"The Prince actor is quite handsome, but his expressions are too stiff," said Margery.
"Ah, it's him," Roland said with a hint of surprise. "The Dawn's first Knight of the West, now teaching at Border Town. Not exactly an actor." "Not an actor?" the merchantwoman exclaimed. "Then he can still perform?" "Limited cast," he chuckled. "Look at the other two—those props movers. If they played Prince, it'd be... downright unflattering." "...You're right." Erin, now in full regalia, stood by as Mei approached Philin Shilt. She placed her hand on his shoulder and began to sway with him—though not in a dance. Erin realized this was Mei's improvisation, as the scene hadn't been rehearsed.
The elder sister tried every trick to seduce Prince, but he remained unmoved, merely exchanging polite words until Cinderella appeared before him, drawing his gaze entirely to the radiant, charming woman with her bright eyes and pearly teeth. Irene knew that if she approached, Filling would play out the script by tossing Mei aside, staging a love story of instant attraction. Yet everyone could see that her current dazed state held no appeal compared to Mei. Why would Prince abandon the more beautiful and captivating woman for her rather ordinary self?
Just then, she saw Fei Lin's gaze fixed on him.
There is helplessness, comfort, encouragement, and love.
Eileen felt the stage suddenly fall silent. The townspeople's laughter, shouts, and chatter had vanished, and the theater's friends were gone too. Only May, Philin, and herself remained on stage.
True, her acting skills fall far short of Star of the West. But should she just give up and admit defeat?
No, a voice whispered in Irene's heart. She wanted to keep performing. This was her rare chance—or perhaps her last. If she gave up, she might never again have the opportunity to share the stage with such an exceptional actress.
She aspires to emulate Mei, whose every gesture and movement can energize the audience, drawing everyone's attention to herself.
I'm sorry, Mei.
She said to herself.
If Prince were a male lead in a theater, she'd struggle to muster the courage to compete. Now, it's nearly impossible for her to outperform Star of the West with her acting skills.
But he isn't. He's the dawn's first light, my love. Irene, please forgive my pettiness—I refuse to lose to you in his presence.
The stage vanished, revealing a golden wheat field before Eileen. The golden ears of wheat hung heavy, swaying gently in the evening breeze, awaiting harvest. In the distance, the setting sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the slowly flowing Chishui River. This was their usual rendezvous spot. Amid the crimson and orange twilight, Prince transformed back into Knight, the one they had loved long ago.
Just by revealing her most beautiful side to him, she could keep his gaze fixed on her... It wasn't acting, but being her true self. Ailin picked up the troublesome robe, tied it into a knot, and walked toward Feilin.
Confidence returned to her heart, and everything felt natural. As she approached Knight, she smiled at Mei, who instinctively let go of the hand resting on his shoulder.
"Can I dance with you?" she asked.
A familiar smile flickered at Philin's eyes. "Of course, Miss." Though not as skilled as Mei, Knight's performance under her guidance became more natural. Their chemistry captivated the audience, who began clapping and whistling, soon followed by cheers erupting from the crowd.
The clamor brought Irene back to the stage. She tiptoed over, kissed Prince on the cheek, then pushed him aside and dashed backstage. Meanwhile, the square was filled with the deep tolling of bells, their distant echoes from the mountains—precisely twelve.
Soon, the play comes to an end, which is the climax of the whole play.
Prince searched the outer city door to door until he finally reached Cinderella's home. By then, the little girl had already changed into a dirty gray dress, holding a broom and being shunned by her sister. Yet her sister remained beautiful and could still wear the magic crystal shoes.
"Your Highness, what are you still hesitating about? I am the one you've been searching for." "No, she's not." "You... shut up!" Though Mei's demeanor now matched her earlier intensity, if not more so, Eileen had no longer flinched. She emerged from the corner, advancing steadily toward the center of the stage, meeting the other's gaze with an unyielding, defiant expression.
The crowd applauded for this wonderful scene.
Just then, the Witch suddenly appeared. With a flick of her wrist, she had Cinderella don the evening gown again— 'Your Royal Highness, she is the one you seek.' Roxie yanked the gray robe from Irene, revealing the evening gown beneath. Almost simultaneously, her coiled hair burst loose. After smoothing it back, the Cinderella who had stolen Prince's heart reappeared before the crowd, her demeanor as unpredictable as ever.
The atmosphere in the hall was instantly ignited.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Prince and Cinderella embraced, with the venue erupting in a timely salute that brought the atmosphere to its peak. The prolonged applause and cheers merged into one, continuing until the ending narration began, the actors bowed and exited, yet the applause never ceased.
"This was absolutely brilliant," Margery exclaimed, clapping her hands in admiration. "I thought the young girl would be completely overshadowed by Mei, but she managed to turn the tables. I wonder if it's just an illusion, but her interaction with Prince felt more natural than Mei's—like... she truly belongs with Prince." "Indeed, it was surprising," Roland nodded. Behind her, Irene seemed like a different person altogether, having played her true self. This allowed her to maintain composure even under Mei's aggressive demeanor. Her ability to instantly transform Prince back into her husband and break free from stage constraints was truly remarkable. Given time, she could undoubtedly become a rising star. Additionally, the bell and cannon sounds created by the echo were equally flawless. Since there was no rehearsal, Roland simply gave her free rein before the performance began, and the result surprised him beyond expectation.
...
Lost, Mei closed her eyes.
She went to great lengths to cast Philin Hilt as Prince, determined to make a lasting impression on him in her most skilled domain. Through her acting prowess, she aimed to completely outshine Eileen, thereby highlighting the stark contrast between the two.
For this, she stayed in the small town for nearly a week, rehearsing plays with actors she wouldn't normally glance at. After such a prolonged delay, the theater owner at Changge Fortress probably wouldn't be as enthusiastic about her as before. What's even more absurd is that she never completely defeated Ailin on stage. Her loss wasn't due to the actor's skills, but rather to Ailin's love.
If so, it is time to let go.
After changing, Mei took a deep breath, then left the dressing room first with a stern expression.
As I was just descending the wooden staircase from the stage, a man suddenly came up to me.
With his tall, handsome frame and gleaming silver armor, he was undoubtedly a Knight of Border Town. Unlike Dawn's Radiance, Philin's smile radiated warmth, while his arched eyebrows, narrow eyes, and thin lips conveyed a proud and aloof demeanor.
"Is there something?" Meey frowned.
"Hello, Miss May," the man unexpectedly dispelled his icy demeanor the moment he spoke, "I am Carter Lannis, Chief Knight to Your Royal Highness. Your performance was truly remarkable. Would you like to have a drink?"