Chapter 133: Trust Isabella—Something Is Fishy
The stage performance depicted the legendary tale of King Haris’s ploy to win Cora’s smile by manipulating the feudal lords. The performance style mirrored the previous arc. The actress, an exquisite beauty, though retired from the entertainment industry for several years, was artfully made up to recapture her youthful appearance. Leaning sorrowfully on a window sill, her mournful expression and eyes spoke volumes. As Christopher, playing King Haris, passed, he lamented, "How can I make my concubine smile?"
A treacherous vassal suggested a grand spectacle—teasing the feudal lords—believing it would amuse Cora. King Haris, finding the idea amusing, burst into laughter and agreed.
Soon, a visibly distressed Cora was led onto a tall platform, where King Haris engaged her in light conversation, her helplessness palpable. Beacon fires blazed; thousands of horses thundered across the plains. The feudal lords and generals, urgently gathering below, anticipated news of the enemy. However, only King Haris’s hearty laughter, joined by his treacherous vassals, echoed from the platform.
Cora, stunned, didn't understand the beacon fires' significance or the display. She sensed the overwhelming, terrifying aura from the assembled people below, as though something grave had occurred.
"Darling, I arranged this show for you. Why aren't you laughing? Isn't it funny?" King Haris asked.
Panicked and overwhelmed by King Haris’s interrogation and the echoing laughter, Cora forced a stiff smile. King Haris was appeased, but the feudal lords below realized they had been tricked. Some angrily confronted the king. In his foolishness, King Haris declared, "To amuse my concubine is your honor."
Cora’s face paled as she saw countless eyes glaring at her, judging her as an unforgivable sinner deserving death. Accusations and insults echoed against the backdrop of a nation's downfall, culminating in a scrolling text on a large screen: centuries-old historical criticisms of Cora, branding her as the cause of Harisor's downfall and worldwide chaos, declaring, "Beauty is the cause of all disasters."
The stage plunged into darkness, a single spotlight illuminating the trembling actress. She stumbled back, hiding her face and sobbing.
"No, no… it wasn't me! King Haris captured me from my defeated hometown. I was forced into marriage, far from home. I was unhappy, missing my family. My lack of smiles was genuine sorrow," she cried, her coughs producing blood, each word choked with tears.
The audience was astonished. Compared to Isabella's amateur performance, the actress was a true professional, instantly captivating them with Cora's helplessness and injustice. The live comments erupted.
One comment read: "She's beautiful and skilled. Had she not left the industry, she'd be famous." Another: "Her top scores in performing arts show her talent." A netizen countered: "The internet has a memory! She had a sugar daddy after university, using another woman's husband's resources to promote herself. She nearly ruined his company, and his wife posted about it."
Another comment criticized Team A-list for casting her, expressing disappointment. Others speculated about a comeback, noting the wife's condemnation. One commenter suggested Team A-list's motives were intentional, hinting at a deeper reason beyond upholding justice. Another: "My instinct tells me to trust Isabella. Something fishy is going on." Someone else pointed out the similarity between the play and the CEO's downfall, suggesting the CEO was also manipulated.
The live comments were divided, the actress's long absence mitigating the intense scorn directed at Rebecca.
On stage, Cora's sobs lessened, then she erupted: "Why me? You prioritized showing off! Did I ask for this? You charmed me! You're the coward!" She turned and kicked the feudal lords.
"You blame me, not your king? You don't admit your failures, but you attack me because I'm a woman? Hypocritical!" The camera zoomed in on her face, her grief and resentment surprisingly more convincing than her crying scene. She picked up a bow and arrow, aiming at the screen, shattering the insulting remarks with special effects. The wind blew; clouds billowed. Cora stood resolute, tears in her eyes. "I may be beautiful, but I'm no bringer of disaster."
The audience erupted in applause. The live comments shifted again. After the performance, a revelation post detailed the true reason for the actress's retirement.
The comments supporting the CEO's wife turned to angry questions. The actress, as a student, had caught the CEO's eye. He invested in a movie for her, and as a rookie, she eagerly accepted the role. The CEO's advances were rejected, but he wouldn't let go, blaming her for his company's near bankruptcy due to poor investments. A sex tape, a result of his frustration, was leaked by his wife, ruining the actress's career. The revelation post included recorded conversations and financial reports as evidence.
The performance's psychological suggestion prompted netizens to reconsider their judgments, becoming less critical of women.