Chapter 533 However, the real show has only just begun.
The fog in Roland City always carried a damp, coal-ash smell, a smell that Newcastle was very sensitive to because he could smell it in his hometown as well.
The wheels rolled rhythmically over the wet, slippery stone pavement.
Sitting across from him, Miss Marie Lambane was grumbling incessantly about the lack of decorum of the Ryan men, reminiscing about the good old days in Thunder City and the elegance of Councilor Debick, while also expressing her envy of his lucky wife.
However, Newcastle thought that mentioning another man's name on a date was actually a rude thing to do in Thunder City... even if someone like him didn't really care about purity.
Whether it's spiritual or physical.
“I think you’re absolutely right. The girls of Thunder City are indeed too lucky… They’re not really good enough for the gentlemen of Campbell. On the contrary, the ladies of Ryan and the gentlemen of Campbell are a match made in heaven.”
Newcastle carefully considered his words, trying to make his illogical monologue sound somewhat logically convincing.
After all, while it's rare for people to have legs that are different lengths, it's not impossible...right? Rationally speaking, with a sufficiently precise ruler, you can always measure that tiny difference.
Newcastle didn't even realize he was studying science.
"Hehehe, you're quite the talker, Mr. Campbell."
Seeing Miss Ma Rui chuckling while covering her mouth with her folding fan, Newcastle smiled gently, trying his best to appear handsome.
The velvet curtains shut out the unseemly world outside the window, leaving only the ambiguous and warm candlelight in this small space.
The conversation quickly turned to their "shared" interests.
Looking at the blushing daughter of the baron across from him, Newcastle wore a perfectly balanced expression of affection and admiration.
He actually knew nothing about art and had no interest in it. He had only heard about "The Bell Tolls," the play that became a sensation in Thunder City, from Miss Marie.
However, none of this prevents him from becoming a "senior" art connoisseur, after all, for someone like him, making up stories is second nature.
If the person sitting opposite him is His Majesty the Grand Duke, he is a master architect, and Thunder City is flowing with sweet honey and milk. If the person sitting opposite him is a drooling goblin, he is the Duke's royal chef, and Thunder City is a mountain of corpses and a sea of bones.
What's so difficult about that?
Besides, Miss Ma Rui had already revealed her favorite menu. All he needed to do was extract the points from her letter, dip them in the honey called "empathy," and then arrange them on a more elegant plating.
Newcastle considered himself a natural-born chef—or rather, a congressman. He could make correct, useless nonsense sound like heavenly music.
Newcastle was only disappointed that the letter Miss Marie sent him was not written by her own hand; it was most likely written by her personal maid.
After all, he had been talking for so long, yet Miss Ma Rui, who had actually cried in the theater, still looked at him with admiration.
"...Miss Eloise's most moving quality lies not in whom she rebelled, but in her unwavering love even in despair. That kind of beauty is fragile, yet it is precisely because of its fragility that it is all the more breathtaking. Just as you mentioned in your letter, it is a rose blooming on the edge of a cliff."
“Oh… Mr. Newcastle, I didn’t expect you to be such a thoughtful person.”
"I'm not delicate at all; on the contrary, I'm a bit rough around the edges—"
"No, no, no, I think you're so thoughtful, hehe, and so humble. I really admire you!"
"Thank you for your appreciation..."
All right.
Looking into those eyes that were practically drooling, Newcastle had to admit that chatting with Miss Marie was indeed a skill.
Her unique ability to empathize seemed to be limited to her own emotions, completely oblivious to the stiffness in other people's smiles.
It's hard to say whether this is more rude than blowing your nose loudly; you can only say that they are both barbaric in their own way, and... Saint Sith didn't create two different legs for the same person.
However, for the sake of his knighthood and the opportunity to prove tonight that he was by no means a shrew, he decided to continue to be a gentleman.
Completely oblivious to the naked desire in Newcastle's eyes, Miss Marie was currently indulging in the pink honey.
She clasped her hands over her chest, and her eyes, still untouched by worldly corruption, shone with the ecstatic joy of finding a kindred spirit.
In the cultural wasteland of Roland, the boorish nobles only talk about hunting dogs and women, while only Mr. Newcastle understands what the resonance of souls is.
“Oh, Mr. Newcastle…you know so well.”
Ma Rui lowered her head shyly, her gaze inadvertently falling on Newcastle's chest.
Instead of wearing useless medals like other Ryan men, there was a neatly folded white silk handkerchief, with only an elegant triangular tip peeking out.
“You are more gentlemanly than Campbell’s gentleman. This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone place a handkerchief in that position… Is it just for decoration?”
Newcastle lowered his head, glanced at the handkerchief on his chest, and a witty and charming smile appeared on his lips.
“Not entirely, miss. It was placed here because it’s closest to the heart, but more importantly…”
He gazed into Ma Rui's captivating eyes.
"If any beautiful lady sheds tears because of that tragic love, the distance from here to the corner of your eye will be shorter than if it were taken out of your pocket."
Just as he was trying to suppress the goosebumps on his skin, Miss Ma Rui felt her heart skip a beat, and her folding fan trembled slightly along the corner of her mouth.
The air inside the carriage became thick and hot, and an ambiguous atmosphere fermented in the candlelight.
"Were we... talking about a drama?"
"Of course, we hope the bells of the Saint Laurent Theatre will not disappoint us. But I think that might be a little difficult, after all, you just came back from Miss Kiki's theater."
Newcastle retreated with ease, having no intention of taking any further action here, after all, he wasn't after a night of pleasure.
He had a clear goal—
That's the title of knight!
As the temperature gradually receded, just as Ma Rui was about to say something to preserve this intoxicating tenderness, the carriage suddenly stopped abruptly.
The immense inertia nearly caused Newcastle to fall into Miss Marie's arms, the horse's neighing and the coachman's exclamation shattering the idyllic atmosphere in the carriage.
"What's going on?" Newcastle pulled back the curtain and glared at the coachman in front of him, yelling, "You rude fellow, you've frightened our lady!"
"Sir! It's not my fault, the road ahead is blocked!" the coachman explained nervously, pulling on the reins to turn around.
"Road closed? Here?"
"It looks like... the Royal Guard."
Royal Guard?
Newcastle's heart skipped a beat. Wasn't that one of his good friend Sir Geard King's men? Why was he here enforcing the law?
Knowing that she was one of his own, he breathed a sigh of relief and then gave the bewildered Ms. Ma Rui a reassuring look, providing both a sense of security and emotional support.
"Leave it to me, I'll handle it."
Newcastle jumped off the carriage after saying those words.
His leather boots clicked on the damp cobblestones as he elegantly straightened his collar, then, under the coachman's admiring gaze, headed toward the locked-down theater.
The entrance to the Saint Laurent Theatre was still brightly lit, but a group of soldiers who shouldn't have been there were now present.
Dressed in scarlet uniforms, they guarded the castle like lobsters, the sharpness of their gun barrels and bayonets intimidating the discontented citizens.
Sir Skadkin was standing in front.
By the light of the torch, Newcastle immediately recognized that familiar face.
In that instant, his charming and gentlemanly demeanor vanished like mist blown away by the wind, instantly transforming into a slick and worldly-wise facade.
He wrapped his coat tighter and quickened his pace until Sir Skadkin noticed him.
Without saying a word, he skillfully slid a fine cigar from his sleeve and discreetly slipped it into Sir Skadkin's leather glove.
"Hey, old friend, what's going on here?"
Sir Skadkin glanced down at the excellent quality cigar, saw that it was his type, and casually hooked it into his palm.
Although he accepted the gift, his expression did not soften; it remained as cold as the wind.
"As you can see, I'm on business."
"Getting something done? Why all of a sudden today..." Newcastle looked at him anxiously, pleading for leniency. "Please, brother, I've already bought the tickets, and it's to accompany an important lady. Could you do me a favor and do me a favor?"
"Face? Newcastle, this isn't about face."
Skedkin made a sarcastic remark, then raised his riding crop and swung it toward the closed door, adopting a businesslike posture.
"The 'bells' of Thunder City are suspected of attacking our castle, which our Emperor dislikes, and the Bishop dislikes even more. We believe there is also corruption of Chaos involved, and a 'theological investigation' must be conducted immediately. Please return."
Holy crap?
The king saw it too?
Who acted for him?
Newcastle are in a panic.
He didn't care what the play was about, even if it was just a monkey doing somersaults on stage. What mattered was Miss Ma Rui sitting in the carriage.
That was a connection he had painstakingly made; if he were sent back as soon as he reached the door, the image he had painstakingly cultivated in front of the lady would be completely ruined!
"Don't do that, Skedkin."
Newcastle's tone carried a hint of anxious pleading, even invoking past favors.
“We’ve all slept at the same dinner table. Even if we’re not acting, just let us in for a bit, have a cup of tea. I’ll explain to her that the crew is all sick today, and we can all curse the theater owner for being blind. That lady is of high status; I can’t just let her turn back in the cold, can I?”
Seeing that the Campbell man was still relentless, Sir Skadkin's businesslike attitude finally turned into impatience.
I'm on duty in the freezing wind, and you're busy chasing girls in Roland City, huh? What does it mean to have slept at the same dinner table? Does drinking with you make us your buddies?
Take a look at the clothes I'm wearing.
"Of noble status?"
Skedkin chuckled and lightly tapped Newcastle's shoulder with his riding crop, as if shooing away an obnoxious fly.
"Newcastle, don't think too highly of yourself. Let me tell you, you're just a water hose salesman!"
"Even if you manage to get into the Level 3 meeting, don't think you can sit on equal footing with us. My advice is, don't get involved in this mess. Get as far away as possible. I don't want to wear this outfit to your house next time!"
There was seven parts disdain and three parts politeness in those words. If it weren't for the fact that they had drunk together, the butt of the gun would have already been used against them.
Newcastle's smile froze on his face.
In truth, he didn't care about his reputation, nor did he think Sir Skadkin would actually come to his house as a guest, since Baron Wickton had a share in his business.
But now he was caught between the knight and the baroness, which made him feel like he was under immense pressure.
or……
You guys fight?
I'll wait until you decide who wins and who loses before I apologize to the winner.
Just as the stalemate was at its peak, the carriage door behind them suddenly opened again.
Miss Marie Lambane in the carriage was clearly getting impatient.
She stepped off the carriage, lifting her elaborate skirt and wearing delicate high heels. The cold wind tousled her carefully styled curls, but it couldn't dispel the anger on her face.
She didn't utter a single unnecessary word, and was even braver than Princess Irene. The lace folding fan in her hand was like a short sword, slamming hard into Skedkin's chest.
Her actions terrified Newcastle. He had always understood fighting as a game of strategy, but he never expected this young lady to be so rude.
Before either man could react, a beautifully maintained hand drew a sharp arc in the air and slapped the captain of the royal guard squarely across the face.
"Smack!"
A crisp slap rang out, sounding particularly loud in the quiet, cold night.
All the royal guards were stunned.
However, they were all experienced guards, and with great tacit understanding, they all lowered their heads in unison, or turned around to study the texture of the smooth stone pillar at the theater entrance.
The citizens standing around were also stunned; they never expected that this young lady would dare to slap the captain of the Royal Guard in the face.
In their shallow understanding, Sir Skadkin's face was equivalent to His Majesty's face, after all, His Majesty had just awarded this firefighter a medal.
This is truly... a huge storm flooded St. Clement's Cathedral!
That is utterly blasphemous!
Having missed one good show, they never expected to see another one, and they are all looking forward to what will happen next.
However, the plot took an unexpected turn.
Sir Skadkin, who could send them flying with a single blow, didn't dare to move an inch, his knees even wobbling slightly.
"You ill-mannered watchdog!"
Miss Ma Rui withdrew her aching hand, pointed at the stunned man without any ladylike demeanor, and began to curse.
"Didn't your father teach you manners? How dare you leave a lady waiting in the cold wind for your so-called inspection? By the grace of Saint Sith, I don't care what you're trying to do, but can you at least let me finish watching the play?"
Sir Geedkin was sweating profusely.
Others might not recognize Miss Lambane's face, but he was the captain of the Royal Guard, and he recognized the face of every nobleman and their family who entered the palace.
There were many people like him in the palace; the Royal Guard had more than one captain, and he was just one of them.
"It's His Excellency the Bishop's order..."
Ms. Ma Rui's insults became even harsher.
"Ha! A bishop? That Claude, right? He doesn't even have a surname. Don't think that just because he became a bishop I don't remember what he used to do! That court jester, I hit him on the head with an apple when I was six, and he had to laugh and pick it up for me! What does he know about art! Has he even read the Bible?"
Sir Geedkin did not dare to respond.
Because he knew Miss Lambane wasn't exaggerating; she said she had hit Claude on the head, so she really had.
Although they are all barons, there are differences between barons. Among them are supporters of high-ranking nobles, supporters of the king, and those who are caught in the middle and opportunistic.
For example, his and Newcastle's common patron, the Baron Wickerton, although a minister, was of the same status as the Bishop of Claude, a mere rag for His Majesty the King.
Use them to wipe your shoes when you need them, and throw them into the fireplace to burn when you don't.
Unexpectedly, Newcastle had found an even bigger backer. Sir Geedkin glanced at him discreetly, his dignified expression completely turning into a fawning one.
Bro... lend your brother a hand.
Newcastle gave him a wry smile, not minding the earlier offense, but the current situation was already beyond his control.
Little brother, I want to help you too, but do you think I can stop her?
Besides, I already warned you...
Finally recalling Newcastle's earlier words about "distinguished status," Sir Skadekin closed his eyes in anguish, utterly despairing.
The cunning and treacherous Campbell has tricked the honest and kind Ryan again, and now he's caught between the baron and the bishop...
Miss Ma Rui unleashed her full fury, cursing for a full minute in the cold wind, practically rubbing the firefighter's face against the ground twice.
Clearly, she wasn't just venting her anger from waiting; she was also unleashing all her pent-up frustrations about the rude men in Roland City after returning home onto the poor knight.
anger.
This is the most undignified behavior.
Bullying the weak is the worst behavior.
I've heard that's how it is in Hell, where high-ranking demons play with goblins like they're hot pot every day. How come Roland City has been desecrated like this too?
Sir Newcastle sighed inwardly, torn between his conscience and his conscience, wondering if it was worth sacrificing his sacred marriage and bright future for a knighthood.
However, he had to admit that he felt unworthy of the fiery Miss Marie, but Sir Skadkin and she were such a perfect match.
This further validates his theory of "one person, two legs"—how could a gourd possibly grow on a watermelon vine?
They are a match made in heaven.
Sir Skadkin, who had just been scolded, bowed respectfully, picked up the folding fan that had fallen to the ground, and presented it with both hands.
"Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! Beautiful Miss Ma Rui!"
His fleshy face blossomed into a fawning chrysanthemum, a change so swift that even Newcastle, the fire extinguisher seller, was astonished—faster than a Rocky rifle.
"...We are investigating those unruly peasants, and we are worried that their vulgar content might offend your eyes. But elegant ladies and gentlemen like you certainly have the ability to distinguish right from wrong... You two can definitely understand the elegance behind art."
He turned around and roared at the group of guards who were still pretending to be blind.
"What are you all standing there for? Get out of the way!"
These bastards, they usually follow me around drinking, eating meat, and sleeping with girls, but when something happens, they're all looking around anxiously!
The guards immediately made way for a wide avenue.
Skedkin turned back to Miss Marie, whose eyes were wide like goldfish, straightened his back with a loyal expression, and gestured for her to proceed.
"Please come in, it's windy outside. As for the actors... don't worry, I'll have them brought back right away! After you've finished your appreciation, it won't be too late for our bishop to appreciate them."
The citizens standing outside the cordon stared wide-eyed, feeling that the stage was not behaving as they had imagined.
What about the king's face?
this……
That doesn't seem right.
Unfortunately, Sir Skadkin had no idea what they were thinking, otherwise he would have certainly given their blasphemous minds a good dressing down.
Saint Seis, poor Mr. Skedkin was just a commoner who was lucky enough to gain a knighthood because of a fire.
What right does he have to be the face of the king? At most, he can use the fists that commoners are best at to make another group of commoners forget this blasphemous night.
As if handling a trivial household chore, Miss Marie Lambane slowly closed the folding fan.
The fierceness she had shown moments before vanished as she straightened her skirt, as if it had never existed.
Then the baron's daughter raised her chin, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, like a little girl waiting for candy, and looked at the "true gentleman."
Although there were no gentlemen among those present, Newcastle did not disappoint this "true lady".
He bowed slightly, bent his arm, and placed the small hand wearing a lace glove on his arm.
“A truly impressive display of courage, which makes even this cold night pale in comparison, Miss Lombane… To be honest, I have never seen Sir Skedkin like this before.”
"You know him?"
"Sort of... After all, I'm a Campbellian who sells fire extinguishers, and he's the one who guards the Lanes at night. We've met a few times."
"Don't associate with that rude guy anymore. I get annoyed just looking at his pathetic behavior. After talking to him for a few minutes, I felt like I smelled like turtles on me. Do you know that smell? Like moldy seaweed!"
"Yes...as you wish."
As he watched the two walk down the red carpet steps, Sir Skadkin breathed a sigh of relief and silently thanked his now-unworthy younger brother.
Newcastle won't really cut off all ties with him, but with Mr. Newcastle's forgiveness, Miss Marie will probably stop making things difficult for him...
The two, who were "inseparable," stepped onto the steps covered with a red carpet.
Just as he was about to step through the brightly lit door, Newcastle stopped and instinctively looked back.
The wind on the steps was a bit noisy. He saw the people standing outside the bayonet wall, and he also saw their faces bathed in the night.
Those were civilians driven out by the Royal Guard, and others who had come to see what was happening after hearing the commotion. They were wearing thin, old overcoats and simply stood there in silence.
Perhaps Mr. Barr and Mr. Nat are in there too. Newcastle hopes they are, at least those two knowledgeable stonemasons can say a few words for him, as he was forced to get involved in this mess.
Saint Sis, all he wanted to do was sell a fire extinguisher. How did this 10,000 gold coins cause so many complications?
Newcastle even began to envy the fellow countryman he had driven away. He wished that when he first arrived, someone could have woken him up and kicked him out.
Unfortunately, he was the first to try something new, and before he knew it, he had walked right up to the entrance of the Saint Laurent Theatre...
Newcastle quietly removed his top hat and nodded to the silent audience, a gesture that served as a substitute for an apology bow.
However, no one paid attention to this "gentleman's" actions, not even Miss Ma Rui, who was walking beside him with a sweet expression.
The silent citizens stared intently at Sir Skadkin, their gazes seeming to burn through his gleaming uniform.
They don't really care about art or who's arm in arm with whom, but why are they treated differently by the Royal Guard's batons?
“Let’s go, Mr. Newcastle.”
Ma Rui gently tugged at his sleeve, glanced disdainfully at the sour-smelling crowd below, and pulled him into the warm hall.
The heavy doors shut out the cool spring evening breeze, while the warmth of the lobby made one feel completely relaxed.
"You are truly the most perfect gentleman I have ever met."
Ma Rui linked arms with him as they walked down the empty corridor, her voice filled with admiration and emotion.
“Even when dealing with those rude, lowly people, you maintain such grace and manners. Even just bowing to them… though I don’t think it’s necessary, it’s really charming. Ryan’s men should really learn from you what it means to be decent.”
So she saw it.
Newcastle stared at the red carpet stretching out to the private room, but his mind was filled with the silent eyes that had been outside the door earlier.
He was momentarily distracted, and a line that wasn't in the script slipped out of his mouth as if by some strange impulse.
“I believe that gentlemen and ladies do not exist in isolation. When Saint Sith created us, he did not give each person two different legs.”
Perhaps you could be kinder to them.
Princess Eileen once said she wanted the citizens of Thunder City to have cake, because there really were so many cakes in the windows of the bakeries in Thunder City.
But Roland City clearly didn't have any, or perhaps it had been devoured by the ravenous people, leaving everyone with only their shattered dignity in their pockets.
Ma Rui stopped in her tracks.
Her beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly as she turned her head, a hint of doubt flickering in the corner of her eye.
"What...does that mean?"
She was an educated person, not one of those illiterate fools outside; she could hear the sarcasm in the unspoken words.
Newcastle suddenly snapped out of his daze, seemingly remembering the cruelty of the nobles' methods, and changed his words on a whim.
"What I mean is..."
He put on a deeply affectionate expression and donned the mask of a gentleman once more.
“Only a true gentleman is worthy of a true lady like you. As the Book of the Word says, He first created His own mother, and a gentleman… certainly exists to protect a lady.”
Whether the Book of the Word contains this phrase is not important; after all, "everyone is a priest," and he too, following local custom, committed a moment of blasphemy.
However, his blasphemy was perfectly timed, and Ma Rui's brows relaxed, her slight doubts instantly dispelled by sweet words.
"Hehehe... Oh, Mr. Newcastle, you're quite the talker."
She covered her mouth and let out a string of silvery laughter that echoed in the empty hall with a chilling coldness.
Newcastle smiled and gestured for her to take Miss Marie's hand, ready to dance with the devil.
"Please, beautiful Miss Marie, the bells tonight will ring only for you... May happiness forever follow my beloved."
The two walked hand in hand to the empty audience seats, waiting for the trembling Miss "Elois" to take the stage.
Roland City was quieter than usual tonight, with stonemasons passing around the manuscript of the Encyclopedia and bells echoing in the deserted theater.
An unprecedentedly grand stage is undergoing its final rehearsal in the ancient city of Roland.
But the real show has only just begun...
...
An unprecedentedly grand production is unfolding on the stage upstream of the Benliu River, while the Colin Grand Theatre downstream is equally impressive.
The grand theater was packed with people. There were no heavily guarded walls of bayonets, only a deafening roar of voices that seemed to lift the roof off.
It must be said that entertainment options in this era were still too limited. A stage play could keep the citizens of Leiming City watching it repeatedly, and it even directly promoted the entry of paper into the field of hygiene.
Before this, even respectable citizens of Thunder City used newspapers, leaflets, or even tax receipts to clean up their messes.
Even though their papermaking technology is not backward, and they even have "paper cups," which are relatively post-industrial items.
In addition, Luo Yan heard that many citizens of Leiming City with business acumen and creative minds have entered the media field, and perhaps it won't be long before the city enters an era of flourishing diversity.
Thunder City has a strong industrial base and a high literacy rate. Even the mindless knights love to read, although they read novels.
If their creativity can be fully unleashed, it will certainly give rise to much more than just a few scripts...
In the VIP room on the second floor.
After exhausting Miss Colin with the help of Padridge, Luo Yan quickly fulfilled his promise to Mia that he would bring her alone next time.
There were only two people in the small private room. The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful, with a scent even sweeter than incense.
Sitting on the velvet sofa, Mia felt like she was on fire. Her languid yet slightly proud face was as red as a ripe apple, and her knees beneath her skirt felt weak.
And that graceful tail, too, couldn't be hidden; it was secretly tied in a knot and swayed around under the velvet cushion.
Is this...is this a date?
I think so!
I wonder if this is Luo Yan's first time... hehehe.
Mia's small hands, clenched tightly around her skirt, turned white. She swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on the stage, occasionally glancing at Luo Yan sitting next to her.
Same as before.
He was always so focused on whatever he was doing, whether he was staring at the blackboard, the book, or looking out the window...
It's all this guy's fault.
If Professor Lilith hadn't called someone up to the podium to demonstrate, Miss Padridge wouldn't have paid much attention to the blackboard!
It would be strange if this degree wasn't fabricated.
Miss Padridge reiterated that she hadn't neglected her studies, but rather had a particular interest in certain subjects, primarily studying human beings.
If it were a contest of who understands humanity better, she believed she would certainly not lose to Miss Colin.
Next time, make it better than this!
As the stage lights dimmed and the curtain rose, a melodious and lively tune began to play, and the green grassland unfolded on the stage.
Even the demons of hell don't have anything this interesting. The dazzling performance instantly drew Mia's attention, and the atmosphere in the box finally quieted down.
When Eloise on stage walks into the darkness for her lover, when Matthew embraces the broken girl tightly in the sunset.
That pure and sincere emotion was like an arrow shot from a bow, striking the softest spot in Mia's heart.
This is so pure and innocent!
It's still that kind of love that's both amazing and pure.
In the darkness, Luo Yan felt the breathing around him become somewhat damp.
He turned his head and, by the light of the stage lights, saw the succubus biting her lip, stubbornly trying not to cry, while tears fell like beads from a broken string.
Miss Padridge was surprisingly shy, unlike Vivian who burst into tears and then started yelling and screaming.
Luo Yan didn't say anything, but silently took out a handkerchief and handed it to her, just like he had handed it to Vivian the night before.
Mia took it from her, adding a boastful remark as she did so.
"Thank you... And, um, I didn't cry!"
Luo Yan nodded slightly and said politely.
"Hmm, it's too dark here, I didn't see it."
Even a powerful being of the Amethyst level cannot see the tears in the darkness; there is probably no more benevolent lie in the entire continent of Os.
"..."
Mia's face turned even redder, and she hid her entire face behind her handkerchief.
Later, probably realizing that trying to cover it up was useless, she finally gave up on her idol image and blew her nose forcefully.
"sneeze--"
The curtain falls.
Thunderous applause, like a tsunami, engulfed the entire theater and lingered for a long time, as a way of expressing gratitude to the actors.
Mia looked at Luo Yan with red eyes, sniffed, and her voice was thick with nasal tone.
"That's so touching, that unwavering love. I think whether they're human or succubus, as long as two people truly love each other, nothing can separate them... You think so too, don't you?"
"Of course, I am very pure in love."
Mia blushed.
Looking at that blushing face, Luo Yan couldn't help but feel curious.
"Speaking of which, who are you identifying with?"
Upon hearing the question, Mia lowered her head shyly, her index finger twirling a few strands of pink bangs at her temple.
"Don't... make fun of me."
Luo Yan smiled faintly.
“I can swear to the demon god.”
Having received the assurance, Mia finally raised her head and spoke softly but earnestly.
"I... actually, I was identifying with Matthew."
Luo Yan's composed expression became somewhat subtle, and his eyes looked even stranger.
Sentimental women are always sentimental. Mia immediately noticed the subtle emotion in those eyes, and her face flushed even hotter.
"You...you really think it's weird, right?!"
Honestly, it's pretty strange.
Why is it that whether it's Vivian or Mia, the first person that comes to mind is the "incompetent husband," rather than Miss Eloise, who is clearly "more prone to crying"?
However, he did not break his vow and did not laugh out loud.
"But...why? You two don't seem like each other."
"Because, because Matthew and I think the same way."
Mia blushed, and her voice grew softer, but the determination in her voice remained unchanged.
“Because Matthew and I think the same way. Even if Miss Eloise loses her purity, even if the bells no longer toll for them... as long as my beloved can come back to me in the end, I don’t care about anything else. I’m willing to wait for her to come back.”
"This is truly... touching."
That wasn't just empty talk; Luo Yan was genuinely moved for a moment by Mia's pure love. However, the chilling metaphor beneath the surface surprised him.
If Miss Padridge is projecting Matthew onto the image, wouldn't that mean she herself is... uh, Eloise?
Luo Yan couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
So who is the lord?
A milky white shadow floated to the side, and Youyou, with a wicked grin, approached and offered up its mischievous scheme.
"My Lord, I think Sarah or Irene could play the role of the lord—"
'Shut up, Youyou.'
"Waaah—"
The power of the Purple Crystal level expert was terrifying; with a single thought, he suppressed the omnipresent divine spark, silencing the aggrieved Youyou.
Just as Luo Yan was still obsessing over the issue, Mia finally wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and suddenly launched a powerful offensive.
"And what about you? Who did you identify with? Speaking of which... why were you able to watch it so calmly without shedding a single tear? Didn't you feel moved?"
Luo Yan certainly wouldn't shed tears, after all, he really did write the script.
However, he wouldn't say something so jarring.
He pondered for a moment, looked at the crowd below who were shedding tears, and gave an answer that best suited the Demon King's state of mind while watching the show.
"What I'm projecting onto is perhaps that omnipresent existence."
He meant the audience.
Or rather, the "observer" who stands from God's perspective, looking down equally upon the joys and sorrows of all beings.
Whether it's the bell ringer or the nameless villager, they are all magnificent scenery in his eyes; they all come to the stage with a mission.
Different audiences may think that the people on stage are all different people, but in Luo Yan's eyes they are all just the same kind of people who have received different scripts.
If the citizens of Thunder City were to suffer a crushing defeat in the Winter Moon Coup, then at that moment they would be Matthew on the stage, Miss Eloise, the villagers, and the bell ringer in the clock tower.
Why was the chastity tax five silver coins?
It's not just to cater to the public's sense of immersion, but also because it's written as an alternative ending from the perspective of a virtual observer.
This is why the show mentions a storyline where the Baron and the Duke are at war, while in reality, the war ended in less than a month.
Mia was taken aback.
Then, her pretty face, which had just been immersed in emotion, quietly changed color, and a hint of shame and indignation surfaced in her eyes.
As we all know, there is only one character in this show who is "omnipresent".
That was the lord who controlled the fate of Eloise and Matthew, the embodiment of desire who manipulated everything and tried to take all good things into his possession!
That man whose name is so unclear!
I never expected that Luo Yan was not as he seemed... Beneath his refined and easygoing exterior lay a beast-like soul!
Wow, wow... you really can't judge a book by its cover.
"you……"
Mia covered her chest with both hands, her face flushed even redder than before. The burning heat was not only from her tears, but also from her heart, which felt like it was about to burst out of her chest.
"How could you identify with that character? It's...too, too evil!"
Although the shy little Luo Yan is also cute, the possessive big Luo Yan seems to be quite endearing as well?
It must be said that the succubus's XP is liberating.
One second Mia was deeply immersed in Matthew's emotions, and the next second she automatically switched into Eloise form, even her chest-protecting movements were so practiced.
Um?
Luo Yan glanced at Mia with some surprise, not expecting to receive praise from the demon, but he was still a little out of sync with her.
Putting everything else aside—
Where exactly is the evil in this?!
(End of this chapter)
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