with a new one. From a certain moment, the main character’s anguish was expressed with the sound of a heavy brass instrument.

 

At the beginning of the play, the two lovers sang like the orioles and had a happy time, but in the middle of the play, a crisis struck both lovers.

 

“…”

 

And the main character of the play, Argo, soon came to a conclusion. He would no longer see his loved one leave, so he threw the holy relic into the sea and died with his last lover. This process is delicately expressed even to me, whose emotions had dried up, watching them with interest.

  

 

‘Perhaps…’

 

But the reason for my interest in this play was not simply because it was well made.

 

‘Maybe she too was living this kind of life, so that’s why she wanted to give up the holy relic?’

 

I confirmed who the true owner of Europa was in my previous life.

 

“…”

 

Looking back now, it’s a fleeting meeting. I closed my eyes and briefly recalled the owner of Europa.

 

‘At first, I thought their acting was exaggerated, but it’s only natural for them to do that. If they don’t speak like that, everyone in the back seat won’t be able to hear them.’

 

Before I knew it, the play ended, and several people went up on the stage and started to create a beautiful harmony. Unlike my previous reaction, which was boring, I liked it quite a bit and appreciated them. In the end, my eyes were looking at Aloken.

 

“This…”

 

This is okay.

 

I was going to say that at first. But I, who was speaking in a low voice, shut up as soon as I saw his face.

 

“…”

 

Aloken sat slouching in his chair and remained silent. Obviously, his eyes are on the stage…

 

I felt something when I saw this look in his eyes.

 

“…”

 

I turned my head quietly toward the stage.

 

“Wasn’t the play really impressive?”

 

“What did I tell you? When Nelsandria announced that they would come back to play, we must go see the play that is really worth the name of the best actor in the Kingdom!”

 

“The composer’s skill is excellent. When the main character is in agony, it is absolutely immersive…”

 

Step. Step.

 

Several people lined up and left the theater. The theater emptied at speed like a bullet. Aloken and I also left the theater with our servants shortly after that.

 

“It’s going to get dark if we’re late. Opera is all good, but it’s troublesome because it doesn’t start early.”

 

Then, if we get on the carriage waiting on the street corner, even our silly play would be over.

 

“Vanora, how was the opera? I hope my precious fiancée likes it.”

 

I looked at the brazen Aloken and gave him a reaction he probably didn’t expect.

 

“It was a lot of fun, Aloken. It really touched my emotions.”

 

“But there’s something I’m disappointed about. The fact that the actor wasn’t as cool as you were.”

 

Aloken raised one eyebrow to this response. But I took two steps closer to him and grabbed his wrist.