[R18] King's Domination

The Duchess agreed.

"Yes. So it is not rare for the plot on opening day and fifty days later, a hundred days later, to be completely different."

Marchioness Schult agreed too. Are all three of them rather well informed?

"So you watch the audience’s reaction and the inside of the play changes in various ways?"

When I asked, all three nodded with faces that said of course!

"Because theater is a living thing. Watching the audience and changing it is natural."

"Yes. Theater is something the audience raises."

"It is a combined art of the side that plays and the side that watches, Lord Marie."

Haaa. That kind of feeling.

"Lord Robin says finish, but if you spend money from the start and it fails, what then? All the money you put in is wasted, yes? Then you open the curtain without spending much, watch the audience, and if it is well received you put money into costumes and sets little by little."

"As Her Majesty says. Theater is commoner entertainment, so if you spend money from the start the admission goes high and commoners cannot see it. So at first, to see the audience’s reaction, you make admission cheap, let many in, and watch. Linoa said that."

"Even so, Linoa said this play will absolutely land, hohoho."

That was how it was. This kind of thing must differ by country and by world. Even if Japan now is the kind of thing I know, long ago it may have felt the same as this country.

When we left the ducal residence, Marchioness Schult asked,

"Say, Lord Marie. Could I be shown once where you make the medicine?"

The Marchioness’s face was colored a little with mischief.

"I do not mind, but I will accept if Your Ladyship will serve as assistant."

When I answered, the Marchioness’s face went red at once.

"My!? Is that so? Am I all right? Oh no. What shall I do?"

She did not look entirely against it. Of course it was the face of someone who had heard from Her Majesty and the Duchess how the medicine is made. The slit-eyed looks Her Majesty and the Duchess gave the Marchioness were rather frightening.

—-

As planned, we went to see the play on opening day.

Against expectation, Rudolf’s wife Carla knew where Linoa’s theater was. Or rather, she had been to see it, and she had gone several times for plays she liked. In this world with little entertainment, watching theater is precious entertainment. I understood that late. Commoners of course, and nobles too, have little entertainment, so I think that is why so many people gathered and spent large sums to watch our clash with Count von Kirchhoff.

We took the invited box, a box seat, and were waiting for the curtain when an attendant came and handed me a slip of paper. Inside it said only,

"Please come here. Scarlett"

Lily looked at it.

"Who is Scarlett?"

Rudolf and Carla’s cheeks twitched.

"It is Her Majesty’s name. Lord Robin, I think you should go at once."

Rudolf said. So it turns into this kind of development after all, I thought, and said,

"Then I will go. I may not be back until the end."

"Understood."

"Take care."

I did not know what I was supposed to take care of, but they called after me and I left the box. The box the attendant led me to was two over. When I went in, Her Majesty and Anouk were there, and two young maids. The young maids saw me and their faces opened, happy.

"Lord Robin, welcome. I am sorry for forcing you to come."

Her Majesty said it, but in her heart she did not feel sorry at all, did she?

"Come, come, this seat please!"

I sat as Anouk urged. From outside, would it look like Her Majesty and I were sitting side by side? However you looked at it, it was the situation of a queen watching a play with a young lover, I thought.

That worry of mine seemed to get through. (Was my mind being read by Her Majesty?)

"Lord Robin, there is no need to worry. The inside cannot be seen from outside."

She said. A magic-mirror box instead of a magic-mirror car? Hidden cameras? Even without cameras, some magic like that? No, no. If we do not do that sort of thing, there is nothing to worry about.

"Lord Robin, this is the guide booklet for this play. Will you look?"

The small booklet Her Majesty held out had a colored cover, but it was a thin, flimsy thing. We had not had this in our box, had we?

"You have a puzzled face. This is one gold coin a copy. So even among nobles there are many who cannot reach for it so easily."

At Her Majesty’s words I pictured the poor ambassador, and an embassy still on tight accounts after just paying off its debt, unable to buy one.

"May I look?"

"Yes. Please."

I had Her Majesty’s leave. On the cover there was a title.

Robbie and Hannah, A Love Story

Eh!? What is this? Where in that clash is there a love story? I looked at Her Majesty’s face and she was smirking. Theater in this world does not use titles that explain the contents forever, like a light novel.

"Read the inside."

Pushed by Her Majesty, I turned the page. A list of characters and a synopsis were written.

Robbie Merry

The protagonist. Eleventh prince of a small country who came from a small country in the east. Sent as a hostage. Outstanding in martial skill, unlike his looks.

And so on. Aside from the age, is this not copied straight!? I thought. The words "personal information protection" could not exist here... Next,

Hannah Keyhoff

The protagonist’s lover. Eldest daughter of House Keyhoff. She falls in love with Robbie Merry at first sight at House Keyhoff’s ball, and they become mutual. Her father opposes it and they are torn apart. Robbie slips in at midnight to see Hannah, the father finds them, and a duel between the father and Robbie takes place.

It said that. I looked at Her Majesty.

"Um, does this woman Hannah actually exist?"

Her Majesty laughed, hohoho.

"Of course she does. Do you want to meet her?"

"Want to meet or not, I do not even know what kind of person she is."

"Hannah is Count von Kirchhoff’s niece. At the time of that clash she was watching from the veranda, I hear. And she became absorbed in Lord Robin. Seeing that active figure, and falling for the enemy prince even though he is fighting her uncle, how wonderful!!"

Is it all right to call that wonderful?

"And then she and I become lovers?"

"Yes. Well, it is theater, so it is free!"

Her Majesty said it as if it were nothing. The other three nodded too.

Whatever I said, everyone but me was affirming this script, so anything I said would be wasted. And a name I knew was listed.

Agnes Eisleben

Though a woman, the finest master of the bow in the kingdom. From a western tribe, she came to the royal capital to search for a future husband. Following the tribe’s rule that she take as husband one stronger than herself, she fights many men and is still undefeated. While she happened to be staying in the royal capital she was asked by an acquaintance, joined the fight between Prince Merry and House Keyhoff, and has a fated meeting.

I started and lifted my face. Her Majesty looked happy. What is this? This person is copied even more straight than I am, with nothing hidden. Is this all right?

"You are surprised, yes?"

Her Majesty’s face said she knew everything.

"Lady Eisleben?"

"Yes! That Eisleben. She herself will appear. Using her real name and appearing herself were both her strong wishes, I hear. When I saw yesterday’s run-through she was already so gallant!! In the play she is a beauty who stands as a pair with Lord Robbie! I cannot wait for the audience’s reaction!!"

Her Majesty shook a fist and stressed it, and Anouk added,

"Lady Eisleben has a beauty not of this world. Yesterday she came to greet Her Majesty, and it cannot be put in words!? Ah, will she come today as well? If she comes here in costume I will die!"

Anouk, that may be death by heart-throb.

So this was Eisleben’s business. I want the contents to be fiction. Please let it be the playwright’s invention.