Talk That Talk

Este fixes the pants and tries to give them to Jack, but she changes her mind. Jack is one of the orphans who has been left at the opera since childhood. Este used to share the food she got with him. Since then, Jack has also become her friend and always helped Este even though they're not close.

Este was disturbed by the male actors' gazes and the nobles who came and went. She realised it was time to take control of her life by letting go of her dependence on Maeve for a bright future.

***

"Did you say that again?" A woman with a beautiful appearance and brown hair frowned as she put down the long cigarette she was holding.

"I ask you, how much ransom will you receive? How much money should you get from Duke Ander?"

Seeing Este's figure uttering such words with her head raised sharply, Maeve couldn't help but smile a little and pick up the cigarette butt she had put down.

"Why? Can you get me that money if I tell you?" reprimanded the opera owner.

"I will try as far as I can. You won't lose anything. Wouldn't the result still have the same value if you got it from Duke Ander, or you got it from me," replied the girl.

The place where Este now lives is Maeve's residence. The deepest area of Opera Empress. It was also where Sarah, who had been chased out of by her lover and noble family, lived. Now they are there, and this time, she lives with her daughter, Este, until the end of her breath.

Este visits Maeve's secret place, full of bad memories from a long ago. She was negotiating with the woman while mustering the courage to take control of her life.

"Oh, no, no… you are still naïve. Why are you so sure this will end soon? If Duke Ander likes you, his relationship with me will continue to be good. Otherwise, wouldn't there be other nobles? If the duke only wanted one night, I feel like it didn't matter. You are a rare symbol of beauty after all," said the woman.

"Maeve, I am not naive. Quite the contrary, I think you are the naive one. If I have the advantage of living with a noble like Ander, then rest assured I will whisper into that man's ear, and I won't leave you alone. I'm sure I can give you the same warm hug. I'll ensure you're always worried about the revenge I'm plotting behind your back. But there is another option; don't we all know it's better to prevent harm than cure?" said the girl boldly.

Maeve clicked her tongue when she saw Este speak so highly in tattered and tacky clothes. She wore a brick red wig and disguised her face to look dull.

"You don't even know how to thank me. I raised you. Do you know who's in charge of all your fucking needs and safety so far? I'm the one who takes of your shit. And look now, you are so fucking arrogant in front of me. Please call him the Duke, at least. Why are you so careless? What if someone hears it?" call the woman.

"This is just a matter between you and me. I'd be careful elsewhere. And well, I'm just going to be polite because I know how grateful you are now. I'm doing this to repay the kindness you've given me. Meanwhile, why don't you tell me what things I still owe you?" Este's mischievous remark made Maeve snort and raise her cigar again, thinking it through.

"If you say so, then I will have my sympathy. Eight hundred real gold coins seem pretty reasonable to me. What do you think? It's bigger than you think. I didn't even present your face to face, but that man seems to have great generosity. He offered a large amount of fucking money just because I recommended you," the woman chimed in.

Este was devastated when Maeve narrowed her eyes and smiled in satisfaction. He never thought he was worth that much. But he couldn't show it in front of a materialist woman like Maeve. So, Este reduced her presumptuousness and said politely, "Thank you for that, madam. I will try to give my best."

Maeve is surprised to see Este turn around and refuses to budge, even though she calls the price double the amount offered to her. The woman thought a girl like Este was abnormal since she was a child. However, Este always amazes her. The girl seemed always to open her arms. She would be a great actress if she came on stage, but Maeve had to give up on the idea because she thought Duke Ander would not let her go.

"Who wants the daughter of a noble who is said to be dead? It would be shocking if she were seen coming back alive in front of people. Oh, that's so bad."

Este left Maeve's room, not expressing her inner thoughts as much as she could. She decided to remain silent after hearing the number Maeve had said. Este hid in the storage room next to the buffer room, trying to avoid the feelings of depression and pain she was taking seriously.

**To Be Continued**