Free Web NovelChapter 33: Chapter 33: The Moving Picture Theater
Chapter 33: The Moving Picture Theater
The carriage rolled steadily through the heart of Nightfall City before gradually slowing to a halt.
The coachman stepped down first and opened the door respectfully.
"We have arrived, Duchess."
Andras stepped out of the carriage beside Evelyne and lifted his gaze toward the building before them.
The building was magnificent.
Towering nearly five stories high, the structure resembled a fusion of a royal opera house and a grand cathedral. Dark marble pillars supported enormous silver arches, while enchanted crystal lamps illuminated the exterior despite the daylight. Delicate mana formations shimmered faintly along the walls, causing the entire building to radiate a subtle azure glow.
Above the entrance, engraved in elegant silver lettering, were the words:
The Astral Dream Theater
The largest moving-picture theater in the Darkmoor Duchy.
Crowds filled the plaza outside.
Nobles dressed in luxurious attire arrived in elaborate carriages while wealthy merchants and influential commoners waited patiently in line. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement.
Andras observed everything silently.
Interesting.
The original Andras had never visited this place.
He searched through his inherited memories one final time.
Nothing.
Apparently, the previous owner of this body had considered theaters a waste of time.
"Come," she said softly.
The two of them walked toward the entrance.
The moment the employees noticed who had arrived, their expressions changed immediately.
The man working at the ticket counter nearly stood up from his chair.
"D-Duchess ."
He bowed deeply.
"Young Master."
Evelyne offered a slight nod.
"When does the next moving picture begin?"
The man glanced nervously at the enchanted clock hanging on the wall.
"You’ve arrived at the perfect time, Duchess."
His voice carried obvious relief.
"The newest moving picture will begin in approximately ten minutes."
Evelyne smiled faintly.
"In that case, two VIP tickets."
"Immediately."
The man hurriedly retrieved two tickets crafted from black crystal paper and silver ink.
He presented them respectfully.
Evelyne accepted them.
"How much?"
The employee hesitated briefly.
"Ten gold coins, Duchess."
Evelyne handed him the payment without another word.
Meanwhile, Andras found himself silently calculating.
Ten gold.
For two tickets.
Which meant five gold for a single seat.
His thoughts naturally drifted toward the economy of this world.
The currency system was simple.
Copper.
Silver.
Gold.
One silver equaled one hundred copper.
One gold equaled ten silver.
An ordinary laborer earned approximately one silver coin each day.
Meaning...
A common worker would need to spend nearly two months of their entire income to purchase a single VIP ticket.
Of course, that comparison was largely meaningless.
No matter how much money a commoner possessed, they still wouldn’t be allowed inside the VIP section.
Some privileges could not be purchased.
Only by being noble one can get that .
Andras found that strangely amusing.
Soon afterward, another employee approached them.
"If you’ll follow me, Duchess."
They entered the theater.
The interior was even more extravagant than the exterior.
Golden chandeliers floated beneath the enormous ceiling through the use of mana crystals. Velvet carpets covered the floors, while elegant music played softly throughout the halls.
Hundreds of guests moved through the corridors.
Yet the moment they noticed Evelyne, conversations quieted.
People stepped aside instinctively.
Nobody wished to obstruct the Duchess of Darkmoor.
Eventually, they reached the VIP viewing chamber.
Andras paused briefly.
The room resembled a private royal balcony more than a theater seat.
Rich black velvet sofas faced an enormous enchanted crystal screen positioned below. Silver lanterns illuminated the chamber while servants waited discreetly near the walls.
A small table stood between the seats, already prepared with expensive wine, tea, and desserts.
Most importantly—
No one else was present.
The entire VIP chamber belonged exclusively to them.
Andras sat down.
Interesting.
Perhaps nobility really was convenient.
As he settled into the luxurious seat, another thought surfaced.
He already knew what kind of moving picture they were probably about to watch.
A historical drama.
Or perhaps a tragic romance.
Maybe a heroic tale about some emperor.
Fantasy worlds seemed strangely predictable in that regard.
At least according to the novels he had read in his previous life.
Andras glanced toward Evelyne.
"What kind of moving picture are we watching?"
Evelyne smiled.
"I don’t know."
He blinked.
"You don’t know?"
"I only heard that a new one arrived from the Imperial Capital."
Her smile widened slightly.
"I thought it might be interesting."
For some reason, that answer amused him.
So they were both entering completely blind.
Outside the VIP chamber, the main theater gradually filled.
Thousands of seats stretched beneath them.
Nobles.
Merchants.
Scholars.
Even wealthy commoners.
The audience buzzed with anticipation.
However, Andras quickly noticed something else.
People were staring.
More specifically—
They were staring at Evelyne.
And whispering.
"The Duchess herself came?"
"Who’s with her?"
"That’s Young Master Andras."
The whispers spread quickly.
Andras ignored them.
Evelyne ignored them as well.
After several minutes, the lights throughout the theater gradually dimmed.
The conversations stopped.
The enormous enchanted crystal screen positioned before the audience began glowing.
Mana gathered across its surface.
The air itself seemed to shimmer.
Andras leaned forward slightly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Then a deep voice echoed throughout the theater.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
"Welcome to the newest moving picture production brought directly from the Imperial Capital."
The glowing crystal brightened.
Music filled the air.
And then—
The title appeared
