Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 76

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 76

Cllucker raised an eyebrow and spoke.

“Of course, these aren’t quite the ‘magnificent’ seats you’d find in the Capital’s Opera House. I’ll grant you that. But from this spot, you can see everything from the rope dancer’s expressions to exactly how large a jester’s backside is when he tumbles over.”
“I have no desire to see a jester’s backside.”

Even as Loerston said this, he offered Adelia his hand to help her up the stairs.

Cllucker added hastily.

“No bedbugs or fleas, I assure you. I’ve swept them out thoroughly.”
“You’d better have.”

At Loerston’s reply, Adelia—who’d gone ahead—let out a bright laugh.

The Premium Seating consisted of nothing more than a plush two-person sofa placed in the middle of the staircase and a small folding table set before it.

The velvet, which must have once been wine-colored, had faded to a glossy near-black, and the seat had sunk deeply in the middle from age.

Once seated, Loerston grumbled softly.

“Well, it’s better than bare ground.”

Adelia agreed with his assessment.

And in some respects, Cllucker had been right. The location was positioned perfectly. The stage below was clearly visible, and the suspended rope seemed to hang almost within arm’s reach.

Once the crowd began to pour in, the true value of this “Premium Seating” revealed itself anew.

While ladies in voluminous dresses struggled awkwardly into cramped seats, Adelia and Loerston sat in comfortable ease, undisturbed by elbows and rustling fabric.

Some people shot them envious glances. A few even jingled coins, as if offering to buy the spot.

“This seat’s quite the hot commodity.”
“Indeed. I should thank Cllucker.”
“For what? It was his mistake in the first place.”
“Oh, come now. Let it go. Those children were rather cute, weren’t they?”

Remembering the spirited twins, Adelia’s lips curved into a natural smile.

Loerston was about to ask what the children’s cuteness had to do with Cllucker’s scheming, but a loud burst of music interrupted him, and he closed his mouth instead.

A trumpet and drum sounded, the back of the Circus Tent flew open, and a stream of gaudily dressed performers entered in procession.

A boy carrying a small drum on his shoulder hopped and bounded, drawing all eyes. A clown hefting an enormous Trombone let out a ridiculous blart that sent the crowd into laughter.

“Ladies, gentlemen, and allies and adversaries gathered this evening! Welcome, welcome indeed! You are about to witness the greatest spectacle the world’s finest Circus Troupe has to offer. Please do guard your belly laughs carefully, lest you lose them, and brace yourselves lest your eyes should burst from your heads!”

The Ringmaster’s words sent the entire crowd into laughter. Adelia, too, giggled behind her hand.

“Our first performance features the Circus Troupe’s pride and joy: a dance by our little angels! Not quite court ballet, but impossibly charming. Please give them a roaring welcome!”

The audience clapped and cheered. As the musicians and Ringmaster withdrew, the lights dimmed slightly. Soon the tent’s rear curtain parted, and two children dressed in swallow-black scampered onto the Stage.

“Heavens, look! Those children!”

Adelia cried out softly, gently tugging at Loerston’s hand.

“Aren’t those the twins from earlier?”
“That’s them! So they work with the Circus Troupe too.”

As a cheerful, bouncing melody began, a spotlight flicked on, illuminating the two small figures.

The twins, their faces painted white and their cheeks rouged red, instantly captured the audience’s attention.

The little performers danced with the nimbleness of hopping frogs. When the tempo quickened, they’d crouch and scurry about the Stage, or spin each other around using their small arms as pivots.

When one of the twins—Holly or Molly, it was impossible to tell which—began spinning like a top, then suddenly stretched their legs fore and aft while raising their hands sharply, the crowd erupted with cries of “Adorable!” and showered them with applause.

“Marvelous!”

Adelia clapped enthusiastically and spoke. Loerston watched her with an amused smile, then handed her a cup of Lemonade and a bag of Popcorn.

“Watching’s fine, but your throat could use some relief. Have some Popcorn too.”
“Oh, thank you. Won’t you have some as well? I’ll set it here.”

Adelia tore open the top of the Popcorn bag and set it in front of the small table.

As they sipped Lemonade and chatted, the next act began. This time, grotesquely made-up clowns took the Stage and performed a brief silent play with exaggerated gestures.

After several rounds of applause and cheers, the Ringmaster appeared again. He tapped a perfectly functional microphone in mock fashion, then spoke in an absurdly theatrical voice.

“Now, you’ve waited long indeed. Oh yes, quite long! Your bottoms must be aching by now, haven’t they? Some of you were already thinking about standing up, weren’t you? But you’ve endured admirably. Now comes the Climax of our Circus Troupe’s performance! A series of heart-stopping shows are about to begin! Our first act: ‘Cllucker the One-Wheeled!’ Let us have your applause and cheers!”

Before the audience had even finished clapping, the tent’s curtain flew open and Cllucker appeared. He rode a Unicycle around the Stage once, then wobbled his body this way and that, performing daring stunts.

“Heavens, he’ll fall!”

Someone near her whispered, and Adelia heard it. She too watched with nervous sweat beading her palms, fearing any moment he might slip.

Cllucker didn’t ride just one Unicycle—he rode many. From ones so small he had to crouch completely, to ones nearly as tall as half the Stage itself.

Each time he switched Unicycles, the crowd roared and threw Coins toward the Stage.

But the most spectacular part was watching him ride in time with the music.

When a very fast violin piece began, he started bouncing up and down while seated on the Unicycle. And with each bounce, he swayed as if about to topple, causing men and women alike to gasp in alarm.

Cllucker, delighting in their gasps, tilted the Unicycle at a severe angle as he circled the Stage. He leaned so far that when he stretched out his arm, his fingertips nearly grazed the Stage floor.

“He’s got the Center of Balance down perfectly.”

At Adelia’s remark, Loerston—who’d been off guard—burst out laughing.

“The Center of Balance?”
“Of course! Otherwise he’d fall right over. But riding something that large, moving constantly…… he’s finding that one crucial point of no-falling with extraordinary precision. He must have practiced a tremendous amount.”
“Perhaps he’s a mathematical genius.”
“A mathematical genius couldn’t do that.”

Adelia spoke with determined conviction, then clapped as Cllucker suddenly sprang upright again.

When the music ended, he pulled a Rose from inside his jacket and dismounted the Unicycle with a flourish. Clowns carried the bicycle away.

He held a single crimson Rose, his eyes mischievous as he surveyed the Stage. He seemed to be pondering who to give it to.

Even in makeup, his face possessed a charm that set the hearts of countless ladies aflutter.

As the young women whispered among themselves, hoping the Rose might be theirs, Cllucker suddenly stretched his long legs and strode purposefully up the stairs, stopping directly before Adelia.

“……?”

Adelia stared up at him with wide eyes. Then Cllucker held out the Rose and spoke.

“All the guests here tonight are charming, but your brightness outshines them all. I do hope you’ll accept this humble clown’s Rose and find happiness with it.”

Adelia accepted the Rose with a bewildered expression. In the same moment, Cllucker brought her hand to his lips for a feather-light kiss, then strode back down the stairs.

Eyes full of envy and jealousy fixed upon Adelia. She sat dumbfounded for a moment, unsure what had just happened, then suddenly flushed crimson and hurriedly hid the Rose below sight.

At that moment, Loerston—sitting beside her—spoke.

“Are you keeping that Rose?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————