“I’ve heard that you demons are all vicious and warlike warriors. It would appear that the things those missionaries, wandering minstrels and bards are all spouting nonsense.”
Frostaxe had already removed his helmet and was standing beside Joshua making fun of him. If all the demons were like the Sin Demon from before, then these dwarves bursting with masculinity will definitely ridicule them without any hesitation.
“In the past, Zenarth was a fierce and ruthless warrior. It’s just that he had undergone some transformation.”
From the memories of the Third Prince, Joshua knew very well what sort of race the Sin Demons were. Born from the Flames of Sin, Sin Demons do not possess an infancy stage like other creatures. They were powerful and fierce warriors the instant they’re born.
Childhood was something that does not exist for this race of demons.
Zenarth was once one of the most powerful warriors among the Sin Demons. But, ever since he became Joshua’s Lifeward, he seemed to have discovered something that interested him more than battles — acting.
And now, he found something else — befriending humans.
It would appear that Zenarth has been getting along very well with that little girl.
While Joshua and Frostaxe were chatting, Zenarth returned. He was still wearing the floral hoop around his neck. Likely, he must’ve forgotten about the fact that he was wearing that.
Joshua did not bother to inform Zenarth about the floral hoop either. After all, wearing it made him appear much more amiable.
“Your Highness, what is my mission?”
It was Zenarth’s first time coming to the dwarves’ territory. This race of people shorter than 1.5 meters seemed to not fear him as much as the humans.
“You merely need to follow me.”
...
Weissenasche Theater.
“Madam Schroder, I am truly sorry. I am not the one who wrote the script for this movie.”
Inside his office, Sir Weissenasche was apologizing to a gorgeously dressed noble lady.
Sir Weissenasche has established this theater in Norland for nearly twenty years now. But, he also possesses another identity — a nobleman from Farucci.
For the sake of art, Sir Weissenasche had temporarily left his fiefdom. Without any hesitation, he brought his servants and came to the city that was deemed as the center of the world to establish a theater.
With his theater as the venue, Sir Weissenasche acquainted many noble ladies interested in stage plays and arts.
Among them were noble ladies that would cry tears of emotions after watching a stage play. Afterwards, they would take the story of the play script as their afternoon tea’s topic of discussion.
However, that was different for some of the more earnest noble ladies. One example would be this Madam Schroder standing before Sir Weissenasche.
“Then who is the scriptwriter?”
Madam Schroder was holding a fan weaved from precious feathers and pointing it at Sir Weissenasche. She was demanding for him to tell her who the scriptwriter for ‘Beauty and the Demon’ was.
“Regarding that... Madam Schroder...”
Another overly sensitive woman hurted by the ‘Beauty and the Demon’s’ miserable romance.
Sir Weissenasche took a glance at the makeup on this noble lady. It was clear that she had just had a crying session. Her makeup has been ruined by tears.
It’s just that she had no idea that her makeup was already ruined.
This was not the first time Sir Weissenasche heard such a request. The tragic ending of the ‘Beauty and the Demon’ came as a heavy blow to every woman that held a ‘girl’s heart.’
But, Sir Weissenasche felt that ending to be the perfect ending. A script capable of moving one’s heart would forever be the best script.
Unfortunately, Sir Weissenasche does not dare to voice his opinion to this noble lady. After all, she was the wife of a Grand Duke from Farucci. The power she held in her hand was not something that he, a mere theater owner, could contend against.
“The scriptwriter for this movie is no ordinary writer. His identity and status far surpassed my own. No... before him, I might be no different from a speck of dust.”
Sir Weissenasche was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He wouldn’t possibly dare to rashly expose Joshua’s identity. After all, his life was in Joshua’s hands.
“Far surpassed your own? If a scriptwriter possesses talent and status far surpassed your own, there’s no reason for them to be obscure and unknown.”
Madam Schroder’s feather fan covered her lower face. She seemed to be thinking. She was someone with another identity that was far more famous than the Grand Duke’s wife. She is the mother to the Flower of Farucci.
Because she herself was very fond of stage plays, she made her daughter study under the most famous stage play performers.
It could be said that the success and recognition of the Black Swan was all facilitated by her.
“Then, tell that mysterious scriptwriter that Grand Duke Schroder invited him to an afternoon tea session at Farucci’s Consulate. I refuse to believe that his status would be so high to refuse the invitation of a Grand Duke.”
“I... I’ll pass on this message to him,” said Sir Weissenasche in a slightly uncertain manner.
Joshua’s status might really be so high that he could easily refuse the invitation of a Grand Duke. After all, Joshua was someone associated with the legendary hero, the Protector of Farucci!
Sir Weissenasche took a glance at the oil painting behind his table. The name of that painting was ‘Revolution.’ It portrayed a young woman holding a flag leading a group of people.[1]
Unfortunately, the painting was a painting of what happened in Farucci hundreds of years ago... Right now, that painting was nothing more than the painting of a hero in Farucci’s history.
“I’m not telling you to pass on the message to him. He must come... That Demon Prince’s death was simply too miserable, so much that I’m unwilling to accept it. Those ignorant villagers simply don’t possess the ability to kill him.”
Madam Schroder noticed some of the minor loopholes present in the movie. Logically, it should be impossible for a bunch of villagers with pitchforks and bows and arrows, even if there was a mage together with them, to defeat a powerful demon.
Fine. Madam Schroder admits that she only desired to witness a happy ending. She felt like the story of ‘Beauty and the Demon’ should have a happy ending. It was that intolerable sullen feeling she had from watching the miserable ending that caused her to come find Sir Weinssenasche.
“I will do my best.”
In a habit-like manner, Sir Weissenasche picked up his handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. After making a lot of guarantees, Madam Schroder finally let him off and left his officer together with her guards.
After sending off Madam Schroder, Sir Weissenasche sat down behind his office table. He was exhausted.
This was already the fifth time. It was one thing when they were nobles from other countries. But, when it comes to nobles from Farucci, Sir Weissenasche wouldn’t dare to offend them. After all, his family properties were located in Farucci.
The script for ‘Beauty and the Demon’ was simply too... evil. Joshua had spent a great amount of time molding the sweet relation between Belle and the Demon Prince. It was so much that countless girls would shriek at the plot. Yet, in the end, he showed no quarter and crushed that sweet sweet love.
Anyone who saw the ending of the movie would curse out at the scriptwriter.
Sir Weissenasche was racking his brains out as to how to pacify Madam Schroder’s emotional state. It was then that his office door was suddenly pushed open.
He stood up with nervousness. After seeing that the person who came was Joshua, he sat onto the ground in exhaustion.
“This is no time for you to sit on the ground. Sir Weissenasche, for the next few days, I need you to make preparations for a majestic stage play,” said Joshua.
[1] [1. Seems like ‘Liberty Leading the People.’]