Chapter 89

"Both of you are the best! Thanks to you, the books are selling even better than I imagined!"

When Gilbert and Oscar burst into the backstage, they were greeted by Leen's cheerful voice. Upon hearing the story, it turned out that the books being sold next to the stage were the second volume of a commercial series featuring Cecil and Oscar as models. It seemed that there was a description of "Oran and Crow involuntarily standing up after seeing Sieur's kiss scene on stage," and Leen had apparently used Oscar and Gilbert to recreate it.

Incidentally, Crow was modeled after Gilbert. Because his hair was as black as a crow, he was named Crow.

"That scene was distributed in advance as a preview with the stage tickets. Those who read it and came here must have thought, 'This story might be non-fiction!' If that's the case, they are already on our side! Eventually, they will be our comrades!"

As Leen spoke passionately, Oscar, who was standing next to Gilbert, rubbed his forehead.

"Ah, so that means we were manipulated by you?"

"Oh, I would never manipulate the prince... It just so happened that the characters in the story and your feelings linked, and you danced on your own!"

Leen smiled so brightly that it made them feel good, and he held his head in frustration.

"I, who has never thought of hitting a woman before, now want to..."

"Uncommonly, I agree. Your Highness."

Gilbert also nodded with a grim expression.

Leen, still smiling, clapped her hands at the two of them.

"Now, now, both of you. Don't be so uptight. Cecil didn't really kiss anyone! Besides, the person wasn't even a man!"

"Not a man?"

"Surely, if it were a man, even as a pretend kiss, neither of you would feel good, right? So, I had a woman play the role."

"I still value my life," Leen continued.

Gilbert peeked behind her. There, a woman was lying on a mat, her head steaming, muttering, "His face is just so good..." Upon closer inspection, Zwey was fanning her with paper, and Ein was muttering, "When are you going to get used to it?" It seemed they were also involved in the play.

"Sure enough, you two came."

At that moment, a familiar presence was felt behind them. Gilbert and Oscar turned around simultaneously. As expected, there was Cecil, still in her goddess costume, having just finished the play.

"I saw you two from the stage, so I thought you might be here."

She looked a bit embarrassed. Perhaps she was still thinking about her recent confession, or maybe she was just shy about standing before them in a different outfit.

Oscar blushed and praised her, "The play was great."

She smiled and said, "Thank you."

Gilbert looked closely at Cecil's costume and suddenly raised his head. He then turned his gaze to Leen.

"I forgot to mention. Leen, can you do something about that slit?"

"Slit?"

Oscar, who hadn't noticed the slit, reacted.

"Is this the slit you're talking about?"

Cecil flipped up the slit. The moment her knee was revealed, Oscar flinched.

"What! You were on stage in that outfit!?"

"Yeah, but is it weird?"

"Don't flip it up any more!"

"Why not?"

"You'll catch a cold!!"

Oscar took off his coat and covered Cecil. It didn't hide the slit, but he needed to keep his rationality.

Gilbert pointed to Oscar, who was blushing, and said to Leen in a low voice.

"There were a lot of people in the audience reacting like that. Please cover it with something before I have to deal with them."

"Right. That's true..."

Oscar agreed, and Leen nodded, saying, "Understood." She then continued,

"Then, from tomorrow, both of you will help with the stage!"

"Huh?"

"Why is it coming to this?"

The two, looking confused, saw Leen place her hand on her chest and her expression darken.

"Simply put, we don't have enough hands. If this continues, I and everyone else might collapse from exhaustion. We need all the help we can get."

"I don't know about that..."

Leen sadly said, "Is that so..."

"Then, Cecil's costume will remain as it is for now."

"Huh!?"

"But I stay up every night preparing for the stage! The costumes come apart with each practice, and I have to make adjustments to the script every time. So, it's only natural that the adjustments to the costumes, which are already considered fine, are put off."

Faced with such irrefutable logic, the two were speechless.

"If you help, I might have some time to make adjustments to the costumes! What do you say? Will you help?"

Gilbert and Oscar looked at each other. After a moment of silence, they nodded without a word. Leen, seeing this, said in a bell-like voice, "Thank you very much."

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