Vol. 3 Ch. 57

With the roles assigned, Director Noa’s little troupe immediately began rehearsing the first scene.

First, Director Noa gave a quick briefing:

“The first scene is the main characters’ initial meeting in a dungeon. We’ll need three actors: Dad, Mom, and Moon.”

“At the start, Mom enters the dungeon with Moon, but she wants to speak alone with the enemy knight imprisoned there, so she sends Moon away.”

“Once Moon leaves, Mom enters the knight’s cell, and they exchange a few simple lines. Since this is our first rehearsal, we can just read directly from the script.”

“After everyone memorizes the lines, we’ll move on to a full performance.”

“Any questions about this scene?”

Questions…

Not exactly, but this first scene seemed a little too familiar.

How did you know that your mom once wanted to talk to your dad privately in a similar setup—and that’s how you and your sisters came to be?

This script is clearly inspired by real life… Leon couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

“No questions, Noa,” Claudia said.

“Alright then, let’s start the first scene,” Noa announced, and the rehearsal began in earnest.

The actors without roles in the scene moved aside, leaving ample space in the classroom.

Moon, playing the maid, followed closely behind Rosvisser, mother and daughter making a circle around the classroom.

“Your Highness, that wretched enemy knight is just ahead in his cell. We’re about to interrogate him,” Moon read from the script, enunciating each word with impressive clarity.

Leon had to admit, his daughter’s line delivery was pretty solid; her tone was completely natural. And her pronunciation of “wretched enemy knight” was crystal clear and dripping with emotion—without a hint of mercy for her dear old dad.

Meanwhile, Rosvisser couldn’t help but feel a bit youthful as she was addressed as “Princess.”

Before becoming a queen, hadn’t she, too, been someone’s precious little princess?

She snapped out of her thoughts and read her lines:

“Very well. But before that, let me speak with the knight alone and see if I can glean any useful information from him.”

“Yes, Your Highness, please be careful.”

“Mm, I will.”

Moon stepped aside as Rosvisser took a step forward with the script in hand.

Leon, meanwhile, had already prepared himself to play the captured knight.

Though he hadn’t started his lines, he had already perfectly embodied the defiance, humiliation, and stubbornness of a captured warrior—it was so convincing it was almost heartbreaking.

Damn it, General Leon, your performance as a captive is disturbingly well-practiced. Care to share your secret? (Just kidding.)

Rosvisser stifled a laugh as she observed his performance.

She took a step closer, stopped in front of Leon, and began reading her line:

“Oh, dear prisoner, you’re more handsome than I expected. It’s just a pity you’re looking a little worse for wear now.”

After delivering this line, Rosvisser frowned slightly.

Something about this line feels… odd.

She glanced over at Noa and Helena, but seeing that neither the director nor the writer had stopped her, she decided to press on.

But before she could continue, Helena spoke up:

“Hold on a moment, Aunt Rosvisser.”

“Yes?”

“Hmm… I didn’t think anything was wrong when I wrote this line, but hearing it performed, it doesn’t feel quite right.”

Holding the script, Helena analyzed thoughtfully, “Our princess is supposed to be proud and in control of everything, which sets up the contrast later when she unexpectedly falls for the enemy knight. That contrast is a big turning point in the story.”

“So, with everything under her control, she probably wouldn’t say something like, ‘more handsome than I expected’… It needs to be revised.”

She looked over at Claudia, a hint of pleading in her gaze.

“You’re absolutely right, Helena. So, how would you change it?” Claudia asked.

“Um…”

The little sea dragon scratched her head, momentarily stumped as she stared at the heavily annotated script, unsure how to phrase the line in a way that would convey the princess’s personality.

“I have a suggestion,” Rosvisser suddenly said.

Helena looked up, “What is it, Auntie?”

Rosvisser put down her script, slowly turned to Leon, and gently lifted his chin with her fingers.

Meeting his dark eyes, her gaze softened, and she whispered in a sultry, teasing tone:

“A rugged, handsome man—the scars are the perfect adornment for that face.”

Her voice was seductive but not playful, haughty yet carrying a hint of admiration.

It was exactly the kind of tone Helena had envisioned for her princess character.

“Yes! That’s perfect! Auntie, you’re amazing!” the little sea dragon beamed.

Of course, it’s perfect. That was precisely the first line Auntie used on your uncle back in the day.

Claudia, standing nearby, wore a knowing smile. However, everyone’s attention was on the leading couple, and they missed her expression.

“But… while the line is great, it still feels like it’s missing a bit… of conflict?” Helena mused.

“Just lines alone do soften the sense of conflict. You could try using physical actions to amplify the tension between the characters,” Claudia suggested.

Thanks to Claudia’s professional advice, Helena’s face lit up with understanding.

She and Noa tried to brainstorm some gestures on the spot.

But none of them quite hit the mark for the dramatic effect they wanted.

At a loss, Rosvisser spoke up again:

“I have another suggestion for a physical action.”

With that, Rosvisser lifted her tail and slowly wrapped it around Leon’s neck.

“Wow~ Auntie, you’ve perfectly captured the princess’s personality just by glancing at the script!” Helena exclaimed.

It’s not just your princess’s personality, my dear—it’s your auntie’s past persona, too.

“Ahem… sweetheart… it’s just a play. No need for this level of accuracy…”

“For the kids’ artistic ambitions, bear with it, my dear husband.”

“…Fine, you win!”

Even so, Rosvisser was mindful of the strength of her tail, careful not to fully recreate the “heroic feats” of their past.

They continued with the script, with each line becoming more refined as the rehearsal progressed, bringing the characters and the plot to life.

By lunchtime, they had already reached the scene where the two leads begin to fall for each other, but the knight must return to his homeland.

Helena praised the couple’s performance as they ate lunch.

“Uncle Leon, Aunt Rosvisser, you’ve completely embodied my vision for these characters. You nailed it! Acting skills: 100 out of 100!”

The couple exchanged a knowing look.

Well, dear, your aunt and uncle have a saying for you:

“All of life’s a play, with no acting—only memories.”