After Ellie shared the concept of CP obsession with the simple and plain Knight’s Ladies.
CP obsession swept through the entire social circle of the ladies like a storm.
At first, everyone was greatly shocked.
But after they got over it…
they were truly amazed.
Many servants in the Upper District’s mansions were surprised to find that their mistresses were no longer frequently visiting the theater to idolize those pretty boy actors.
Instead, they suddenly stayed indoors every day at their desks ‘writing fervently.’
Also, while writing, they often showed a peculiar ‘auntie smile’ on their faces…
A new, niche genre of male-male literature started trending in the Upper District.
And the preferences of the nobles are always the merchants’ weather vane.
After the theater’s income ‘reached a new low,’ the owner Melt Whelan could no longer hold out.
He went to the black market and posted a reward task.
[Investigate what the ladies of Centralis have recently become obsessed with]
[Reward: one hundred gold coins]
In this world, there is never a shortage of ruthless people who are willing to risk their lives for gold coins.
The group of tough guys who took up the task squatted day and night in the trash bins of the Upper District mansions.
Just to collect the most ‘fresh’ information every day.
Of course, it worked.
Half a month later, Mr.
Melt Whelan, the theater owner, received such an investigation report.
[The ladies are obsessed with male-male scandals and cannot extricate themselves, the situation is as follows…]
Mr.
Melt was greatly shocked after reading it, with his worldview completely shattered.
But as an excellent merchant, Melt quickly discovered the immense business opportunity within.
So, he immediately called all the actors for an emergency meeting.
The next day, an opera named “The Duke and the Knight” was hastily premiered.
Nervously, Melt Whelan sent the program list to the ladies living in the Upper District.
Until the tickets were sold, he prayed devoutly to the God of Wealth.
And then…
his tickets sold out.
Melt Whelan was overjoyed; if it weren’t for his ears, his mouth would practically reach the back of his head.
But the good news didn’t stop there.
As the audience started entering, a carriage, impossible to keep low-key, parked directly in front of the theater.
The emblem belonging solely to Kostanyn on the carriage stunned the passersby.
The noble and gorgeous Duchess Ellie Miller Coldcrest stepped out of the carriage with great interest.
Upon receiving the news, Melt Whelan dashed out immediately.
When he saw Ellie, excitement nearly deprived him of oxygen.
“Quick, quick…” He supported himself on the shoulder of a companion, “Quick, slap me!
See if I’m dreaming…”
The word “dream” was not yet finished when a crisp smack resonated on his chubby face.
The companion lowered his voice worriedly, “The Mad Lady might not be here to support us.
Just those two words, ‘Duke,’ might mean she’s here to cause trouble instead!”
Melt Whelan awoke from his dream of overnight riches and shivered immediately.
But it was too late.
Ellie heard the slapping sound and curiously looked over.
Then she saw a slightly chubby middle-aged man, his half-swollen face displaying a smile more pitiful than crying at her.
Ellie: “…”
“I, my noble Duchess, what brings you here…?”
Ellie looked at the theater owner’s head shivering with metaphorical ‘bubbles’ of anxiety and mischievously pointed at the large sign displayed by the theater.
“Perhaps it’s ‘Forbidden Love,’ ‘The Duke and the Knight’s Ultimate Love’ that ‘blew’ me here?” Ellie quoted the advertisement on the sign.
Thinking to herself: This owner knows how to stir up CP.
The owner nearly wet himself from fear.
But the show was ready.
If he dared to cancel the performance now, the noblewomen who bought tickets would absolutely tear him apart.
Ellie, seeing the poor honest man about to be scared to death, lightly coughed, “Alright, no more jokes.
I was also invited to appreciate your theater’s new production.”
With that, she took out a ticket.
One moment in Hell, the next in Heaven, probably captures Melt Whelan’s feelings at this moment.
After the ladies took their seats, the performance officially began.
Perhaps the news that the Duchess came to see the play spread, on stage, the two male actors opened up like peacocks displaying their feathers.
When humans let go of certain…
Emm…
limits, they emit a certain ‘reckless beauty.’
The two handsome male actors let go of the usual backstage ‘rivalries’ and earnestly performed the script written overnight by the owner.
They endured the urge to slap each other’s ears with their shoe soles, reciting those lovey-dovey lines even lovers couldn’t say without cringing…
causing the noble ladies in the box to scream frantically.
And then, the performance was a huge success.
Upon exiting the stage, the two were almost drowned in roses thrown onto the stage.
They wandered backstage, feeling as if everything was a dream.
The ladies couldn’t handle it either.
They had just been obsessed with ‘niche literature’ for a few days, and now they saw the real-life version of a BL remake; how could they handle such a stimulation?
Everyone was practically about to faint from lack of oxygen, alright.
Especially when they secretly imagined the lead actor with the Duke’s incomparably handsome face.
One of the ladies, leaving the theater, felt her nose heat up; a stream of nosebleed gushed out, scaring the maid next to her.
…
The next day, at Ellie’s tea party, oh, it should now be called the ‘literature exchange meeting,’ more than a dozen different CPs emerged.
“The Duke should be with Lance!!”
“No, no, no!
Darling!
You don’t understand CP!
The Duke and Locke are the perfect match!”
“Nonsense!
You don’t understand the beauty of CP!”
“Ha ha ha, who doesn’t know how to appreciate?!”
The two ladies almost pulled each other’s hair, and Ellie watched with great interest.
Then, the two suddenly fell silent and looked at Ellie simultaneously.
“Madam!” they said in unison.
“Who do you think the Duke pairs best with?!”
Ellie: “…”
She smacked her lips, countless CPs whirling through her mind.
Then Ellie cleared her throat, “Don’t you think the Duke actually pairs best with Conrad?”
The old butler Conrad, about to deliver a message, quietly withdrew his hand that was ready to knock.
The ladies were momentarily confused.
“Is there a knight named Conrad in the Order of Knights?”
One lady recalled something, her face turning curious, “Um, Conrad, isn’t that…
the castle’s old butler, Conrad?”
Ellie eagerly said, “‘Sebastian’ and ‘The Young Master’s’ exquisite romance, get it?”
The ladies fell silent, then simultaneously said, “Cult!”
Ellie: “…”
At this moment, heavy knocking sounded from the door, ‘knock,’ ‘knock,’ ‘knock.’
Each knock seemed to silently convey the woes of the knocker’s heart.
“Come in.”
Conrad entered with extremely heavy steps, walking in front of the ladies step by step.
Countless scrutinizing gazes, like sharp arrows, examined the old butler from top to bottom, his heart undergoing a stormy turmoil.
The ladies exchanged glances.
It was the first time Ellie saw their ‘bubbles’ so unified above their heads.
[Indeed, a cult!]
Ellie: “…”
Conrad took a deep breath to keep himself composed, “Madam, there’s a letter from His Highness.”
Ellie couldn’t see the bubble above Conrad’s head but couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty as she smiled sheepishly.
She picked up a letter opener and opened the letter.
“Well…
ladies, it’s good news.
They’ve won, and it’s estimated, well, they should be back by early December.”
“Ah~ No one was sacrificed in this war, dear ladies, you can rest well~”