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Episode 59

When the curtain had fully risen to the ceiling, only one woman stood alone on the stage, wearing a splendid red dress.

On the dark stage, where the front was barely visible, a single white spotlight—with some magical effect—made the woman's entire body sparkle like stardust as the light hit her.

It was as if she were receiving a saint's blessing in a temple, or a divine revelation. Everyone, including Leonid, held their breath.

After a collective gasp, the hall fell deathly silent. Then, from an unseen corner, a harp melody began to play softly, slowly.

The woman on stage, who had been bowing her head, slowly lifted it. Everyone outside the stage widened their eyes or couldn't close their mouths.

"!!"

Her crimson red dress, layered in dozens of folds, evoked the image of a fully bloomed flower petal.

Above that red dress, her milky white skin seemed to glow under the light.

And her hair, a deeper red than the dress, swayed like flames.

When she lifted her head to face the audience, the singer's face was as beautiful as the rumors said, drawing gasps of admiration from everyone.

Leonid was captivated by Rielle's transformed appearance, singing right before him.

Her face and hair color were quite different from the Rielle he knew—her eyes slightly more upturned, for instance.

But her golden eyes were the same, so even transformed, she gave him the feeling of Rielle.

Moreover, her singing was unexpectedly clear and pure, gradually drawing him in without his noticing.

'I didn't know she could sing this well.'

The song she sang was one he knew well.

One of the most famous songs in the country—a ballad typically sung to a lover.

The more he listened, the more her clear voice changed with her gaze and movements, and he found himself quietly entranced.

Then it happened.

While singing, Rielle, who had deliberately avoided meeting Leonid's eyes, finally locked gazes with him for the first time.

"...!"

As their eyes met while she sang, her eyes crinkled slightly, blooming brightly.

At that sight, Leonid covered his mouth with the back of his hand. He could feel his face growing hot.

He was surprised to find himself blushing this much.

Somehow, he even felt a pounding in his chest.

But that wasn't all.

"Huh, huh?"

Still singing, Rielle kept her eyes on Leonid and slowly moved from the center of the stage, descending the steps at the edge into the audience.

She walked slowly, stood before Leonid, and looked down at him as he sat.

Leonid, too, didn't look away, gazing up at Rielle who had come right before him.

Humming softly, Rielle, as if waiting, placed a hand over her chest and bowed gracefully.

Then she sat lightly right in front of him, looking up at him, and stopped singing.

Silence.

At the sight of the two, the audience in the theater clenched their hands, forcibly stifling their voices, watching intently.

In the space where even breaths were unheard, Rielle spoke.

The lyrics—ones that every citizen of this country would know. Leonid, too, recalled the words.

"I will become your flower."

It was the part where one confesses their heart to a beloved lover.

"!"

Singing as if confessing, she slowly drew closer to Leonid.

Hearing his knights move behind him, Leonid reached out a hand to stop them.

Confirming that, Rielle lightly sat on Leonid's lap.

"Aaaah!!"

The gasps of surprise from the surrounding crowd reached Leonid's ears.

Even Leonid himself hadn't expected her to sit on his lap.

But he couldn't stop her, couldn't speak, couldn't even blink.

Because Rielle's gaze, still singing as if confessing, was fixed clearly on his eyes.

And during the humming part near the end of the song, she took one of Leonid's hands and gave it a brief kiss.

Then she gave him a hint with a squinting smile.

'Ah!'

Leonid, unable to bear the pounding of his heart any longer, rose from his seat.

Holding the transformed Rielle in his arms.

"I wish to know you better. Would you come with me?"

Recalling the lines memorized in his head, Leonid spoke. Rielle, in his arms, feigned a puzzled expression, then raised both arms and crossed them around his shoulders.

"Willingly."

With a confident, knowing smile, Leonid carried her out of the audience.

Behind him, the shrill screams of women, nearly cheers, erupted in succession.

As the theater door opened, an uncountable crowd was bustling outside.

Seeing the King emerge carrying the singer, their eyes widened, mouths agape.

"Huh? Huh?"

"Surely not..."

"I can't believe it..."

They murmured among themselves, forgetting their manners and pointing. But regardless of their chatter, the waiting carriage door opened, and the King entered with the woman, closing the door behind them.

Neigh—

As the carriage departed, the crowd parted to make way, their gazes fixed, trying to see inside.

As people began to trickle out of the theater, they quickly approached to ask what had happened.

Inside the carriage.

Released from the people's stares, the two sighed, each in their own seat.

Especially the transformed Rielle, who was trying to calm her wildly pounding heart, clutching her chest with both hands and catching her breath.

"Wow. I was so nervous... I thought I'd mess up... wow..."

Leonid watched her, different from the woman on stage.

Unlike the haughty, queen-like figure who had looked down at him with fiery eyes, she now wore her usual unpretentious expression.

Leonid burst out laughing.

Somehow, he felt he would never forget this day for as long as he lived.

---

"Hahahahaha."

At Leonid's hearty laughter, I tilted my head, puzzled.

Why is this man, who was staring at me so intently, suddenly laughing?

He must find this situation amusing.

I had just endured those overwhelming stares and performed.

Ah, my heart is still pounding, and my hands and feet are trembling.

I was confident in my singing.

I worried about whether I could sing well in Rielle's body, but my fears were unfounded—even my vocal tone was beautiful.

When choosing a song, Oren recommended one, and after hearing it, I thought there was no better choice and practiced hard.

I performed four times a week for three weeks, singing tirelessly.

Only the heavens know how hard I worked, ignoring the countless stares and instead forcing myself to wear a villainous, amused expression.

"Oh, finally done with singing on stage. What a relief."

As I spoke with genuine relief, Leonid, who had been watching me, shrugged.

"I have a feeling I'll be asking you to do it a few more times at official events."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because your singing is so beautiful."

His cobalt-blue eyes shone with sincerity as they fixed on me.

But I just frowned and waved my hand.

"What are you saying? Do you know how much I practiced just this one song?"

"You don't want to?"

"Oh, really... I can't say much since you're the King."

"Hehe. You really are amusing. How can you speak so casually even though I'm the King?"

At my grumbling, Leonid chuckled.

During our earlier meeting, I had asked to be allowed to speak freely.

Since I was working this hard, I insisted on being able to say what I needed to—and surprisingly, everyone readily agreed.

So I trusted that and spoke in my usual manner.

"More importantly, how was my acting?"

I asked Leonid, switching instantly into the singer's gaze from the theater.

He suddenly let out a cough.

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