Chapter 1926 - 527: The Bell Sound of the Republic Rings in Another Theater_2

The atmosphere was happy and peaceful.

The spotlight fell on Matthew, who was a skillful dyer. Not only did he dye cloth, but he also did mending, and was a well-known craftsman in the village.

The villagers also offered him blessings, including a blacksmith, a carpenter, and the village's horseman, as well as farmers who asked him to repair their hoes.

The entire stage seemed to be filled with the fragrance of wheat, and Mignes, sitting in the audience, showed a surprised expression.

The appearance, the acting, especially the music, were all maxed out.

This ticket was well worth the money!

However, that sweet happiness didn't last long. Just as the audience was about to be overwhelmed by the sweetness, a hoarse voice sounded beside Eloise.

"Don't forget to go to the castle."

It was an elderly cobbler, his face etched with the weariness of years of hardship. He tapped his pipe on the shoe sole, his voice low and hoarse.

People did not want to break the happy atmosphere.

But he had to prepare the young people.

"You need to prepare the Crown Tax… oh no, it's the 'Bell of Purity' fee. Without the bell sound, there is no wedding. Without a wedding, there is no blessing. Your children will not be recognized by the lord and will have to wander, becoming adventurers."

Below the stage, Mignes chuckled softly.

Crown Tax.

What a pleasing name.

His hometown, Wulan Port, although a Free City without many feudal lords like the Campbell Duchy, still had its share of such things.

Feudalism doesn't cease to exist just because it's not called feudalism; from birth to marriage to death, every stage requires money.

It's just that it's not the lord collecting the money but the priest.

Although he was already quite wealthy and never worried about a few silver coins, he would occasionally lament how easy it was for those priests to make money.

Indeed, the world's most sophisticated business model is religion. It doesn't provide services yet can collect money. It doesn't guarantee today but dares to promise the future.

It can even make robbery not called robbery.

The atmosphere on the stage did not cool down; the majestic organ music was still melodious, not immediately pouring cold water on the happy faces of the audience.

"It's okay."

Eloise's voice was crisp, tinged with a naive stubbornness.

"We've saved enough. He works day and night in the lord's cloth workshop, and I sell flowers in the city, saving copper coin by copper coin..."

She held up five fingers.

That was all her pride.

"We already have five silver coins!"

The old cobbler said nothing, just continued puffing on his pipe, a thought-provoking light floating in his cloudy pupils.

And at that moment, a ticking sound appeared amidst the melodious organ music. It was the sound of a pocket watch, monotonous and repetitive, like a small chisel tapping on the strings of the heart.

Those who did not understand music might say the performer's organ was broken, but the truly art-savvy Mignes could taste the flavor of champagne in it.

It was a harbinger of "variation."

The castle bell tower did not ring, but the stopwatch of trials did.

Unconsciously emotional, Mignes shook his head gently and sighed for a second for the pair of lovers gazing deeply into each other's eyes on the stage.

"What a foolish child."

The rules were never made for those who obey them.

…

The lights on the stage started to change.

Warm yellow halos retreated like the tide, cold blue lights shone from the side, stretching the characters' shadows.

Night came.

Matthew emerged from the shadows.

The well-featured young man's back appeared slightly hunched, as if several mountains were pressing on his spine. He didn't dare to look at his fiancée, his gaze fixed on the dust on the ground, like an incapable husband.

The scenery behind them was like both a stable and a barn, subtly suggesting that the blessed couple did not own a home.

"What's the matter?"

Eloise placed the floral crown on a haystack and approached, her face full of concern and moonlight.

There was a suffocating silence.

Only that damn ticking sound echoed on the empty stage, growing louder.

As the audience held their breath, thinking and waiting for what Matthew would say, the well-featured young man finally spoke up.

"The bell tower cracked."

His voice was dry and hoarse, not at all like him.

"The steward said that to repair the dwelling of the Divine Sound, to ensure the purity of the bell sound... we must pay more silver coins, otherwise the bell will not ring."

"...How much?" Eloise asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Matthew, his head lowered, said.

"Ten..."

Mignes heard a low gasp coming from the back row, along with occasional low curses.

'That lord really is something!'

'Silver coins... where would you find those in the countryside?'

This is not repair!

This is clearly exploitation!

Their sense of immersion was just too strong.

Perhaps it was because they all held beautiful fantasies about love, and the lovable Eloise looked exactly like the lover they had in mind.

Not only the gentlemen present but the ladies too.

They had seen plenty of tough knights, and it was indeed the first time they saw such an adorable gentleman. Although it didn't stir up their fantasies about love, it thoroughly activated the maternal glow in their hearts.

Emotions are like water in a cup; if more water is poured into one cup, it will overflow into another.

Unfortunately, not everyone could afford to sit in the front row, and Mignes could see that Matthew lacked an adam's apple, while those stretching their necks couldn't see and genuinely thought he was a handsome young man.