The lady who had been listening to the song beside her was a young girl.
Her smooth cheeks flushed bright red, her amethyst eyes glistened with tears as she hurried over to Adela, who was squatting, and tightly embraced her massive body.
“Adela-sama! Adela-sama!”
She seemed quite excited.
Adela, forgetting her tears for a moment, raised her face, still dripping with snot.
“Le-Leonora…?”
“Adela-sama! You truly are magnificent!”
Ignoring the confusion of her companion, the girl enveloped Adela’s face in her hands and gazed at her with eyes full of respect.
Caught up in her enthusiasm, Adela, speechless, looked up with teary eyes.
“You’re the one… I’ve been searching for it all this time!”
As if never wanting to let go, the girl clung tightly to Adela’s massive frame.
Of course, in her mind, she was thinking:
“Wow! I’ve discovered an amazing songstress here!”
It was just a crude, lowbrow cheer, but it was all that was needed in that moment.
Leo couldn’t contain his excitement at Adela’s performance, which far exceeded his expectations.
The volume of her voice, enough to shatter glass. The attention-grabbing presence.
And the raw emotion and straightforward lyrics that directly touched the common folk’s hearts.
“This is it! This is what the downtown opera troupe needs – this concept, these lyrics, and this kind of singer!”
He realized how foolish he had been to think of hymn-like lyrics just because they were familiar.
To satisfy the unrefined audience of the lower districts, they needed straightforward, somewhat coarse songs, and singers with a lot of heart.
To think they could discover the songstress of destiny in a place like this!
And to be made aware of the inadequacy of his own concept by her.
Leo gazed at Adela in admiration.
She truly was magnificent.
She wasn’t just any pig.
She was a golden pig that could see through truth and generate wealth.
Leo even imagined a hallucination of a torrent of gold coins flowing behind her.
“Adela-sama… Behind you, I can see the figure of Ka-sama…! No, you are Ka-sama incarnate!”
“What are you saying…?”
As she clung tightly to her, Adela, hearing herself compared to Claudia, slowly raised her head. But soon, she wore a self-deprecating smile.
She had once hurt a young child terribly, been abandoned by her former servant, and shamefully cried her heart out.
She couldn’t possibly be compared to a socialite like Claudia.
“What are you saying? That’s impossible… After all, I’m just a leftover—”
“What are you saying!”
Interrupting Adela’s feeble muttering, the girl spoke forcefully.
“Adela-sama, you are not a leftover!”
“Huh…?”
“I understand. Adela-sama, you are the main character. The protagonist. Not just within this mansion, but on a much bigger stage. Don’t you think so? You must think so, right? You want to, don’t you? Then let’s make it happen! I’ll help you!”
Leo thought he was recruiting her as an actress.
Though his words might have been somewhat lacking due to his excitement, it was fine. With those perceptive eyes of hers, she would surely understand his intentions.
“Am I… the protagonist?”
However, Adela, who didn’t possess such convenient eyes, naturally missed the girl’s subtle intentions. Yet, the word “protagonist” echoed in her mind, making her heart race.
Being portrayed as a protagonist was a first for someone like her, who had always felt like a leftover.
Timidly raising her gaze, she met the girl’s firm gaze and nodded.
“Adela-sama, you’re wonderful. The best. You captivate people’s eyes. Eventually, many people will gaze at you with admiration, entranced by you.”
Adela, not thinking of herself as a potential actress, interpreted her words within the context of being admired as a Countess someday.
At the same time, a bitter smile formed on her lips.
Neglected by her husband, scorned by her mother-in-law, and belittled by her step-niece. How could someone like her, who had treated others poorly, revealed her emotions by crying loudly, ever become a respected Countess?
“…That’s impossible…”
Her appearance, stripped of its arrogance, looked miserable and weak.
Her voice was like the buzzing of a mosquito.
“Huh, Adela-sama seems unexpectedly timid?”
Leo furrowed his brows as Adela, who had always worn a smile until now, uttered gloomy words.
He needed her to be enthusiastic here. Together, they could revitalize the radical and catchy downtown opera troupe, make a profit, and partner up.
With someone like her, possessing foresight, as a business partner, and her husband, Dietrich, who enjoyed music, might even invest in support of his wife.
Leo couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
“Oh, could it be because I’m the one doing the recruitment scouting?”
Looking at his peach-colored dress, Leo almost clicked his tongue.
Recruiting women required men, and recruiting men required women. It was a basic principle of business.
Adela was also a woman, after all.
She wouldn’t be pleased by compliments from someone like him, dressed in frilly attire.
“Is there no man who can move Adela-sama’s heart?”
As he knelt beside Adela, surveying the surroundings, the worried face of Dietrich caught his eye.
Activating his miser sensor, Leo pinpointed him and thought, “He’s the one!”
“Hey, Dietrich-sama, over here.”
“What is it, Leonora?”
Leo felt a little irritated by his hurried response.
“It’s not ‘what is it’ but—”
Adela, who possessed the insight to see through even the unspoken, internal matters, why couldn’t her husband understand?
“Dietrich-sama, please say something to Adela-sama as well.”
“Huh…? What do you mean…?”
As Dietrich asked in confusion, Leo explained each word distinctly.
“Adela-sama has lost her confidence. Dietrich-sama, as her husband, surely you know what words to say, right?”
Adela was hesitating before her next stage as an actress.
What words could break through her heart and give her encouragement? As her husband, he should know.
“But, I’m not sure if—”
“Buts and maybes won’t do. Dietrich-sama, it has to be you. Only you can do it.”
Strictly speaking, it meant it had to be a man.
Even so, seeing Dietrich, who lacked confidence, scratching his cheek, Leo couldn’t help but mutter softly:
“—It’s work, you know…! If I can’t persuade my wife alone, what should I do…!”
“Huh?”
However, when Dietrich turned around in surprise, Leo quickly covered his mouth.
This was bad.
Even though there was a lot at stake in the business, telling someone to “brainwash” another person wasn’t right.
“I-I’m sorry…! That was a slip of the tongue…!”
Apologizing in a panic, Leo noticed that Dietrich seemed lost in thought.
His profile suddenly looked more determined.
(What…?)
Leo blinked involuntarily.
For a moment, he seemed like a remarkably intelligent man.
“—Adela.”
Eventually, he nodded once, knelt beside his wife who was still squatting, and gently took her hand.
Then, he slowly stood her up.
When Adela, with teary eyes, timidly looked up, Dietrich solemnly began.
“Have I ever told you about my work?”
“Um…?”
Adela’s voice was filled with confusion.
Leo was also bewildered. He wanted to persuade her to make her debut as a stage actress, so why did the conversation turn to his own affairs?
Surrounded by perplexed looks, the two stood in front of the fireplace. However, Dietrich continued speaking in his calm voice.
“My job, Adela, as Leo mentioned, is somewhat like brainwashing. The previous ‘Golden Cup King’ aimed for religious control, and the current ‘Golden Sword King’ expanded our territory. While Weitz has significantly enlarged the country in recent decades, the distortion is profound. It’s impossible to suppress the newly subjugated people with just military force.”
“…Uh huh.”
Adela’s eyes rolled in sudden discomfort at the unexpectedly grim topic.
Dietrich gently brushed a strand of her dyed hair aside and delicately tucked it behind her ear.
“So, how do we make these ‘new people’ accept us favorably? The answer is simple. Show them a life without constraints and expose them to the culture they admire. When they realize they can live a far more cultured life than in their old country, they will willingly abandon their homeland and show submission to Weitz. Proactively, mind you.”
Leo was stunned, listening intently to Dietrich’s words. Why was he feeling this way? Despite speaking calmly—wait, it was a bit scary.
With a gentle smile, Dietrich continued, “The frontier regions are areas where the capital’s supervision is lacking.
That’s why I go there, to teach the Weitz style of beauty, music, and culture. Not from above, but mingling among the common folk, as if these things were wonderful treasures. Over time, people gradually lose their hostility towards Weitz.
Once the ‘blessings’ have permeated deeply enough, I move on. It’s a cycle.”
He preferred the position of being considered Claudia’s leftovers. In the esteemed Harkenberg family, where strength was revered, using such cunning tactics definitely made him the “leftover.” Besides, being ridiculed to such an extent was more easily accepted by the commoners.
Caught off guard and having accepted Dietrich without suspicion, Leo was left speechless.
“But you know, Adela, sometimes I get tired of it. What exactly is beauty? Even the most exquisite paintings or pleasant melodies, to me, they’re nothing more than tools of manipulation. But, Adela, you’re different.”
He affectionately caressed Adela’s cheek and gently kissed her forehead.
“You’re always honest, following your emotions. You live according to your own will, not to please anyone else. That’s what’s so great about you. Your lack of ulterior motives puts me at ease. I love you, Adela.”
Adela, overwhelmed with several years’ worth of whispered affections, turned as red as a tomato and could only open and close her mouth.
“W-well…”
“I want you to be carefree. If you don’t want to see my face, I’ll stay in the frontier and gather worthwhile things to break. And as for bullying my niece—well, I think it’s best to keep that to a minimum.”
Although Leo had never been bullied by Adela, who treated him well, he tilted his head curiously behind them. However, Dietrich paid no attention and showered his wife with adoring gazes.
“I didn’t speak much before because you said you didn’t want to hear my voice. But, I was wrong. I should have talked to you more, countless times. I’m sorry, Adela. But anyway, I love you. So I want you to behave however you want, without caring about anyone else.”
“…Th-that kind of attitude…!”
Despite neither of the main characters being particularly handsome, the scene resembled a scene from a romantic opera melodrama.
Adela, tears streaming down her face like a piglet, clung to her husband’s chest.
“I… I thought I was completely abandoned by you, by everyone…!”
“I see. I’m sorry.”
“No one had any expectations of me… I knew that… even myself…!”
“Right.”
Dietrich nodded gently, and Adela suddenly lifted her head. Her face, smeared with tears, was far from beautiful, but there was something touching about her sparkling eyes and earnest expression as she looked up.
“I-I’ll try again. I’ll stop dieting, stop yelling, stop breaking vases…! And then, I’ll be… dignified…!”
“Sure.”
Becoming a dignified countess.
The words were choked up and barely audible.
But everyone present was convinced that Adela had been reborn in this moment and discreetly wiped their eyes.
Except for approximately one person, who was swept away by thoughts of an operatic scheme.
(Hahaha! Lady Adela has finally made up her mind! Well done, Lord Dietrich! Truly a splendid husband!)
Leo was convinced that Adela had declared she would ‘become a dignified actress.’
Having ceased her vase-breaking activities, he didn’t understand how she could become a dignified actress, but considering she was wrestling with the idea of becoming an actress and her husband said, “Do whatever you like,” and she replied, “I’ll do my best,” it seemed reasonable to conclude that she had resolved to become an opera singer.
Lost in thoughts of lucrative opportunities, Leo stopped his vase-smashing activities when Adela, who had dried her tears, spoke up.
“Leonora.”
“Yes!”
He must have been radiating some despicable thoughts. He hastily composed himself, but Adela just fidgeted and said nothing.
Puzzled, Leo tilted his head, and eventually, she turned her face away and said:
“Um… thank you.”
“Huh?”
“You praised my singing… me… I was happy. And… I’m sorry.”
Biting her lip, she straightened up and bowed deeply, causing those around her to gasp quietly.
As far as they knew, this was the first time she had bowed her head to anyone in this mansion.
“I-I don’t expect to be forgiven. But… I’ll apologize as many times as necessary from now on.”
It was like a scene from the Bible.
A sinner admonished by the spirits for the sin of pride, bowing deeply to ask for forgiveness.
Adela was tearful at her unaccustomed apology.
She had never done this before, and she was afraid of how the other party would react.
However, she had pledged to become a dignified countess. Even if the girl rejected the apology, Adela intended to bow her head again and again.
But…
“Why?”
The girl in front of her made no attempt to hide her confusion. Not only that, but she seemed a bit flustered and urged Adela to look at her.
“Nothing has been done that would make Lady Adela apologize to me.”
Without any malice, she said so straightforwardly. Moreover, she looked a bit panicked, urging Adela to look at her.
“I, Leonora, haven’t been… wronged by Lady Adela in any way.”
With no ill will, she said so, and Adela stared in disbelief. Upon realizing it was the truth, she let out a wry smile.
Truly unbeatable.
The epitome of a lady, Emilia, and the selfless and loving girl, Leonora.
Adela sighed, realizing what lofty standards she should aim for.
But, in that moment, she had a magical phrase to not falter even in the face of such high goals.
“–You are the protagonist.”
(I am the protagonist.)
Adela savored those words.
They carried a strong force that stirred her heart, filled with the remnants of praise she had long been denied and lifted her gaze resolutely.
“Hey, Leonora.”
“Yes?”
When she called, the girl raised her face brightly.
Staring at the girl’s face, for whom no apology was necessary, Adela murmured, “Then, at least…”
If she didn’t want an apology.
If she would declare her the protagonist despite all this.
“Please watch over me. I will surely perform magnificently.”
In this, the role of “Countess.”
With a determined resolve, Adela declared, “Of course!”
The girl widened her eyes and then smiled as if a flower had bloomed.
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