Unworthy... of our dance...?
So you bought this place?
And in our name?
Augetta blinked, then raised a hand to pat her head. Hmm, she hadn't misheard.
Alright... sir...
Hmm...
Now we owe you even more...
Augetta truly didn't know what to say. Augilia beside her was also somewhat bewildered. As former dancers, neither she nor Augetta were particularly short on money.
But they still had a grasp of monetary concepts, as evidenced when Zane had previously told them about their grandfather repaying the penalty.
And as for the value of an entire opera house situated in the district's prime location... the sisters had a vague idea...
Even all the Dennies in the world probably wouldn't cover it...
"Sir, this way, please."
Inside the opera house, staff had been waiting for quite some time. The process of buying an entire opera house was naturally incredibly cumbersome, but with absolute financial backing, expediting it wasn't difficult.
After all, such an opera house was a veritable treasure trove. Had Zane not offered an absolutely irresistible price, it would never have been acquired.
At present, aside from being closed to the public and having changed ownership, the entire opera house appeared no different from its usual state.
"Oh, and attire suitable for you both is already inside the opera house. There's every style imaginable; you may select whatever you like."
Zane glanced at the twin sisters and spoke softly. The smooth progress was also thanks to Fairy's assistance. Before even entering Hollow Zero, he had already resolved most of the preparations needed for the twins' dance through discussions with Belle and Fairy.
"Costumes... right, I completely forgot about that. Mr. Zane is so thorough..."
Augilia nodded and replied.
The three proceeded into the opera house interior. Another staff member approached to escort Augetta and Augilia to prepare. Seeing this, Augetta turned to Zane and murmured softly,
"Sir, we should go prepare now."
Zane nodded in response. After a moment's thought, he added a reminder,
"Oh, and be careful not to get lost."
Augetta nodded, then followed the staff member away with her sister.
As for Zane, he was guided toward the Central Theater, the opera house's largest and most opulent venue.
Though he'd cautioned Augetta and Augilia, Zane himself remained vigilant. Having once relied on Phaethon to navigate the Hollow, he was practically directionally challenged.
Given the opera house's sheer size, the likelihood of getting lost was undeniably high.
Upon entering the Central Theater, Zane's gaze fell upon the distant stage. Below it, on both sides, a sizable orchestra was preparing.
Zane strode toward the musicians. Their leader bowed in greeting. As one of New Eridu's renowned ensembles, they were intimately familiar with numerous classical pieces, allowing them considerable freedom in selection. They had been invited here specifically for this occasion.
Their schedule was originally packed, but with the financial incentive, such obstacles clearly vanished.
Soft lights dimmed the Central Theater into quietude. After the greeting, the band leader said little more. Zane merely nodded before finding a seat near the front.
Zane lowered his gaze. The VIP seats in the front row naturally came with amenities like snacks. He stared at the table decorations, his expression drifting into a daze.
Snapping back to reality, he reined in his thoughts. Since there was still no way to turn things around, he might as well let nature take its course.
After all... he wasn't omnipotent.
Shaking his head lightly, Zane lowered his gaze further. Several attendants, who were serving him exclusively, watched him curiously.
Professional decorum prevented them from whispering or exchanging glances, yet their curiosity about Zane remained undiminished.
After all, how could they not be intrigued by someone so young who had become the opera house's new proprietor, now within their immediate presence?
Thoughts like "He's willing to spend a fortune just to make a beauty smile" flitted through their minds.
Yet they could also sense that this young gentleman's mood seemed rather low at the moment...
Why? Shouldn't he be happy about this kind of thing...
Time passed slowly. Suddenly, Zane's eyes narrowed slightly. He lifted his head to look in one direction, then swiftly rose and left.
"Sir? Sir?"
"If there's anything you need..."
Several staff members were bewildered, but after a moment's hesitation, they immediately followed. Yet by the time they exited the Central Theater, Zane had vanished.
"Huh? Where's that gentleman?"
A woman scanned both sides of the long corridor. How could he just disappear like that? She clearly saw him walk out here...
"This is baffling... What's actually going on? What should we do?"
Another man was utterly perplexed by the situation. Just as they stood in stunned uncertainty, a more senior staff member stepped forward, instructing them to return to the Central Theater and wait.
Hearing this, the group had no choice but to return to the theater and await Zane's return.
...
Meanwhile, in the preparation hall on the other side—
Buzz—
A faint humming sound echoed, followed by a crack opening in the space. Zane emerged from it.
His expression grim, his gaze fixed on Augetta nearby, he demanded,
"What's going on?"
"Where's your sister? Why has the ether I left on her vanished?"
His gaze shifted, catching the faint ripples lingering in the air. A sense of foreboding surged within Zane.
Having lost their Ether energy, the sisters Augetta and Augilia were extremely vulnerable. Zane couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
Yet now, this Ether aura had dissipated into the air...
However, in response to his question, Augetta's eyes glistened with tears. Her body trembled slightly as she clutched the hem of her performance dress and whispered,
"Sister... just now..."
Meeting Zane's gaze, Augetta pressed her lips together before gently shaking her head.
Even in the final performance, Sister hadn't been able to...
"How could that be? There should still be some time left?"
Zane frowned. Based on the situation in the Twin Hollow, the twins' departure time should have been more than three days.
The physical collapse shouldn't have happened at this point.
Just then, a knock sounded on the dressing room door. Staff waiting in the preparation hall, sensing something amiss inside, inquired.
Augetta reassured them outside before turning to Zane. She strode quickly to his side and said,
"Sir... I don't know why Sister left now, but my time may be running out too."