Lord Blackwood Promised Me Death — Chapter 10

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL BE WEARING NEXT WEEK.

...NEXT WEEK?

WE'RE GOING TO THE OPERA.

DO YOU... ENJOY PERFORMANCES?

OF COURSE NOT. I HAVE ZERO INTEREST IN SUCH MELODRAMAS.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT I THINK...

DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF THE CAPITAL'S SOCIAL SEASON, PLAYS BY ROOKIE PLAYWRIGHTS TAKE THE STAGE.

AMBITIOUS PLAYWRIGHTS LINE UP WITH THEIR NEW SCRIPTS,

AND HIGH-RANKING NOBLES SPONSOR THE TALENTED NEWCOMERS.

AND WHO DO YOU THINK IS MOST DESPERATE TO SHOW OFF HER DISCERNING EYE?

...THE PRINCESS.

EXACTLY!

JUST TO PLAY THE PART OF A BENEVOLENT PRINCESS SUPPORTING NEW ARTISTS,

SHE'S POURING FORTUNES INTO SPONSORSHIPS SHE COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT.

SO SHOULDN'T I GO WITH MY LOVELY LOVER...

...AND CRASH THE PARTY?

...I UNDERSTAND.

SOMETHING MUST HAVE REALLY GOTTEN ON YOUR NERVES AT THE ROYAL PALACE.

EXCUSE ME, LORD BLACKWOOD.

MAY WE COME IN TO FINISH THE FITTING?

I COULDN'T TELL WHEN SHE WAS DRESSED SO PLAINLY,

BUT SEEING HER NOW...

YOU LOOK STUNNING!

NOT BAD.

NOT BAD?! SHE PULLS OFF MY DESIGN WITH ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!

MAKE EVERY DESIGN FOR THIS SEASON IN THAT SIZE WITHIN A WEEK. CAN IT BE DONE?

MY LORD... GIVEN THE WORK REQUIRED, ONE WEEK IS...

AH, I'LL PAY FIVE TIMES YOUR WEEKLY RATE.

IT CAN BE DONE!!

I WILL DELIVER THEM TO THE DUCAL MANSION THE MOMENT THEY ARE FINISHED!

A RADIANT DRESS, AND WHITE SATIN GLOVES...

MY LADY, IT SUITS YOU BEAUTIFULLY.

IT LOOKS LOVELY ON YOU, BELLA!

LET'S GO WITH THIS COLOR. WOULDN'T YOU SAY, PHILIPPA?

YES! YOU'LL BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY AT THIS YEAR'S DEBUTANTE BALL, MY LADY.

BUT...

I THINK I'LL GO WITH A DARKER COLOR AFTER ALL.

SUCH A DELICATE, LIGHT-COLORED DRESS WILL RUIN AFTER JUST A FEW WEARS.

OH, DEAR...

I NEVER WANTED YOU TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SUCH THINGS.

MY DEBTS WILL BE SORTED OUT SOON.

PLEASE DON'T WORRY SO MUCH...

LOOK OVER THERE. HE ACTUALLY BROUGHT HER.

THAT MAID FROM THE RUMORS.

LOOK HOW BRAZENLY SHE CARRIES HERSELF, ACTING AS IF SHE'S HIS FIANCÉE.

THAT MUST BE HOW SHE WRAPPED LORD BLACKWOOD AROUND HER FINGER!

I WONDERED WHY HE CAST ASIDE HER HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS TO FOOL AROUND WITH A MAID, BUT-

SHE IS QUITE EYE-CATCHING, WOULDN'T YOU SAY?

HAHA, MY LORD, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE... PECULIAR TASTES.

...?

I'M TORN.

WOULD YOU CARE TO EXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS ABOUT FIRST?

NO, I MEAN THOSE BASTARDS OVER THERE.

THEY'RE SPOUTING ABSOLUTE NONSENSE ABOUT MY LOVER. SHOULDN'T I GIVE THEM A PROPER RESPONSE?

LIKE GOING OVER RIGHT NOW AND SHUTTING THEIR MOUTHS.

IF YOU RESORT TO VIOLENCE HERE, PUBLIC OPINION WILL SWING IN PRINCESS EVRILLIAN'S FAVOR.

...I'M ALREADY LOOKING FOR HER.

AS MUCH AS THAT PRINCESS LOVES SHOWING OFF, THERE'S NO WAY SHE'D SKIP AN EVENT LIKE THIS.

SHE CERTAINLY DIDN'T SEEM LIKE SOMEONE WHO WOULD LET THIS SLIDE QUIETLY...

COULD SHE HAVE AVOIDED COMING BECAUSE SHE KNEW I WAS ATTENDING?

NOT A CHANCE. IF ANYTHING, SHE'D COME STORMING IN TO PLAY THE TRAGIC HEROINE.

WHATEVER WICKED SCHEME SHE'S COOKED UP...

WE'LL FIND OUT ONCE WE'RE SEATED IN THE THEATER.

ISN'T THAT DANGEROUS?

YEAH, IT IS.

WHICH IS WHY...

YOUR ROLE IS SO CRUCIAL.

THE ONE IN REAL DANGER IS YOU.

BUT WHAT CHOICE DO I HAVE?

ONCE THE CURTAIN HAS ALREADY RISEN ON THE STAGE...

A MERE ACTOR HAS NO POWER TO STOP THE PLAY.