Chapter 303: Linoa Appears Again

Today I was heading to House Vélez with Rudolf and Lily. We had been told to come as a set of three. Those three were the three who had stood out at House Kirchhoff, so this was definitely Linoa business.

When we arrived at the ducal residence the Duke did not appear, as usual (I did not even know if he was there), and Her Majesty was not there today either. Maybe so people would not say she visited the ducal residence too often and played favorites? Or she had other business? In her place today, Marchioness Schult from the house next to House Kirchhoff was present. Yes. She had been rejuvenated. Maybe that was why she wore a calm, pleasant smile. And beside those two stood Linoa. What was today even for?

"Welcome, Lord Marie. Today we asked you here about the play again."

The Duchess opened, looking pleased. I already knew that. Every time this topic came up, was the Duke not dying inside? My condolences. Now, what was the actual point?

Linoa took the Duchess’s words.

"Today I brought the actors who will play the three of you. For now, please look. If they do not please you, we can change them."

The end of the sentence went muddy partway through. A little short on confidence? Linoa had seen me and Lily, but Rudolf was a first look. Different from what she had imagined? That thing where seeing and hearing are miles apart?

"For now I will have the three come in. Come in!"

At Linoa’s signal, the three playing us entered the room.

"Ah!?"

The three of us made the sound together. That was the reaction to the actor playing me. Anyone who looked would know it was me. Build, of course, and the face was identical! Was the phrase "two peas in a pod" invented for this?

I thought so myself, so Rudolf and Lily seemed to think the same and stood with their mouths open. Time was short. Look at the actors playing you! But this was probably not the moment.

I could not take my eyes off the actor playing me either. Someone says there are three people in the world who look just like you, and one of them was here. The same way I was shocked, the other side looked a little shocked looking at me. They must have been told beforehand that we looked alike. They knew I was a prince of House Marie, and that staring was rude, but the surprise would not let them look away.

"What is your name?"

"Diane... Diane Kruger."

Huh. High voice. This one is a woman? If I looked carefully I could see a little swell of chest. And a family name. A noble? I looked at Linoa and Linoa was flustered too.

"I am sorry, Lord Marie. This one is a knight’s daughter. She grew tired of a knight house that was going nowhere and has been doing theater with me. So she usually gives only her given name, but Diane saw Lord Marie, was startled, and gave her family name by habit."

Diane’s eyes on me seemed very cold. Imagination? The look you give something dirty? Now and then she turned a help-me look at Linoa, and when Linoa smiled in a you’ll-be-fine way, Diane smiled too, just a puff. Maybe a man with the same face as yours feels disgusting?

I stepped up to Diane’s nose and stared at her face. Diane did not take her eyes off me. She stood at attention, so I circled to the side and looked at the profile. I had only ever seen my front face in a mirror. I had never seen my own profile. So this is what my profile looks like? I thought, and said,

"Does my profile look like Diane’s? I can tell the front is similar."

Everyone present said together,

"It does."

So it does. I am a pretty boy, even talking about myself. I would not land on the manly side. Looking at yourself from outside like this is something else. I stretched a finger to poke a cheek and she turned her face away with a look of pure disgust. Endure that much, I thought, but maybe not?

A girl who looks like a pretty boy. Stevie was like that too. This one would go over well with women. I had a feeling we could get massive support from the aunties. The same as me going over well with mature women right now, I think. Maybe?

"How is it? Does it please you?"

Linoa asked, timid, so I said,

"Good or bad does not matter. If a third party looks and thinks it is me, that is fine."

"Thank you!!"

Linoa and Diane bowed together. Even if we look alike, it still depends on how they play it on stage, right? A real actor can look nothing like the person and still pull the audience in. Well. Give it a try.

Only, Diane! Why, unlike a moment ago, are you clinging to Linoa and grinning all over her! The distance between Linoa and Diane bothers me.

So Diane was fine as decided. What about Lily and Rudolf’s reactions? A woman in her late twenties had come for Lily, and at a glance she looked serious and did not give off Sex Technique 6 at all... Lily, after you let it out once you think there is no way, and then the tricks whip it back up!! That happens, and I do not think there is any chance against this person. If she is wrapping that and hiding it with Concealment, then as an actor she is complete.

Lily seemed glad that she, past forty, had been taken for her twenties and given a young actress, and did not object. Rudolf’s face was blank, but an ordinary middle-aged man had shown up, and he did not look quite convinced. If this actor was a timid steward it would be fine, but there was no air of a solid, sturdy man who could also fight, so I decided to pass.

Linoa was asking Rudolf, "Will you be in the play?"