Chapter 3

Her heart beat so fast. When she thought about crawling back, the person standing in the background opened its mouth.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

It was the voice of a boy of the same age. A calm voice pierced through Yvonne’s sullen tone.

Yvonne thinks he’s scolding her for what she’s doing there.

It seemed like she was going to die of suffocation. She can’t do this.

The boy sat down and looked at her.

“Are you here to watch the play?”

“I… I… I’m… I’m sorry…”

“No. I’m asking if you’re here to watch “The Umbrella of Tenan” or “Rose of Oscar”?”

The boy was asking what kind of play she wanted to watch.

The boy gently grabs Yvonne, who is struggling with embarrassment.

He pulled her up then, she stiffened because he brushed off the hem of her skirt.

“You’ve never done this before, have you? It’s okay. I don’t care about the back door here. If you’re here to watch “The Umbrella of Tenan”, let’s go in together.”

“Right. I’m here to watch “The Umbrella of Tenan”.”

Yvonne’s face was flushed as she gazed up at the boy. With his dark curling hair and droopy eyes, the slim, tall lad looked stunning.

The young man approached her. His huge, large hands are ready for her.

He eventually grasped Yvonne’s hand when she hesitated, unsure of what to do.

“That’s great. Today is the last concert, so it’s going to be incredible. You’re lucky.”

She was led somewhere by the boy. She walked up and down the corridor, avoiding people, while she opened the back door.

He whispered into Yvonne’s ear as she followed him inside the theater.

Her heartbeat became louder as well.

Her tension, fear, and guilt gradually dissipated. Suddenly, a sense of anticipation and exhilaration spread.

“Shh. Quiet. It’s a thief watching, so hold your breath as much as possible, okay?”

At the boy’s whisper, Yvonne quietly nodded her head.

The boy smiled contentedly and ruffled Yvonne’s hair.

“Ah.”

It’s the first time Yvonne has been treated in this manner. People with money tended to be stock up.

She isn’t from the capital, so she can’t be confident.

It was challenging to adjust to the environment. She lived in rural Münster before moving to the capital. Being a wealthy aristocrat was difficult for her.

Yvonne finds the boy’s demeanor comfortable.

The boy brought Yvonne to the top of the second-floor stairwell.

The two sat close together and hid behind the slid-out drapes, which revealed virtually just their eyes.

Yvonne enjoyed the play despite the cramped and uncomfortable surroundings.

She was content simply to be able to see the play.

She was delighted to be able to listen to Diana’s upkeep, and the fact that it was an almost deviant thief watching was exhilarating.

The show was also a lot of fun.

“Oh my gosh! The heroine is dead!”

Yvonne was enthralled by the actor’s performance throughout the show.

When the actor took over, she trembled, and when the actress sobbed fiercely, she swallowed a slight sniff and wiped away tears with her hand.

And the boy had a proud expression on his face as he stared at her.

The boy dragged Yvonne at the end of the performance.

“What’s the matter?”

“We need to get out of here as soon as possible.”

“You punk! Where did you hide this time?” said a theatrical official, who hunted them down with umbrellas.

“The bruise hit by that umbrella doesn’t go away even after more than a week.”

Yvonne got up quickly and ran away as the boy led him. When they can run back and forth through the hallway, they gasp out of the theater and their bodies through the dog’s hole.

Yvonne left first and then the boy came out.

“You two came this time, huh? If I caught you two you’re dead!”

The official yelled as he was caught in the hole due to his belly fat.

The two couldn’t stop laughing because the sight was amusing as they ran together.

“Ahahaha!”

They have to arrive at an alley far away from the theater.

Yvonne was laughing while rolling on the wall. Lying down on the street, they giggled for a long time.

““The Umbrella of Tenan” is the best, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. It was really fun. It was unique. The lines were classical, but the overall theme was modern. I love the character, not the waiting! and kicking the male protagonist who was taken to war is the right thing to do. It was impressive.”

“Do you think so too? Wow, you have good eyes.”

“What?”

“Because you liked the play.”

“I have a great sister.”

“I’m Paradis. Paradis Laurent. What about you?”

“Me? I’m… Wait, Laurent? No way…”

‘Is there an imperial person who doesn’t know the last name Laurent? Laurent was a family name allowed only to one family.’

“Yes. It’s Laurent of the Marquis Laurent.” The boy answered bluntly.

Yvonne blushed at his reaction as she expressed her regret. Apart from the imperial family, the Marquis Laurent is the only one who possesses power.

Other families with superpowers existed hundreds of years ago.

The other family is claimed to have collapsed, leaving just the Laurent war hero, Marquis Laurent, and his only grandchild.

“I’m sorry. I’m Yvonne Moore.”

“Moore?”

“Uh… If you’re talking about the well-known trial, it’s probably me.”

Yvonne lowered her head. The story of a wicked, greedy heir was widely circulated in the capital as a result of the trial’s intensity.

The boy responded with a soft look in his eyes.

“What? I thought you’re an amazing person, but you’re just a stupid kid.”

“I’m not stupid!”

“Okay, okay. You have a lot of money, so what are you doing in the hole? Is it a prize to see you become a fool?”

“It’s because my wallet was stolen. Then, how about you!”

“Me? I used up all my allowance. Opera performances tend to be expensive. Anyway, Yvonne. Doesn’t your knee hurt?”

“Knee?”

Yvonne looked down at her legs and saw her skirt smeared with blood. Her knee was scratched and bleeding.

“Oh no…”

“It’s okay, wear this.”

“Thank you.”

Paradis handed Yvonne a handkerchief. She wrapped her knees with the handkerchief.

“How can you play like this? Are you having fun? Do you plan on ending your day with me?” Paradis asked.

“Oh, no. It’s not… If you’re with me, you’ll be cursed too… Rumors are really bad about me.”

“It doesn’t matter. I think it’s all just a misunderstanding.”

Yvonne’s eyes were filled with tears when he responded to her cynical response.

When she sniffled again, Paradis clicked his tongue.

He brushed her hair.

“You’re a crybaby.”

“Sorry.”

“You shouldn’t be sorry about that.”

“You think so?”

“First of all, I think you should go home because of your legs. I’ll take you home. Let’s go.”

Paradis skillfully held her carriage. He murmured as he learned the way to the Moore mansion.

“It’s not very close. It would have been nice if it was close.”

“Huh?”

“No. Nothing.”

“Oh, that’s my house.”

“Oh, it’s as nice as the rumors say. Your garden is so beautiful. Show me around next time.”

“Yes. I’ll definitely invite you.”

“I’ll pick you up in the afternoon the day after tomorrow. Be ready.”

“You’re coming to pick me up?”

As the carriage drew closer to the mansion, Paradis spoke hastily.

“Yes. The lead actress who appeared in today’s performance. I have a meeting with her. You want to go?”

“I want to go!”

As the mansion got closer, his tone got faster and faster.

“Why don’t you dress up as a man if you’re bothered? There is a limit to playing outside in a skirt. You should tie your hair up and dress up as a man because you will also care about other people’s eyes.”

The carriage stopped.

Yvonne opened her eyes and pursed her lips. At this, Paradis had lost his relaxed appearance and showed a slightly impatient look.

He answered Yvonne after she got off her carriage.

“Okay. It was nice to meet you, Nini. From this day forward, I will nickname you Nini, because you are courageous and hot-tempered.”

“That’s a good idea. Thank you so much for today. Nice to meet you, Paradis.”

Only then did the Paradis smile.

Then Paradis went and disappeared along with the wagon. Yvonne stood there for a long time before moving away.

She looked at the carriage.

Yvonne doesn’t have a personality, so Paradis is the opposite of her. For her it felt like a miracle to meet Paradis. It was like a present from Diana.

Yvonne felt her heart pounding and entered the mansion. She knew that she would be able to sleep without crying tonight.

***

On the day he promised, Paradis arrived to pick up Yvonne.

Yvonne transformed herself into a guy. She waited for Paradis with her long hair tied up and dark clothes on.

Because she had a beautiful line, it would have been evident that she was a woman, but Yvonne had carefully prepared it and hidden all the feminine aspects.

A heavy leather vest covered the chest, and a handkerchief was tied around the neck without Adam’s apple to hide it.

Yvonne stands out in her high-heeled boots.

“Youlook nice.”

He confesses that he is thinking about playing with her.

Paradis was embarrassed about it. As a result, Yvonne gives a modest smile. And it was noticed by Paradis.

An hour later, Yvonne had obtained the actress’ autograph and jumped and clung on Paradis.

“She called me a pretty young master!”

“I’m the real young master, what the hell is she saying?”

Paradis who didn’t get an autograph is sulking.

She stuck out her tongue.

Yvonne smiles brightly as she places the autograph in her bag. When Paradis saw her smile, he frowned his brows.

Paradis was well aware of it. Yvonne was a great kid to hang out with.

“She probably thought you’re getting her autograph for your girlfriend. Look at the paper.”

“What?”

“You’re a boy right now but the autograph is for Yvonne Moore.”

“Oh.”

Yvonne’s cheeks became flushed. Paradis laughed and chuckled, and Yvonne seemed to like it.

Then Paradis slipped.

There is no way that Paradis will fall for a clumsy step. Yvonne wrapped his shoulder and asked, bothering him, “So, I’m a young master who got autographs instead of his “GIRLFRIEND”.”

“How do you feel?”

“Good.”

“Of course you should but I think we have to be careful now.”

“Be careful? What do you mean be careful? There’s more to be careful about?”

“Well. I just didn’t want to make you feel like a woman because you loved dressing up as a man.”

It was quite free and nice to pretend to be a man, Yvonne thought.

The Heiress, the last descendant of the Moore family, friend of the greedy Yvonne.

She felt a sense of liberation just from being absurd.

She didn’t like that she was an heir. In the first place, she didn’t want to receive inheritance.

She wanted to get pocket money from her parents but she never wanted to be alone and have a lot of wealth.

Maybe that’s why she’s wearing pants and acting like she’s not Yvonne.

It was easier and more enjoyable than she thought.

A memory suddenly flushed to her.

“It’s Franz Bernicke.”

“What?”

“My name. My name when I dress up as a man will be Franz Bernicke.”

“It’s nice.”

“The Adventure of Franz Bernicke is a fairy tale. The nickname given to me when I was a child is Franz so I thought that name would be appropriate. So from today on, I’m also Franz. Okay? Nice to meet you, Paradis.”

Yvonne smiled brightly at Franz’s birth.

With that spotless smile, Paradis couldn’t say that she looked like a woman even if she dressed up as a man. So, he answered.

“Okay. Nice to meet you, Franz.”