165. Beggar Siblings - Demonios
"An actress?"
In a dressing room surrounded by mirrors, Lena, who had followed the theater owner inside, widened her eyes and asked again.
Bretin Sauer smiled kindly as he responded.
"Yes. Would you be able to do it?"
"Well, I’m not sure. Is that sothing I can do?"
Lena scratched her head, unsure of how to respond. Feeling flustered, Jenia, who had followed her in, stepped in as her guardian.
"Theater owner, wait a mont. Lena has never learned to act. And she's here to stay temporarily, not to work."
"I understand. But there's a role I'd like Lena to play. Jenia, you know how long it's been since we've perford at the theater."
Bretin spoke calmly.
"It's a very popular play, and if Lena takes the role, we could start performing it again."
"Oh, I heard about that. After Soirin said she felt too embarrassed to play the child actor role, you couldn't find anyone suitable..."
"Yes, the role requires a young girl with certain looks. Don’t you think Lena would be perfect?"
"Hmm..."
Jenia's face showed indecision. Persuaded by Bretin's words, she turned to Lena and asked,
"Lena, would you like to try acting? As you know, it's not a difficult role. There aren't many lines..."
Jenia paused, then smiled kindly at Lena.
"You don’t know what is, do you?"
"...No."
Lena quickly added,
"But I want to try!"
Perhaps her voice was too loud, as Bretin and Jenia's gazes fixed on her. But Lena didn't back down.
She was dying of boredom.
Lena's daily routine was monotonous. In fact, she didn't have much of a routine at all since she never left the theater.
Clenching her fist tightly, Lena recalled her dull days.
*Morning.*
Lena’s day started early. Though she loved to sleep and could sleep all day, Jenia didn’t let her sleep in.
Coming back from her dawn workout, Jenia would lightly shake her and say,
"Lena, wake up. You can’t be lazy."
Her voice was gentle, but there was an undeniable force behind her words. Lena would jump up, bow, saying, "Good morning," and rub her half-closed eyes as she followed Jenia to the shower.
The shower room was always crowded at this hour. Amid the naked won from the third floor, she exchanged slightly awkward greetings and then joined everyone for breakfast.
The dining hall was bustling at this ti.
Actors affiliated with the theater ca early for a free breakfast.
There were no thugs from the Rauno family. Being nocturnal, they only showed up around lunchti, lazily loitering around the theater.
After breakfast, the day at Orange Theater began. Once everyone dispersed to their respective jobs, Lena was left alone.
"I'm bored..."
Following Jenia around lasted only a day or two. Lena spent her ti sitting in the audience or the corners of the stage, but fortunately, she had Santian Rauno for company.
Thankfully.
Tian was a fun friend. Though younger, he was her friend.
Every day, he ca up with new and fascinating gas to play.
Of all the gas, Lena found cat’s cradle the most fun. Wrapping strings around their fingers and taking turns to create shapes, she quickly got the hang of it despite her clumsy attempts.
However, Tian seed to avoid playing cat’s cradle. Blushing, he would suggest, "Let’s play sothing else." He probably wasn’t very good at it.
When Tian suggested gas he was good at, it was usually so kind of physical activity. Hibiru or Hilube? So strange body movents.
That was fun too. Watching Tian show off made her laugh, and she planned to beat him at Hilube soday.
When they had ti left, they read fairy tales from the theater’s collection. Though Lena couldn’t read, Tian read to her.
Thanks to him, she learned so phrases and words like 'happiness' and 'princess.'
*Afternoon.*
Then it was lunchti. Unfortunately, it was ti for Tian to leave.
Whenever Tian said, "Sorry, I can’t co tomorrow," Lena felt sad.
After Tian left, Lena would find Jenia to have lunch together.
Jenia was always kind but had a sowhat strict deanor.
There was a line she didn’t cross. Unlike other won who would affectionately approach saying, "Oh, how pretty," Jenia kept a certain distance.
Perhaps because she was always engrossed in her acting. Lena wasn’t sure.
Anyway, afternoon. It was still afternoon.
*Afternoon!*
She had nothing to do. Watching Jenia and the other actors rehearse or following Ober around, she passed the ti.
Following Ober wasn’t particularly interesting... but he had lots of snacks. Giving her sweet treats like candy, he’d say, "Don’t follow strangers who give you these," which she found funny.
He treated her like a kid. That advice was more suited for soone like Tian.
And then... it was still afternoon.
Sigh!
Usually, she would be out early in the morning rummaging through trash cans, and sleeping soundly because her stomach was full.
She missed the way her brother’s arm felt as a pillow.
Wondering when her brother would co, if he would co today, she returned to the audience and watched the bustling stage alone.
Observing people beca her pasti. Like the man with gray eyes inspecting the theater or the bony woman he spoke to.
"Cassia, thank you again."
"I told you not to call that. The shoes you left are all fixed. I gave them to Ober, so check with him... About finding a place for Sister Seria's shop, a good spot opened up."
Have I seen this woman before?
Lena felt a strange sense of déjà vu as she stared at the woman. Their eyes t briefly, but Cassia just walked past without acknowledging her.
*Evening.*
I'm so bored. Why is the day so long? ─ she would grumble until it was finally ti for dinner.
It was also the ti her brother usually visited, so Lena would eat early and sit by the window in Jenia’s room on the third floor, looking out at the beautiful city of Orville. Watching the buildings, she would see her brother walking towards the theater.
Why does he walk like that?
Oddly, her brother always entered the alley on the other side, circled around, ca back out, and then reversed his path, repeating this a few tis while looking around.
She had no idea why he did this, but it gave her plenty of ti to prepare. Lena would hide behind a curtain in the hallway on the first floor, planning to surprise him.
However, (amazingly) her brother never seed startled.
He would feign surprise, exclaiming, "Oh my! Lena, you almost gave a heart attack," and then hug her calmly.
He must have eyes on the back of his head.
After spinning her around a few tis, they would sit together in the audience. Lena would quickly recount her day's events before Jenia arrived, although sotis Jenia would steal her brother away.
"You’re here. You haven’t eaten yet, have you?"
During those tis, Lena hoped her brother had already eaten.
If he had, he would say, "No, I have," and stay with her. If not, he would say, "No, I haven’t," and leave with Jenia, gracefully taking her hand.
Ugh, I hate you, brother.
When her brother started visiting only every few days, this didn’t happen as often, but it was frequent at first.
Anyway, he always ca back. "Good night. I’ll co again tomorrow," he would say before disappearing into the dark night.
Lena ended her day by washing up and going to bed with Jenia.
"Can I act in a play?"
This wasn’t really a question.
Though she was seeking permission, Lena’s bright eyes held a certainty that her brother would agree.
"Lena, let’s talk inside first. Excuse us, Jenia."
"Sure, but listen, yesterday~"
Listening to his chattering sister, Leo followed her into Jenia's room. It was late evening, and the bedding was already laid out. A lantern, giving off a faint oily sll, hung from the ceiling, and a thick book lay open on the round table with a potted plant.
A quick glance revealed it to be a script. Leo realized there was no point in debating now.
He could reverse the decision, but roles had likely already been assigned to the actors. The script had been distributed, and preparations for costus, stage, lighting, and promotions were underway.
With a sigh, Leo sat down. The triangular chair from before was gone, replaced by a lower seat.
"What kind of play is it? What role will Lena be playing?"
"It’s . If you’re unfamiliar, you can read this. It’s a summary."
"I know what it is. So, Lena will be playing..."
Leo sighed again.
"‘Saint Reina’?"
"Yes, that’s right. But... are you unhappy with Lena acting?"
"No, I’m not."
Jenia looked at him quietly. Though a lantern was there, it was too dim to read her expression.
"...Let’s talk for a mont."
Barely having sat down, Jenia stood up. The atmosphere was tense, and she told Lena, "You go ahead and sleep," before heading outside.
Jenia led Leo to the roof. There was a small space up there to enjoy the sun, and under the cool night breeze, Jenia’s wavy black hair flowed as she spoke.
Her eyes, shining in the moonlight, pierced Leo sharply.
"Why are you lying?"
"...I’m sorry. The truth is, I don’t want my sister on stage. But Lena seems excited, and the play’s preparations have already started, so I kept quiet. I’ve hurt your feelings."
"......"
Silence followed. Jenia, perhaps surprised by Leo’s imdiate honesty, stared at him before laughing.
"A man I can’t figure out."
Jenia approached, brushing the dust off Leo’s collar and looking into his eyes.
"Don’t worry. I know what you’re concerned about. Nothing will happen to Lena."
Her unwavering black eyes reminded Leo of Chaeha. As Minseo, he found it hard to understand, but Chaeha was always confident.
Even in the direst of circumstances, she would say, "Things will get better!" with a brave smile, and that sa confidence was in Jenia’s eyes.
"So, will you allow it?"
After a mont of contemplation, Leo nodded. Jenia smiled and led him to the edge of the roof.
She was being unusually proactive.
Jenia was the type of person who was kind to everyone but kept her inner thoughts private. This extended to Leo as well.
Though they had gone on a few dates, she never asked about his past, what he was doing, or their future together. They mainly talked about the play, daily trivialities, and Lena.
Their relationship felt superficial, but Jenia always paid for their als and invited him out again. Tonight, though, she seed to be revealing a bit more of herself. Leaning against the roof railing, Jenia said,
"I don’t understand you."
Leo stood silently beside her, listening.
"Where did the courage go, from the person who boldly confessed to after spilling water on ? It might sound strange, but... I feel like you’re a different person from then."
"…"
"‘Honestly,’ back then..."
Jenia paused.
She turned to look directly at Leo, a bit angry.
"Kiss ."
Leo hesitated.
It had only been a month since this round began, and Minseo’s thoughts still lingered.
He didn’t dislike Jenia, who reminded him of Chaeha. Judging by his racing heart, Leo de Yeriel seed to like her too.
But he couldn’t bring himself to kiss her. Thinking of her as a replacent for Cassia made his heart ache.
The hesitation was brief.
Jenia pushed him against the railing, grabbed his collar, and kissed him. It was a determined kiss, as if she were convincing herself she wasn’t making a mistake.
A short kiss. Jenia pulled back, glaring at him with a wounded look.
"You’ve changed a lot... but I don’t hate it."
She turned away, regretting her actions.
The scruffy beggar who had boldly confessed to her was now a quiet, contemplative man in just a few weeks.
That beggar boy was undeniably my destiny...
Jenia disappeared. Leo, left on the roof, touched his lips in bewildernt before heading back to the royal castle.
Why did she kiss ?
He wondered.
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