Chapter 3 : Swanfire
“Why are you apologizing? I’m just… surprised. How should I put it? You’ve always seemed a little indifferent—even when you were the star of the stage. Despite all your intense training.”
Tony continued speaking cheerfully as he studied Karen’s reflection in the mirror.
“Well, I suppose you should glam up a little more if you’re going to play the role of the seductive spy.”
Tonight’s performance was based on the story of Mata Hari, the famed dancer and spy from India, and Karen wore an extravagant Indian costume. Given the nature of the role, it was fitting to go as bold as possible with the makeup.
“Hmm… but you know, Karen.”
“Yes?”
“Is your lover coming to see the performance tonight, by any chance?”
He couldn’t help but ask. After observing Karen for so long, there was only one explanation for her sudden and uncharacteristic request.
“Am I right? Your boyfriend is coming, isn’t he?”
“No, Tony. You know me. I have no intention of seeing anyone.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Why don’t you date someone? Since you’re not seeing anyone, the men upstairs keep pushing harder…”
Tony, who had been speaking casually, abruptly stopped—realizing his slip—and clamped his mouth shut.
Most ballerinas had patrons.
They called it sponsorship, but in truth, it was little more than being a mistress to a businessman or nobleman.
The dancers offered their beauty for nights of pleasure, and in return, the patrons provided support and protection.
Such arrangements were not only common in the capital but actively encouraged within the ballet troupe.
Those in higher positions, looking to strengthen ties with the nobility, often played the role of matchmakers.
Karen too had received such offers. Naturally so—she was the most enchanting presence on stage.
It was no coincidence she held the title of Étoile among dozens of ballerinas in the troupe.
Karen Chanier was uniquely beautiful—
In her appearance, and in her dance.
With every step she took in her ballet shoes, flowers seemed to bloom, the night descended, and butterflies soared.
But beautiful blossoms tend to attract many insects.
There were countless powerful men who desired Karen. Yet, she had never worn the black choker that symbolized a ballerina sponsored by a man.
Though she was the most acclaimed dancer in the capital, not a single rumor linked her to a man. Not even a hint of scandal—only fueling the persistence of those powerful suitors.
But it wasn’t Karen’s fault. It was the fault of the beastly men who tried to claim a woman by force.
Tony wished he could bite his tongue for saying something that might’ve sounded accusatory—when that hadn’t been his intention at all.
“It’s okay, Tony.”
As if she could see straight into his thoughts, Karen smiled gently and looked at his face reflected in the mirror.
“I know you always worry about me.”
“I’m sorry…”
“I know you didn’t mean it in a bad way. So don’t apologize for anything.”
The woman who normally responded to compliments about her beauty with polite, awkward smiles… was now smiling with a serene warmth, as if comforting him.
Just like the expressions she wore on stage.
In moments like these, Tony found Karen deeply astonishing.
She might seem lacking in social skills sometimes, keeping her distance from others, yet in moments like this—she seemed to understand the hearts of people better than anyone else.
Even after working with her for so long, Tony still felt he knew so very little about Karen.
“I’ll adjust your eye makeup right away!”
Trying to change the mood, Tony eagerly reached for the eyeshadow palette.
Tap tap tap tap—
Just then, someone knocked hastily on the dressing room door.
“Come in.”
At Karen’s voice, the door swung open, and in walked none other than the director, Mark.
“Director…?”
“Are you fully ready?”
“Yes, I am.”
There wasn’t much time left. Unfortunately, there would be no time to darken her eye makeup after all.
“It’s chaos out there.”
“What’s going on?”
This time, it was Tony who responded to Mark’s words—not Karen, who was too busy applying lipstick to deepen the color of her lips.
“The Duke Cloyne has arrived!”
And with those words, Karen’s hand—mid-stroke with the lipstick—froze in place.
“Because of that, it’s pure madness outside. All our little swans are giddy, hoping they might catch a new patron.”
Tony stirred noisily beside her, but Director Mark’s gaze remained fixed on Karen. A few days ago, during rehearsal, he’d grown concerned when she had shown interest in Arcturus Cloyne after reading about him in the newspaper.
The head of a noble family steeped in history and prestige. A businessman so wealthy, people joked he collected all the money in the world. And Karen—who had never shown the slightest interest in any man before.
But if it was Arcturus Cloyne… might things be different?
Regardless of his power and fortune, his looks alone were enough to steal a woman’s breath.
If she were ever to choose a powerful man—wouldn’t she want a handsome one, too?
“Karen… Could it be that you too—”
“There’s not much time left.”
But… was it a misunderstanding that Karen had shown interest in Arcturus Cloyne?
“I need to head backstage now.”
She never mentioned Arcturus Cloyne.
‘Right… It’s not like I’ve known her for just a year or two…’
Mark had known Karen for a full five years.
Though Arcturus Cloyne had been a public figure long before that, Karen had never once shown any interest in the man.
In fact, she had never so much as glanced at any man.
Mark nodded, oddly comforted by Karen’s unchanged demeanor.
“Thank you again today, Tony.”
Karen, who greeted Tony as always, stepped into the wings backstage.
Now, only a few minutes remained before she would step onto the stage.
Karen readied herself for the upcoming performance by stretching her ankles and neck.
Backstage, it wasn’t just the ballerinas—there were stagehands, members of the orchestra, lighting technicians…
“Is it just me, or do you seem more nervous than usual today?”
To find the time to provoke her at a moment like this, with so many eyes watching—
Karen swallowed a sigh and turned toward Alice, who stood before her with arms folded.
Originally, before Karen joined Swan Ballet, Alice had been the favorite to become the next Étoile.
But now, after being overshadowed by Karen for years without ever securing a lead role, she had every reason to resent her.
“Even you, who always acted so high and mighty, now want to catch Duke Cloyne’s eye because he’s here… isn’t that right?”
“…..”
“You always behaved like you were above us.”
In truth, Karen had never acted superior to the other dancers. She never looked down on those who accepted patrons. She respected their choices.
But while she had always respected her colleagues—they had never returned that respect.
She saw how they criticized her for every little thing.
Karen had no intention of explaining herself to Alice. No desire to justify her choices.
“Alice. You’re always trying to bring me down, but…”
Suddenly, Director Mark, standing nearby, gestured toward Karen.
The lights dimmed. The soft music began. It was time to go on stage.
“The truth is, I know you admire me.”
She knew those words would wound Alice—whose heart seethed with envy and inferiority—far more than any cutting remark.
Karen didn’t bother looking at Alice’s face. With makeup on, it was surely red with fury. No need to turn back.
She ascended the steps and moved toward the stage.
What mattered now was not Alice, drowning in her inferiority complex—
But this performance.
More than anything else, this stage was what mattered to Karen.
