NOVEL WEB Chapter 248: Lekachep Circus School Exam – 2
Stepping down from the carriage, Ella felt like she had returned to Wonderland.
The streets were bustling with festival atmosphere, filled with people wearing loud masks.
While they had been practicing in seclusion for nearly two weeks, Yeterinpuurk had completely transformed into Halloween colours.
As she observed the bustling streets filled with all sorts of monsters and fairies, she muttered to herself.
“It’s a bit less noisy here.”
Reyna, who was standing beside her, nodded in agreement, seeming to acknowledge Ella’s observation that was somewhat detached from reality.
They hadn’t had a peaceful rest for the past few days.
Journalists had swarmed outside their lodging due to the incident they were covering.
“Can you say something, please?”
“Explain yourselves, you swindlers!”
While they wondered if rumours could spread this quickly, in fact, negative sentiments had been accumulating since two weeks ago.
The controversy over whether this was real or fake had been brewing, and it erupted all at once.
In the newspapers, they were mockingly referred to as “Frank 10.”
Frank was a genre of comedy where fake situations are created to deceive actors.
It typically involved putting magicians or acrobats on stage and sabotaging their tricks or equipment, leading them to awkwardly fail in their performances.
If those involved in Frank 10 were ordinary members, they might have been able to brush it off as individual mishaps.
But with directors also implicated, there was no such excuse.
The entire circus troupe became a laughingstock in the industry.
The reporters were clamouring at every corner leading to the villa.
Sven, eager to take matters into his own hands, offered to “persuade” them to leave.
His inspiration, the “Clown’s Falsehood” had a weak effect of inducing mild hypnosis on non-members.
However, Wonderstein intervened to stop him.
Sven’s abilities weren’t that strong, and the uncertainty of how long the hypnosis would last, as well as the aftermath once it wore off, posed a problem.
Journalists in their right minds could retaliate with vindictive articles.
But the notoriety was already enough.
<Collusion that took place in a corner of the snack factory. Did the five directors know that the script was fake?>
<Was the suspicious selection criteria due to lobbying from sponsors?>
<Wanted more attention, so they did that. Was Ella, who was once unknown, infected with star disease?>
False statements were circulating as if they were true, and even the truth was being twisted.
Sometimes it was the workshop, sometimes the sponsors, but the main criticism was aimed at the 10 involved in the performance.
As mentioned earlier, while outside opinions turned hostile amid the controversy over the authenticity of Fantasy 13, they remained silent and focused solely on their performance.
The Directors took as much responsibility as promised.
But for someone in their position, there were forces around that moved against them regardless of their will.
The local media, with their strong ties, spread the logic that it was all the fault of the old, blind Directors, who couldn’t possibly recognize the script, and blamed it all on the jester characters who had been fooling around.
In particular, Simon, who was staying at the Director’s villa, became the main target.
His photos, taken all around the city as part of his publicity efforts, were abundant in the articles.
While the Director Simon was the main target among the directors, among the five acrobats, Ella became the prime target for the media.
Considered the leading among the five acrobats, she became the centre of attention due to her proactive nature during interviews, unlike Reyna, who was taciturn and somewhat ‘boring.’
The media depicted her rise to fame from obscurity as a result of her standout performance during the entrance exam.
The interview published in the circus magazine became problematic.
There, she had stated that she liked Christian the most.
She had even performed impromptu on-demand performances.
Now, these were being used against her.
Wonderstein had lived in the ruthless internet broadcasting industry for years.
He had faced ridicule and criticism far beyond what today’s media could compare to.
His talent was often mocked, and his disability was frequently ridiculed.
Some of the people who went so far as to curse him were fellow disabled people, even though they were in a better position than him.
Despite being in a worse situation compared to them, they didn’t see his character as pathetic or depressing, but rather lively and spirited.
He had suffered many wounds and even mental disabilities.
Because of this, he understood Ella’s situation better than anyone else.
Despite the malicious attacks from the media, she remained lively in front of the troupe.
Behind that, how many scars did she truly bear?
That’s why he suggested she go out.
“Ella, how about going out tomorrow with the members?”
“What? In this situation? Besides, there’s an exam briefing the day after tomorrow…”
Ella murmured with a lack of confidence in her voice.
“That’s exactly why there’s only tomorrow for leisure. It’s time to take a break from physical training anyway.”
At his words, she glanced out the window awkwardly.
“But, what if I go out for no reason and end up in trouble again….”
“They won’t recognize you if you disguise yourself. Director Arno said he would help you get out.”
Ella couldn’t deny that she was scared.
It was the first time in her life.
Being afraid to stand in front of people.
Until now, she had been confident in everything.
She could confidently face anything, regardless of what others said, because she believed she was right.
But for the first time, when she thought she was ‘wrong,’ her armor of confidence shattered.
And she was exposed to the criticisms of the world.
Wonderstein raised his arm, seemingly understanding her inner thoughts, and comforted her with a pat.
“It’s tough, isn’t it? I understand well what it feels like to face criticism when things don’t go as intended. But if you stay locked up here, you’ll only feel more depressed and miserable. Ella, I’ve even been picking up the newspapers you were supposed to throw away and reading them secretly at night.”
“That, that’s… still, I need to check….”
Wonderstein nodded as if he understood her feelings.
“Don’t worry and try going out tomorrow. Forget about work and just have fun.”
Ella’s face turned red as she received his embrace.
She had always been the one to approach actively since she lost her memory.
He had always just accepted her passively, even stepping back if she got too close.
He even didn’t outright reject her confession two months ago.
But now, he was the one to approach her first, understanding her feelings and comforting her.
Feeling her courage rising, she nodded.
“Yeah.”
And the next day, as Ella went out, she felt infinite gratitude towards him.
“Fantastic, isn’t it?”
She looked around.
The laughter of people and cheerful music made her heart beat faster.
The vibrant energy of the festival swept away the clouds that had been hanging over her mind for days.
When her memories returned, she would be sure, but for now, she could be certain.
He who cared for her like this could never be a bad person.
Her trust in him grew even more through this experience.
It showed how misunderstanding and prejudice could corner a person.
“Hey, Ella! You made it out alive!”
“Your face looked like you were going to die!”
“Let’s have a blast today and then go back in!”
Today, the ones guiding them were the Triamere brothers and Womon.
During the ten days they were with the aristocrat, the monster members roamed the city enjoying the festival.
So when they suggested going out today, everyone seemed tired.
Only Triamere brothers and Womon followed along.
“If we go this way, there’s a street circus challenge set up by small circus troupes from the Imperial West. It’s unique because there are many talents you’ve never seen before. And this way is a puppet show by gypsies……”
Ella looked suspiciously at Womon, who seemed to know the festival program too well.
“Did you train properly while we were gone? You seem to know too much.”
Triamere brothers thumped their chests as if unfairly accused.
“See, didn’t I say? Deputy Director always turns out like this.”
“Yeah yeah. We just came out to have some fun!”
“That’s right! Ella’s got training mania! If only Reyna came back……”
“What?”
Ella glanced at Womon, and the Triamere brothers giggled and teased each other.
Reyna, who was standing next to them, smiled quietly, but no one saw her laugh.
It was because of the mask she was wearing.
“When are you going to take off that mask? I might forget what your face looks like.”
Ella teased the mask of ‘Weeping womenn’ which Reyna was wearing.
Then, after a moment, Reyna replied stubbornly.
“It was a gift from father.”
“Why are you suddenly getting close?”
Knowing the relationship between Simon and her, Ella shook her head as if she couldn’t understand Reyna’s attitude.
Not wanting to talk more about the mask, she changed the subject.
“But your Halloween costume, is it that guy we saw in Wonderland?”
“Oh, this? Hehe, just tried to mimic him once!”
Ella looked down at her own clothes.
Instead of the Halloween costume she had originally tailored from a tailor after returning from Wonderland, she had made new clothes and put them on.
Made roughly with materials from the mansion, it didn’t have much appeal, but that’s why it had a more scarecrow-like charm.
“Come on, let’s go, Elphi!”
Ella imitated his voice perfectly, even mimicking his hesitant gait.
Reyna, who hadn’t been inclined to laugh at the ridiculous sight, burst into laughter, finding it hilarious.
“It’s definitely better outside.”
Reyna thought she had made the right decision to accept Wonderstein’s proposal.
Of course, there was another reason why she didn’t want to be in the same space as ‘father’.
They arrived at the meeting point they had arranged with Ruelle.
There stood a young girl dressed as a chick and a young man dressed as a goose, holding hands.
Ella looked at Lord Dosvile with a complicated expression.
Although she had heard about him before, seeing him like this made her nervous.
As she hesitated, Womon recognized him and slapped his palm.
“That tomato-throwing old guy from back then!”
Dosvile frowned at his words, flapping his wings.
“Wonderstein circus member, huh. But ‘old guy’? Hey, monster brother, I’m in my twenties.”
“Hehe, then you’re a guy. And why ‘brother’? I’m ten years old.”
“What?”
Then, Triamere also recognized him belatedly and interjected.
“The guy who dragged those delinquents and got into a fight, right?”
“Yeah. They even tried to frame our director before that.”
“This rascal, what brings you here?”
“These damn monsters… I knew they’d come! This little devil…”
As the men raised their voices and bickered, Reyna and Ella greeted Ruelle.
They hadn’t seen each other for just a few days, but they were very happy to see each other’s faces.
Perhaps it was because they shared the same experience.
“I want to see Reyna unnie’s face, but…”
“Not now. I’ll show you later.”
Although Ruelle looked disappointed, it couldn’t be helped.
Since returning from Wonderland, Reyna hadn’t been able to take off this mask even once.
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Chapter 247: Lekachep Circus School Exam – 1