Chapter 022
Viviana let out a deep sigh.
She wiped the makeup off her face with her tired hands. No matter how seasoned she was, performing on stage every day was taxing, even for someone with steel-like stamina.
Moreover, Viviana held the position of the lead actress, responsible for the entire play.
But what troubled Viviana even more was undoubtedly…
“Viviana, have you thought about my proposal?”
These kinds of people.
The men who flaunted their wealth and tried to crush Viviana with their condescending attitudes. Viviana gritted her teeth and glared at the servant.
These men were supposed to be protecting her, but instead, they were taking money to open the door to her dressing room. It was the opera director who had assigned this servant to her. Viviana imagined scratching the opera director’s face.
“Why are you glaring like a wildcat?”
A man with a thick belly leaned against Viviana’s vanity table, leering at her.
“Viviana, aren’t you tired? You don’t have to work so hard if you’re with me.”
The man casually traced his fingers down Viviana’s arm.
“What are you doing?!”
Viviana shouted hysterically and stepped back. Her cold, piercing blue eyes bore into the man.
“Oh, this isn’t right. Didn’t I mention that I’m sponsoring this opera house this time?”
Damn it. Viviana cursed under her breath where only she could hear. Life is unfair. They allowed someone like that to have enough money to sponsor, while giving nothing to Viviana, who works so hard.
Viviana would bet all ten fingers that the opera director, who accepted that money, had sold her out.
Viviana looked around. Her vanity table was filled with many things that could protect her. She’d rather die than be taken advantage of by this man. And she’d rather kill him than be with him. Even if she spent the rest of her life in prison, it would be better than being with him.
Viviana picked up a long hair ornament.
“Don’t come any closer!”
Viviana pointed the sharp end at him.
“Oh, Viviana! Is that really necessary? We could discuss this calmly…”
“I’m not joking!”
Viviana swung what she was holding. The blunt end struck the man’s flesh, and only then did he realize that she wasn’t kidding.
“You filthy bxtch! You have no idea how serious the crime of injuring a noble is! You’ll rot in prison for the rest of your life!”
“That’s still better!!”
Viviana struggled. The man, trying to avoid her flailing, pulled up his pants. Viviana muttered curses as she saw his fat belly jiggling.
“You worthless scum without any conscience!”
“Get the opera director here right now!!”
As expected. Just as Viviana was about to swing the hair ornament at him…
Clang!
The hair ornament flew from Viviana’s hand and rolled across the floor. Something had struck her hand forcefully.
“Ah, ah. Thank you! This wretched woman was causing a commotion, not knowing her place! How dare she act so boldly!”
“Shut up.”
At the cold, indifferent voice, Viviana raised her head. She had expected him to throw her to that man.
The crimson eyes were filled with contempt for the man.
‘Crimson eyes!’
There is only one man in the empire famous for his crimson eyes.
‘The Crown Prince…!’
Unfortunately, the man had also realized this fact. The fat rat, who had been flaunting his wealth and status, collapsed on the floor.
“Your Highness! I didn’t recognize you and acted rudely! It was all due to my confusion, so please forgive me…!”
“Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”
Alejandro muttered irritably. The buzzing noise was giving him a headache. The man, who read the emotion in Alejandro’s voice, clamped his mouth shut.
Thud.
Viviana couldn’t keep herself upright and collapsed. As she sat there, someone else entered the room, now somewhat organized.
“Your Highness! Let’s go together… Oh my.”
It was a woman with charming pink hair partially tied up. Her cat-like eyes were a vivid golden color. Viviana had heard of this woman.
‘Evelina Regnis…!’
There were rumors that the fallen Regnis family’s woman had captivated the Crown Prince. The opera house, being a place where rumors gather, had heard all sorts of stories.
People said Evelina was like a sly raccoon or a fox, but seeing her in person, she appeared as lovely as a cat.
“My goodness. What’s going on here?”
The woman who had entered mumbled curses that were too harsh to hear at the man.
“You know how to talk like that?”
“I can do worse. I’m holding back because the Crown Prince is here.”
Her bright smile was quite endearing. It seemed she was naturally that way. Evelina draped a shawl over Viviana. After surveying the mess in the room, Evelina sighed.
“I rushed over because I thought that pervert might do something, but it seems I’m late. You’re seeing me for the first time, right? I’m…”
“Evelina… Regnis.”
“That’s right, Viviana.”
Evelina smiled brightly. Her beaming smile seemed to illuminate even Viviana’s life, making tears well up for some reason.
While Viviana struggled to hold back her tears, Evelina stayed by her side, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
* * *
Is this why he works so hard to earn money, to live like this?
She stuck out his tongue. The Carlton Opera House director was full of greed. That pervert had withdrawn all the sponsorship money he had contributed. The only reason he backed down was that he was wary of Alejandro.
However, the opera director had no intention of releasing Viviana until he received the full amount of the lost sponsorship money.
It turned out that Viviana had borrowed quite a large sum from the opera director. To take care of her younger siblings, she needed a significant amount of money.
Viviana had enrolled all her younger siblings in prestigious academies. She didn’t want them to live as she did.
Anyway, I managed to give the director the amount he wanted and get Viviana out. It cost quite a bit, but Viviana would earn more than that, so it wasn’t a waste at all.
It’s not a waste, not a waste… Actually, maybe just a little bit of a waste.
Feeling a bit empty, I rummaged through my bag, and Viviana spoke up.
“You didn’t need to do that, milady. Even if you had just sold me off, I…”
“You didn’t want to go.”
“Milady…”
“You didn’t want to go, did you? So why are you saying that? It doesn’t seem like the right thing to say right now.”
Viviana’s blue eyes trembled. She must have been through a lot emotionally. But perhaps because she was so beautiful, even her pitiable state looked truly lovely.
A beauty I definitely wanted for myself.
“Just say thank you.”
“…Please speak more casually, milady. To someone like me, a commoner…”
“Hmm, fine. Viviana, in times like this, just say thank you. The deed is done, and I came here to take you from the start.”
Viviana’s eyes widened.
“Why would you, milady…”
“Why, you ask? Have you heard about the fashion show I held recently?”
Viviana nodded. Given the buzz it had caused in social circles, there’s no way she didn’t know.
“I’m preparing for the second runway show. I’d like Viviana to be the main model for it.”
“…I don’t have the ability for that, milady.”
“No. That’s for me to decide.”
This sister is saying strange things. With her looks, she could use her appearance as her weapon and her wealth. With looks like that, she would have dominated as an influencer in South Korea.
Anyway.
“I want Viviana to continue modeling for our magazine.”
“…No one will buy a magazine with someone like me in it.”
Seeing her self-esteem so shattered, it seems she has really been through a rough time. Life is often like that. What seems easy can become difficult, and what seems hard can become manageable. Viviana is just going through such a phase.
“That’s not true at all. I only invest in things that are profitable.”
“……”
“I believe Viviana will become someone who brings in money for me. If you can’t trust yourself, how about trusting me instead?”
Viviana blinked with tearful eyes.
“I’m confident about this.”
