Chapter 410

Chapter 410: Arranging the Performance

“Can I have a glass of Blood Orchid?” he pointed at a cup in the platter. Despite his many years of work at the hotel, there were still many items he had not seen before. To avoid embarrassment, he ordered a familiar yet strange drink.

The drink was expensive, and he had earned considerable commission when working at the hotel. However, he had never tasted this particular drink before.

A cool, blood-red liquid flowed down his throat. The alcohol’s sting and slight sweetness spread in his mouth, followed by a mild burning sensation in his chest and stomach, like thorns spreading through his body.

It was fresh and stimulating, but he did not enjoy it.

Triton slowly savored it and then put down the glass, looking towards the dance floor. Under favorable living conditions, these nobles were not bad-looking. However, Triton, with his experienced eye, could still discern how much of it was just surface beauty. Not all girls were as stunning as that young lady he met that day, even without makeup.

Most needed some embellishment to look beautiful in specific settings.

After sitting for a while, no one disturbed him. A peculiar sense of comfort gradually rose from his heart.

I can sit here and do nothing, drink whatever I want, and none of the waiters would dare offend me. There’s no nagging manager urging me either. I could even cross my legs and watch the graceful dancers in the dance floor without restraint.

An unprecedented sense of ease flowed through his heart. He savored and enjoyed it.

A woman in a deep blue dress approached. She was about 19 years old, with a face rated around 6.5 out of 10. Triton silently evaluated her. Initially, he paid no attention, but she walked straight up to him, causing his heart to race.

Is she going to expose me? Has she noticed something amiss? What does she want?

“Would you like to dance with me?” the girl offered her hand, her white wrist adorned with light pink silk.

“My…” Triton’s heart pounded. This was an experience he had never felt before in his life, not even when facing the Earl’s butler.

He wanted to stand elegantly and dance with the young lady, but he couldn’t.

He couldn’t dance; he had never danced before. Sweat appeared on his forehead due to nervousness. But to avoid keeping the young lady waiting too long and feeling awkward, and to save himself from embarrassment, he answered with a hoarse voice.

“I’m sorry, I twisted my ankle recently and can’t dance,” his voice sounded stiff and unnatural. After saying this, he lowered his head, staring at the wine glass in front of him, unable to look at the disappointed face of the girl.

“Oh, I see. Then what about you?” The girl turned to ask Arlen, who didn’t take it seriously.

“Me? Hehe, I’m not very good at dancing, but if you’re willing to teach me, I’d be happy to dance with you,” Arlen smiled and shook his head.

The girl’s eyes lit up, and she continued, “Sure, I’ll teach you.”

Triton watched as Arlen and the young lady held hands and entered the dance floor. They danced slowly, with the young lady guiding him, occasionally sharing laughter.

Jealousy, envy, regret, self-loathing, and other emotions welled up in his heart.

Sighing, he shook his head, dispelling the complex emotions, and took another sip of the blood-red drink. The pain seemed more intense than before.

The previous sense of ease vanished.

Maybe I should go back after sitting for a while longer.

He stared at the distant lights, and everything in his vision gradually blurred, becoming a series of moving spots, beautiful yet distant.

—

After two days on the ship, the opera troupe’s first performance was about to begin. Several young ladies discussed the content of the show in their room.

“The first act should be simple since none of us have performed on stage before,” Letis sat at the small table in the center of the room.

“Agreed.” Everyone raised their hands in agreement.

“Then which of us will perform? It might be too crowded if we all go up together,” Nia suggested.

“That’s for sure. Generally, a small opera only requires 3-4 people,” Lily said, stating the standard.

“I’ll go first, with Lolan and Vimya closing the show,” Alena volunteered.

“Then I’ll join too. It wouldn’t be fair for Alena to do it alone,” Lily raised her hand. Among them, she and Alena were the closest.

“I can do it too,” Nia raised her hand, but her voice lacked confidence.

“What about being a narrator?” Bumansa suggested with a smile.

“Sure.”

Alena welcomed everyone, thus determining the lineup for the first act.

Lolan Hill and Vimya sat in a corner, whispering about the songs they would use.

Even though it was just a temporary opera performance, they didn’t want to treat it lightly. Since they had promised others, they naturally had to deliver something decent.

“As for Ceti… maybe she shouldn’t go on stage,” Lolan Hill looked at Ceti and thought for a moment before saying this.

“Why not, Lolan?” Ceti looked at Lolan Hill, puzzled.

“You’re still young…” Lolan Hill couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation and said this instead, then hugged Ceti.

After being hugged by Lolan Hill, Ceti felt the warmth of the young lady and stopped asking questions, even though she didn’t fully understand, she knew Lolan Hill was doing this for her sake.

“How envious.”

Bumansa, watching this scene, whispered.

“Envious of what?” Letis tilted her head.

“Envious of Ceti’s trust in Lolan, and also envious of Lolan’s care for Ceti,” Bumansa replied slowly.

“Ceti is impressive, but she seems naive. If she were to go on stage rashly, she might be ridiculed or even admired for her looks. Although she can protect herself, it might not be a pleasant experience,” she explained Lolan Hill’s concern.

“Ah, so I don’t need to worry?” The young lady looked at Bumansa and said with a smile.

“You are a well-experienced young lady, accustomed to various phenomena and capable of handling situations maturely. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Haha, consider it a compliment. Good thing Ye Ling is sleeping in the room, otherwise she’d come to compete with Ceti for Lolan’s lap pillow again.”

After settling everything in the room, the ‘Dawn Flower’ opera troupe’s first performance was about to begin.

The vast sea under the night sky stretched endlessly. Silver moonlight cascaded like gossamer, making the deep blue waters appear even deeper. The massive cruise ship moved gently like a tiny leaf, drifting along the current toward the distant horizon.

—End of Chapter