“Sorry. Have you been waiting long?” Rosalyn, with an embarrassed look, offered an apology.

 

She smiled brightly while fanning herself with a noble’s fan.

 

“At least I’m not late. Let’s head in and find our seats quickly.”

 

Ever since her father’s affairs were resolved, her complexion had greatly brightened.

 

I felt a surge of pride, knowing I had played a part in it.

 

After all, one play I’d written had ended up saving someone’s life.

 

“It’s a shame Maurice couldn’t make it. It would have been more fun if the three of us could watch it together.”

 

“Let him be. He’s probably going to watch it with his girlfriend later anyway.”

 

Maurice, that rascal, had a girlfriend he had been dating for a while.

 

Her name was Julianne, I believe?

 

A feisty girl with light freckles, quite charming.

 

I heard they watched both parts of <Admiral Lee> together on a cozy date.

 

Damn him. And here I was, living a life devoid of romance since coming to this world, and he had to rub it in my face.

 

“Speaking of which, is it really okay if you watched it with me, Senior? I’m sure there are plenty of noble sons vying for your attention. Aren’t you worried they’ll be jealous?”

 

I asked, trying to suppress my irritation. Rosalyn made a pouty face and retorted briskly.

 

“Hmph, let them be jealous. From now on, I’m only watching Phantom’s plays with you, Balthazar.”

 

She was angry. And she had every reason to be.

 

It must be frustrating to see those who participated in her ostracization suddenly cling to her now that she had become the Duke’s daughter overnight.

 

Even I almost felt like vomiting at the sight of students suddenly flocking to Rosalyn.

 

It’s one thing to lack conscience, but this is too much.

 

How could they treat her as if she didn’t exist just the day before and then act like this?

 

It was a good thing Senior was kind enough not to call them out on their hypocrisy.

 

If it were me, I would have cursed them out and chased them away.

 

“Ahem.”

 

Just then, Senior Rosalyn sniffed the air subtly and smiled.

 

She nudged my shoulder playfully and said, “Balthazar, you’re wearing fig perfume? It’s unusual to see men wearing perfumes with floral or fruity scents.”

 

“Ah, this? It’s nothing special; my mother just chose it for me.”

 

I never cared much for appearances, both in my past life and this one.

 

I wasn’t interested in beauty, and maintaining basic hygiene was enough for me.

 

Besides, House Arture had been a family of knights who lived by the sword for generations.

 

A family of warriors, all possessing sturdy builds, tall statures, and sharp features.

 

I suppose I inherited my mother’s softer features, but I was still very much an Arture.

 

Which meant I was even less inclined towards such frivolous matters.

 

Oftentimes, my mother and the maids were the ones who took care of my appearance, reminding me constantly. 

 

“Does it… not suit me? A rough person like me wearing fig perfume?”

 

I asked jokingly, and senior Rosalyn shook her head gently.

 

She then slipped her arm through mine and added.

 

“It suits you well. And what part of you is rough? The Baltazar Arture I know is a very delicate and warm person.”

 

Delicate and warm, huh?

 

It was such high praise that my face flushed without me realizing it.

 

In reality, I’m just a laid-back, lazy ordinary Korean guy.

 

Rosalyn gently tugged my arm and said,

 

“The performance is about to start. Let’s go in. Even His Majesty the Emperor has graced us with his presence.”

 

The imperial family must have already entered the theater; they would be seated in the VIP box, where the highest quality service was provided for distinguished guests.

 

The best seats in the house, with the finest view and personal attendants to cater to their every need.

 

“Phantom is truly amazing. It’s not enough that he has captivated the Academy students. Now his talent has mesmerized the entire capital, including His Majesty? The title of ‘God-given talent’ is well-deserved. Don’t you think so, Balthazar?”

 

“Haha, yes. Well…”

 

Of course. Who else could it be?

 

The esteemed and beloved playwright, Phantom.

 

I couldn’t help but smile wryly at the sight of Senior Rosalyn, oblivious to the fact that she was arm-in-arm with the playwright himself.

 

 

 

✧❅✦❅✧

 

 

 

Caesar, a young head of a declining noble family, made his mark on history.

 

Although his beginnings were humble, his end would be grand.

 

A man of unparalleled ambition, he was a young man who dreamed of one day becoming a consul, wielding the might of Rome.

 

To achieve this, he began his career on foreign battlefields as a member of the Roman legions.

 

A diamond in the rough, he steadily climbed the ladder of success, serving as an aedile, a praetor, and more.

 

Finally, in 59 BC, at the age of just 41, he achieved his long-desired goal of becoming consul.

 

He positioned himself as a mediator between two powerful politicians, becoming a key figure in the historically renowned “First Triumvirate.”

 

He secured the backing of Crassus, the wealthiest man in Rome and a master of finance.

 

He formed a marriage alliance with Pompey, hailed as the greatest general Rome had ever seen.

 

[To our alliance! Hahaha!]

 

[May it last forever!]

 

[One for all, and all for one!]

 

A line borrowed with slight modifications from Alexandre Dumas’s novel, <The Three Musketeers>.

 

With this toast, Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey, played by their respective actors, raised their glasses in a toast that marked the highlight of Act 1.

 

Of course, the Roman Senate, wary of the ambitious Caesar, kept a close eye on him.

 

As his term as Consul neared its end, they attempted to exile him to the distant outskirts of the empire, appointing him as a governor.

 

But Caesar, having anticipated the Senate’s ploy, made a bold move to turn the situation to his advantage.

 

He chose Gaul (present-day France and Belgium) as his destination, a land yet to be conquered by Rome. His aim was to achieve military glory by subduing the Celtic tribes flourishing there and use it as leverage for his return to politics.

 

[I, Caesar, shall return!]

 

As he departed for his governorship, Mr. Renoir, playing Caesar, declared solemnly.

 

[Do not forget the name Julius Caesar, O Rome! Not until the day I conquer Gaul and return in triumph!]

 

“Magnificent! That’s what a real man is!”

 

“Such spirit, refusing to yield to the pressures of the corrupt Senate! The audacity to face hardship head-on! Truly a man to admire!”

 

“Father, Caesar became consul at 41. What have you accomplished at that age?”

 

“This damn play!”

 

The male audience members showered praise upon Caesar as they witnessed his early exploits.

 

A man who reached the pinnacle of power in his prime and turned a life-or-death crisis into an opportunity had clearly struck a chord in their hearts.

 

‘I hope His Majesty and the Prince share similar sentiments.’

 

Glancing at the top of the theater, where the special room prepared solely for the imperial family was, I thought.

 

Exceptional judgment and bold, unconventional decisions.

 

A monarch should most earnestly learn from Caesar’s strengths.

 

Pa-ba-bam~♪

 

With that, the main character and the legionnaires under his command slowly exited the stage.

 

Amid the sound of trumpets, Act 2 of <Julius Caesar>, the Gallic Wars, began in earnest.

 

Fortunately, the early phase of the campaign went smoothly according to Caesar’s plan.

 

Helvetii, Suebi, Belgae, Eburones, and various others.

 

He steadily accumulated military accomplishments, winning battle after battle against the resisting tribes; however, around the seventh year of the campaign, Caesar’s unilateral conquest faced an unexpected obstacle.

 

A young chieftain of the Arverni tribe, a warrior still revered as a national hero in France to this day, stood in his way.

 

It was Vercingetorix who raised the banner of anti-Roman sentiment and united Gaul.

 

[My brothers of Gaul! Hear my words!]

 

The booming voice of Bokio, the rookie actor playing Vercingetorix, resonated through the theater as he cried out,

 

[Caesar has murdered our brothers, enslaved their families, and desecrated our homes! Since the arrival of the Roman legions, the only music to grace our ears has been the mournful cries for the dead!]

 

‘…That orc was born to be an actor.’

 

I couldn’t help but think as I watched Bokio’s passionate performance from my seat.

 

I hadn’t expected much from an orc in terms of acting, but this guy was a natural.

 

The noble audience, initially displeased by the inclusion of an Orc, were completely engrossed.

 

And even senior Rosalyn, who was so focused that she was virtually inhaling popcorn, were utterly engrossed.

 

[Brothers! Take up arms and rise! Let us show Caesar our might!]

 

A large bonfire blazed before a sacred altar.

 

Gathering the other chieftains, Bokio made a blood oath before the fire, declaring,

 

[They may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom, our fighting spirit! Remember this oath we make today, brothers! Caesar will rue the day he set foot in Gaul…!!”

 

[Onwards! To battle!]

 

[Vercingetorix! Vercingetorix! Vercingetorix!]

 

[Uwaaaaahhhh—!!]

 

Amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the orc extras, the battle between Caesar and Vercingetorix commenced; the war, which had seemed all but over, was instantly turned on its head with the appearance of a Hero.

 

The young hero employed every tactic at his disposal, from guerilla warfare to daring open-field engagements.

 

As a result, Caesar’s legions, once invincible, found themselves increasingly pressured and driven into a corner.

 

However, the goddess of victory did not smile upon the young Celtic leader.

 

The Battle of Gergovia, where he hastily engaged the Roman army in a frontal assault.

 

And the Battle of Alesia, which could be called Gaul’s last stand.

 

After suffering consecutive defeats in both battles, Vercingetorix raised the white flag.

 

[I have lost, Caesar.]

 

Mr. Renoir, the actor playing Caesar, stood tall in a conspicuous red cloak.

 

Meanwhile, Bokio, bound in chains, knelt before him and pleaded,

 

[Kill me if you must, but please spare the lives of my brothers. This is my last request as a warrior who fought you, winning and losing in turn.]

 

“Oh my…”

 

“What should we do…”

 

Sighs and murmurs of sympathy rippled through the audience as they watched the defeated warrior.

 

Surprisingly, female spectators were the ones expressing their sorrow most eagerly.

 

For some reason, their eyes were particularly moist as they gazed at the orc actor.

 

…What was this? I had aimed for an emotional climax, but this seemed a bit excessive.

 

‘Is this… what they call female empathy?’

 

While I was slightly puzzled and furrowing my brow, unable to comprehend the depth of their emotions. Just then, the theater lights came on, and the curtains closed with a swishhh.

 

It was time for the intermission.

 

 

 

✧❅✦❅✧

 

 

 

Intermission is generally a time given to the audience to quickly take care of things they couldn’t do during the long performance.

 

Hungry audience members could grab a bite to eat, while those with urgent matters could hurry to the restrooms.

 

But this intermission was primarily filled with the lively chatter of the female audience.

 

“Did you see the orc who played Vercingetorix?”

 

Inquired a noblewoman, covering her face with a folding fan.

 

The other noblewomen giggled and joined the conversation.

 

Unlike the male audience, who were captivated by the protagonist Caesar, the female audience was unexpectedly drawn to Vercingetorix, the opposing character.

 

“At first, I was a bit put off by the idea of an orc appearing in the play, but as expected, Phantom’s eye for talent is impeccable. I have to say, I found it rather… pleasing to the eyes.”

 

“I never knew. I always thought orcs were nothing but dim-witted barbarians… but they have such… a masculine side.”

 

“Muscular, broad-shouldered, with a deep voice… it really makes you wonder about their… ‘biology.’”

 

“Oh ho ho, tell me about it. I wouldn’t mind being held in the arms of a man with such beastly charm…”

 

The lively chatter wasn’t limited to these noblewomen alone.

 

Similar conversations were taking place all over the theater.

 

These women, somewhat tired of the artificial and restrictive lifestyle of the upper class, were bound by societal norms. Even their sexual desires, a basic human need, were veiled and expressed in hushed tones.

 

To these women, Vercingetorix’s straightforward and wild nature was a refreshing and thrilling stimulus.

 

Although it was not Phantom’s intention, this performance quietly sowed the seeds of a rather dangerous…..preference that began to spread in the Empire’s shadows.

 

— Kuh, kill me!

 

— I will avenge my tribe! Bear children as you killed!

 

— Ugh♥ Just a mere barbarian…

 

Originally, the orc non-con genre, as it was known on Earth, often associated with the so-called knight-r*pe genre….

 

{T/N – Orc, Non-consensual.}

 

…..Its seeds were quietly sown on this day, a genre soon to see a suspicious surge in popularity.

 

 

 

— End of Chapter —