Chapter 87

#087 The Ghost of Padtrua (2)

"This is my first time at an opera, but I’m really looking forward to it."

Christel de Sarnaise, sitting across from him in the carriage, said brightly.

Johann Haines nodded once and smiled as if he were drawing a smile.

Before she fell ill, she could have seen operas at the castle, but it seemed this was her first time since losing her memory.

She had willingly given one of the two tickets that had flown to the palace to her teacher.

Johann spoke.

"I’m surprised you invited me."

"Prince Yeseo can hardly leave the palace, and Sir Elizabeth will be too busy with his guard duties."

Christel spoke frankly and smiled.

In short, Johann was third in line, but this was quite surprising to him.

He and Christel had only known each other for a little over a month.

Yet, she hadn’t even invited her parents, who were in the Sarnaise duchy.

He hadn’t heard that she had a bad relationship with her family.

Johann recalled the information he had gathered from the Vatican.

Perhaps her memory wasn’t fully intact, and that’s why she had become distant. It was possible.

-Clack, clack...

For a moment, the sound of hooves cut through the silence.

Johann turned his mint-colored eyes, which had been looking out the window, to Christel.

His initially tired eyes became sharp.

The woman’s clear gaze was busy taking in the scenery outside.

He had thought she was somewhat wary of him, but now it seemed that wasn’t because she found the foreigner from the Vatican suspicious.

It seemed she was uncomfortable with another Holy Knight appearing before Prince Yeseo.

The man’s drooping eyes slightly curved.

Before formal training, Cardinal Aureli Boutier had hinted at Christel’s condition.

The one who had absorbed the holy relic 'Blessing of the Sea'.

In other words, Christel possessed a much purer water power than the water-attribute Holy Knights born and raised in the Holy Kingdom.

It was natural that she would clash with the fire-attribute Prince Sedric.

While busy restraining the prince, she seemed to have also been paying attention to him.

She probably wanted to be the prince’s partner.

The mercenary made a small breeze with his fingertips.

It was understandable that both the man and the woman were drawn to Prince Yeseo.

However, Johann had never held anything in his hands since he was very young, and after becoming a Holy Knight of the Vatican, he had lived a life of restraint, partly by choice and partly by necessity.

He could restrain himself even knowing the prince’s ether was clean and noble.

Prince Yeseo.

-Whoosh...

A few strands of Johann’s white hair gently swayed.

To complete the 'commission' he had received, it was important to get close not only to the prince but also to the princess or the duke.

He needed to gain their trust as a human, not just as a teacher.

"Looks like we’re almost there! The theater is really big and beautiful."

Christel leaned forward toward the carriage door.

Despite growing up seeing only precious things, she was amazed at what she saw outside the window.

Johann smiled and cast a casual glance out the opposite window.

It was nearly 8 o’clock, but the sun was still high, and the streets were bright.

Then, he witnessed a very strange scene.

A young man dressed as an opera usher was hiding in a narrow alley with a woman.

They looked at each other and laughed brightly, then kissed.

Soon, the usher’s expression hardened.

His pale face suddenly opened his eyes, but he soon lost consciousness and fell to the ground.

The woman who had kissed the usher changed her appearance. She now had the same face as the usher.

It was a monster.

"..."

Johann felt a chill run down his spine and straightened his back.

He instinctively turned his head to follow the monster’s movements, but the carriage was constantly moving, and there were too many people.

The creature quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Since there were no screams or shouts, it seemed no accident had occurred yet.

His eyes narrowed.

"Sounds like it will be interesting, doesn’t it?"

Christel asked Johann for his opinion. He was startled and turned his face.

The carriage had already stopped in front of the massive opera house.

"The title is 'The Ghost of Padtrua,' but I don’t know what Padtrua means. Is it just a proper noun?"

She muttered and picked up her small handbag.

She seemed not to have noticed what he had seen, busy admiring the grand building on the avenue.

Johann thought for a moment and then smiled. Indeed, it sounded interesting.

He replied.

"A dance performed by three people together. That’s Padtrua."

*

"I greet Prince Yeseo Penethian of the Holy Kingdom. Please follow me to Box 5 on the second floor."

The theater owner personally guided us.

Compared to the imperial palace, it was less opulent, but the Holy Capital Opera House had its own beauty.

I walked down the circular corridor with Béngam and Ganael.

Royal guards stood like statues at regular intervals.

There seemed to be a separate entrance for the royal family, as we didn’t pass through the lobby and didn’t encounter any other nobles on the way.

The staff, who saw my attire and eye color, bowed deeply in shock.

This was always the reaction when I left the palace. I really couldn’t get used to it.

"If you need anything, please call a usher."

"Yes, thank you."

I answered, and the theater owner knocked on the door in front of the number 5 sign.

He then grabbed the handle and carefully turned it.

I expected to see the seats immediately, but a red curtain blocked my view.

She pulled the fabric and whispered to the person inside, "Prince Yeseo Penethian has arrived."

Then, a familiar middle-aged man walked out of the box.

"Prince Yeseo, welcome."

...So it’s come to this.

"Hello, David. Is the prince inside?"

"Yes, please come in."

The attendant smiled and gestured. I managed a smile. Well, it wasn’t surprising.

After all, the invitation was sent by the emperor, so it was unlikely he would give us a separate box.

She would have definitely brought her partner or son.

We followed him into the box.

"Wow..."

My mouth opened involuntarily. I immediately grabbed the balcony railing and was captivated by the theater’s view.

The high ceiling and the tiers dividing the seats were all gleaming gold.

From the fringes of the curtains to the decorations carved with past emperors, everything was bathed in gold.

The chandelier hanging from the top was as big as a house.

Dark red velvet enveloped all the seats and the stage, and the first floor was already packed with seated nobles.

The second and third-floor boxes were also full.

When I tilted my head, the fourth floor was also packed.

Amid the constant murmurs, the sound of the orchestra tuning their instruments could be heard intermittently.

"Everyone in town is here."

"That’s a disrespectful expression for the royal family."

A low voice echoed in my ear. I finally turned around.

The first guest in Box 5 was sitting in a chair, looking up at me.

His shining eyes under his black hair were like the star Aldebaran in the night sky.

If it weren’t for the Tarte Tatin, I wouldn’t have watched the opera with this guy.

But even if I could turn back time, I wouldn’t give up the Tarte Tatin that day, so I decided to accept the reality.

Besides, this was a meal.

In exchange for learning through the emperor that Eva was a legitimate duke, I agreed to fill her seat.

"When did you arrive? When we left the palace, only my carriage was there."

"Discuss my schedule with David."

No, I’m not trying to interfere with your schedule...

I swallowed a small sigh and sat down, leaving a space between us.

There were six chairs in the box.

With the three attendants, it felt quite crowded.

"Have you eaten?"

I asked the prince. He was chewing his words, as if he were hungry.

-Clack!

Suddenly, cold water hit my cheek. I was startled and looked up. Is there a leak in the roof?

"...Christel."

I muttered. Far away, I saw someone waving their arm from the opposite box.

The high, tied-up pink hair and blue jacket, and the water droplets dancing in front of her nose, were unmistakable signs of the main character.

I waved back in a daze.

The person standing next to her was Sir Haines, whom I had seen on the SRT.

When she suggested watching the opera together, she must have been talking about the opening performance of 'The Ghost of Padtrua.'

I smiled at the unexpected encounter.

"Can I come over?"

I said. It seemed Christel was asking that.

She pointed to herself with her finger and then poked me.

I was more than welcome.

Sitting side by side with the female and male lead in a dark box to watch the opera?

It was the ultimate plot development.

"Aether."

At that moment, the prince muttered in a voice that seemed to penetrate the floor. I looked at him.

"What did you say?"

"Insufficient."

His darkened irises and annoyed face suggested his condition had plummeted suddenly.

I couldn’t understand why he was suddenly acting this way. Usually, he would transform into 'Sedric' in such situations.

It was hard to gauge the situation because he was such an unpredictable person and didn’t talk about himself.

I saw the sword he had leaned against the wall.

"