The third day of the World’s Singers competition.
Norland National Theater.
Herolia gently sang the final note of her song. When her singing ended, she opened her eyes and saw that the audiences were all giving her a standing ovation.
Her gaze swept past the audience seats to where Bishop Darco and Vulture were. Seated next to Vulture was a templar legion commander. After hearing Herolia’s sung performance, that old legion commander’s ice-cold expression relaxed somewhat.
“Thank you, everyone.”
Herolia took a glance at the nearly thirty-thousand votes on the projection behind her. With a smile of excitement and bliss, she turned to the audience and the cameras to gently bow her body.
“Seems like the number of people who likes Ms. Lia’s singing far surpassed that of the number of people for Mrs. Moya... Ms. Lia, please continue to sing on this stage. Mrs. Moya, regretfully, you’ve been eliminated. But, I am very fond of the nursery rhyme you sang.”
As one of the judges, Joshua showed no hesitation to applaud the ‘ordinary girl.’ Then, he applauded the performance of the old lady standing next to Herolia.
The rules of the semifinals was that two contestants will be on the stage at the same time. When a contestant performs, the other contestant will be standing on the stage listening to their performance.
It was somewhat similar to a one-on-one stage battle.
“I am fortunate to be able to hear Ms. Lia’s beautiful singing.”
The old lady was very accepting of her defeat.
“I am... honored,” Acting slightly bashful, Herolia expressed her thanks to Mrs. Moya. Then, under the sound people alluding her, she exited the stage.
Behind the stage was a resting lounge prepared for the contestants. There were only sixteen contestants today.
Because of that and because the longue had a capacity of over a hundred, it was still rather spacious with the sixteen contestants and their friends and relatives.
Right after Herolia straightened out her facial expression and entered the lounge to find her knight Messai, a well-dressed man suddenly walked up to her.
“Miss Lia...”
The man had mid-length golden blonde hair and sky-like dark-blue eyes. He had such a handsome appearance that he could easily attract noble ladies to dance with him.
From his manners and bearing, he seemed like a well-educated nobleman himself.
“Sorry... you... are...?”
Herolia did not forget about her public persona. Because of that, she immediately put up the act of an ‘ordinary girl,’ took a step back and looked at the man before her with a slight amount of unease.
“My name is Loa Morattic. I am the second son of Farucci’s Earl Sillars Morattic.”
The man courteously removed his top hat and revealed a gentle smile at Herolia.
“H-Hello. I am Lia.”
Herolia’s voice stumbled slightly. Her expression appeared somewhat terrified. To this ‘ordinary girl,’ the second son of an Earl, regardless of which nation they might be from, was someone that one should show absolute respect toward.
“You don’t have to be so reserved, Miss Lia.”
Seeing Herolia’s panicky appearance, Roa attempted to gently hold her hand as a pretext to get close to Herolia.
However, his action was easily avoided by Herolia with a backward step.
Roa was forced to awkwardly retrieve his hand hanging in midair. Nevertheless, his excellent social abilities allowed him to quickly get out of the awkward atmosphere.
“Actually, Miss Lia, I have another identity. I am an opera singer of Farucci’s Phoenix Down Theatrical Troupe. Likewise, I am a participant of the World’s Singers and have advanced to the semifinal,” said Roa.
“Is... there anything... you need from me?”
Herolia effortlessly suppressed the disgust in her heart and continued to play the role of an ‘ordinary girl.’
“I wish to invite you to join my theatrical troupe,” When Roa said those words, he attempted to take a step closer to Herolia and use his passionate gaze to stare at the exceedingly simple-dressed ordinary girl.
“I was conquered by your voice the moment I heard you singing... Miss Lia, your singing should not be buried in this city! By the name of Morattic, I swear that I will make you the most famous opera singer in Farucci. Even the king of Farucci would have to line up to purchase tickets for your performances.”
Roa’s voice was filled with absolute confidence. He believed that all the singers of poor-birth only trained so hard to show off their singings because they wanted to become famous. And, what they desire after becoming famous would naturally be...
“You will obtain a status not inferior to that of nobles and receive unimaginable wealth.”
Roa stared into the ordinary girl’s brown eyes. Seeing her terrified expression, he extended his hand to touch her slightly freckled face.
He had offered both wealth and status. Now, the only thing left would be to use his charm to conquer this ordinary girl.
But, before her could touch Lia’s face, a hand grabbed his wrist.
Roa immediately tried to struggle free. Unfortunately, he discovered that the strength of that grip was simply too strong. It was so much that he felt a stinging pain like his wrist was being wedged by iron clamps.
“Who...” Roa’s voice contained a trace of anger. Following along his hand, he saw the person standing next to Herolia.
It was... a blonde-haired woman about his height. But, seeing that cold gaze in that woman’s eyes, Roa couldn’t help himself from trembling.
“Lord Roa!!”
Roa’s bodyguards immediately rushed over. But, the person grabbing Roa’s wrist merely pushed and Roa lost his balance. His bodyguards rushed to catch him, barely supporting him from falling.
“Stop...”
Once Roa stood back up, he stopped his bodyguards from pursuing further. Norland Nation Theater’s attendants were already paying attention to what was going on here.
If they were to get into a dispute here, with the rules established by the owner of this theater, he might end up losing his qualification of continued participation in the World’s Singers.
“My apologies, Lia... I’ve come late.”
Messai looked at the graceful and handsome young opera singer standing across from her. Chilliness filled her eyes.
“I’m alright, big sister.”
Herolia casually fabricated a relationship with Messai. Then, she ran over to Messai and grabbed her hand.
“Mister Roa, I believe you’re the next contestant, no?” asked Herolia all of a sudden.
“Correct,” Roa tidied up his clothes and tried his best to maintain his smile.
If Messai was a man, Roa might show hostility and teach her a lesson.
Regretfully, Messai was a woman and a beautiful woman on top of that. In the Morattic family, there exists a rule that one must trust beautiful women well.
“I will consider your proposal, But, you will have to prove yourself to me first... If you can’t even win your so-called ‘little competition,’ I believe your bird feather theatrical troupe would not be up to much either.”
Using an innocent tone, Herolia spoke out those malicious words.
Roa was naturally able to distinguish the ridicule in her words. Because of that, his brows narrowed slightly. Nevertheless, he was still able to maintain his smile.
“I believe your opponent is that fellow over there. His attire looks quite poor. I hope that he will not affect your noble image on the stage.”
Herolia took a glance at the figure sitting at the corner of the lounge. That person has been sitting there mumbling something the entire time. To the others, he looked like a madman.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” After Roa said those words, Herolia left with Messai. Roa turned to look at the extremely wretched-looking fellow sitting at the corner.