When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 117



Only Noblemtl

#117. New
2024.04.26.

The Avaliante Opera House was as busy as ever.

As the audience grew, the number of performances increased and much interest was drawn from abroad. In the meantime, the ballet company continued to have an ambiguous atmosphere.

The traces of Emilia, who disappeared overnight, were stronger than expected.

If they had not known about it at all, the audience who had seen Emilia’s beautiful ballet looked for the ballerina again, but she disappeared without a trace, leaving both the audience and the ballet company in an awkward situation.

How could a single ballerina have such great influence? Even after three years, there were still articles with the title of the unfortunate ballerina who left a long aftertaste.

That’s why the ballet company endured each day as if they had been given a huge task.

However, in the midst of all this, a nobleman suddenly announced that he would establish a ballet association and correct his wrong image at the same time.

The ballet staff, who were frustrated with the dwindling number of audience members, immediately supported the nobleman’s intentions, thinking they should do something about it.

“Giuliana, call.”

And on the day the nobleman was scheduled to visit, the director called Giuliana, who was waiting in the practice room.

Seeing her colleague pointing at the floor above, Giuliana got up from her seat and quickly walked to the director’s office, her face calm and blunt, completely different from the bright and cheerful atmosphere of three years ago.

The one who was more shocked than anyone by Emilia’s disappearance was Giuliana. Giuliana tried hard to find Emilia’s whereabouts, who had disappeared so suddenly that there were even rumors that she had died. She

even went so far as to personally visit Duke Enrico Michele, whom she had found difficult to approach in her entire life.

Of course, she was turned away and returned empty-handed without getting any news.

Standing in front of the director’s office, Giuliana knocked twice and slowly opened the door.

At that moment, my eyes met with Sylvia, who was looking this way, and as the door slowly opened, I looked at the noble sitting across from me one by one.

I forgot to breathe for a moment at the unexpected appearance of a person. Juliana didn’t even blink in shock, and just kept moving her lips.

“It’s been a while.”

The noble’s identity was Emilia Estella. It was something I could never have imagined.

“… … You. You? How?”

Juliana looked at Sylvia and Emilia alternately as if asking for an explanation.

Emilia, who was looking at me with a calm expression as if she had just broken up with me yesterday, looked as beautiful as ever, with the exception of her hair that had grown short to her shoulders.

At Juliana’s flustered reaction, Emilia patted the seat next to her as if she understood and smiled awkwardly.

“I’m sorry for coming so late. How about you sit here for now? I think the conversation will be long.”

She was afraid that Juliana might get angry, so she turned around and left. Although she brought up the topic naturally, as if flowing water, Emilia continued to look at her with a worried expression.

Seeing Emilia’s fidgeting, Juliana finally sighed and walked to the sofa.

“Why on earth! Why did you only show up now? I lived so anxiously, wondering if you might die!”

As she continued to speak, Juliana bit her lower lip as her heart swelled.

“I’m really sorry. I should have told you in advance, but something came up so suddenly that I didn’t have time to do that.”

“Ugh… … So, how’s your body? Are you feeling any pain?”

“Yeah. You’ve gotten a lot healthier. Don’t you think you’ve gained some weight?”

Juliana shook her head firmly and sat down on the sofa, her eyes brimming with tears. Sylvia, who had been watching the two of them with smiling eyes, smiled at Juliana as if she understood.

“I was really surprised too. But I’m glad that you’re safe.”

“That’s true, but… … No matter what, how could I not contact you for three years? Even thinking about it again, it really hurts.”

“I’m sorry… … .”

“… … Are you going to leave like that again?”

“No. That won’t happen again. Really.”

Juliana, who had been looking at Emilia with a suspicious look, took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Let’s talk about the details later, but let’s talk about the purpose of our visit first.”

Juliana nodded blankly and then opened her eyes wide as Emilia’s words grew longer and longer.

Could this be a dream? Juliana pinched her thigh, accepting the reality that didn’t wake her up despite the throbbing pain.

“So you’re going to establish a ballet association, and you’re going to select scholarship students there? But are adults included in that?”

“Yeah. There’s a limit to just the salary. There are quite a few cases where we receive personal sponsorship due to family circumstances, but we’re going to reduce that now.”

“Ah… … .”

Juliana understood what Emilia was trying to say. There were many people who looked down on dancers with narrow eyes, so in order to avoid giving them even a little excuse, it was right to eliminate personal sponsorship.

People kept getting close to men from wealthy families, thinking that it was a path to social advancement, but in the end, there weren’t many people who ended up with a good ending.

“And we’ll invest a lot to improve the quality of the performance. As we promote it domestically and internationally and expand our territory, the ballet company’s position will also expand.”

“… … But you’re not going back on stage? You’re even revealing your previously hidden aristocracy. Is it because of your ankle?”

“Hmm, it’s not just your ankle. I just thought about it and came to a conclusion.”

Sylvia and Juliana sighed in regret at Emilia’s calm but firm answer.

The image of Emilia dancing so passionately as if she was burning the flame of her remaining life was still vivid in their minds, but who would have thought that she would declare that she would not do ballet with such a relieved expression? Emilia, whom

they had met after a long time, was a constant shock.

“Then, are you planning on revealing that you’re a noble now? The entire ballet company thinks you’re missing, so I think it’s right to spread the word… … . Should I just say that I’ve somehow managed to contact you and that you’re alive?”

“Hmm… … . Should we set up a separate time to say hello?”

Juliana slowly nodded and sighed.

“That’d be good. But if you reveal your identity, I won’t be able to speak comfortably either, right?”

“Don’t do that. Other people should change their attitudes, but you absolutely can’t.”

“Hmm… … . Oh, but I’ll be careful in front of other people.”

Even though they were friends, their current statuses were very different, so it was right to be careful in places where many people were watching. Emilia nodded slowly, looking displeased but feeling helpless.

“Then let’s make a time to say hello before the New Year’s performance. What do you think, Director?”

“Let’s do that.”

Although she was no longer dancing, Emilia was already proud just from doing something related to ballet.

Enrico also actively supported her and even told her to use Fabio himself. However, he also tried to follow her wherever she went, which was difficult, but anyway, things went smoothly.

Emilia smiled at Giuliana, who was looking at her with mixed emotions, as if she was truly okay, and held her hand tightly.

A good friend who worried about her even when she suddenly appeared. Her only friend’s hand was still warm.

***

“What’s the ballet association?”

“That’s right. It’s so unexpected.”

The first performance of the year was just around the corner. Normally, they should have been practicing at this time, but everyone was in a state of confusion because they were suddenly asked to gather in the second floor lounge of the theater, which was only for high-ranking officials.

“It was planned a long time ago, but I heard it was confirmed this year?”

“But what is the association going to do? Isn’t it just making things more troublesome?”

“That’s right. They said it was established by nobles. They’re just trying to manipulate the ballet company here and there… .”

As the dancers’ chattering grew louder, Vivian, the director, entered the lounge. The lounge was momentarily silent as everyone became quiet as if they had been set up.

“Is everyone here?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sure you’ve all heard the reason for our gathering today.”

Sylvia looked around the audience and continued.

“The ballet association’s inaugural ceremony will be held in a week. We’ve arranged this event because you said you wanted to meet with the center of ballet before that.”

Juliana, who was among the dancers, looked around with a face filled with tension and anticipation. Most of the reactions

were negative, such as, “Why are you going to do something just for us?” and “Are you trying to manipulate us already?” Juliana smiled to herself as she watched the anxious people. She

wondered how they would react. Some people were genuinely worried about Emilia, but there were also those who had once been jealous and envious, so she felt strangely anticipatory.