Chapter 753 Talia Doesn't Remember the Lines At All

More than ten minutes later.

Inside the curtain on the main stage of the Brilda Opera House.

The space was dimly lit, and the corners were piled with spare props and decorations, with only a few small lamps emitting a faint light.

On the fireproof carpeted floor, several staff members in beige overalls hurried back and forth.

As the echoes of the previous scene faded, the staff confirmed the stage was ready using short-range communication devices, and then nodded to the actors.

In an instant, the orchestra played the prelude, the music gradually transmitted through the curtain, and a beam of light hit the edge of the curtain, illuminating the steps.

Even backstage, the sounds from the stage could be heard.

"Lanche, Lanche, what should we do?"

Lanche and Talia, the male and female leads, were dressed in full costume, disregarding the hurried comings and goings of the surrounding people, and were absorbed in flipping through the script.

If they could help Abigail.

Maybe her favorability would become very high, and whether it was to discuss things with her privately or handle subsequent matters, they would be halfway to success.

But they now realized how difficult this promise was.

"Just memorize as much as you can. Fortunately, we've read the original, and this adaptation is only one chapter."

Lanche replied mentally without looking up.

Although the performance had already begun.

Their part hadn't arrived yet.

The story takes place during the Holy War era of the Protos Empire.

First, some background information needs to be mentioned.

The time point of the Cinderella chapter is before the Holy War has begun, and the historical figure Emperor Franklin is far from rising, and the current world structure has not yet formed.

At that time, the Protos Empire also had diplomatic relations with the Demon Realm. Because the Protos Empire was relatively backward and the Demon Realm was extremely developed, the demons all held high positions in the Protos Empire at that time.

The heroine of the story is a human girl, and the hero is the demon governor sent to guide the planning and development of this province.

The heroine, Cinderella, was originally the darling of a noble family in the Protos Empire. After her father died, she was treated as a servant by her stepmother and sisters, and was subjected to all kinds of difficulties.

Despite her hard life, she remained kind and optimistic.

One day, the governor held a grand banquet, inviting the nobles of the province to participate and discuss future development matters.

Cinderella was qualified to go, but her stepmother and sisters mocked her, forbade her to go, and gave her all the housework to do. Cinderella could only hide in a corner and cry sadly.

At this time, the kind Love God Cat appeared.

It was the most magical kitty in the world, using cards to transform into a gorgeous carriage, pigeons into coachmen and servants, and gave Cinderella a dress and a pair of magic shoes, allowing her to attend the banquet.

But Cinderella had to return before the clock struck midnight, otherwise the magic would wear off.

At the banquet, Cinderella met the governor. At first, the demon governor thought that this stunning human woman was just a superficial idiot, and wanted to tease her, but in the end, he was turned around by the clever Cinderella. The governor unexpectedly discovered that this gray-haired girl was a talented woman, and he found himself enjoying talking to her.

When the clock struck 12, Cinderella almost forgot. She fled in a hurry, accidentally dropping a magic shoe. The governor was distraught. He could only find this magic shoe, but it weighed a thousand pounds, and no woman could walk normally wearing it.

The increasingly infatuated governor decided to search for the owner of this shoe throughout the province.

One morning, the stepmother locked Cinderella in the attic, and the sister tried on the magic shoe but couldn't take a step.

With the help of the Love God Cat, Cinderella came to the governor and easily put on the magic shoe.

So she was taken back to the governor's mansion by the governor, which led to the final scene where Cinderella was confessed to by the governor with deep affection.

The story strictly refers to the historical background.

Because the ancient Protos Empire learned a lot of knowledge from the Demon Realm, and was ruled and built by the demons after its defeat many years later, its territory retains many demon relics. The construction of the imperial capital Helrom in later generations shows the indelible Demon Realm style.

The Protos people could neither forgive the demons nor separate their traces, as if it was a perpetual entanglement.

But that's all in the future.

When the story of *Holy War Romance* begins, there is no war yet, and the demons and the Protos people are still on good terms.

It's just that if humans and demons accidentally fall in love at that time, the future waiting for them will inevitably be a rugged journey full of wind, snow, and thorns...

"I understand the plot, but how should I act it!"

Talia kept looking at the time. Even though she had some of the singing and dancing talents of the Great Love Poet, and had swallowed all the Great Love Poet's skills, she felt that she had little hope of passing the performance in one take since the rehearsal was the official performance.

The only good news was that in order to ensure a smooth performance, the heroine would be played by two actors.

The opening scenes, before the transformation, and the gray-faced Cinderella would be played by another actor. The subsequent plot that required her to act with the governor and be a gorgeously dressed Cinderella was all Talia's performance.

So now Talia had the last bit of time left backstage to prepare.

"These lines are so hard to remember."

Lanche also scratched his head.

Although he had roughly read the original work of *Holy War Romance*, he was just a reader after all, and couldn't memorize all the lines after reading it once.

If there were lines that could be easily recited, it would probably only be the "confession" at the end of the Cinderella chapter.

"I don't remember very clearly either!"

Talia had never experienced this kind of situation where her head was about to explode.

And the thought of having to say "so cute I want to eat you" at the end made her cheeks flush and her heart beat uncontrollably.

The two of them were like students who hadn't reviewed at all before the final exam, sitting in the examination room with five minutes left before the exam, desperately flipping through the script, trying to remember as much as they could!

...

At the same time, on the stage.

Climbing the stairs, the view suddenly opened up, revealing the magnificent opera hall - three stories of gold-edged boxes rising along the four walls of the hall.

Thousands of dark velvet seats inlaid with gold edges were neatly arranged, filled with enthusiastic audiences.

Soft background music played, the lights slowly came on, and a spotlight shone on the center of the stage.

Cinderella was curled up beside a dilapidated stove, wearing a maid's dress, her face full of exhaustion and despair.

"Oh, I'm so sleepy and hungry... but my stepmother won't let me rest, I have to work desperately... Father, if you are alive in heaven, why would you let me suffer like this?"

She choked and said to herself,

"If... If you were still here, how great would it be..."

Cinderella sang a mournful song, slowly recounting her misfortune.

"Withered leaves wither in the cold wind, hazy tearful eyes look at the stars in the sky. Stepmother's harsh words hurt my heart, Father in heaven can you hear clearly? Sisters are as mean as demons, abusing and humiliating me endlessly. Kitchen smoke burns my eyes, dust covers my face, unable to wash it away..."

A knock on the door suddenly sounded, interrupting Cinderella's song.

She hurriedly got up to open the door.

The governor's demon messenger strode in.

"By order of the governor, the governor's mansion will hold a grand banquet tonight. All those invited in the province can participate. His Excellency the Governor will select a suitable wife from among the young women at that time."

The demon messenger said with a full voice,

"Alas, if the governor wasn't trying to oppose the Demon Realm, he wouldn't have said something so rash as to marry a human."

After he finished speaking, he no longer looked majestic, sighing in a barely audible voice.

The messenger dropped the invitation and then turned around and left smartly.

Cinderella watched him leave, holding the invitation, overjoyed.

"Goddess, thank you, this is my chance to turn things around. As long as I see the governor, I will definitely be able to impress him with my knowledge and persuade him to help me revitalize my family."

Cinderella was pleasantly surprised.

Immediately afterward, the stepmother and sisters heard the news from the shadows on the side of the stage, and strode over, aggressively snatching the invitation from Cinderella's hand.

"Tch, just a banquet, is it worth making a fuss about? With your disheveled appearance, the governor will be scared away when he sees you!"

The stepmother sneered disdainfully.

"That's right, there's no such thing as going to a ball in rags!"

"Little gray wildcat, you should just keep dreaming, don't come and embarrass our whole family!"

The eldest sister echoed, and the younger sister ridiculed.

"Listen to me carefully, stay at home obediently tonight and finish all the housework for me! If you dare to go to the ball, I'll break your legs!"

The stepmother warned fiercely.

After the three of them finished reprimanding Cinderella, they triumphantly walked away from the stage.

The spotlight only illuminated Cinderella's figure in the darkness.

"Wuwu..."

Cinderella looked sad and burst into tears.

She sang in a sad and mournful tone.

"How many bitter tears flow, ambitious dreams all end. The remnant candle burns to ashes tonight, the haggard face in the mirror is unbearable to see. How can I, a humble and lowly person, be worthy to meet the governor? Even if I have a longing, it's a pity that I have no wings to spread..."

While singing, Cinderella stretched out her hand in vain, as if to retain hope, but then helplessly lowered it.

Her body slumped to the ground, crying loudly, full of great sorrow.

Night fell, and the stepmother and sisters dressed up in grand costumes and set off to attend the ball.

Cinderella was left alone at home, sleeping soundly in the flickering candlelight.

At this point, a round of applause rang out from under the stage.

Everything was normal up to this point.

Whether it was the actors' skills or the opera performance effect, they were all top-notch, making the audience in the performance hall feel that the ticket money was worth it tonight.

This scene wasn't over yet.

Cinderella, dressed like a refugee, fell asleep by the stove, cold and hungry.

Suddenly, a dazzling white light flashed, and the Cat Fairy came gracefully. He looked like a beastman of the Black Cat tribe, with a cat's head and a human body, wearing a psychedelic cloud robe, holding a magic wand, and emitting a hazy fairy aura.

"Child, don't cry, your kindness is seen by the heavens. I am the messenger of the God of Love and Will, and I will use my magic to help you."

The Cat Fairy awakened Cinderella, who was leaning against the coal stove, gently with the accompaniment of immortal music.

"The messenger of the God of Love?"

Cinderella woke up as if from a dream,

"Did you hear the call in my heart? Can I... can I really meet the person who will save me?"

"Don't worry, child. As long as you believe in wishes and dreams, anything is possible. Quick, cards and pigeons, come to me!"

The Cat Fairy smiled kindly and waved the magic wand, and a golden light flashed.

Countless cards flew in front of him and formed a splendid carriage like a card house, a group of black and white pigeons surrounded his knees, and transformed into uniformed stewardesses. Cinderella was also tightly covered by clouds, and she took the opportunity to run back to the stage.

Next, as long as the dressed-up Cinderella took the stage, she could achieve a perfect replacement and start the next scene.

"Magic wand, listen to my command!"

The Cat Fairy waved the wand and chanted loudly.

"Cu——te——Trans——for——ma——tion——!"

He finished chanting the spell.

Light burst out.

But when the light mist dissipated, nothing happened. There was no trace of Cinderella on the stage.

There was no movement in the backstage either.

The Cat Fairy was stunned and looked around.

He quickly waved the wand again, the light mist spread again, and the music followed.

"The night wind gently blows, the petals flutter, O God of Love, Your voice gently washes over the world."

This is a sacred dance dedicated to the God of Love, imitating the God of Love.

The sound of prayer passed over the square and reached the top of the stage.

"Under Your blessing, fate continues to grow."

The Cat Fairy chanted loudly,

"Cutely Cutely Transformation!"

"..."

This time, not only the stage was quiet.

The audience was also quiet.

"I'm Cutely Cutely Transforming!"

The Cat Fairy still didn't believe it, and jumped around in place with the wand for a big circle.

Cinderella still didn't appear.

"Transform again!"

"Transform for me!!"

"Why (the hell) don't you come out!"

...

At this time, in the backstage.

The actors and prop crew were busy and bustling.

Occasionally, extras passed by and noticed the male and female leads reciting their lines.

"Why aren't you two moving yet?"

"Just one more look, just one more look."

Talia's hands were about to tear the script.

In theory, Talia could go on stage first, and Lanche could tell her how to read the lines backstage, but Lanche was also in a desperate situation, memorizing the lines against the clock, and couldn't help Talia at all.

They both regretted agreeing to Abigail just now.

They heard that actors memorized lines all night long and rehearsed for hundreds of hours to reach the performance standard.

How many lines could they memorize in these few minutes!

...

Turingen Province, the mansion in Nistro City.

The curtains on the first floor glowed with warm light, as if a family gathering was being held.

In front of the magic wallpaper screen in the living room.

"Uh, why is the pre-roll so long?"

Hyperia sat on the sofa eating melon seeds, waiting for the next scene to begin.

"That's right, the exciting plot has to whet your appetite first. It's already good that there aren't any commercials."

Synola explained to Hyperia.

But she was still looking forward to the appearance of the male lead, the governor. What if he was a super handsome guy?

Now she not only pays attention to the faces of handsome guys, but also cares about their inner self and temperament. Thinking carefully, Lanche is unique in this aspect, but Lanche is too perfect, so Synola feels that he is a bit unreal, and doesn't have much hope.

"But why do I feel like that guy on stage is about to go crazy?"

Antanas said, pointing at the screen.

She saw that the Cat Fairy had danced all kinds of dances, and was about to break out into street dance.

"It shouldn't be a performance accident. It's normal for the public screening version to have special easter eggs."

The Ice Witch focused her eyes on the book in her hand, mostly listening, occasionally looking up.

Under the promotion of the new executive, the Brilda Opera House attaches importance to media and educational promotion, carries out various educational projects, and popularizes opera art. The "Global Live" project broadcasts live performances to media terminals and theaters around the world through high-definition screenings.

The opera house also occasionally provides lectures, seminars, behind-the-scenes tours and other activities to attract audiences of different ages, and has a very high social influence.

Hundreds of thousands of viewers come to watch the performances every year, and it has become one of the most popular high-end cultural centers in Brilda City. A large-scale performance accident is simply impossible.

...

A while passed like this.

"I transform transform transform transform——!"

The almost broken voice from the front of the stage kept echoing behind the curtain.

"What are you doing?!"

Abigail ran back to the backstage from the audience, and saw that Talia was still dawdling there, and roared,

"Grandma, go on stage quickly!!"

Abigail pushed Talia and shoved her in front of the curtain.

"Eek! Lanche, save me!"

Talia looked back, her feet moving forward, her eyes full of distress signals, transmitting mentally.

She felt that as soon as she got nervous, she couldn't remember a single line.

"..."

Lanche was still buried in memorizing, at least one of them had to remember the lines.

He believed that no matter what happened, he could smooth things over.

(End of this chapter)