CH 73.3

Chapter 73.3: Patronage

That’s why I’d taken her along with me.

Additionally, I was unfamiliar with the situation at the theatre. So, I thought that taking her along would make it easier for me to meet Ainoe.

In fact, I wanted to take Kuna along with me, but since she hated the fact that she had to hide her face and figure in hard to move attire, she ended up choosing to stay back at the mansion.

This side of her was different from Rena. Rena didn’t seem to care about hiding her face and figure in similar attire.

So, they were still different existences despite the fact that Kuna was Rena’s clone.

That said, I arrived at the theatre along with Sienna.

「It’s nothing. I am also rather unfamiliar with the matters in the theatre. I wouldn’t even think of disguising myself as the messenger of a patron had you not told me about it. All I needed was to meet with her after all.」

I replied to Sienna while looking at the bouquet of mintea flowers in my hand.

This bouquet was a present for Ainoe. I mean, it would be suspicious if I said that I was her patron’s messenger and yet came empty handed.

According to Sienna, the troupe management would have always been in the red if not for the backing of the patrons, that’s why the existence of patrons were necessary for the troupe.

Originally, I wanted to sneak into the theatre with magic, but it seems to be a difficult task since the theatre was equipped with a dwarf-made magic tool to prevent suspicious people from entering the theatre.

She told me that the reason that they installed such a magic tool was because a magician had used an invisibility spell to peep in the dancer’s changing room in the past.

Though such a magic tool was nothing for me, given a choice, I would rather choose a peaceful and appropriate method rather than illegal one.

「It’s okay, we can meet her easily as long as we use senate Cornes’ name.」

Sienna told me about Cornes too.

Cornes was a member of the Senate, and patron of Ainoe. That’s why it would be easier for us to meet Ainoe if we used Cornes’ name.

By the way, it seems he was living in the same area as us; in short, our neighbour.

According to Sienna, patrons usually demanded for the actor or actress they supported to sleep with them in exchange for monetary support behind the scene.

But, seeing Sienna’s appearance, I couldn’t help but realize that those kinds of patrons definitely did exist. It wasn’t all entirely glorious like what the normal people imagined it to be…

Even back in Japan, that kind of pillow business was normal for performers.

「Do you have a patron too, Sienna?」

I unintentionally asked such a question.

「No, I don’t have a patron yet. I won’t take such egoistic patrons. Though it isn’t in a sense of a patron, my father and my big brother help me a lot in that regard.」

「I see.」

Sienna’s father was a member of the senate and her brother was a priest of Oudith.

If her father was a senator, she should be some sort of princess in this country. Why did such a girl work as a dancer?

Though the profession of dancer wasn’t a bottom of the barrel profession, it was definitely a job for someone without citizenship. Though she might have her own reasons to do such work, I shouldn’t poke my nose into her privacy.

「Or, are you going to become my patron, Dark Knight-sama?」

Sienna asked with a smile on her face while looking at me with an upturned gaze.

「Sure. I’ll become your patron.」

I agreed easily.

Sienna’s dance was splendid, and beautiful. It might be a good idea to fund Sienna’s career after I take care of this matter and send her back to her troupe.

Naturally, I couldn’t use the Dark Knight’s name, but that’s where Regena’s name came to use.

「Eh… that… uhm… that’s…」

She looked really surprised when I agreed to support her.

「Is something the matter?」

「N-NO!! IT’S NOTHING!!」

「？」

Sienna’s complexion changed 180 degrees. And then, she murmured something along 「What should I do? I might end up broken.」.

tilted my head, unable to understand the meaning behind her muttering.

Thus, we had that kind of banter while heading toward the theatre.

Finally, we arrived at the theatre.

「Sienna, can you wait here for a while?」

It would be troublesome if her acquaintances recognized her so I asked her to wait a little bit away from the theatre.

「Yes. But, if I’m attacked by the one who killed Marchas while master isn’t by my side…」

Sienna spoke as her body was trembling non-stop upon recalling what happened to Marchas who lost his head.

Though I’ve already released her from her restraints, it seems she was still scared of Ainoe and her company.

Sienna was looking at me with an anxious look on her face.

「Then use this to protect yourself.」

I passed a katana to her.

That katana was something that I made for myself when I left Nargol after I did my job. The color of its sword’s blade had turned black since I loaded my magical power into it during its creation. She might be able to use that katana to buy some time till I arrived.

Sienna received the katana and embraced it tightly.

Did she just calm down a little?

「Then, I’ll leave for a while.」

I proceeded by myself.

Even those so-called warning devices wouldn’t be able to reject someone who came right from their entrance.

That’s why it shouldn’t be a problem as long as I act like a normal person.

I passed by the entrance of the theatre.

Upon entering, I saw two men standing on guard.

「Please stop right there. Only authorized persons are allowed to enter.」

One man stepped forward as he spoke.

「I came here as the representative of our master, Senator Cornes-sama, to deliver this bouquet of flowers to Ainoe-sama. Please convey this message to her.」

I said the pre-arranged words.

「Cornes-sama? But, you’re not the usual person.」

The man might be familiar with the face of Cornes’ messenger. Such a blunder.

「Well even if you say that… All I am doing is delivering this bouquet in accordance to our master’s instructions.」

I showed a troubled look on my face, looking down at the bouquet.

「Haa… it can’t be helped. If that’s the case, you can go back after you entrust the bouquet to us.」

The man tried to take a bouquet from me.

「N-No!! Our master said that she has to receive the bouquet right from my hand. Can you please call Ainoe-sama to come to meet me?」

I stepped back, to avoid the man.

Honestly, these kinds of ad libs were really troublesome.

Though I could threaten them with my power, they did nothing wrong and were only doing their job properly.

Like hell I would threaten someone who only did their job properly.

「Haa, I understand. Please wait for a while, I’ll go ask for Ainoe-neesan.」

The other man retreated into the theatre.

Leaving only one guard who tried to take the bouquet and me in the entrance.

Soon enough, someone came from the theatre.

「Eh?」

I couldn’t hide my surprise upon seeing the one who came out.

Because, it was none other than the Hero of Light, Reiji, himself.