Work Text:
Lahan was back at the apothecary shop, this time to invite Maomao to see that new play based on the romantic tragedy that seemed to be on everyone's tongue these days. Maomao plainly told him he was stupid if he thought she would care to watch a play based on such an unfathomable story.
Lahan narrowed his eyes at her, she could stand to be a bit more respectful to her honoured elder brother. If anything, he was doing her a favour! After all, his honoured father had been the one who’d gotten the tickets in the hopes of taking his dear daughter.. The glare Maomao shot at him before he could even complete that sentence made Lahan quail.
The play had been getting rave reviews, and the actors had poured so much heart into their performance it was moving even the most hard hearted person to tears, he informed her. Didn't she want to satisfy her curiosity on a concept that was so foreign to her prosaic little heart?
In the end Maomao had resisted the urge to stomp his toes and agreed to go, if only to make the abacus freak leave her in peace.
And so Maomao had ended up at the same theatre, her face covered again, hoping she wouldn't be bored to death. And was surprised to see a certain masked noble and his attendant amongst the patrons. She put it out of her mind as the curtains went up and turned her attention to the performance.
In all fairness, the show had merited the praise, even though Maomao was still no closer to suspending her disbelief when it came to the story. The actors had put on a riveting performance with much gravitas and Maomao had been surprised to see several people weep openly when the curtain came down on the last tragic act.
After the show, Lahan had gone to greet an acquaintance in the crowd so Maomao decided to wait until he came back when she saw the prince coming towards her. Maomao bowed, how did Jinshi sama like the show? Jinshi smiled with a touch of irony, I think I might almost be convinced. How did he figure that? While he knew he didn't have the luxury of letting his passions rule his heart, he could now say without a doubt that he would die too, if he were to lose someone so dear to him. A hard gleam came into the prince's eyes as he said that and stared into Maomao's eyes. Maomao scowled, feeling an uncharacteristic blush rise across her cheeks, and looked away. How troublesome, she thought.