Rosa's gaze flickers between the prince on stage and a white-haired elf in the same gown the witch wore.
There are two elves. Both look like Saunnie.
The audience erupts in applause as they realize the trembling ground is part of the spectacle. Lilia is among the loudest.
Rosa taps Lilia's shoulder, locking her gaze on the off-stage Saunnie.
"Lilia, use Naissaich and check the side of the stage."
Lilia stops, glancing at Rosa curiously.
"And break the immersion? No thanks."
"It won't! Just do it already!"
Rosa snaps, but her voice is drowned by the applause.
"Fine, fine, geez!"
Hesitant, Lilia looks forward to a particular spot, pouting.
"Naissaich…"
Her chant is almost a whisper in Rosa's ear. Her eyes glow the same bluish hue as Rosa's.
Rosa watches Lilia's expression change into shock. Her eyes widen and her jaw slackens.
Lilia glances between the side of the stage and the main stage where the prince gathers his army.
"What happened!? There are two Saunnies!"
Rosa gives her a deadpan look.
"That's precisely my question."
Lilia taps her finger to her chin and closes her eyes. Moments later, her eyes snap open with excitement as she turns to Rosa.
"Ah, it's a theater, isn't it? Maybe one of the actors is using disguise magic!"
Lilia has a point. Disguise magic could replicate someone's appearance, though it drains significant mana; it isn't impossible.
But the witch's deranged expression earlier and the flawless acting—it isn't something anyone could copy. The mirror magic is too intricate.
Maintaining disguise magic alongside another active spell would require a parallel mind, something only one Royal Wizard in the kingdom can do. Rosa sighs, the name and face of the person pops into her mind.
Or perhaps another actor as skilled as Saunnie manages the disguise while Saunnie handles the mirror magic.
Yet, The Tale of the Smitten Witch doesn't depict the witch and prince looking alike. There's no reason for such a trick in the theater.
A hand waves in front of Rosa's face, pulling her attention to Lilia.
"Why worry now? Whatever the tricks are, they're for the theater. Isn't it our duty as the audience to enjoy it?"
Lilia's gaze returns to the stage where the prince is preparing to take a step.
"Besides, you can ask her after the show. Though I don't know if she'll tell you."
Lilia makes a good point. For now, the show is what matters.
Rosa smiles slightly and turns back to the stage.
The prince finally meets the witch, disguised as a fortune teller. This scene mirrors the sundown they had witnessed.
The two elves, almost doppelgangers, stand before each other—one a prince, the other a hooded witch with her face concealed.
"Young man, I can see troubles stirring in your mind, just by looking at your eyes."
The witch lifts a crystal ball, the same one Saunnie had used for fortune-telling.
"Would you like a reading?"
A red glow emanates from the crystal ball. The prince holds his stance, then exhales steadily, voice firm and measured.
"What can a fortune telling even do to help me right now?"
"For example, perhaps a means to preserve your kingdom?"
The prince snaps his gaze toward the witch, eyes sharp.
"How came you by such knowledge?"
The witch chuckles.
"I am a fortune teller, after all. Shall I read your future for you?"
The prince steps back slightly, unsettled, silence falling briefly on the stage.
He draws another deep breath, then steps forward with resolve.
"Very well. Though I know not your name nor how you command such knowledge, I shall, for the moment, place myself under your guidance."
The witch steps forward, bringing the crystal ball close to his heart. An unsettling crimson light bursts from it.
The danger is clear, yet the prince maintains his stand, just like in the book.
The witch's body twitches as she steps back, averting her gaze. The crystal's light shifts into a colorful aurora, stretching beyond the stage. Sheets of light dance into the audience.
Another wave of applause rumbles through the theater.
Even Rosa and Lilia, who had seen a smaller display before, are surprised.
Lilia gazes up at the aurora, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Woah… it's even bigger! Almost like a mana aurora!"
Her comparison is apt. This is no simple trick; it's mana overflowing into the air, creating an aurora.
"As expected of elven magic," Rosa mutters, lightly clenching her fist, jaw tightening afterward. A mix of jealousy and frustration churns in her stomach, and she exhales.
A warmth touches her right hand—Lilia's, wrapping over hers.
"Hey… everything's alright?"
Lilia's grip is tentative, her gaze full of concern.
"I'm fine… I think… I just… have a long way to go, after all."
Rosa averts her gaze to the cobblestones below.
Lilia tightens her grip, bringing Rosa's attention back to her with a warm smile.
"It's alright. I believe in you. I'll be here, okay?"
Rosa looks at the floor again, ears tinged red.
"Thanks…" she mutters, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Shall we get back to the theater? You missed quite a bit."
Lilia's hand slides away, eyes returning to the stage.
Rosa nods and follows.
The stage now depicts the castle, with the witch pacing back and forth.
"Hm? How much did we miss?"
Rosa swears she didn't look away that long.
"Ah, the witch gave the prince advice to rescue a damsel on his way, and they parted."
As expected of Lilia, when it comes to her own enjoyment, she didn't miss a beat.
"O fate! Why sway me with such cruel temptation!?"
The witch raises her hands to the sky, her voice rasping as if a lump were in her throat.
"To claim what's rightfully mine, slaying the heir is a duty I cannot abstain…"
Her gaze falls to the stage floor, clutching her hands to her chest.
"Yet… yet…"
The witch sobs loudly. "Oh… how cruel love is… to come at a time such as this…"
The curtains flow once more, concealing the stage.
When they open again, the scene reveals a forest with tree props and the sounds of a flowing river and chirping birds.
The play follows the book: the prince meets a wounded girl on the road and saves her. She now follows him to the castle, with lights shaped like birds flickering around the stage.
The damsel helps the prince choose the path, which always leads to danger—troll, giant, and other vile creatures block his way.
The prince and his knights struggle with each encounter, Saunnie's movements firm and exaggerated, though slightly sluggish for dramatic effect.
The girl always assists at the last moment—distracting monsters, throwing stones, small clever acts—ensuring the prince's victory.
Each battle features effects unusual for a theater this caliber: the ground shakes when troll strike.
Rosa's attention catches on the creatures themselves; she smirks wryly, hoping none are actually controlled magically.
The play reaches its finale. The prince, the girl, and the knights enter the castle hallway, mirroring the opening scene, scanning for the witch.
Suddenly, the girl bursts into flames, startling the knights and especially the prince.
She transforms into the witch.
"You…."
The prince grunts; the ground shakes even more, alarming the audience.
Yet the witch remains silent, looking down.
The prince grips his hilt, drawing his sword. A bright light emanates from the blade, clearly magical.
A strand of light stretches toward the audience, hitting Lilia square in the face.
"MY EEEYES!"
Lilia frantically shields herself, letting out a shriek, startling nearby spectators.
As expected, she has terrible luck with light. Rosa lets out an amused sigh; the chances are small, yet it happens anyway.
The clash continues. The prince tries to strike the witch, who dodges, her eyes glittering. Her aim is clumsy, hitting the knights but not the prince.
Meanwhile, Lilia dodges stray beams as if engaged in her own battle.
In the final scene, the prince plunges his blade through the witch's chest. Gasps escape the audience.
"Hey, this has to be a trick, right!?"
Lilia jumps from her seat; even Rosa looks concerned.
Glowing with Naissaich, Rosa scans backstage. The festival committee panics; Akira tries to calm them.
The collapsed knights glance toward them.
A brilliant green glow erupts from the witch as the prince draws his crimson-soaked blade.
Rosa exhales in relief, recognizing the familiar green hue from healing magic.
As the witch falls into the prince's grasp, her hand reaches toward him. The audience sighs in relief.
A committee member raises both thumbs; the collapsed knights remain down.
"Haaah, that's not good for my heart…"
Lilia slumps like dough sliding down a wall. "Really… I hope the committee scolds her properly later."
Rosa presses her forehead, exasperated.
The prince steals glances at the audience, likely panicked by their reactions.
The witch coughs; Rosa swears she hears a suppressed giggle.
She takes a deep breath, then strokes the prince. "O Prince… such a cruel fate… to claim what I yearn for… I must crush what I love…"
The prince jerks his head in surprise. "What you love? What do you even—"
The witch's voice wavers, sparkling tears falling from her eyes, visible even to the audience.
"I love you… O prince… Many times I wished I could bring you to your demise… I had the means… Yet I couldn't…"
The prince gasps; glittering tears fall from his eyes as well.
"So our bond… our feelings on this journey… they are real?"
The witch cups the prince's face. "O prince… I may have wished to slay you… yet my love burns brightly even as my life fades…"
The prince's voice wavers, anguish and anger entwined. "It doesn't cleanse your sin… You tore the kingdom apart… My father is gone… And the people still suffer… Yet…"
He brings his gaze to the witch in his hands; she nods in response.
They draw closer, faces nearly touching.
Then their lips meet; silence falls over the scene.
As they part, the prince opens his mouth, but the witch's hand falls first to the stage.
"I love you, too…"
The curtain closes. Applause and cheers echo through the audience.
It opens again; all actors, including the two Saunnies, bow.
The goblins and ogres remove their face, revealing the actors inside.
The troll and the giant bow before fading into sparkles.
Rosa grips her chin, muttering, "Ah, so they are summoned creatures."
Lilia jerks back, eyes wide. "So they're real after all!?"
The team's dedication is admirable; they gave everything, especially in the final scene.
Risking her life with a blade in the chest doesn't justify spectacle, yet the act earns Rosa's respect.
The announcer returns, calmly instructing the audience to leave safely.
"Aaaah… it's finally over…"
Lilia slumps, then stands; Rosa follows, walking side by side.
"Hnnnn…."
Rosa groans, unsatisfied; she still doesn't understand why there are two Saunnies.
She closes her eyes, recalling the first time she met the elf.
"Right? It's always lonely when a festival ends," Lilia grins, assuming Rosa feels the same.
Moments later, Rosa's eyes snap wide. "That's plausible… No, it totally makes sense!"
Rosa darts a glance at the now-confused Lilia.
"Hm? What do you mean?"
Rosa grabs Lilia's hand, stopping her in her tracks.
"You said you saw her come from the south wing, right?"
Lilia nods, turning to face Rosa.
"Yeah, and you said you met her in the west wing too. What's going on?"
Rosa had been ready to chalk Saunnie's behavior up to inconsistency, but seeing two of her on the same stage opens another possibility. She silently owes Saunnie an apology.
"Think about it—she said she'd been at the chicken stall since sundown. Yet we met her in the street at that exact time."
Lilia taps her chin thoughtfully, eyes narrowing.
"Ah… now that you mention it…" She tilts her head, returning her gaze to Rosa. "So… you think she can teleport or something?"
Rosa exhales, considering the chance that the elf might manipulate space itself.
"That would be incredible, but I think the explanation is simpler. She was fortune telling for just 20 gold, yet she had a bag of coins when we met her again. And the play doesn't require the prince and the witch to share a face. See where I'm going?"
That's right—there are two Saunnies. A literal double. Rosa even entertains the possibility of a summoned doppelganger or a golem double, which would explain the stab at the end. Yet the inconsistency when they were searching for her brother confirms her suspicion: she met two different elves.
Lilia's eyes widen. Rosa can practically see the gears turning in her head.
"And she was looking for her brother… Wait, both Saunnies—the one in the street and the stall—said the same thing. If we actually met the brother, wouldn't one of them say they were looking for their sister?"
Rosa stares at Lilia with a deadpan expression.
"…I'm actually impressed you noticed that."
She exhales. Lilia had pinpointed the weak spot in her theory, and Rosa has no explanation either.
"I guess it'll be faster to ask them directly."
Lilia's eyes light up, her eagerness to see the backstage and the two elves shining clear.
"Exactly! Off to the backstage then!"
She grabs Rosa's hand and drags her along.