Chapter 90

The moment I chose Grace, reactions filled with jealousy and envy erupted around us, but Miliciano quickly brought the commotion under control.

“Let’s get going.”

There was less than half an act left before the performance began.

Since I had no way of knowing when Longsoniere’s men would make their move, I wanted to identify their location from the box seat as soon as possible.

“Haha, my lord, really now. You must’ve taken quite a liking to this girl?”

I ignored Miliciano’s remark.

From that point until we reached Winter Winslet’s private box on the third floor of the theater, the actress named Grace followed me without saying a word.

Is she just the quiet type?

Looks like I picked the right person to help establish an alibi.

As soon as we arrived at the box, I began surveying the surroundings.

The box was a booth-style room, open only toward the stage, while the other sides were enclosed by walls, offering complete privacy.

The viewing window was fitted with two layers of curtains. One velvet, the other sheer.

Why would a viewing window have curtains? Because among theater attendees, there were always some with the voyeuristic habit of spying on other audience members through opera glasses.

The sheer curtain allowed one to watch the performance while staying out of view.

It also conveniently concealed any less-than-virtuous activities taking place inside the booth.

I drew both curtains closed, then turned around.

The frightened actress was pressed against the wall, nervously watching me.

“Sit in that chair.”

Just then, darkness began to fall over the theater.

They were turning off the house lights in preparation for the start of the show.

Soon, under the cover of darkness, Longsoniere’s men would begin to move.

And it was time for me to move, too.

I placed the large bag I had brought with me onto the seat.

Inside were the clothes I needed to change into Nice Goodman.

Just as I reached in to take out the first item, my eyes met Grace’s.

I gave her a stern warning.

“Whatever you see from now on… you are never to speak of it. As far as you’re concerned, you saw nothing and heard nothing here today.”

Grace’s eyes darted around anxiously before she shut them tightly and answered,

“Yes. I swear I won’t tell a soul.”

That was exactly the answer I wanted.

“Not even about the Baron’s… secret, twisted tastes that you can’t tell your fiancée about!”

“……?”

Yeah, no. That’s not what I meant.

***

When she was first singled out by the man in the dressing room, Grace couldn’t say a word.

She was too shocked… her voice had completely vanished.

But even then, she clearly heard the whispered threat from the theater owner, murmured into her ear behind the Baron’s back.

“If you slip up even once with this man, don’t ever think about working in this town again!”

The theater owner, who was nothing short of a tyrant within the building, was now practically groveling before this man.

Just who was he, really?

Grace had heard of Baron Winslet and the many rumors surrounding him. They were well-known even to her.

However, for Grace who had lived the ordinary life of a commoner before coming up to Lambart the world of the powerful was one she couldn’t easily comprehend.

Still, there was one thing even she could understand without difficulty: beauty.

In the faint darkness, Grace looked up at the man who held sway over her fate.

And soon, she realized something… that she feared the Baron, yet found herself drawn to him at the same time.

His looks were far more fitting for an actor than any actor she knew.

Those cold, indifferent eyes peering down at her through the golden hair that fell like curtains…

Could Baron Winslet really want someone like her?

That doubt quickly vanished the moment she saw what he pulled out.

Thud.

Baron Winslet set down a large bag.

What was it for?

What was inside?

As she pondered, a story her friend had once told her suddenly came to mind. It was a story about a certain type of man.

The kind who enjoyed toying with women using “tools”.

Her face flushed red, and she frantically shook her head.

No way. There’s no way someone this handsome could be into something like that.

But then, the words that Baron Winslet spoke only added weight to Grace’s unpleasant suspicions.

“Whatever you see from now on… you are never to speak of it. As far as you’re concerned, you saw nothing and heard nothing here today.”

Grace drew in a sharp breath.

Didn’t that sound exactly like something a man would say before doing something indecent…. something that shouldn’t be seen by others?

Her breathing grew shallow. Her lips parted slightly. Her eyes darted back and forth.

And finally, Grace accepted it.

Baron Winslet really did have twisted, deviant tastes!

But if that ever came to light, it would surely ruin a nobleman’s honor. Which is why, of course, he had to come to such a secluded place to indulge in them.

Grace had also heard rumors that the Baron didn’t get along well with his fiancée.

Surely, it must be because he couldn’t reveal these sorts of desires to her…. and it had built up into frustration.

A strange mix of feelings stirred within Grace.

A sense of superiority for having uncovered the biggest secret of Lambart’s most famous man and a wave of disappointment with humanity.

So even someone this beautiful, this handsome, this seemingly perfect… has a twisted side.

It was terrifying. It made her skin crawl.

And yet, Grace decided she would endure this moment.

Just for a little while. If I can hold out a bit longer… I might land a role.

Baron Winslet was an important guest of the theater, and the theater owner had promised her a meaningful role.

Aside from a handful of stars, an actor’s life was typically harsh.

Grace had dreamed of becoming an actress ever since she was a child, ever since people told her, “You’ve got such a pretty voice. You’d be perfect as a singer or an actress.” But reality was far from kind.

Rent was always behind.

When she ran out of money for daily expenses, even eating became a struggle.

On good days, she worked at a restaurant and could sneak bites of leftovers. But often, she went for three or four days surviving on nothing but bread crumbs or watery porridge.

The torn curtain in her boarding house annoyed her every morning when she woke up and yet, she hadn’t been able to afford a new one for two years.

Grace was doing everything she could to escape that life.

But then again, everyone here was giving it their all.

In the theater world, there was no shortage of beautiful people, talented people and people who were both.

They were all competition. And beating them was the only way to land even the smallest role.

Grace didn’t dream of stardom.

She just wanted enough to get by and to keep pursuing her dream without having to give it up just to survive.

And she was tired enough to make compromises to get there.

If I’m going to lose my innocence on this journey anyway… maybe it’s better to give it to someone beautiful like him, rather than some fat-bellied theater owner.

With that thought, Grace steeled herself.

And then, she declared aloud with newfound resolve:

“Yes. I swear I won’t tell a soul.”

Taking advantage of the moment, she flattered him, shouting as if she were the baron’s most devoted confidante.

“Not even about the Baron’s… secret, twisted tastes that you can’t tell your fiancée about!”

For a moment, Baron Winslet glared at her.

“……”

He looked somehow… furious.

Grace flinched and glanced around nervously.

Did I say something wrong?

She couldn’t figure out why he was angry.

She wanted to ask, but she was too scared of Baron Winslet to open her mouth.

After a brief silence, the baron let out a short sigh.

“…Well, whatever. Things have already come to this. Might as well make the best of it.”

Make the best of what?

“From now on, do exactly as I say.”

The baron leaned in with his handsome face.

Grace swallowed hard and replied,

“Okay.”

“Open your mouth.”

“…Like this?”

Grace, trembling, did as she was told.

But the baron’s demands only grew more intense.

“Stick out your tongue.”

“…Huh?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

It was embarrassing, unfamiliar, and so frightening that it brought tears to her eyes. But Grace continued to follow the baron’s orders.

When she stuck out her tongue like a cat, the baron took a small, delicate ring from his pocket and placed it on top of her tongue.

At first, the metal felt cold. But it quickly warmed to her body temperature.

The baron spoke.

“Hold it in your mouth.”

“Hrrmph.”

“If you keep your mouth shut until I give permission, the ring is yours.”

“……!”

Grace’s eyes widened.

That was because the ring the baron had placed on her tongue held a large gemstone.

But the baron’s offer didn’t end there.

“And if you tell no one about what happened today, I’ll reward you with something even greater.”

Gulp.

Grace swallowed dryly and almost choked on the ring. She was startled.

Cough, cough!

Baron Winslet asked seriously,

“Will you do as I say?”

Grace nodded.

She had already braced herself for whatever would come next.

“It’s best if you stay still and don’t move too much.”

As he said that, the baron covered Grace’s eyes with a long piece of cloth.

She worried he might go as far as tying up her arms and legs. But he didn’t.

Still, when she heard the sound of a bag being opened, Grace felt her heart drop.

It’s starting now.

How long would she have to endure this?

Grace began counting silently in her head.

By the time she had counted to ten—

Nothing happened.

She reached a hundred.

Still nothing.

Even when she got to two hundred—

There was no change.

Finally, when she reached one thousand, Grace began to worry that the baron might have gotten so excited he had collapsed from a heart attack.

“Um… Baron…?” she called out anxiously but then clamped her mouth shut again with a “hrrmph”, fearing he might take the ring away.

And so, in Baron Winslet’s private box, time passed in silence.

Only Grace’s heart continued to pound loudly.