When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 70
Only Noblemtl
#70. Rumors Spread
2024.03.10.
The rainy season that seemed like it would never end was slowly coming to an end, and the amount of time it rained was decreasing. Emilia sat in the practice room and stretched out for the first time in a while. She
had decided to rejoin practice starting today, but the atmosphere within the ballet company was still ambiguous.
Vice-President Sylvia explained that there was absolutely no corruption in the audition, and even called in the people involved to explain the score sheet and the reason for selection one by one.
Since there weren’t many who doubted Emilia’s skills in the first place, most agreed, but some people gritted their teeth and turned away from the truth, saying they couldn’t believe all of that.
It was an inferiority complex-filled stubbornness mixed with the last of their pride in believing that they were right and jealousy toward Emilia.
“You can just manipulate the score sheet. She was already chosen, so what can you do now? You have to push forward.” ”
That’s right. I know Emilia is good, but no matter what, if she’s receiving support from Duke Michele, I don’t think it’s something that can be quietly overlooked. “Is there something that feels cheap?”
The problem is that those people are shameless, so their voices are really loud. Even though people are giving them hints, they grumble that we should at least speak up without being discouraged. Emilia now did her job in silence, almost as if she was free.
Now, perhaps because she had given up, she didn’t really care what those people said. She didn’t feel angry about her skills being denied, and she was only concerned about Juliana refusing to talk to her.
“Emilia.”
As she was watching Juliana warming up while sitting across from her, three of her colleagues came over and surrounded her.
“Huh?”
“I heard a strange rumor today. Can you tell me?” She
felt uneasy for some reason. Instead of opening her mouth right away, Emilia raised one eyebrow. However, the dancer didn’t seem to want to hear the answer in the first place, so she just blurted out the things she was curious about.
“Do you know His Highness the Crown Prince by any chance?
“… … What?”
“There’s a rumor going around that you and I have known each other since we were kids.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden? “ Where did you hear that?”
“There was an opera singer who went to the ball as my sponsor’s partner. The singer heard it there. The opera company was talking about it.”
It was a mountain beyond a mountain. Emilia put her hand to her forehead as if her head was hurting. She couldn’t understand how this rumor had spread.
Did someone see them together when they were young? But even so, how could they know it was her?
Emilia let out a deep sigh at the absurd situation.
“Emilia, so is it true?”
“… … We didn’t know each other since we were young, but we met briefly when we were young. I think that was a bit distorted.”
“Huh, really?”
“Yeah, but we weren’t close or always knew each other. I really think the rumor is wrong.”
Watching the person making a fuss made her feel like they were going to ask more questions if she kept doing that. Emilia pretended to relax again and tried hard to avoid the people’s gaze.
The people who had gathered had consciously retreated, but the practice room was filled with loud voices from afar.
“Didn’t you say you were from a fallen noble family? I think you said your family was completely ruined, but did you meet before that ruin?”
“Yes. I guess we knew each other back then. But how could a family that was so close to the royal family fall so easily?”
“We don’t know. How could we know the story of that famous person?” “That’s
really amazing. From the Duke to His Highness the Crown Prince. It’s no joke.”
They continued talking as if Emilia had seduced them. They had been suspicious of Emilia, saying they couldn’t believe the words of the people involved, but they kept talking as if they had found new prey.
“You really wouldn’t know from appearances. You acted so smart, but I didn’t know you had such a light heart.”
“Hey!”
Suddenly, a thunderous shout came from behind them. When they turned around, they saw Juliana glaring at the people who were talking and making a fuss.
“Just do it. We’ve already talked about judging fairly, so why are you guys bringing it up among yourselves!”
“What? I’m saying I don’t understand, so what’s the big deal?”
Juliana opened her eyes wide as if she was going to run at any moment. Emilia quickly ran to her, grabbed her arm, and looked at the group.
“Then go and tell the vice-captain right now. I don’t understand the score sheet or the explanation you gave me.”
“What, what?”
“You can’t even say it yourself, so why are you mumbling behind my back? Did I hurt you in some way?”
“That’s… …!”
The other person rolled his eyes and looked at the people around him who were agreeing, but they all had nothing to say, so they all shut their mouths for a moment. The person watching from the side poked the person who had been picking a fight, then sighed and dragged him away.
Emilia let out a deep sigh and gently shook Juliana’s arm, who was still glaring at her.
“Juliana, are you okay?”
I was getting irritated, but when Juliana took my side, my mood lifted. Since Juliana kept her distance, I was most concerned, so just talking to her like this felt good.
Emilia naturally took Juliana’s hand and headed to a corner seat.
“… … What’s wrong with me? I’ve been talking about you all this time.”
“It’s okay. I’m used to this now.”
“It’s okay. Are you laughing?”
“It’s just because it’s been so long since I’ve talked to you. It’s because I like it so much.”
Juliana’s gaze lingered on Emilia for a moment. Emilia quietly accepted the gaze and then carefully opened her mouth.
“I’m sorry. I should have just told you straight away instead of worrying about it. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t trust you, but because I just wanted to deny the reality I was in.”
“… … Really?”
“Yeah. It’s not because of the situation, but because I really want to tell you now. When do you have time? Do you want to come to my house together?”
In an instant, a smile bloomed on Juliana’s face. Emilia also smiled at her pretty appearance, which looked like a sunflower in full bloom.
***
Emilia took Juliana to her house and told her everything. She thought about leaving out her parents’ story, but since she had decided to open up her heart, she thought that if she only mentioned a few things here, it might disappoint her even more.
At first, Juliana’s face, which had been surprised, became filled with shock, then strange, and finally shed tears.
Then, when she asked if she was still a noble, she was worried that she might feel uncomfortable, but she smiled and said that she was glad that she had not lost her status, and she thought that she had spoken well.
‘But does Duke Michele really see you as a real object?’
Juliana hesitated for a moment to say her last words, but Emilia quickly answered, saying that it was natural.
Having lived only at the art academy after leaving the house of a writer, it was very strange to invite someone to her home. However, when she saw her friend smiling, she thought that she had made a good choice.
He sympathized with his story so well that when he talked about Giorgio, he was even more excited than he was, and if Giorgio was right in front of him, he would grab him by the collar.
‘But come to think of it, I said Enrico wouldn’t show up, but I didn’t know my uncle would be this invisible.’
I’m not sure if he was really my uncle, but anyway, it was nice not to see his face.
However, it was so quiet that I should say I was anxious. I just wanted to check if he was really the same bloodline, but I felt frustrated that there was no technology in the world to do that yet.
A week after starting practice again, I got a call from Enrico.
***
It was the duke’s residence that I hadn’t visited in a long time. Now that I seemed to have fully recovered, I thought he was asking me to perform again, so I tried to go into the place where I always change clothes, but the butler said that was not the right place and guided Emilia in a different direction.
‘Didn’t he tell me to come here so I could go on stage?’
Emilia arrived at the bedroom where she had stayed when she was sick with a fever. The butler opened the door and she reluctantly went inside, where she saw Enrico sitting on the edge of the bed.
Why is he waiting here? Are you really going to force me to do something? She hesitated as she remembered the strange words he had said before, asking if she would take her body.
“… … Why did you call me here?”
Enrico twisted his lips and slowly got up from his seat. Instead of saying anything, he gradually closed the distance between them. As Emilia continued to back away, considering whether to turn around and run away, she felt the hard door behind her.
He didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping. When she turned her body slightly to the side to open the door, she saw his hand brushing against the door right in front of her eyes.
Emilia blinked her eyes in confusion and tried to turn her head to him. But then she saw a familiar man standing in the corner and her mouth fell open.
“What were you thinking?”
“… … Yes?”
“Why are your ears so red? Did you imagine something strange?”
Enrico spoke to her as if nothing had happened, as if he had forgotten the fierce fight at home. Emilia covered her ears with both hands and shook her head slightly. Then she made eye contact with the Duke’s doctor who had been standing in the corner, holding his breath.
Enrico turned around as if he had lost his cool after seeing that.
“Get a checkup.”
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