The Regressed Maid Becomes A Prima Donna - Chapter 6

Miya conducted my music class in a slightly unique way. As soon as I finished my work at the dressmaker’s shop, I went to the tavern, and someone was in the middle of preparing for the performance, so I could no longer sing on stage.

 

So Miya and I sang in the liquor store until the show started.

 

And when the show started, I went out to the table and listened to the song with a glass of alcohol that I wouldn’t even drink.

 

In the process, I learned everything quickly.

 

“Your imitation is good.”

 

When I copied Miya’s singing method and Helena’s singing method, who sings the most uniquely in the tavern, Miya said so.

 

I knew how to make a sound instinctively. When I learned vocal music, I put strength in my stomach and raised the sound to make a sound by ringing the empty space in my head.

 

Henry explained the principle and demonstrated it once, and I always succeeded within three attempts.

 

My vocal range gradually increased and I was assigned the soprano part, but she said it was average compared to professional sopranos.

 

But I was always in charge of the highest notes in the country choir.

 

When I sang perfectly under Henry’s command, the entire high temple rang with a shudder. It was like a reward to me.

 

When I heard the beautiful sound from my mouth with my own ears, I used to feel like my heart was floating in the air.

 

At that moment, the lights of the tavern overlapped with the colourful lights that poured into the temple.

 

Only then did I come to my senses.

 

Loud applause and cheers filled the tavern.

 

The customers who were eating and drinking were clapping at me.

 

It was a strange feeling.

 

No one clapped in the choir no matter how well I sang.

 

My singing was directed towards God, and it was only a role to brighten the place for God. And God didn’t let me hear the applause.

 

At the tavern table, the owner had a very happy expression. And in front of him, Miya was also sitting crookedly on the table and happily clapping for me.

 

I greeted the pianist, Josh, and climbed down the stage.

 

As I headed towards Miya, the owner poured a bottle of wine and held it out in front of me.

 

“You are doing quite good now.”

 

The doubts he showed on his face when I first performed on stage had now completely disappeared. I smiled softly and put on the thin shawl that Miya had given me.

 

“Do you think so, too?”

 

As I leaned my chin against the table and narrowed my eyes, Miya laughed and pushed my shoulder.

 

“You are so d*mn pretty. Go away.”

 

At that, I laughed out loud.

 

When I was in Haron, that is, the Lord’s castle, it was not common for a maid to laugh out loud. Levistan also liked my shy, small, low smile.

 

That’s why I only recently found out that a big, hearty laugh like Miya’s made me feel better.

 

After a month of working at the tavern and becoming a full-time employee, I began to understand Miya’s behaviour.

 

Why was she using harsh words? Did she wear heavy makeup every time she went on stage? Why did she show only minimal courtesy to people she saw for the first time?

 

And the more I got to know her, the more I began to resemble Miya in part, and became pretty close with her.

 

“Can I give you a compliment? You did it without any mistakes this time.”

 

She didn’t have any problems with my skills, but that didn’t mean I did everything perfectly.

 

I didn’t have any stage attributes.

 

<“You are so polite, but you don’t have any etiquette for the stage.”>

 

At my first rehearsal, Miya crossed her arms and said that, mimicking my awkward gestures.

 

The stiff posture and fixed gaze were the basics of the choir, but they were not used in the tavern stage.

 

In that sense, it could be said that it was really appropriate for the owner to give me a one-month apprenticeship. During that month, I listened to many songs, memorized the lyrics, and practised the movements.

 

The stage clothes were made cheaply by Mrs Sierra, and Miya helped with the makeup.

 

After doing about 5 short stages like that, I became quite a singer. But Miya still said calmly.

 

“Seriously, it’s still a long way off. I could see your eyes shaking all the way here.”

 

I couldn’t refute that comment and brushed the nape of my neck shyly. There was no way Miya didn’t know that I had confused the lyrics once.

 

She was stricter than anyone else when it came to music. She spat out compliments on my appearance like a habit, but never once complimented me on my singing.

 

“But if you try to do it two more times, it will be plausible. Isn’t the next song coming soon? Go see Josh now.”

 

It was no compliment, but she gave me a light stroke on my back as if to comfort me.

 

After drinking a glass of water instead of alcohol, I opened the back door and entered the small waiting room. Josh, who was inside, spotted me and gestured right away.

 

“Ah, Amber. You are just in time.”

 

“Yes, Josh.”

 

“The interlude is done according to the score, but the prelude will be a bit long. It’s such a famous song that you get a response right away.”

 

“Is it so?”

 

“If the prelude suddenly changes, the interlude may not fit. I mean, I’m going to pull up the chorus a little bit later…”

 

For me who couldn’t understand it just by looking at the sheet music, Josh gave a more detailed explanation and left the waiting room.

 

I stayed alone in my room, looking in the mirror, fixing my makeup and dressing.

 

The country woman’s face had disappeared, and in the mirror, the face of a gorgeous singer could be seen.

 

It was the first time I had worn such thick eye makeup and wore shiny clothes.

 

In my previous life, in which I had lived all my life wearing a maid’s uniform, everyday clothes comfortable for farming, and a faded apron, seemed like a lie.

 

The inside of the tavern became quiet for a moment when I stood under the twinkling ceiling lights. Everyone looked at my face.

 

A soft piano melody flowed and when I sang, everyone put down their forks and sipped their drinks and listened to my song.

 

When the song finished, slowly leaving a lingering aftertaste, the satisfied audience applauded and whistled toward me.

 

After I got on stage, the tavern started to become more and more crowded.

 

According to the owner, customers were flocking to it similar to the time when it once had the highest sales.

 

It was a good opportunity at a pretty good time.

 

I couldn’t help but think of Levistan’s face.

 

‘What would you say if you saw me now?’

 

The thick makeup was burdensome, so what will he say when he sees my white-painted face while brushing my cheek?

 

What will he say when he sees me wearing a headdress with fake jewels, with my hair loosely combed to the fullest after I was neatly dressed and tidied up so as not to spill a single strand of my hair?

 

I smiled and put down the comb.

 

I liked the way I look now. With one artificial smile in the mirror, I saw the most beautiful face I had ever seen.

 

I finished the final touch-up with that and went back on stage.

 

More people were sitting at the table than when I sang the first song. I was confident that I would no longer tremble even if this narrow tavern was packed with people.

 

Putting on a relaxed-looking smile, I took a look around the hall.

 

Josh’s eyes met, he nodded once, and I nodded too. Soon the piano accompaniment started.

 

As predicted in advance, the audience reacted immediately. Cheers of joy were heard from everywhere.

 

I smiled with my eyes folded in half and took a slow breath.

 

That was the moment. My gestures, which had been moving naturally like flowing water, stopped in the air.

 

Josh’s lengthening of the intro was a really good decision. If I had gone with the original song, I would have made the big mistake of missing the first bar.

 

Among the crowd of people, a distinct face was caught in the field of vision.

 

‘How can he be here?’

 

The gaze directed at me was cold and insensitive, but I couldn’t.

 

A face I happened to see a month ago while running an errand for Mrs Sierra.

 

Gilbert Klein was sitting in the far corner of the tavern.

 

***

 

Not knowing how I finished the song, I returned to the waiting room and sat down in a chair. My fingertips were shaking more severely than when I first came out on stage.

 

I barely came to my senses right before the interlude and started singing. As I watched the audience’s response, I constantly looked sideways at Gilbert Klein.

 

He was alone in the hustle and bustle of the crowd. There wasn’t a smile on his lips, and he didn’t look uncomfortable either. He was really expressionless.

 

Of course, I had no reason to be nervous.

 

Although he was the owner of the Klein Theatre, his theatre had recently been putting on a semblance, and recent newspapers have reported that auditions will be held for the first performance, I never had to tremble in front of him.

 

Because I am nothing to him. I was just a background that filled the space where he existed.

 

I was sure it was, but I felt the muscles in my neck stiffen.

 

It was an instinctive desire. No matter how much I was singing in the background, I kept wanting him to take a look at me.

 

‘Yeah, he’s Gilbert Klein.’

 

The one who founded the Klein Theatre, which would become the most famous theatre in the Kingdom. And the one who set up Caroline Deese, who was a newcomer at the time, in his theatre and instantly won the title of the best Prima Donna.

 

The day I read Caroline Deese’s description of the beautiful soprano. I dreamed again that I was standing in the middle of a theatre.

 

I had never actually seen the inside of a theatre, so I didn’t even know if the space could really be called a theatre. Nevertheless, I sang there in my dreams.

 

I sat down on the chair and stretched out.

 

I came to the capital with the thought of wanting to sing. In a way, I had achieved that wish and was quite satisfied with my current appearance.

 

It was possible to sing songs outside of the Klein Theatre. Audiences were everywhere and generous guests always cheered for my songs.

 

But I kept thinking of Gilbert Klein’s face and the stage in my imagination.

 

The stage always had to be the Klein Theatre.

 

“Since I couldn’t find you the whole time, I thought you might have collapsed somewhere. What are you doing here?”

 

When I was in my dreamland, Miya’s voice was heard along with the sound of the waiting room door opening from behind.

 

“Miya.”

 

I just turned my head and met Miya’s eyes.

 

“If I want to be a soprano, not a singer here, what should I do?”