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Chapter 753: Talia Can't Even Remember the Lyrics
Chapter 753: Talia Can't Even Remember the Lyrics
Ten minutes later.
Backstage at the main stage of the Brillirda Opera House.
The area was dimly lit, with props and decorations piled up in the corners, and only a few small lamps emitting a soft glow.
On the fire-proof carpeted floor, several staff members in beige work clothes scurried back and forth.
As the residual sound from the previous act faded, the staff confirmed the stage was ready using short-range walkie-talkies, then nodded to the actors.
In an instant, the orchestra struck up the prelude, and the music gradually wafted through the curtain, a beam of light illuminating its edge and shining on the steps.
Even backstage, one could hear the sounds from the stage.
"Lan, Lanchi, what should we do?"
At this moment, the lead actors, Lanchi and Talia, were dressed in their costumes, oblivious to the bustling crowd around them as they pored over their scripts.
If they could help Abigail, perhaps her favorability would soar, and their chances of success—whether in private negotiations or subsequent matters—would be greatly improved.
But now they realized just how difficult it was to fulfill their promise.
"Just remember as much as you can. Thankfully, we've read the original work, and this is just an adaptation of one of its chapters."
Lanchi replied without lifting his head, communicating via mind link.
Even though the performance had already begun, their part was not due yet.
The story was set during the Holy War era of the Protoss Empire.
First, some historical context needed to be provided.
The Gray Princess chapter took place before the Holy War had erupted, long before the historical figure, Great Emperor Franklin, rose to prominence, and the world as they knew it today had yet to take shape.
Back then, the Protoss Empire maintained diplomatic relations with the Demon Realm, and due to their relative backwardness compared to the highly advanced Demon Realm, demons held esteemed positions in the Protoss Empire.
The story's female lead was a human girl, while the male lead was a demon governor assigned to oversee the planning and development of that province.
The female lead, Gray Girl, was initially the beloved daughter of a noble family in the Protoss Empire. However, after her father passed away, her stepmother and stepsisters treated her like a servant, subjecting her to all manner of hardships.
Despite her difficult life, she retained her kindness and optimism.
One day, the governor hosted a grand banquet, inviting the local nobles to discuss the province's future development.
Gray Girl was qualified to attend, but her stepmother and stepsister mocked her and forbade her from going, instead assigning her all the household chores. All Gray Girl could do was cry alone in a corner.
Then, the kind Cupid Cat appeared.
It was the most magical cat in the world, transforming playing cards into a magnificent carriage, doves into coachmen and servants, and providing Gray Girl with a dress, a pair of magical shoes, and the chance to attend the banquet.
However, Gray Girl had to return before the clock struck midnight, or the magic would wear off.
At the banquet, Gray Girl and the governor met. At first, the demon governor thought this stunningly beautiful human woman was all looks and no brains, and intended to make a fool of her. But in the end, he was the one left dizzy and bewildered by the clever Gray Girl, and he unexpectedly discovered that she was a talented woman. Before he knew it, he had enjoyed a delightful conversation with her.
As the clock struck midnight, Gray Girl nearly forgot about the time and hurriedly fled, accidentally leaving behind one of her magical shoes. The governor was left in a daze, and he could only search for the owner of that shoe. But it weighed a thousand pounds, and no woman could possibly walk in it.
The governor, now smitten, decided to search the entire province for the owner of the shoe.
One morning, Gray Girl's stepmother locked her in the attic, and her stepsister tried on the magical shoe but couldn't move her feet.
With the help of Cupid Cat, Gray Girl appeared before the governor and effortlessly slipped on the shoe.
And so, she was brought back to the governor's mansion, leading to the final scene of the governor's heartfelt confession to Gray Girl.
The story meticulously adhered to the historical context of that era.
In ancient times, the Protoss Empire had learned much from the Demon Realm, and after their defeat many years later, they were ruled and developed by the demons, leaving behind many demon legacies. Even in the construction of the imperial capital, Hellrom, one could discern the indelible influence of the Demon Realm.
The Protoss people could neither forgive the demons nor erase their traces from their lands, a perpetual entanglement.
But that was a story for another time.
When the "Holy War Romance" story began, the flames of war had not yet ignited, and demons and Protoss coexisted peacefully.
However, should a demon and a human fall in love during those times, a path full of snow and thorns awaited them...
"I understand the plot, but how am I supposed to act it out?"
Talia kept glancing at the time, and even though she possessed a bit of Great Poet's talent for song and dance, having absorbed the Great Poet's skills, she felt hopeless about pulling off a flawless performance during this rehearsal-turned-actual-show.
The only good news was that to ensure a smooth performance, there would be two actors playing the female lead.
At the beginning of the show, another actor would handle the minor role of Gray Girl before her transformation—the dirty and disheveled girl. Talia would take over for the subsequent scenes, playing the elegant Gray Princess who interacted with the governor.
And so, Talia had a little more time left to prepare backstage.
"These lines are so hard to remember," she muttered, her brows furrowed in concentration.
Lanchi scratched his head, equally perplexed. While he had skimmed through the original "Holy War Romance," he was just a reader, and it was impossible to memorize all the lines after just one read.
The only part that was truly ingrained in his memory was the final "confession" from the Gray Princess chapter.
"I can't remember it all either!" exclaimed Talia, her face scrunched up in frustration.
She had never felt so overwhelmed, and just thinking about having to perform the "cute enough to eat you up" segment later made her cheeks flush and her heart race uncontrollably.
Like students cramming for a final exam, the two of them frantically flipped through their scripts, desperately trying to memorize as much as they could in the little time they had left!
......
Onstage, at that very moment.
As the stairs gave way to a spacious opera hall, the grandeur of the setting was revealed—three stories of golden boxes ascended along the walls.
Thousands of dark velvet seats with golden trim were neatly arranged, filled with enthusiastic audience members.
Soft background music played as the lights slowly illuminated the stage, and a spotlight shone on its center.
Huddled next to an old, dilapidated stove was the Gray Girl, dressed in a maid's outfit, her face weary and hopeless.
"Oh heavens, I'm so tired and hungry... But my stepmother won't let me rest, forcing me to work tirelessly... Father, if your spirit is still out there, why must I endure such torment?" she sobbed.
"If... if you were still here, how different things would be..."
The Gray Girl sang a mournful song, recounting her unfortunate circumstances.
"Fallen leaves wither in the cold wind, as blurry tears gaze at the stars. Stepmother's cruel words wound my heart, Father in heaven, can you hear me? Sisters as cruel as demons, relentless in their bullying and humiliation. Kitchen smoke and fire sting my eyes, and the grime on my face won't wash away..."
Her song was abruptly interrupted by a knock on the door. She hurriedly got up to answer it.
The demon governor's messenger strode in, head held high.
"By order of the governor, a grand banquet will be held at the governor's mansion tonight, and all invited guests from the province may attend. The governor will be selecting a suitable wife from among the eligible young ladies," the messenger announced with a booming voice.
"Ah, if it weren't for the governor's intention to go against the demon world, he wouldn't be making such a fuss about marrying a human," he added, his voice dropping to a barely audible whisper as his expression softened.
The messenger tossed the invitation aside and turned to leave with a flourish.
The Gray Girl watched him depart, clutching the invitation close to her heart, filled with joy.
"Thank you, Goddess! This is my chance to turn my life around. As long as I get to meet the governor, I know I can win him over with my knowledge and persuade him to help me restore my family's honor," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with hope.
However, her joy was short-lived. In the shadows at the side of the stage, her stepmother and eldest stepsister had overheard the news and quickly made their way over, their steps purposeful and menacing. They snatched the invitation from the Gray Girl's hands.
"Tsk, what's the big deal about some banquet? And in your current state, with your head full of ashes and face covered in dirt, you'd only scare the governor away!" the stepmother scoffed.
"Yeah, who goes to a ball looking like a hobo?!''
"You little gray cat, just go back to your pathetic dreams. Don't go embarrassing our entire family!" the younger stepsister chimed in.
"Listen, you'd better stay put at home tonight and finish all the chores! If you dare go to the ball, I'll break your legs!" the stepmother threatened.
Satisfied with their intimidation, the three women left the stage, their laughter echoing in the background.
The spotlight now illuminated only the Gray Girl's lonely figure in the darkness.
"Boo hoo..."
Her face fell, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
She sang with a mournful and despondent tone.
"How many bitter tears have fallen, and all my ambitious dreams are shattered. The candle's wick has burned out, and in the mirror, I see a haggard face. How can I, a lowly and humble soul, ever hope to meet the governor? Even if I dare to wish for such a thing, my body has no wings to soar..."
As she sang, the Gray Girl stretched out her hand as if to reach for hope, but it fell back powerlessly.
Her body slumped to the floor, and she burst into sobs, her heart filled with immense sorrow.
Night fell, and the stepmother and stepsisters, dressed to the nines, left for the ball.
The Gray Girl remained alone in the house, eventually falling asleep by the flickering candlelight.
At this point, the audience in the theater broke into applause.
Everything had proceeded normally so far.
Both the actors' performances and the opera's production value were top-notch, leaving the audience feeling that their ticket purchases had been well worth it.
However, this scene wasn't over yet.
The Gray Girl, dressed like a vagrant, fell into a cold and hungry slumber next to the stove.
Suddenly, a dazzling white light appeared, and Cat Immortal made his entrance. He resembled a beastman of the Black Cat Tribe, with a cat's head and a human body. He wore a mesmerizing misty robe and held a staff, surrounded by a mystical aura.
"Child, wipe away your tears. Your kindness has touched the heavens. I am the messenger of the God of Love and Will, and I shall lend you a helping hand with my divine powers," Cat Immortal said, his voice accompanied by ethereal music.
He gently woke the Gray Girl, who was curled up next to the coal stove.
"A messenger of Cupid?"
The Gray Girl stirred as if from a dream.
"Did you hear my plea from the depths of my heart?"
And so, the time for Gray Girl's transformation had arrived.
"Worry not, child. As long as you believe in wishes and dreams, anything is possible. Now, cards and doves, heed my call!"
With a benevolent smile, Cat Immortal waved his staff, and a dazzling beam of light appeared.
Countless cards fluttered towards him, forming a carriage as magnificent as a card house, while a group of black and white doves transformed into uniformed maidservants. Hidden within the mist, Gray Girl seized the opportunity to dash back onstage.
All that remained was for the transformed Gray Princess to make her entrance, and the perfect switch could take place to begin the next act.
"Magical wand, obey my command!"
Cat Immortal waved his staff and chanted aloud.
"Cuuuuute—transformation!"
He finished the incantation.
Light burst forth, but when the mist cleared, nothing had happened. The stage was devoid of any sign of the Gray Princess.
There was no movement backstage either.
Cat Immortal paused, looking around in confusion.
He quickly waved his staff again, and the mist and music returned.
"Gentle breeze of the night, scattering petals, oh Cupid, let your voice gently echo through the world."
This was the sacred dance dedicated to Cupid, imitating the god of love.
The prayer soared above the square and reached the pinnacle of the stage.
"Under your blessing, may our bond flourish."
Cat Immortal recited loudly,
"Cuuuuute transformation!"
"...!"
This time, not only the stage fell silent, but the audience as well.
"Cuuuuute transformation!" Cat Immortal persisted, unconvinced, spinning around with his staff in hand.
Still, the Gray Princess failed to appear.
"Again!"
"Transform, I say!!"
"Come out already, dammit!!"
...
Backstage at that moment.
Actors and prop crew members scurried back and forth, busy with their tasks.
Occasionally, an extra passed by and noticed the leading actors rehearsing their lines.
"Why aren't you two getting ready yet?"
"Just one more look, that's all."
Talia's hands were crumpling the script.
Theoretically, Talia could go onstage first, and Lanchi could feed her the lines from backstage. However, Lanchi was also in a tight spot, frantically memorizing his lines, leaving him unable to help Talia.
They both regretted agreeing to Abigail's request.
They had heard that the actors stayed up all night memorizing their lines and rehearsed for hundreds of hours to meet the performance standards.
How could they possibly remember all their lines in just a few minutes!
...
In the province of Thuringia, within the city of Nestro.
The warm glow from the first-floor windows resembled a cozy family gathering.
In the living room, in front of the magical wallpaper screen.
"Hmm, why is the prelude so long?"
Huberian sat on the sofa, munching on sunflower seeds, waiting for the next act to begin.
"Well, they like to build suspense before the exciting parts. It's already good that they're not playing ads," Sinora explained to Huberian.
However, she was also looking forward to the male lead, the governor, making his entrance. What if he turned out to be incredibly handsome?
Nowadays, she not only paid attention to a man's looks but also his inner qualities and charm. As she thought about it, she realized that Lanchi stood out in this regard, but he was so perfect that she found him a bit unreal, and thus, her expectations lessened.
"But why do I feel like this guy on stage is about to go crazy?"
Antanas pointed at the screen as she spoke.
She saw Cat Immortal dancing everything except the street dance.
"It's probably not a performance accident. Special Easter eggs during the public screening are quite a normal arrangement," replied Brynhildr, her eyes mostly on the book in her hand, occasionally glancing up.
Under the new executive, the Brierda Opera House emphasized media and educational promotions, launching various educational projects to popularize opera art. The "Global Live" project brought live performances to media terminals and theaters worldwide through high-definition films.
The opera house also offered lectures, seminars, and backstage tours to attract audiences of all ages and had become one of the most influential high-end cultural centers in Brierda City. There was absolutely no chance of a significant performance accident.
...
Time passed slowly.
"Transform, transform, transform, transform—!"
The voice echoing from the stage was on the verge of cracking.
"What are you doing?!?"
Abigail rushed backstage from the audience and, seeing Talia still hesitating, flew into a rage.
"Auntie, get out there now!!"
Abigail pushed Talia towards the curtain.
"Ahhh! Lanchi, save me!"
Talia turned back, her steps moving forward while her eyes pleaded for help through their mental link.
She felt that with her nerves, she couldn't remember a single line.
"...!"
Lanchi was still burying his head in his script, hoping that at least one of them would remember their lines.
He believed that no matter what happened, he could improvise and turn the situation around.
(End of Chapter)
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