Revive Rome: Wait! Why not make the empress fall in love with me first?
Chapter 256 - 54 Famous Scenes

Chapter 256: Chapter 54 Famous Scenes

Act Two, Scene Six, a pivotal moment.

Thinking he was rejected, Solomon arrived by the riverside where Christina, played by Eleanor, caught him and confessed her feelings. Disheartened, he didn’t think much about it and subconsciously accepted her confession. This scene was accidentally witnessed by Miranda.

Thus began the complex entanglement of emotions.

As Aske emerged from the woods, he saw Eleanor’s portrayal of Christina standing by the river, looking uneasy.

"You look really down," Eleanor said.

"You can tell," Aske gave a symbolic bitter smile and said lightly, "I just confessed to Miranda."

"Oh?" Eleanor strived to keep her voice steady yet unavoidably shaky and carefully asked, "What did she say?"

"She said she isn’t ready to think about this yet," Aske admitted honestly.

In fact, what Miranda had actually said was, "I understand your feelings. I just want to wait until this battle is over, hoping you’ll accompany me back to Solomon City and confess again seriously."

Yet Solomon could misinterpret it as a rejection; such a stereotypical male perspective indeed was like steel. Speechless, Eleanor then said:

"Then, how about considering me?"

"You?" Aske asked.

"I’m single too," Eleanor stated seriously. Her uneasy yet forcefully calm expression even elicited praises from Wilhelm watching from behind the scenes.

"Could I interpret that as..." Aske began.

"A consolation," Eleanor interrupted, smiling coyly, "as a comfort for your failed confession. Consider it? You wouldn’t get such a good opportunity normally, you know?"

At that moment, Miel, playing Miranda, also walked to the edge of the woods by ’chance’ and was shocked to see Solomon and Christina by the river.

"I...I don’t know..." Aske said.

Squad Leader, your acting is terrible! It’s too fake! Show more hesitation in your expression! Eleanor critiqued inwardly, but outwardly she continued with a beaming smile:

"Think it over carefully. If not, just reject it outright. If there’s a spark of interest and you don’t seize the moment, even the Goddess of Destiny will punish you."

Miel clung to the trunk of a tree, looking over silently and biting her lower lip. For some reason, she had the strange illusion that it wasn’t Aske and Eleanor who were performing, but the real Solomon and Christina.

And she, the poor Miranda, would witness her beloved being taken away from her.

"Alright," Aske finally said.

Eleanor clearly breathed a sigh of relief, then her face lit up with a secretive joy, mixed with a girlish bashfulness, she gently took his hand.

Miel, watching from behind, didn’t know why, but tears suddenly started streaming down her face.

According to the script, Miranda should first widen her eyes in shock, then as if realizing something, tears would start to pool and stream down her face. However, to keep the two in front from noticing, she had to cover her mouth with her hands, letting out soft sobs uncontrollably.

Absolutely perfect! From behind the scenes, Wilhelm turned the camera onto Miel and saw the half-elf girl with reddened eyes, endless tears rolling down her cheeks, her throat subtly moving as she trembled and desperately tried to stifle her cries.

If I were still alive, I would definitely have my theater sign this talented girl, regardless of the contract fee... Wilhelm mused, then he called out:

"Okay, that’s a wrap!"

Aske let out a sigh of relief, let go of Eleanor’s hand, and turned around, asking,

"Is the next scene a fight again?"

"Yes," the voice-over announced. "The quality of what we’ve captured so far has far surpassed my expectations. Keep it up! Just three more scenes, and this show will wrap up!"

Aske immediately displayed a subtle expression. On one hand, he hoped for more fighting scenes, as instances like this, which allowed for variable monster strength and even terrain restoration, were perfect for team combat training.

On the other hand, he was fed up with the emotional scenes, which felt like embarrassing play—especially since his acting counterparts were girls he knew from his team.

Eleanor, however, seemed expressionless, as if she was just acting, which made Aske relax.

Then there was Miel... Both were shocked to see the half-elf girl covering her eyes, stumbling out of the woods, tears flowing uncontrollably.

"Um, Miel, the filming is over..." Aske thought she might have been moved by the scene, feeling empathy? Then he saw Eleanor giving him a stern look before rushing over to wipe Miel’s tears,

"It’s okay. Miel, it’s all over now." She gently embraced the sobbing Miel and then gave Aske a stern, questioning gaze.

How could she be crying so intensely? Could it be...

Perhaps the script was just very touching. Aske signaled with his eyes not to overthink it.

I’ll find you and clarify later. Eleanor glared at him with a firm expression.

----------------------------

Deep inside the mountains beneath New Swan Castle, a musical that would never be screened was being secretly filmed.

Outside Swan Castle, farmers went about their usual autumn labor, trading their harvests in Mingxing City. Merchants transported goods and advertised them loudly, while soldiers patrolled the streets, and nobles held receptions in their manors and socialized, curiously discussing the new arrivals at Weisbach Palace.

No one noticed the looming political shifts.

In the Duke’s study, Ludwig dealt with the Duchy’s affairs in place of his father, while Henry was slowly sipping a beer in the hallway outside.

A Cabinet member hurried by, nervously bowing to Henry, then knocked on the study door.

"Come in," Ludwig called.

The member quickly entered, whispered a report to Ludwig, handed him a document, and hurriedly excused himself.

"What’s wrong?" Henry followed into the room.

"Urgent news from Franconia," Ludwig frowned as he scanned the documents, his brow furrowing into a stormy knot.

"The Duke of Franconia...the Griffin Family, has declared support for the Burgundy Duchy, signed a military alliance with the Wolf Family, and firmly defends the decrees of the Church and the Holy See." He put down the paper, rubbing his temple intensely with his thumb, "From Franconia to Swabia, defections across the board. The king’s church officials have been expelled from the Duchy, replaced by high-ranking clergy appointed by the Church. With this, the Griffin Family has entirely broken with Emperor Otto."

"What about father?" Henry frowned, "Could they..."

"They won’t harm father, as it would push the Bavarian Duchy entirely into the Emperor’s camp, right? Now, the Duke is leading a team on their way back." Ludwig stood and looked out the window at the vast sky, sighing,

"Change is coming, Henry."