Usher would never forget the sight of Luna, dazzling everyone on the runway in Chiori's clothes.
How dazzling, how beautiful!
It burned his eyes with its brilliance.
Why?! Why could Chiori succeed while he was stuck guarding this small patch of territory?
The so-called "fashion" was nothing but a farce.
"Fashion" was merely public opinion!
Seeing Chiori make money now was even more painful than losing his own.
If Chiori once again dominated the headlines at Fashion Week, what would his entire career have amounted to?
Even if he had to resort to dirty tricks behind the scenes, he had to drag her down!
I know you'd never stoop to dirty tricks, Chiori. You always prefer to defeat your enemies fair and square. But in this world, being too honorable is a liability...
Usher's face darkened.
By cutting off her suppliers, her quality would inevitably decline.
If I could take down Luna while I'm at it, that would be perfect.
Usher shook his head.
Unfortunately, that wasn't possible.
How could he possibly unseat an actress of Furina's caliber?
In Fontaine, where art was revered, Furina was practically the embodiment of art itself. And Luna, her equal in stature... well, enough said.
He'd even heard they were living together now.
"You can't even touch them," he muttered.
Usher, his heart heavy with worry, muttered, "I hope Luna isn't planning anything..."
"Monsieur Usher, the new newspapers have arrived."
"Good. I need to check the current status of Chioriya Boutique."
The shop assistant hesitated, as if about to speak but holding back.
A sudden sense of foreboding washed over Usher as he snatched the newspaper and read:
The Hundred-Faced Spectacle—Luna's First Solo Concert to Premiere Soon!
A solo concert?
Usher felt a growing sense of dread. A solo concert at this time? No, wait... this must be the event that Navia, her manager from the Spina di Rosula, had been proposing and preparing for ages.
Only now had the theme been revealed.
Hundred-Faced... Usher folded the newspaper. "I have to go check this out!"
-
Two days later, inside the Opera Epiclese.
Luna was warming up in the lounge, her voice ringing out in a series of "Ah-ah-ahs."
A few knocks suddenly echoed from the door.
"Come in," she called out.
The door swung open as soon as she spoke, revealing familiar faces: Navia, Chiori, and Furina, each carrying several gifts.
Furina set the gifts aside and stated bluntly, "That woman sent these to you."
"Which woman?" Navia asked.
"You know, that woman," Furina huffed.
Which one, exactly?
"She means 'Father,'" Luna explained.
Navia's eyes widened in realization.
Arlecchino is Arlecchino. Why keep calling her "that woman"? Could Furina and Arlecchino have a bad relationship? Navia was unaware of Furina's recent attack.
Chiori, uncharacteristically tense, remained silent, avoiding the conversation entirely.
"Isn't a four-hour concert a bit too long?" Chiori asked.
Luna waved her hand dismissively. "Not at all."
"It's been ages! My butt's gone numb from sitting. But if you pull this off, tomorrow's headlines will definitely be yours!" Furina exclaimed admiringly.
As expected of my girlfriend!
Luna confidently replied, "Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't even think about needing the bathroom."
Navia sighed, "Wouldn't holding it in that long cause problems?"
"All the water will just turn into tears," Luna replied.
"Four hours?! You'd be crying yourself into a husk!" Furina retorted.
She thumped Luna on the back.
Furina smiled reassuringly. "Don't push yourself too hard, okay? You're the most important person to me. If anything happened, I'd worry myself sick. Even you can't afford to bear the consequences of making the former Hydro Archon worry so much."
The most important person?
That single phrase immediately caught Chiori and Navia's attention.
Navia: "..."
Chiori: "..."
Their gazes pierced Furina's back like daggers.
A sudden chill ran down Furina's spine. She shivered, "Why does it feel so cold all of a sudden...?"
Chiori lowered her gaze and murmured, "I'm counting on you, Luna. I'll figure out the accessories and other models."
Luna was her exclusive model, but she couldn't wear five or six outfits alone.
"Perfect timing. There are two very suitable candidates right here."
A mischievous smile flickered across Chiori's lips as her gaze landed on Navia and Furina.
Furina's face registered shock. "Me?!"
Model for my rival? Never!
"Luna will be performing too. Wouldn't you like to share the stage with her?" Chiori pressed, her tone subtly provocative.
"Are you... actually planning to hand her over?" Furina asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
Why else would she offer her rival such an opportunity?
"Hand her over? Never. I have no intention of letting anyone take Luna from me. But Fashion Week holds special significance for us, so I can tolerate lending her out temporarily," Chiori stated coolly.
Special significance, lending her out... This woman was flaunting her position in every way possible.
Furina's lips twitched slightly. "Don't come to regret this."
"You're the one who will."
Furina: "..."
Chiori: "..."
After a moment of staring at each other, Furina couldn't help but think: As expected, all the women around Luna are so terrifying!
But there's no need to be afraid. I am the absolute number one!
Luna nodded. "It seems you two are getting along well."
Furina: "Huh?"
Chiori: "Ha?"
Navia: "Mm-hmm!"
What's so great about this?!
"Miss Luna, it's almost time for your performance!"
"Alright."
The performance was about to begin.
Furina and her companions returned to their seats as Luna rushed backstage.
"Long time no see, Lady Furina."
Furina stiffened.
She turned awkwardly and, as expected, Arlecchino was sitting right behind her!
That familiar, elegant, and polite smile made the corner of Furina's mouth twitch.
"Y-you too..." Furina managed a strained reply.
"Thank you for taking care of my child," Arlecchino said.
Indeed, she wouldn't have survived without me! Furina thought, suddenly longing for her exclusive seat.
At least there, she wouldn't have to sit with her back to Arlecchino.
Furina sat down as the lights dimmed, signaling the imminent start of the performance.
If only we could wave light sticks here, she thought. Then I could cheer Luna on properly!
Chiori's gaze remained fixed on the stage.
As the curtain fell, she knew—the storm had arrived.
The thin white curtain descended, casting swirling shadows across its surface in the dimming light.
Every member of the audience craned their necks in anticipation. This was a four-hour-long concert!
If every moment were packed with surprises, it would undoubtedly leave a bold and vibrant mark on Fontaine's artistic history.
"Is it starting soon?"
"I'm so impatient!"
"I even skipped my date today just for this concert!"
"Even though it's Miss Luna, if she messes up this time, it could really hurt her career. Whether this will be a delight or a disaster... it all depends on what happens next."
Usher sat in a corner of the audience, biting his nails.
His heart pounded with anxiety. If his suspicions were correct, Luna might be about to...
Bang! The curtain flew open, fireworks exploded, and all the lights focused on Luna. She was wearing a finished garment from Chioriya Boutique.
Luna's voice rang out: "Welcome to my stage, my world!"
"Lights!"
The lights dispersed, illuminating the band members.
"Music!"
A powerful melody erupted.
"Performers!"
Several renowned dancers, equally famous in the industry, leapt onto the stage from the audience, joining Luna.
"And finally—it's showtime!"
The theme of this concert was metamorphosis.
Where was the metamorphosis?
Naturally, it was in Luna's costumes and vocals.
As she emerged from the shadows, she had changed into a purple-black outfit, her singing style shifting accordingly—sometimes gentle and melodic, sometimes soaring and passionate, sometimes deep and resonant...
There was nothing she couldn't do; the only limit was the audience's imagination!
As she ascended on a stage lift and leaped into a box, boom! With a burst of mist, she transformed into a hideous monster, her voice plunging into a dark, terrifying register.
Tearing off the mask on her face and shedding her cloak, she reverted to a pure, innocent girl full of naiveté—it was only then that the audience realized there was a storyline being acted out!
The entire show was not just singing, but acting!
Interwoven throughout were small stories, conveyed through songs, music, unpredictable costumes, and masterful acting.
Before an hour had passed, tears were already streaming down the audience's faces.
This performance could no longer be described as merely "brilliant"!
"This is too terrifying..."
"I've never seen a stage like this before..."
"These costumes are incredible! Wait, have I seen them somewhere before?"
"Please, just one more second! Don't stop!"
During the intermission, the audience erupted in cries of anguish.
Why did it have to stop?!
Just let us see a few more seconds! We'll do anything!
But as the lights rose again at the end of the break, they fell silent once more. Their eyes were glued to the stage, utterly consumed by the performance, leaving room for nothing else.
Truly beautiful, Chiori thought, a smile blooming on her face.
Luna, singing her heart out on stage, held everyone spellbound.
Dazzling and breathtaking.
More importantly—she was wearing Chiori's designs! Though many had been altered from ready-made pieces, they were still the product of Chiori's hard work.
And now, her blood, sweat, and tears were glittering on Luna's body, glistening with every bead of sweat.
Nothing could make me happier, Chiori thought, her face radiant with joy.
As expected of my exclusive model, she mused, beaming with pride.
Usher, on the other hand, paled visibly. "Those are all Chiori's designs..."
We're done for.
If this performance succeeds, Chioriya Boutique's position will be unassailable.
Chiori's designs allowed Luna's charm to bloom to its fullest, and Luna, in turn, showcased the magnificent beauty of Chiori's creations. With their combined radiance amplifying each other, who could possibly resist?
Stop the performance?
Impossible. Not to mention that public outcry would backfire on him, the audience alone would tear him to shreds.
"This is sheer torture," Usher gritted through clenched teeth.
"For you, perhaps."
Who's there?!
Usher whirled around to find Chevreuse sitting directly behind him.
The Captain of the Special Task Force?!
Chevreuse glanced at him, immediately recognizing the clothing designer the Court of Justice had warned her about—the same man who had been orchestrating underhanded tactics against Chioriya Boutique.
Without evidence, she couldn't arrest Usher. Besides, this fell under the jurisdiction of the Maison Gardiennage, not the Special Task Force.
She was simply here to see Luna.
...Correction: to watch Miss Luna's performance.
"To you, those who shine too brightly provoke hatred. But to me, such brilliance only inspires admiration."
"And when someone this radiant stands by my side, I feel even more at peace."
Of course, she wouldn't say any of this to Luna. That fickle cat always took compliments as an invitation to become arrogant.
Finally, the four-hour performance concluded flawlessly. The audience remained spellbound even as the lights dimmed, the aftereffects proving overwhelmingly potent.
It was like drinking a strong liquor...
Will we ever witness such a stage again?
Furina shifted her numb buttocks and stood up, clapping enthusiastically.
"Magnificent!"
The applause jolted the audience awake, and a tidal wave of cheers and roars of approval erupted, filling the entire Opera House.
Four hours!
A dazzling variety of songs, costumes, and even a narrative storyline! Could anyone else achieve this?
Could anyone match Luna's perfection?
Even after the performance, she was merely panting, not collapsing in exhaustion.
Her stamina was truly terrifying.
The accompanying band and dancers appeared utterly drained, yet their faces wore genuine smiles of satisfaction.
Tonight's performance would undoubtedly be etched in the memories of countless souls.
And so too would the Chioriya Boutique brand.
Because...
"Miss Luna, what do you consider the most crucial element of tonight's performance?"
"It's the clothes," Luna replied with a gentle smile. "My favorite Chioriya outfits."