Chapter 431: Such A Happy Ending

At the center of the hotel stood a spacious stage reserved for theatrical performances.

That evening, the troupe was performing The Romance of the Western Chamber.

Ever since Simon had taken the troupe under his patronage, he had arranged numerous performances for them. Rather than imitate European theatrical traditions, however, he had instructed them to preserve their distinctive Peking opera style.

Simon believed the Eldorian Empire possessed a profound cultural heritage. Although the empire lagged behind Europe technologically, its people had no reason to feel inferior in matters of culture.

On the contrary, he was confident that promoting their traditional arts would yield excellent results.

Of course, preserving tradition did not mean accepting every aspect of the past without question. Outdated customs required reform, while new ideas deserved encouragement. After all, drama was more than entertainment; it was a means of expressing ideas and emotions capable of transcending national and cultural boundaries.

As the performers took their positions onstage, Princess Lisa and the noblewomen accompanying her immediately displayed their enthusiasm.

Throughout history, the lives of the wealthy and powerful had shared remarkable similarities.

They possessed fortunes beyond the imagination of ordinary people, and one of their greatest pleasures was discovering new ways to enjoy that wealth. Luxury goods, extravagant entertainment, and displays of status were perennial subjects of conversation among the nobility.

Regardless of the country or era, the underlying psychology remained the same.

Simon understood this perfectly.

That was why he had designed exclusive entertainment experiences for the wealthy guests staying at the hotel, allowing them to enjoy performances that were difficult to find elsewhere in the empire.

Once these noblewomen returned home, their experiences in Brambleford would inevitably become popular topics among the upper classes.

Those who heard their accounts would grow curious. Others, unwilling to fall behind their rivals, would undoubtedly follow their example.

In this way, Simon could attract more wealthy visitors to Brambleford without spending a fortune on advertising the city.

"Aunt, you must have grown tired of the dramas in the empire by now. That is why I arranged several interesting performances here in Brambleford. Hopefully, they will help relieve your boredom."

Simon smiled as he spoke.

Princess Lisa’s expression brightened further. She gently patted Elin’s hand and said, "Elin, look at how considerate my nephew is. Now that you have married him, you certainly will not have to suffer."

"His Highness is indeed extraordinary. Elin considers herself fortunate," Elin replied softly.

She was not entirely certain whether her words were merely polite or an honest expression of her feelings.

Princess Lisa glanced between the couple.

During this visit, Simon and Elin had treated her with considerable warmth and respect, gradually dispelling the concerns she had harbored before arriving.

The three continued conversing as the musicians began to play.

A moment later, Marylyn Sloan’s clear voice rang throughout the hall.

"Who dyed the frost-covered woods so beautifully? The blue clouds, yellow flowers, and the west wind blow strongly. Tears of parting flow endlessly. Early or late separation, it makes one melancholy. The steed cannot be restrained; the long willow branches sway aimlessly..."

Her voice carried the melody beautifully, accompanied by traditional instruments.

Gradually, the audience fell silent.

Everyone’s attention turned toward the stage.

The Romance of the Western Chamber was a celebrated classic, and Simon had deliberately chosen it for the occasion. Since the troupe was already familiar with the traditional style, preparing the performance had required relatively little additional effort.

More importantly, the story revolved around love.

Throughout history, love has remained one of the most enduring themes in human storytelling.

In a society where rigid social customs often interfered with personal relationships, stories about lovers overcoming obstacles held particular appeal. For many women, such tales offered a glimpse of a life in which affection and personal choice could triumph over the demands of family and society.

The play told the story of two lovers, Mary Rose and Jason Jackson, who struggled against various obstacles in their pursuit of happiness.

As the performance unfolded, Princess Lisa and the noblewomen became increasingly absorbed in the story.

Even Elin watched with rapt attention.

Having never seen the play before, she found herself drawn into its unfolding drama.

Simon, meanwhile, observed the audience from the side.

Seeing how thoroughly everyone had been captivated, he nodded with satisfaction.

His plan was working.

When Joao Gilberto learned of Mary Rose’s beauty, he led his troops to surround Three Stallion Temple, intending to force her into marriage.

Princess Lisa immediately grew anxious for the young woman.

Later, when Jackson sent a letter summoning his friend, General Alfred Hitchcock, to help rescue them, hope finally emerged.

Yet that hope soon gave way to frustration when Mary Rose insisted that she and Jackson maintain a brother-and-sister relationship.

Princess Lisa bit her lip in irritation.

"How could she say something like that?" she muttered under her breath.

Simon glanced at his aunt but said nothing.

The performance continued for more than an hour.

Finally, after a series of twists and turns, Jackson achieved the highest scholarly honor and married Mary Rose.

The lovers had overcome the obstacles standing between them, and the story reached its long-awaited happy ending.

As soon as the final scene concluded, enthusiastic applause erupted throughout the hall.

Princess Lisa raised her hand to wipe away the tears gathering in her eyes.

"May all lovers in the world be united," she murmured. "Unfortunately, life rarely grants everyone such a happy ending."

Unlike her aunt, Elin wore a delighted smile.

She was pleased that the lovers had finally overcome their difficulties and found happiness together.

Simon understood why the performance had affected Princess Lisa so deeply.

Years earlier, the emperor had arranged a marriage for her against her wishes, using the union to strengthen the imperial family’s alliance with the Ravencrest family.

Simon knew that the arrangement had caused her considerable unhappiness.

The matter had even led to a quarrel between Princess Lisa and the emperor.

Eventually, the emperor dispatched the general involved in the affair to the northern frontier to resist the Reavers. After a fierce battle, however, the general disappeared without a trace. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

His fate remained unknown.

For Princess Lisa, the play had stirred memories of a past she had never entirely put behind her.

Perhaps that was why the story’s conclusion had moved her so deeply.

"What a superb performance! Bravo!"

Princess Lisa suddenly rose to her feet and applauded enthusiastically.

At her signal, two maidservants stepped forward and tossed silver coins onto the stage.

The other noblewomen quickly followed her example.

Before long, silver coins were raining down upon the performers.

The troupe members exchanged delighted glances. Such generous appreciation was the greatest reward they could have hoped for.

Watching the scene, Simon smiled mischievously.

"Aunt, the troupe knows many other plays. Unfortunately, it is already late tonight, so I am afraid you will have to wait until another time to see them."

Princess Lisa turned to him.

She had grown increasingly bored with life in the empire. Despite her wealth and status, the days often seemed to pass without anything particularly interesting occurring.

Her visit to Brambleford, however, had already provided her with several pleasant surprises.

Now, she was beginning to look forward to what else the city had to offer.

"In that case, I should arrange to acquire a residence here as soon as possible," she declared. "Simon, you will have to handle the matter properly for your aunt."

"Do not worry, Aunt. I certainly will not disappoint you."

Simon smiled.

"By next year, Brambleford will offer even more entertainment. I am confident you will have plenty to occupy your time."

He had spent more than two years concentrating on Brambleford’s development.

During that time, he had deliberately avoided making entertainment a major priority. Industrial development, infrastructure, and the city’s economic foundations had demanded most of his attention.

But Brambleford was now approaching a new stage of development.

As its prosperity increased, he needed to create additional attractions capable of drawing wealthy visitors from across the empire.

Princess Lisa rose and stretched her arms.

"It is getting late. You two should return and rest. Tomorrow, I want to see the princess Elin’s handiwork."

"Then I will not keep you any longer, Aunt."

Simon bowed respectfully.

After ensuring that Princess Lisa had been comfortably settled in her upstairs accommodations, Simon and Elin returned to their own chambers.

However, Elin had little intention of resting for long.

The following day’s presentation had occupied her thoughts for quite some time, and now that the moment was approaching, she could hardly contain her anticipation.

As soon as they returned to the castle, she summoned the singing girls to make the necessary preparations.

The following day, she would present her designs.

Although she was excited, she could not help feeling nervous.

The preparations were largely complete, but the actual presentation would require her personal attention. Since the display involved private garments, Simon would have little opportunity to enter the exhibition room, leaving her to manage the entire event herself.

For someone accustomed to having others assist her with various affairs, the prospect was both exciting and challenging.

That night, Elin tossed and turned in bed, struggling to settle her thoughts.

By the time morning arrived, she was already eager to begin.