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Narae Arts High School.

It is a school primarily attended by students aspiring to be entertainers, and numerous connections to the entertainment industry exist everywhere.

This autumn festival is also a proper connection to the entertainment world.

The festival booths operating in the morning are not much different from those of other high schools.

However, the class performances held from the afternoon onwards receive such great attention that even industry professionals come to watch.

“Did they call it a gateway for newcomers?”

The gateway for newcomers.

Another name for this autumn festival.

There were many people wanting to see if the fresh sprouts still green with potential could become stars.

If it was deemed to have “value,” there were intentions to pursue casting opportunities behind the scenes.

This was a story that, in a way, also applied to a few students who had already proven their talents and abilities.

Even students who had already somewhat established themselves as entertainers would receive even more attention through the autumn festival performances.

“Well… that only works if they stand out.”

Having been in the entertainment industry for a long time, Lee Geon-yeol and Lee Jun were well aware of how fiercely competitive it was.

They also understood that only a tiny minority would be noticed in this autumn festival performance.

Ultimately, what mattered was how much one could stand out.

Only those who captured the attention of industry professionals with their standout skills and passion could finally gain recognition.

Strictly speaking, Lee Geon-yeol and Lee Jun’s purpose was not casting but admiring Ha-eun’s musical performance.

However, before being acquaintances with Ha-eun, it was unavoidable to evaluate the performance level of Narae Arts High School students as proper entertainers.

Is this what they call occupational hazard?

“…I’m really nervous about not taking my mouth off the mic when breathing.”

“Damn it, now I’m anxious too because of you.”

Thus, they watched the performances with their attention focused on relatively detailed aspects.

At last, they repositioned themselves upon hearing the host’s voice announcing that Ha-eun’s <Falling Together> performance would start soon.

Almost simultaneously, they took out the gimbal camera.

“Hmm, how should I shoot it to get rumors of it being well done…?”

“Yoon-seop told you not to think too much and just shoot.”

“Is it okay to at least zoom in?”

“Just shoot without getting scolded again.”

In this musical performance, several scenes featuring Ha-eun would be included in the broadcast of <Infinite Challenge K-Pop Festival>.

Of course, all the other students besides Ha-eun would be mosaiced.

The gimbal camera of Lee Jun was primarily for recording video material to introduce the singer Pinocchio.

The agreed-upon part with Narae Arts High School was strictly limited to that brief video material.

Anyway, the lights in the auditorium, which had briefly gone dark, started to slowly come back on.

“Ah? It’s starting!”

Now, they just had to enjoy it.

*

“Your Majesty.”

The call of Kyle, who has just found Empress Aria, flows out from the auditorium speakers.

A voice as calm as can be.

He simply stands still, waiting for Empress Aria to respond.

Soon, the noble figure gradually turns towards Kyle.

In her eyes, recognizing Kyle, a brief spark of happiness flickers.

“…It seems I cannot escape your gaze, whether in childhood or now.”

“The night air is chilly. We should return to the palace.”

“You’re still as nagging as you were when we were little.”

With continuing steps.

The shadow drawing gradually closer.

So close, just a reach away.

She drapes the fine fabric that adorned her gown’s sleeves over Kyle’s shoulder.

“I wish to walk with you for a moment. Would that be alright?”

With a powerless smile, she requests a brief companionship.

Kyle eventually nods his head.

Then, stories of Empress Aria’s past began to unfold.

From her carefree childhood, which lacked misfortune, to the tale ending with her ascension to the throne following the sudden death of the former emperor.

The growing sense of powerlessness and frustration as she gradually transformed into a puppet of the nobility was transmitted to the audience.

“If I say I had no choice, it would be an excuse. Ultimately, my concern for my own safety has not changed over the citizens.”

A bitter voice.

A gaze that bore only faint vitality.

Kyle, knowing he should comfort Empress Aria but unsure how to, ends up falling into silence.

He simply watches and listens to Empress Aria’s quiet lament.

Thus, the weighty story accompanied by her gentle voice continues on.

And then, at that moment when even their slow footsteps come to a complete stop.

“Kyle.”

From Aria, still gazing up at the dark night sky, a voice laced with desperation softly escapes.

Gradually, the lights in the auditorium start dimming one by one.

“Please do not abandon me. You are the only one who remembers me as I was before becoming a puppet.”

With a hint of moisture in her eyes, Kyle swears, in his usual calm tone, that he will stay by her side.

At that moment, a faint smile appeared on Empress Aria’s face.

Then the lights that illuminated her completely went out, signaling the end of the scene.

Not long after, the lights began to brighten again along with the sound of the citizens’ songs.

The numerous corrupt acts committed by the nobles hiding in the shadow of Empress Aria were meant to be attributed to her.

The pain, despair, and resentment of the starving citizens poured forth in the form of songs targeting only Empress Aria.

– We cannot continue living like this.

– At this rate, we will truly starve to death!

– The empress is a tyrant. A tyrant who will be remembered throughout history…!

The wretched figures of the citizens filled the vast stage.

The emotions revealed in their distorted expressions were far from feelings of happiness or peace.

Thus, the lines full of animosity towards Empress Aria echoed loudly until the very end.

Immediately following another blackout, a scene appeared with Empress Aria softly reciting a song filled with the citizens’ fury.

Now she no longer wore even a powerless smile on her darkened face.

The only person standing beside her was Kyle.

“It’s just a song. They are merely voices full of lies, so do not pay them any mind.”

His voice, tinged with regret for Empress Aria, emerged.

Then, Kyle pleaded with the empress not to hurt herself.

However.

“No, their feelings are genuine.”

Empress Aria, immediately dismissing Kyle’s words, slowly shook her delicate head.

“They believe I am the source of all misfortunes. And until their last breath, they will truly despise me.”

She declared that even an infant just born and an old man whose last breath had been taken would harbor hatred for her.

Then, the lamenting melody of Empress Aria poured from the auditorium speakers.

The audience silently watched Empress Aria throw away all hope in her song.

Her voice, frail as if it could break at any moment, and her powerless gestures vividly expressed the shattered heart of Empress Aria.

‘Indeed… she is different.’

Most of the audience knew that the one portraying Empress Aria was Ha-eun.

They had no doubt that the outstanding acting skills Ha-eun had exhibited in the past would shine in <Falling Together> as well.

The audience’s faith in her performance was still well-founded.

Those who remembered Ha-eun as singer Pinocchio marveled at her improved singing skills and focused more on her song than her acting.

However, as time passed.

– Find the empress─!

– That villain must disappear from this world!

– Let’s drive out the tyrant!!

After the citizens finally sparked a rebellion and began advancing toward the palace.

More accurately, upon facing the citizens’ uproar as never before, Empress Aria’s completely collapsed demeanor appeared.

“I too, we all—simply wanted to live. Why… has it come to this…?”

She began to gradually immerse herself in everything that appeared on stage without even being able to take a breath.

The various emotions conveyed thus far felt markedly different in depth as they began to clearly take form.

“…Please escape, Your Majesty. I will do everything I can to buy time.”

His uniform stained with blood.

Arms filled with scratches.

In the presence of the citizens’ anger directed toward the one who had uniquely sided with her, Empress Aria rose from her fallen stance.

Then she began to walk and walk.

“Y-Your Majesty…?”

In that moment, they were so close that they could hear each other’s breath.

– Srrng─.

The long sword Kyle had been carrying was pulled from his hands by Empress Aria’s delicate grip.

Immediately afterward, the point of the sword was forced into Kyle’s hands, pointed toward Empress Aria.

“With your sword, sever my neck, raise it high to the heavens, and become the hero of the masses. That is… the only way you can live.”

A composed voice.

Trembling hands.

As the two contrasting forms intermingled, Empress Aria’s final wish was revealed.

Thus, the image of Empress Aria, wanting to do one last thing for the one who remained by her side until the end.

Then, she forcibly drew Kyle’s blade very close to her white neck.

As the sharp edge of the blade touched Empress Aria’s throat at that moment.

– Whoosh─!

In an instant, Kyle pushed Empress Aria away, sending the long sword flying far away.

With eyes wide in shock, Empress Aria started to tremble.

“Ah… no, Kyle. If you don’t kill me, you will die too!”

Despite abandoning everything, including her life, Empress Aria pleaded like this, refusing to give up on Kyle.

She desperately prayed that at the very least, Kyle would be safe.

Yet.

“…Let’s run away, Your Majesty. To a far place where no one can find us.”

Even facing appearances of Kyle, which never seemed to want to leave Empress Aria to the end.

“I will be chased for the rest of my life.”

Will we be able to escape?

There was something distinctly different from what Ha-eun had shown before.

No, it was unfamiliar.

“Why… why are you trying to bear the blame for something that isn’t yours… Why!”

“Don’t abandon me.”

An increasingly alien form of acting began to reveal itself.