-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: A Helping Hand
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I shook my head immediately.
"No. You don't need to be that scared."
"Huh?"
"My father doesn't have the disgusting hobby of seating a promising young actress as his mistress and ruining her life."
Sera flinched at my blunt words.
"He's not some thug who'd flirt with a girl young enough to be his daughter, either."
"..."
Leaving Sera speechless in shock behind me, I returned to my seat. Unlike before, she followed me with wary eyes and sat down across from me.
"You're not upset, are you? Like, you wanted to live comfortably as a mistress, but I chased away Count Ergeti without realizing what you wanted?"
"Not at all!"
"Yeah, I figured. You just looked exhausted all around, so I helped out. Don't misunderstand."
"So you're saying you didn't come here for some other reason?"
"At least not the reason you're worried about. And if you're okay with it, I'd like to help you out a bit."
"Help… me?"
"I plan to come watch your plays regularly. Then soon enough, word will spread that the Diorus Ducal House has its eye on Sera."
"..."
"Then, probably, all those nobles who've been proposing you become their mistress will naturally back off?"
I shrugged as I spoke, and Sera, who had been listening silently, opened her mouth with a suspicious look.
"May I ask why you're going this far to help me?"
"You're right. There's no such thing as kindness without a reason. To be honest, there is something I want from you."
I added quickly to reassure Sera, who had frozen in place.
"But more than that, I sincerely hope a genius actress like you can perform the plays she wants to do, free from worry."
"What do you want from me?"
"Hmm. I'd like a little help from you with the business I'm starting. No pressure—if you refuse, that's fine. I'll still keep coming to your plays."
At my earnest words, her guard seemed to lower, and Sera looked at me with a slightly softened expression.
Smiling at her, clearly curious about my real proposal, I said,
"How about it? Will you hear me out?"
* * *
"Then, regrettably, let's postpone the meal for later…"
As I finished talking and left the waiting room,
Sera Wigo suddenly got scared.
The Duke of Diorus—the father of Duchess Rubette—was waiting.
"Appa? Why are you all the way out here waiting?"
"..."
The duke narrowed his eyes, looking down at Rubette with clear displeasure.
"Wandering around without even a guard. Are you in your right mind?"
"Hmm, what could happen in a crowded theater full of people?"
"Hah…"
The duke sighed with a dissatisfied expression and pushed Rubette's back to lead her forward.
"Go on, quickly."
Rubette, being dragged along by his strength, waved at Sera.
"Hey, Sera! I'll get in touch!"
"Ah! Y-yes…"
Sera, who had forgotten to even greet the duke in her daze, nodded hastily and waved back.
The father and daughter left the theater in a flash.
"Sera, are you okay? As expected, His Grace the Duke of Diorus came to propose you as his mistress, right?"
A colleague in charge of theater management asked in a worried voice.
Sera, who had been staring blankly at the pair's retreating figures, slowly shook her head.
"No…"
Truth be told, even while listening to Rubette's proposal, she had been half in doubt.
"I'm preparing a business. I'm thinking of running a boutique selling clothes and accessories for noble ladies."
"Could you maybe model for me?"
"Of course, I'll pay you a generous modeling fee. Base pay plus bonuses based on sales. If you agree, next time we meet, I'd like to sign a contract. I'll meet all your conditions."
In exchange for the Diorus Ducal House backing her to keep away the misery of mistress proposals, Sera would model and promote the boutique.
And even if she refused, Rubette said she'd keep coming to the plays, so strictly speaking, it wasn't even much of an "exchange."
Rubette's offer was so incredibly beneficial to Sera that she couldn't shake her suspicions until the conversation ended.
But.
'It's real.'
Rubette's words that the duke hadn't come with any ulterior motives were proven true by that brief encounter.
From the moment the door opened until they left with Rubette in tow.
The duke had eyes only for his daughter, not sparing Sera a single glance.
For a fleeting moment, Sera even wondered if she'd turned invisible.
'The duchess was truly sincere. This is unbelievable. It can't be real.'
Shock and overwhelming emotion hit her at once. Sera pressed her hands to her chest.
"It's… not a dream, right?"
In fact, today was supposed to be her final performance. Count Ergeti von Noben had threatened her, saying he couldn't wait any longer, even endangering the troupe's survival.
She hadn't wanted to cause trouble for the troupe members because of her, so she'd made the bitter decision…
But like a dream, like a miracle, a savior had appeared and let her survive.
She could keep acting.
Freely, without suffering from dirty, arrogant nobles.
"What are you talking about? A dream? Huh? S-Sera? Are you crying? Did the Diorus lady threaten you?"
"..."
Sera shook her head vigorously, tears pooling in her eyes. Unlike her tearful gaze, her lips kept curving upward.
It had been so long since happy tears overflowed from her chest.
* * *
In the carriage heading to the restaurant after parting with Sera.
On a warm summer day, remembering our first meeting.
With love, Sera Wigo.
As I grinned, peering over and over at the white handkerchief with her signature, Appa asked,
"Is it that good?"
"Of course it is."
Fortunately, Sera had accepted my proposal to model for the boutique [Blanc de Ruby] that I was launching.
'She seemed suspicious to the end because the terms were too generous, but whatever—that misunderstanding will clear up naturally after a few more meetings…'
I'd saved the tragic genius Sera Wigo and secured her popularity to borrow, too. An enormous win.
'Women's fashion model secured! All that's left is to make money!'
Satisfied with the money scent already tickling my nose, I gazed at the passing scenery outside the carriage.
The charming streets packed with quaint, foreign-feeling buildings lifted my spirits.
"Appa, Appa. How much are houses on the outskirts of the capital?"
"Why do you ask?"
"When I make money, I'm planning to buy one around there and live independently."
"What?"
Ignoring Appa's startled voice, I recalled a slightly bitter memory.
Forty-five years old. After a lifetime as the ugly duckling of the Diorus Ducal House, dying on the promised day—Rubette's tearful recollection.
"Wishit. You know, I wanted to build a cozy little house in a place with good air."
"I'll build a cozy little house in a place with good air."
"I wanted to raise a cat, too. One with black fur, yellow fur, and white fur mixed together."
"I'll raise a calico cat, too."
Rubette, who had only wished for simple happiness, ultimately saved a me she didn't even know and vanished.
'I'll live like that. Build a pretty house near the woods and raise a cat.'
Wanting to fulfill her wishes, I turned to Appa and asked again.
"So, how much are houses on the outskirts?"
"How old are you to talk about moving out? It's not like you're getting married and changing your registry—you want to live alone?"
Appa seemed a bit angry.
"Why the angry face?"
"Because you're saying something ridiculous."
"Can't I live on my own? Do I need your permission?"
"Of course you do."
"Even after living under the same roof all this time without showing any interest in me?"
"..."
Appa fell silent again, frowning, then let out a long sigh.
"Anyway, no. You're still too young. It's dangerous and…"
"That's a little weird. I thought you'd be thrilled if I said I wanted to move out."
"Me?"
Staring at Appa, who asked in disbelief, I continued.
"Yeah. Didn't you think I was a disgrace to the family?"
"..."
Appa's eyes widened in surprise.
I felt a lump in my throat but shrugged nonchalantly and added,
"I'm like a mutant, right? Born into a chosen family that can command spirits, but…"
"..."
"…a pathetic Non-Contractor who couldn't even make a contract with a spirit, like an idiot."
Depressed, I looked out the window again.
Her plump body, timid and gloomy personality from constant abuse—those surroundings certainly contributed to isolating Rubette.
But.
'The biggest reason everyone inside and outside ignored Rubette was something else.'
Rubette was the only one in the Diorus family who couldn't contract with a spirit.
'Well, precisely, that's just what everyone thought.'
No matter the circumstances, I don't think that was a valid reason for her to be lonely her whole life.
"You know, I always hoped for it. To have meals with you, go out and play, chat about little things."
"..."
"That's why I'm happy now. But every so often, when I recall the look on your face back then, it hurts my heart a bit…"
I pressed my hand to my tight chest.
"…It hurts."
Even as I casually faced Appa and talked, I'd sometimes get caught up in sudden memories.
"Do you remember when I came back after failing to contract with a spirit?"
I turned to Appa again.
"Your expression from back then is stuck in my mind—I can't forget it."
Appa stared at me with shaking eyes.
"You looked at me like I was a fool. Then you left me alone and walked away."
Gazing at Appa's frozen face, I recalled that horrific winter—that is, my 15th birthday.