Chapter 10

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy it.

In the Lahati Kingdom, where summers are short and winters are long, it is also famous for the many theater troupes that visit from neighboring countries just before the transition from spring to winter. In other countries, a single theater troupe would have to go through considerable effort and expense to stage a performance, including administrative procedures, securing a venue, and promoting the show during the performance period. However, in the Lahati Kingdom, there is a specialized department within the government that supports performances, and if the play becomes popular, the royal family may even provide subsidies.

During this short entertainment season, encouraged by the royal family, even craftsmen can take time off. Therefore, in the capital of Lahati, from the royal opera troupe to small opera troupes, many troupes prepare and perform on stage.

Given the Lahati people's love for gossip, a single rumor can often lead to a surge in popularity.

As the entertainment season comes to an end and people start to plan for the winter, a small theater troupe began to attract attention.

Their play depicted the tumultuous life of a woman who had captivated many men.

"We plan to change the ending of the play every five days. By occasionally switching the lead actress, we aim to create a performance that keeps the audience from getting bored and makes them unable to look away."

At the end of the performance, the troupe leader said this, taking off his silk hat and bowing gracefully.

"Wasn't the play you saw today about that young lady?" a man who had been watching the play while holding a newspaper he had bought by chance asked his companion.

"Yeah, the lead actress was seeking a 'one wife, multiple husbands' arrangement, so it's like they're riding the trend in Lahati," the companion replied, seemingly uninterested.

Daily reports had been amusingly covering the ducal family's brothers doting on their wife, but just as readers were starting to get tired of the content, an incident occurred.

A young lady who had been sent to a convent for disrespecting Prince Adolph and who had hoped for a 'one wife, multiple husbands' arrangement, frustrated by the news of her beloved man's marriage and subsequent doting, escaped from the convent and made her way to the capital alone. In the end, she attacked the ducal couple, who were shopping, with a knife and was easily thrown to the ground by the duke, who was supposed to love her.

The duke grabbed the woman by the chest and lifted her to his waist, then spun and mercilessly slammed her to the ground to protect his wife.

"This must be the end of the duchess," one man said.

"She didn't last until winter," another added.

"I want to know the result soon."

A man who had placed a bet on when the duchess would fall for her husband said, "Just being thrown to the ground, and she's reconsidering her husband? Give it until the snow falls! Wait until the snow falls!"

He kept muttering this while holding the newspaper, but it was unclear what happened to the ducal couple afterward.

Today's newspaper reported that the woman who had attacked the ducal couple with a knife was put in jail and was awaiting trial.

"The play you saw today must be riding the trend," the man's wife said as she placed a simmering soup on the table, having been told the details of the play.

"Since the ticket price is quite low and the ending changes every five days, it might be interesting to go see it with my sister when the ending changes."

A small theater troupe with little money would likely create a story based on content that gets reported in the news, hoping to attract even a little interest from passersby. Since she had been interested in the 'one wife, multiple husbands' concept, she decided to go see it.

However, when she went to the theater...

"What... what kind of content is this... This is bad... Really bad."

"Really, sister, isn't this going to be considered blasphemy?"

"Do you think so too? This is really bad content, isn't it?"

After watching the content of the play, they clasped hands and broke out in a cold sweat, but then said almost simultaneously, "We have to tell him when we get home!"

◇◇◇

Kastehelmi was invited to a tea party with her friend Christina and her merry companions, undoubtedly because they wanted to get information about the captured Yuliana from Kastehelmi.

Yuliana, who had hoped for a 'one wife, multiple husbands' arrangement, had escaped from the strict convent and fled to the capital, where she attacked Nicholas and Katja, who were shopping at the time.

Kastehelmi was worried that Nicholas might embrace Yuliana upon seeing her again, but instead, he literally threw Yuliana to the ground, lifting her high and throwing her with a leg sweep. The onlookers were reportedly stunned, unable to understand what had happened.

The royal family, determined to make the railway project a success, probably wanted to see how Nicholas would react to Yuliana's attack.

"Kastehelmi, Oliver is here to pick you up."

"Already?!"

Kastehelmi sighed deeply, looking at her friends who were eager for more information.

"I'm sorry, my husband has come to pick me up."

"Wow! What a love!"

Kastehelmi sighed again, looking at her friends' envious gazes.

Kastehelmi had no doubt planned to counter the rumors that were intentionally created by her enemies with her husbands' extreme doting. However, she hadn't expected that her two husbands would take the 'doting' act so seriously.

Kastehelmi was tired of being expected to try 'ahn' and to drink champagne from her husband's mouth.

Why did she ever say that 'doting' was interesting? It's only interesting from the outside; being the one involved is not at all interesting.

"Oh... If only I could get a quick divorce..."

As Kastehelmi stood up, muttering to herself, Christina, who had stood up to see her off, whispered in her ear.

"Kastehelmi, be careful, as vulgar plays are popular in the streets these days."

During the season, numerous theater troupes of all sizes visit the Lahati Kingdom. If Christina was talking about 'vulgar' plays, she was probably concerned about the plays performed for the common people in the lower town.

"What's wrong with that play?"

"The content is the problem."

Christina smiled and continued, "It depicts the fate of a woman who sought a 'one wife, multiple husbands' arrangement, but the roles in it..."

Kastehelmi frowned at the content whispered in her ear.

I will update at 4 PM from today and plan to finish by the weekend. I hope you will stay with me until the end!

The reports of record-breaking heat waves are intense. The hot days are making me feel exhausted, but I hope this can be a bit of a mood changer for you!

If you like it,

☆☆☆☆☆ Like, leave a comment, and bookmark it

Thank you!