Endless Silver Machine

After spending a leisurely afternoon in the natural scenic area, under Angelina's arrangement, everyone returned to the castle and changed into dresses without being told the purpose.

Lan Ming and Xia Luo were not in the castle at this time. Aika asked the passing knights, but they also said they did not know.

After everyone changed their clothes, they boarded the special car that had been waiting at the castle gate.

Lan Ming seemed to have been busy in the past two days, perhaps because his arrival had added some trouble to her. But even on weekdays, as a direct royal family, her affairs will be several times more than ordinary nobles.

"Everyone, we are almost at our destination."

After being reminded by Angelina, Aika, who was in a trance, looked out the car window with everyone.

A huge building with a vaulted roof appeared in front of everyone.

"This is the August Opera House, which is also the largest opera house in the entire Bis Empire. Her Royal Highness Princess Lan Ming Yiela is already waiting here."

"Lan Ming...is Her Royal Highness the Princess here too?"

"Haven't you heard?"

"She really didn't tell us..."

Aika asked the three people around her with her eyes, but she didn't get an answer.

Now that you're here, let's go according to Lan Ming's ideas. Everyone got out of the car with questions and entered the venue under the guidance of Angelina.

The splendid and vast space reveals a holy atmosphere like a temple. Looking up at the dome gives people a dizzy feeling.

The first floor is neatly arranged and has regular seats. The two sides are divided into three-story compartments. Before the opera officially started, the crystal lanterns in each compartment were shining with a mysterious atmosphere.

The crowds that kept entering around them were all dressed up like Aika and the others, and the light of the crystal lamp illuminated their dresses, jewelry and themselves brilliantly.

"Please go this way."

Under Angelina's instructions, the five people walked up the stairs with the crowd.

The side compartment is a regular corridor, and each compartment has a lockable door. After walking up to the third floor, you can feel that the human breath has weakened by half. It is like a small place that is completely isolated from other audiences. Salon is average.

Angelina gently knocked on the door five times. After a few seconds, the door opened from the inside.

"welcome."

The first person to say hello was Charlotte who opened the door. She still wore the mobility jacket and the little beret on her head.

"I'm here too."

Lan Ming, who was sitting further inside, poked his head out, smiled and waved to Aika and the others.

Angelina, who came in last, gently closed the door and locked the lock. The window faces the stage. At this time, all the crystal lamps were extinguished one after another, and this box was no exception. At the same time, the curtain was raised on the bright stage, and the splendid hall was shrouded in darkness. The noise in the auditorium gradually decreased, and when the stage curtain rose again, the opera was about to officially open.

"Is this your first time watching an opera?"

Lan Ming asked suddenly.

"Yes, there are very few opportunities to be exposed to this kind of art."

"Then let's treat it as a new experience this time. Maybe it will be unexpectedly interesting."

Lan Ming returned his gaze to the stage. The curtain had slowly been raised and the first act had begun.

To the deep melody of the orchestra, the actors took the stage.

The actor who plays the protagonist Niang is a man who looks a little thin. Judging from the lines, he seems to be a child of a noble family. In order to realize his dream wish and become a member of the Emperor's Knights, he came to Augustus. .

"Are the lines of the opera expressed in this form?"

Different from the imaginary stage play, the actors on the stage use singing, coupled with small dance, and are rendered by orchestral accompaniment, showing the audience an immersive live feeling.

"There are indeed differences between opera and drama, just like its name. It is an opera after all." Charlotte explained on behalf of Lan Ming, "It pays more attention to using singing and accompaniment to tell a story, which also There are some dances interspersed with it, which is a relatively classical art form. There are often high-level troupes performing regularly in this opera house, sometimes with classical literature, sometimes with original scripts, and the content of each performance They are all different, so you can look forward to it.”

"I see."

Only the aristocratic world would be exposed to this elegant art. Augustus surprised everyone in many ways.

The performance on the stage continues. In addition to the little man, another man with a beard appeared on the stage. The rhythm of the accompaniment gradually speeds up and the pitch becomes higher and higher. The little man and the bearded man argued with each other and finally agreed on a duel.

"I'm a little nervous."

"Do you really know how to duel..."

Luo Luo and Wei Xi were completely integrated into the rhythm of the plot, and they watched the developments on the stage nervously.

"It's just acting, there won't be a real fight."

"Hey, Ling, don't say such disgraceful words."

"It's just the truth."

Immediately afterwards, the little man had a duel with a strong man and an artistic young man respectively.

"Is this okay..."

Even Aika couldn't understand it. What kind of story does this opera want to express? Just keep dueling? Then it would feel boring...

"Is this an original script?"

After a while, he finally couldn't help but ask. Xia Luo seemed to be attracted by this inexplicably passionate plot development, and it was Lan Ming who finally answered his question.

"Today's opera is an adaptation of classical literature, a very famous work."

"Um……"

Since Her Highness the Princess, who is well-read, commented like this, it must be really famous... Although Aika doesn't feel its charm now...

The duel scene was just as Ling expected, it was only shown with slow-motion dance steps. It turned out that the bearded, muscular man and the artistic young man knew each other, and the little man actually developed a feeling of respect during the duel with the three of them. Then, because this public duel attracted the knights of the Holy See, the four of them joined forces to drive each other away, and formed a deeper friendship.

"Hey, hey, why does this classical literature seem so close to reality..."

"Didn't Her Highness the Princess say that this is an adaptation of classical literature? And I think the adaptation is very good!"

Ling also became the successor of Luo Luo and Wei Xi.

"I can't understand something..."

"Actually, I only understand a general idea, that is, a group of men turned from rivals into good friends, right?"

"Yes, that's it!"

Luoluo suddenly echoed Ling's words excitedly.

"I think it's very good..."

Even Wei Xi took the initiative to express her opinions.

Aika doesn't quite understand the girls' standards of judgment, but Lan Ming and Xia Luo also look focused. Maybe it's just that their understanding ability is too poor and they haven't gained life insights from art.

So Aika decided to continue watching more seriously.

The little man was imprisoned, and when he was about to escape, he learned that the Pope had sent a woman to a neighboring country, which would have inestimable adverse effects on the country. The little man who was about to escape from prison was captured by the Holy See again because he learned something he shouldn't have known.

"This opera seems to be targeting the Holy See in every aspect. Is it my imagination?"

In this opera, Aika will throw out a question every once in a while, because there are too many things that cannot be understood.

"Actually, the relationship between the Holy See and the royal family is not as harmonious as it appears... This opera probably has that meaning..."

After Wei Xi finished speaking, she secretly glanced at Lan Ming. Although she is no longer a knight of the Holy See, it will take some time for her position to change in the minds of others. When evaluating the relationship between the Holy See and the royal family on this occasion, Wei Xi was a little concerned about what Lan Ming, a member of the royal family, would think.

"Miss Wei Xi is right, this is a fact that no longer needs to be concealed." Lan Ming temporarily returned to reality from the "deeply touching" drama and agreed with Wei Xi's words, "There will be more or less innuendos. , but this is a literary creation that has already been approved by the Holy See. As long as they agree, everything will be simple."

"It's obviously not good for you, but you agreed?"

"'This story is purely fictional.' The troupe has just borrowed the identity of the Holy See and will only perform at the Augustus Opera House. It is easier to build a script that is close to reality to be deeply rooted in people's hearts, so they are also willing to pay a large sum of money To the Holy See. The current Pope doesn’t seem to care much about this issue, so he readily accepted it. Both parties are mutually beneficial, so why not do it, what do you think?”

"Well...although there are still things that are unacceptable..."

"Okay, okay, if there's anything you don't understand, you can think about it after you go back." Ling suddenly reached out and grabbed Aika's head and turned it towards the stage, "Now let's enjoy it quietly, don't waste this time. What a great script!”

The setting that the villain is the Holy See seems to satisfy her very much. Perhaps it was because I felt inexplicably satisfied when I assumed the role of one of the protagonists.

Return your attention to the stage again. The little man seems to have been rescued from prison by three good friends and is now being followed by An An, the enforcer of the Holy See. The four decided to split up.

The harmonies of the strings and winds blended together perfectly, the notes played by the timpani and bass drum accentuated the heaviness on the stage, and the unison of the flutes and bassoons brought the atmosphere to a climax.

Aika also gradually stopped talking, but paid attention to what actions the four people would take in a crisis-ridden environment.

A woman rescued a little man who collapsed on the road and tried to seduce him. After discovering his identity, she escorted him to a neighboring country. Three of his life-and-death friends suddenly appeared, defeated the woman, and learned that someone was preparing to assassinate the Emperor Augustus.

"These three friends are really reliable..."

Every time they were able to save the little man from a crisis, Aika had to admire them. I remember that they met because of a duel. The encounter that was originally full of gunpowder has now turned into such a relationship. Fate, or destiny, is really an incredible thing.

After realizing this, Aika burst into laughter. He doesn't have a girlish heart and doesn't believe in such nihilistic and dreamy things as fate. But in this case, we have to admit that fate may really exist. There are so many coincidences that they cannot be called coincidences. This is true in dramas and in reality.

"What are you doing, laughing suddenly..."

"Don't you think it's similar to us?"

"Don't say such contrived words all of a sudden, it's so disgusting..."

Ling immediately turned away, deliberately not looking at Aika. Luo Luo and Wei Xi looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing. Everyone thinks of the same thing and can understand each other's thoughts without words.

Lan Ming looked at these four people and felt a sudden pain in his heart. She put her hand on her chest, feeling the beating of her heart, trying to understand this inexplicable feeling.

Probably, it's envy.

If you can join them...

The music on the stage gradually became calmer, and the opera came to an end. The little man successfully repelled the assassins from the neighboring country. After a fierce battle, the knights won the final victory. The little man also realized his dream and became a glorious knight.

The black curtain slowly fell, announcing the end.

…………

"It's really good, opera."

After walking out of the August Opera House, Lolo admired from the bottom of his heart.

"The main credit must go to the script."

Ling stretched greatly. Why is it so comfortable when doing this kind of action? Aika looked at the refreshed Ling and thought of this meaningless question.

"Actually, you can't say that. Accompaniment and lighting are indispensable parts to enhance the atmosphere. Without any one part, such a wonderful opera cannot be completed."

"It's very similar to a certain group of people."

After following Lan Ming's words, Charlotte looked at Aika meaningfully.

"Maybe that's true."

I don’t know if Aika really understood what they said, but in short, he only responded to the two of them with this sentence.

On the way back, Lan Ming and Xia Luo got into the same car as everyone else.

"Mr. Aika, Miss Ling, I have something to tell you about what will happen in a week. After you go back, please come to my room at your convenience."

"I also have something I want to ask. I just happened to think of it while watching the opera."

Aika readily agreed to Lan Ming's request.

"Wait, what did you think of?"

Ling Ke would not let go of this sensitive topic easily.

"We'll talk about it later, I'm not sure yet."

If you say this, Ling will definitely use the word "indecisive" again. However, the current situation is a bit complicated, and it is better to think about some speculations made out of thin air before speaking out in detail.

"Well, then I won't disturb you."

This time, Ling simply gave up. Lan Ming and Xia Luo were chatting with Luo Luo and Wei Xi about the opera just now, and Ling immediately joined in.

Looking at the happy girls, Aika slightly raised the corner of her mouth.

Compared to himself, Luo Luo and Wei Xi could ease the tense atmosphere better, and Lan Ming, Xia Luo and Ling were all in authority, so all he could do was to think from the perspective of a bystander.

Therefore, what is needed now is to connect various assumptions into a line. Maybe the truth is completely opposite to your guess, but if you worry about this, you will never be able to take the initiative.

…………