Chapter 1929 - 527: The Bell Sound of the Republic Rings in Another Theater_5

He spoke in a very soft voice.

"Child, the Crown Tax isn't paid with crowns."

The crown fell to the ground.

Petals scattered everywhere, like a shattered heart.

Eloise knelt down.

Her knees hit the wooden floor with a dull thud that made one's teeth ache. Her tears fell in large drops into the gaps in the floorboards, and a stifled sob echoed from beneath the stage.

"Then what can I offer? I... I have nothing left but this."

The sobs were full of despair.

Her skirt was spread on the ground like broken wings.

"I beg you, I implore you to ring that bell for us at dusk tomorrow, just once."

Sitting in the audience, Mignes clutched the armrest tightly, as if grasping a heart that had leaped into his throat.

He could feel that suffocating sensation.

Even if the noose was already around their neck, even if the river water had seeped into their boots, the commoners oppressed by feudalism would not question its fairness, but instead, plead with their lord to loosen the noose a little, to take them aboard the ship as well.

Little did they know, it was the lords who put the rope there, they were fine on the shore until they were kicked into the river.

That damned feudalism...

It destroys more than just love.

Mignes cursed in his heart, wishing the armrest in his hand was a firearm.

On stage.

The steward stepped forward.

His leather boots creaked on the wooden floor, echoing in the hearts of every audience member.

"You are not without anything."

That voice was soft, yet it burned like poison.

"Eloise."

"Your fiancé has sacrificed land, freedom, and dignity for your marriage, he has truly given everything for your love."

"Won't you do something for him?"

Eloise's fear and the increasingly intense music reached a peak. She curled up and unconsciously shrank back, yet she could not escape those ever-advancing footsteps.

"Now."

The steward's hand touched her cheek, then pointed to a dark place deep on the stage. It was a tightly closed black door, symbolizing the road to the castle, but also the road to the abyss.

It only opens for certain people when the lord requires it.

"It's your turn to make the final sacrifice for your happiness."

"The lord is waiting for you."

The atmosphere on and off stage simultaneously reached a climax.

Eloise let out a piercing scream, she did not even try to pick up the crown on the ground, and fled towards the shadows on the stage.

It's a trap—

She finally realized.

Watching the prey disappear into the shadows, the bell tower steward, like a hound, did not pursue. He merely stood there, straightening his not at all disheveled cuffs.

Then.

He turned around and bowed deeply to that black door, his demeanor more graceful than a noble's. Yet paired with his hunched back, it made the entire stage appear more comically ironic.

The audience forgot to breathe, even Baron Gess sitting in the VIP box, had his heartbeat frozen by that smile hanging at the corner of the steward's mouth.

Saint Sis above...

The person ringing the bell for the castle was so terrifying, like a demon wandering the maze. How had he not noticed before?

From his high perch, he certainly couldn't read what that smile meant.

But Mignes, sitting in the audience, could understand the meaning behind that smile—

You cannot escape.

And indeed, she could not escape.

The entire castle belonged to the lord, even if the lord had never appeared on stage, the audience knew exactly where his omnipresent presence was.

The stage lights turned from cold to warm, time had arrived at the following dusk, and the dramatic stage finally reached its last act.

A slow and melodious wedding march played on the lawn, children brought out benches, soon filled with the laughter of villagers.

The money was gathered.

Diligent and courageous Matthew did not disappoint them.

They were right about that young man, and the village life improved day by day, everything returned to its former peace.

Only the children who brought the benches seemed to have vanished, leaving the tables occupied by elderly people nearing the end of their lives, perhaps already foreshadowing the future of this village.

Displayed on the tables weren't lavish dishes, but sparse boiled beans and clear broth.

The ticking of the pocket watch finally faded away, as if it had never appeared.

The cobbler sat smoking at the church door, seeming to know only in his heart that the trial had ended, another couple had passed the sacred test.

The audience's mood was equally unable to lighten, only because that blood-red sunset cast the supposedly reassuring shadow of the church long and ominous.

Matthew stood at the village entrance waiting all night and then a full day, in his weary eyes a glimmer of hope finally ignited.

Eloise appeared!

That heart-wrenching beauty made Mignes, sitting in the auditorium, involuntarily hold his breath, his heartbeat paused for her for a moment.

The simple coarse cloth dress had disappeared, she was wearing a spotless evening gown, adorned with intricate ribbons...Clearly not attire a commoner could buy with silver or copper coins.

Also gone was the wilted crown from waiting, replaced by a bright, dripping wreath of roses.

Not only that, her face was painted with exquisite light makeup, her lips stained a vivid red, masking her previous haggardness and sorrow.