After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back-Chapter 214 - 213 Act Three: The Arrogant King

Kiryu Hina caught up with Ayakoji Chiyoko and followed her onto the stage, not forgetting to glance back at the backstage, silent as a morgue.

When they come to their senses, it will definitely cause a big stir.

"To do this in front of everyone, do you have a problem in your head, Student Council President?" Kiryu Hina asked with a smile on her face but not in her eyes, turning her head to ask.

Ayakoji Chiyoko, while adjusting her cuffs, walked forward nonchalantly, "The new school rules will be announced after the cultural festival ends. By then, student romance will no longer be taboo. Once the news spreads, it will no longer be a threat."

"Oh, new school rules, that was quick. How did you manage to deal with that snobbish principal?"

"Perhaps you don’t know, but my father sponsored this school when I enrolled."

"Ayakoji Ryoma, huh... Ohoho, it seems it’s thanks to daddy."

"Family is also a source of strength. Even if you mock me, I won’t feel ashamed."

"What thick skin you have. You might surprisingly be well-suited for a career in politics."

"Shut your mouth."

The rest of the actors rapidly took their places, and the curtain slowly rose.

The third act—The Arrogant King, begins!

The stage backdrop returned to the opera house.

Christine is singing on the stage, and every time she finishes three lines, the actors peel off her outermost garment, revealing a different costume underneath, symbolizing her continuous performances on stage and her accumulation of leading roles.

This quick costume change performance was also demonstrated when Christine first took the stage.

Although inspired by quick-change magic, it turned out to be surprisingly effective and was well-received by the audience. In the future, it might even become a signature feature of the Uka Theater Club.

On stage, Carlotta, the original leading lady who left due to injuries caused by The Phantom of the Opera, although now recovered and returned, could only watch with ugly jealousy as Christine shone brightly on stage, hindered by the theater manager’s obstruction.

However, the company itself took pleasure in her misfortune, with no one willing to interact with her.

The stage shifted once more, and that day the theater manager received another letter from The Phantom of the Opera.

The red seal with a skull was his trademark.

"My dear Andre (the theater manager), what an attractive gathering. Christine’s performance is truly exceptional. Carlotta’s absence has had no impact whatsoever. That woman is a disaster. Why would you employ someone who is past her prime? Let Christine take the lead. As for Carlotta, the noisy wretch, I will generously allow her to be Christine’s silent serving maid. Servants are silent, after all. This is how I’ve decided things should be. In a word, flawless—Your master, The Phantom of the Opera."

Raoul and Carlotta also received letters from The Phantom of the Opera.

"Don’t worry about Miss Christine. The Angel of Music watches over her. Stop trying to see her!"

"Your days at the opera house are numbered, Carlotta. Christine will sing in your place tonight. Should you dare attempt to replace her, be prepared to face calamity."

The three recipients of the letters gathered together, discussing the mysterious Phantom of the Opera.

There were too many letters concerning Christine, which made the company start to wonder—who exactly was The Phantom of the Opera? Why was he helping Christine? Was Christine herself an accomplice in all this?

The Phantom’s letters had the opposite effect.

The theater manager, who had initially felt that it was better for Christine to continue as the leading lady, now felt defiant. He didn’t want to let an intangible Phantom have the last laugh. He was the true master of the theater company, yet he was constantly manipulated, a situation no one could tolerate.

Raoul felt the same way.

He obviously sensed The Phantom’s possessiveness towards Christine, his childhood friend, through the letters and planned to team up with the theater manager to capture The Phantom’s true identity.

Thus, they unanimously decided that they would not heed the instructions of The Phantom of the Opera. In the next performance, Carlotta would assume the role of the lead actress, while Christine would play the part of The Silent Servant.

Carlotta was now beaming with joy; however, the rest of the opera house cast wore troubled expressions.

To be honest, Christine was much easier to deal with than Carlotta, this pompous widow who was always posturing and prone to causing trouble. She had a penchant for cursing people, and if it weren’t for their paychecks, who would truly want to work with her?

Furthermore, for the opera house, the only area where Carlotta could match Christine was in acting; her vocal skills lagged far behind those of Christine. This gap was significant enough for the managers to opt for Christine, and the audience members who came specifically for Christine would be disappointed.

But the managers were now so blinded by rage that they could not concern themselves with these considerations.

Little did they know, all of this was being observed by The Phantom of the Opera from the shadows.

The plans they thought were concealed were all exposed.

That evening, the opera house lights shone brightly, and Raoul with his sword fastened at his side, waited in the second-floor balcony’s Box Five for VIPs.

The Phantom of the Opera always demanded that managers reserve Box Five for him, and when he felt inclined, he would appear in the box to watch the performance.

Especially tonight, since he had made a request regarding the stage, he was sure to come.

Raoul waited there to catch The Phantom of the Opera in the act.

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The music began, and the performance officially started.

Carlotta, dressed in a gaudy pink noblewoman’s gown, her face powdered white with red lips, entered the stage. Along with the other actors, she used exaggerated theatrical gestures to mock the decadent lives of the French nobility.

Mis Christine, oblivious to everything, naively made her entrance as The Silent Servant, only to be mocked by Carlotta on stage, her face a picture of utter confusion.

No one noticed a pair of hands clad in deerskin gloves, extending from the darkness, swapping out Carlotta’s mouth freshener.

The background music became somewhat lively and theatrical.

When it came time for the singing part, Carlotta stepped down from the stage and hurriedly urged the staff to bring her mouth freshener. She sprayed it into her mouth and then quickly lifted her skirt to get back on stage.

"I now must find a better husband, poor dear, he has no clue, if he knew, he surely would have left," she sang.

Carlotta mockingly pointed her fan at Christine, who played The Silent Servant, "My husband loves you, but you cannot speak, you—"

Suddenly there was a hush on stage as everyone was shocked to see Carlotta covering her mouth, her voice breaking down mid-song.

The audience sitting below, made up mostly of students, began to laugh.

The embarrassment lasted for two seconds before everyone pretended nothing had happened and continued with the performance.

"Poor fool, he makes me laugh—"

Carlotta, at a loss, covered her throat frantically gesticulating: "What’s happening, I can’t sing, I can’t sing! My goodness!!"

"Quick, lower the curtain, hurry!"

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The opera house manager and the actors on stage were thrown into chaos, dragging the screaming Carlotta off the stage.

The manager bowed to the audience to apologize, then hurriedly had the actors dance on stage to buy time, arranging for the next scene. They moved to have Christine replace Carlotta, rushing to put her in a red dress.

The manager had guessed the work of The Phantom of the Opera but was helpless in the face of his inscrutable methods. Now, they could only concede to his will.

But just as the curtain was raised again, a body with a noose around its neck suddenly fell from above and thumped onto the stage floor.