During the curtain call, William stepped back onto the stage, looking more radiant and fulfilled than I had ever seen him before.
I clapped so hard my hands hurt, but my attention kept drifting to the person sitting beside me.
The one in the pink dress, who had been laughing the hardest, was now gasping for air.
The individual in the gray suit was desperately loosening the corset of their companion’s dress.
Once freed, the pink-dressed person yanked off their braided wig, revealing a sharp, dashing face.
In a deep, smooth voice, they turned to their gray-suited companion and said,
“Hah… That was suffocating. So this is what you go through all the time? What a valuable experience.”
“You…”
The person in the pink dress and the one in the gray suit exchanged smiles.
As it turned out, the special dress code for tonight’s performance required men to wear women’s attire and women to dress as men.
Of course, I was also in formal men’s wear—a sleek black suit.
And Leo? He was in a tea-colored dress.
I had suggested he choose a more vibrant color, as he was strikingly beautiful in women’s attire, but he insisted on matching my hair color.
Leo had gone all out—wearing high heels, even applying perfume.
He looked so stunning that I briefly worried he might develop a habit of dressing this way, but my concerns were quickly put to rest when he muttered, “This level of discomfort is something I will never endure again. Rosie, from now on, you should also dress in the most comfortable clothing possible. I wonder if we could just eradicate corsets entirely…”
At first, I assumed the dress code was meant to discourage nobles who knew our faces well from attending, making it easier for us to sneak in unnoticed.
But perhaps it was actually a fundamental part of the play’s concept itself.
By the time the performance ended, all around us, husbands and wives, couples and lovers alike seemed to be deepening their mutual understanding in unexpected ways.
※※※
The Royal Palace’s Office on the Night of the First Performance
In the king’s study, only two figures remained—the Prime Minister and His Majesty the King.
The Prime Minister looked at the slightly flushed face of the King and advised,
“Your Majesty, you’ve had quite a bit to drink at tonight’s banquet with the Duke. Perhaps it would be best if you retired for the night?”
The King furrowed his brows and responded with his usual stern demeanor,
“Hmph. That damn Duke! Did he think getting me drunk would make my tongue looser?”
The Prime Minister chuckled knowingly.
“Quite the opposite, in fact. When Your Majesty drinks, you only grow more silent. …Though, in truth, alcohol makes you rather honest, doesn’t it? I may be the only one who knows that you force yourself to keep quiet in order to hide it.”
The King let out a short breath before replying,
“That’s right. You’re the only one who truly understands me.”
0 Comments