It all happened in an instant.
The stage set collapsed over the distracted girl watching Lydia and Princess Rainey, and the male student, who had been watching as well, rushed to save her. I saw him embrace her at the last mont, but after that, I wasn’t sure what happened. I could only hope that both of them were safe.
“Are you okay?!”
“First, we need to move this set! Young master Ethan, could you bring Lady Celesta from the church... no, the maid café is closer—please go and fetch her!”
“Got it, Lilith!”
At my words, Ethan sprinted out of the auditorium toward the maid café to fetch Celesta. anwhile, I, Lydia, and the other students preparing for the play began slowly lifting the fallen stage set.
—Squeak, squeak…
“Bo! Penelope! Are you okay?!”
“Hrk, kgh…”
The first to erge from beneath the collapsed set was the male student, crouched protectively over the girl. I could see strands of her hair beneath him.
“B-Bo!”
“Hah, Penelope, y-you’re not hurt…?”
“I’m fine! But what about you?!”
“Phew, I’m glad you’re okay, khh…!”
“Bo…!!”
It was clear that the boy, Bo, had gotten injured while trying to protect the girl, Penelope. Penelope cried out in concern as she cradled Bo, while I glanced at Princess Rainey to gauge her reaction.
"……."
Though she didn’t say anything, her slightly troubled expression spoke volus. She was likely wondering if this accident was caused by her cursed luck. Just like it had affected Ethan and before, Princess Rainey’s misfortune tended to affect those around her as well.
And honestly, it wasn’t hard to believe that might be the case here. Accidents like this hadn’t occurred during the original storyline. Or, it could have just been that Lydia’s sudden appearance distracted everyone. Either way, it was hard to deny that Princess Rainey was indirectly involved.
“Lilith, I brought Celesta!”
“Who is the patient?! I-I’ll start treatnt right away…”
“This way! B-Bo was injured trying to protect …”
Still dressed in her maid outfit from the café, Celesta rushed in, her voice filled with urgency. Penelope pointed to Bo, who was lying on the floor, groaning in pain. Celesta knelt beside him and placed her hands on his shoulder and back, letting out a surge of divine energy.
—Ssss…
“Hrk, ah…!! Aaaagh…!!”
“B-Bo, I’m so sorry….”
"……."
Penelope, clutching Bo’s hand, was visibly emotional, tears streaming down her face. Their closeness seed genuine, and it only deepened Princess Rainey’s growing guilt. She stood there, unable to move or approach them, while Celesta’s words offered so comfort.
“At least his life isn’t in danger…”
“R-Really?!”
“Yes, but it would be best if he rests at the church to fully recover…”
“Then let’s get him there quickly! Bo, can you walk?”
“N-No…! I’ve just used divine power to nd his fractured bones; moving him could cause further damage. Soone needs to carry him, or we could wait for a stretcher from the church…”
“I’ll carry him!”
Lydia, sharing a similar sense of guilt, leaped forward at Celesta’s suggestion. True to her strength as Princess Rainey’s maid, Lydia lifted the full-grown man with ease and dashed out of the auditorium with Celesta by her side.
“I-I’m going with them! Bo!!”
Penelope hurried after them, leaving the rest of the theater group without their lead actors. The remaining students stood in stunned silence, unsure how to proceed.
“What are we going to do…? Without Bo and Penelope, we can’t even start the Leon and Julia play!”
“…Let’s clean up first. If Penelope returns, we might still be able to perform. Leon doesn’t have as many lines as Julia.”
“I guess we should be thankful that Penelope’s okay. Julia appears throughout the entire play, after all.”
“But who’s going to play Leon now? Should we pull soone from one of the supporting roles?”
“…I don’t know. Let’s just focus on getting the stage ready. We might not have ti for a rehearsal, but we can still make it work by the performance ti.”
Despite their tense expressions, the theater students tried to hold onto hope as they hurriedly reset the stage. But unfortunately, their expectations were soon shattered.
“…I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to perform in today’s play.”
Penelope’s return and her abrupt declaration sealed their fate.
⁎ ⁎ ⁎
Penelope’s words upon returning to the auditorium threw the theater group into confusion. With barely an hour left before the performance, their lead actress had just announced that she wouldn’t be playing her role.
“Penelope? What do you an?”
“…Just as I said. I can’t play the role of Julia in today’s performance.”
“W-What?! Penelope, you’re the only one who knows all of Julia’s lines! How can you say this so suddenly?!”
The theater mbers were understandably panicked by Penelope’s sudden decision. However, her deanor remained resolute.
“But I can’t help it. I only agreed to play Julia because Bo was playing the role of Leon. I can’t pretend to be in love with anyone else. My heart just won’t allow it.”
“You’re not being asked to actually fall in love with anyone, Penelope. It’s just acting.”
“There aren’t even any scenes where you need to kiss or touch. Can’t you just go through with it?”
“…I’m sorry. If anyone but Bo plays Leon, I can’t even pretend to whisper words of love into his ear.”
Hmm.
What a noble mindset.
I had thought she was just another extra actress filling in for the heroine in Luminor Academy, but to think she had such a romantic and sincere heart. It was enough to make my inner unicorn radar flare up in approval. Yes, this was the true heart of a heroine.
“According to Lady Celesta, Bo should be able to move again by tomorrow, but for now, he needs to rest…”
“Well, there’s no helping it, then. Forcing soone who doesn’t want to perform wouldn’t turn out well. And it’s too late to find a new Julia.”
“…I’m really sorry, everyone.”
“Sigh, I guess we’ll have to announce that today’s performance is canceled. There’s nothing we can do—no one else can play Julia but Penelope.”
"……."
With Penelope refusing to perform without Bo, the play was officially canceled. It wasn’t really my problem, but sothing about the situation felt off. It bothered to see Penelope being treated like a nuisance for sticking to her values, even though she had refused the role out of loyalty to her boyfriend.
“……Sigh.”
"……."
The heavy sighs of the theater mbers, filled with disappointnt, could be heard throughout the auditorium. I could understand their frustration at having to cancel the play, but sothing didn’t sit right with .
Penelope’s refusal to play Julia because she didn’t want to fake love for anyone but Bo felt like an admirable decision. Yet now, she was being treated like she had caused trouble for everyone else.
“…If none of you mind, could I take over the role of Julia in Penelope’s place?”
“…Huh?”
“Excuse ?”
“…Lilith?”
At my unexpected offer, all eyes in the room turned toward —Penelope, the theater mbers, and even Ethan. Lydia and Princess Rainey, though silent, were also looking in my direction.
“The Leon and Julia play, right? I’ve read the script before.”
"……."
“So, if you’ll allow it, I’d be happy to play the role of Julia in Penelope’s stead.”
“…We appreciate your offer, but acting isn’t as easy as reading the script a few tis. If that were the case, we’d have just chosen another mber of our group to play Julia.”
“Aah, Leon Hatfield! Why must you be a Hatfield? For my sake, please forget your father and cast away that na! No, if you cannot do that, then at least swear that you love . If you do, I will gladly forsake the na McCoy.”
"……."
“Aah, you hated Hatfield! If only that na didn’t stand between us! If only you weren’t burdened by that horrid na, nothing would have kept us apart! Even if you weren’t a Hatfield, your virtues would have remained untouched! Aah, Leon! Please cast off that na and take mine instead! Or at least take !”
"……."
"……."
"……."
“Would it still be inadequate if I were to take Penelope’s place?”
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