According to the First Prince, it all started back in middle school when we went to see a play together. That performance completely captivated him, igniting a passion for acting. He wanted to perform on stage, to become an actor and take on all sorts of roles.
But as the First Prince, that was impossible. He agonized over it for days, unable to find a solution—until he finally confided in the Second Prince.
Despite their usual rivalry, the two brothers had actually been close, united by their shared struggle under their excessively strict father.
After hearing the First Prince’s plight, the Second Prince admitted something himself—he had fallen in love with me, his brother’s fiancée.
Since the First Prince had never viewed me as anything more than a friend, he saw this as an opportunity and devised the entire scheme.
Still struggling to process this, I asked hesitantly,
“Then… what about Lady Tiara and Stefan the janitor?”
“Their performances were quite convincing, weren’t they? I scouted them and had them act for an entire year. Lady Tiara and I spent a lot of time together because she was actually coaching me on acting. Do you remember the play we watched together—The Prince and the Pauper? She played the pauper.”
“What!? But… wasn’t the pauper a boy? Are you saying Lady Tiara is the same person?”
My mouth hung open in shock.
At that moment, Lady Tiara suddenly dropped her usual delicate tone, her voice transforming into that of a lively young boy. She even adjusted her posture to match, exuding a playful, boyish energy.
“That’s right! I live for moments like this—it’s an actor’s greatest joy! I had a blast playing this role, but honestly, I’m a muscle fanatic at heart. My real love is Stefan. I never had any romantic feelings for the First Prince. I was hired for a year to help support my struggling theater company, which was facing financial difficulties due to renovation costs.”
Now that Lady Tiara had switched personas so completely, she really did look like a boy. She even started playfully running her hands over Stefan’s chest muscles.
Her behavior was so convincingly masculine that the scene almost felt like I was witnessing a same-sex couple being affectionate. My face flushed, and I quickly averted my gaze.
As I did, the Second Prince gently took my hand and spoke.
“Honestly, we wanted to tell you and ask for your cooperation. But Rosie… you’re too honest. We were afraid the King would see right through you, so we kept you in the dark for an entire year. I’m really, truly sorry for making you suffer.”
Looking at the Second Prince, who resembled a large dog with drooping ears, I felt the lingering bitterness in my chest start to fade.
“Being left out was lonely… but I think the hardships I endured made me a little stronger. And right now, I’m happy. So, I’ll let it go. I look forward to seeing all of you perform on stage one day.”
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