Chapter 90: The Eve of the Performance
“What is Janna up to? She’s someone who never engages in any leisure or entertainment activities, yet she actually gave me a weekend ticket to the Nightingale Opera Troupe—”
Vivian felt both puzzled and delighted as she looked at the luxurious ticket in her hand, embossed with the golden words “VIP Seat.”
After all, this was a ticket for the highly sought-after weekend performance of Bloodshadow Rose in Turin.
Moreover, it was for the most coveted weekend show.
Although Vivian could afford it, obtaining such a “first-come, first-served” VIP ticket without insider connections was nearly impossible.
“Come to think of it, how did Janna get this ticket? Could it be that she knows someone on the inside?”
Considering the admirers constantly surrounding Janna, it was likely that among them were scions of families capable of securing VIP tickets to the Nightingale Opera Troupe’s weekend shows.
However, based on Vivian’s understanding of Janna, she was certain that Janna would never accept anything material or monetary from others.
“Janna did mention before that she’s been doing part-time work recently. Could it be—”
Looking at the words “Nightingale Opera Troupe” on the VIP ticket and recalling Janna’s captivating face, a ridiculous notion crossed Vivian’s mind, making her expression increasingly peculiar.
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could something so absurd happen—”
Imagining Janna, who usually spent her time in the library or attending various classes, performing on stage as an opera actress was beyond Vivian’s comprehension.
“Welcome to the Nightingale Opera Troupe, madam. May I see your ticket, please?”
Lost in thought, Vivian had unknowingly arrived at the grand entrance of the lavishly decorated Nightingale Opera House.
“Here you go.”
“Seat number twenty-seven, VIP section. Please follow me.”
Unlike the long lines at the general admission entrance, Vivian, holding a VIP ticket, was led through a side entrance into the inner hall by a female usher.
“Quite a crowd.”
Upon entering the inner hall through the side door, Vivian saw that the vast theater, with over 1,500 seats, was already filled. The bustling noise was so overwhelming that it caused her ears to ring slightly.
“Today is the weekend premiere of Bloodshadow Rose, so the turnout is larger than usual. This way, please.”
Guided by the usher, Vivian quickly found her seat near the front.
“If the main hall is already full, are those still queuing outside waiting for the next show?”
Noticing that the VIP section was also nearly full, Vivian couldn’t help but wonder.
“There’s only one performance of Bloodshadow Rose today. To accommodate more viewers, the theater has specially opened the second-floor seating.”
Hearing the usher’s explanation, Vivian looked up and saw people entering the second-floor seats located farther from the stage.
“It’s really popular—”
Following the seat number on her ticket, Vivian soon located her seat.
“Hmm? Why is there a flyer here?”
Just as she sat down, Vivian noticed a flyer on the armrest beside her seat, identical in content to the life-sized promotional standee at the theater entrance.
“We have the best [Natasha]—”
As an opera enthusiast, Vivian knew that the [Natasha] mentioned in the flyer referred to the protagonist of Bloodshadow Rose.
The actress playing [Natasha] was none other than Anna Moonshadow, a renowned and skilled performer well-known in Turin and other wizarding communities.
Although Vivian wasn’t deeply versed in opera, Anna Moonshadow’s brilliant performance had left a profound impression on her.
This was why, after watching Bloodshadow Rose once, she was eager to see it again.
“It’s just a pity that Anna only appears in the second act. It would be wonderful if she played the role from start to finish.”
If Vivian remembered correctly, the actress portraying the young [Natasha] in the first act was someone named Freya.
While her performance was commendable and she was quite attractive, Vivian felt that compared to Anna Moonshadow, Freya’s portrayal was too delicate, creating a sense of disconnection between the two interpretations of [Natasha].
“Never mind. The first part of the story is interesting enough. As long as I get through it, I’ll soon see Anna—”
Just as Vivian was preparing to patiently await the performance, she noticed a familiar figure in the front row of the VIP section.
“Isn’t that Soro Flare from third year? Could it be that he enjoys opera too?”
Seeing Soro Flare dressed in a formal suit instead of his usual knight attire, Vivian almost didn’t recognize him.
“The person next to him looks familiar too—could it be Richard Eva!?”
As the younger brother of Grace Eva and president of the White Ballet Shoes Club, Richard Eva was far more renowned at White Coral Academy than Soro Flare.
It was surprising to see these two prominent senior apprentices, known for their achievements, taking the time to watch an opera.
This didn’t align with Vivian’s stereotypical image of them.
“I thought people like them only focused on exploring secret realms, with no time for leisure—just like Janna.”
Thinking of Janna, Vivian felt a bit annoyed. They were supposed to watch the opera together today, but in the end, only she, the ticket recipient, showed up on time, while the ticket giver was a no-show.
“Forget it. I’m used to it. Such a great opera—I can enjoy it alone—”
Just as Vivian was consoling herself, the main doors suddenly closed, and the lights in the theater dimmed.
A spotlight illuminated the stage, drawing everyone’s attention to the elegantly dressed female host standing before the red curtain.
“Esteemed guests, good evening. I am Julie Anne, your host for tonight’s performance by the Nightingale Opera Troupe. Up next, we present Bloodshadow Rose, written by David Berg and directed by Klan Roland. To ensure the best viewing experience, please remain silent throughout the performance. Thank you for your cooperation—”
The dimmed lights, like the curtain of night, gradually quieted the audience.
As Julie Anne exited, the crimson curtain slowly rose to the lively accompaniment of music.
The dazzling lights, the sea of heads, and the grand stage scene instantly captivated everyone’s attention.
“Who is that actress!?”