Troupe Gathering

Troupe Gathering

Jenny was both angry and anxious.

She had finally gotten into the Barrow Troupe as she wished, earning the right to study and sing there.

Her years of hard work had paid off.

Yet the reward her mother had promised was now being taken back.

Tonight's banquet was extremely important to her.

If she could catch the attention of the troupe's seniors, she might get a chance to perform ahead of schedule.

"Only three pounds!"

Jenny sniffed, her eyes reddening.

"I'll pay you back once I earn money. Do you really want me to embarrass myself at my first banquet?"

"Everyone else will be dressed beautifully, while your daughter wears rags and gets laughed at?"

"That's three pounds, not a small sum." Mary looked equally troubled.

"And joining the troupe is only the beginning. There will be plenty more expenses afterward, and newcomers can't earn money anytime soon."

"You're only an apprentice right now. You don't need to dress so beautifully. An ordinary formal dress will do."

If it had been one pound, or even two, she might have gritted her teeth and agreed.

But this was three pounds!

How long would she have to work to earn three pounds?

If the money were spent on the household, how long could it cover their expenses?

It was not that Mary was unwilling to buy her daughter a dress. The price of three pounds had simply far exceeded her expectations.

She had known the things on this street were expensive, but she had never expected a single dress to cost so much.

If she refused,

her daughter would look utterly wronged.

If she agreed,

the family finances would be strained.

For a moment, Mary was caught in a dilemma.

"What a coincidence."

Just then, a familiar voice sounded.

"Mrs. Landlady, Jenny, you're shopping here too?"

"Karl!"

"Baron Karl!"

The mother and daughter turned toward the voice and saw Karl emerge from inside, dressed in an inspector's uniform.

"Yes."

Mary forced a smile.

"I brought Jenny over to have a look."

"I heard Jenny got into the Barrow Troupe?" Karl said with a smile.

"Congratulations!"

"The Barrow Troupe is qualified to perform the Gospel Hymn. If Jenny gets to perform onstage, she'll surely become a guest of honor at many banquets."

Whether a troupe could perform the Gospel Hymn was an important measure of its standing.

Those that could not perform it

could only scrape by among commoners.

Quite a few women in such troupes even fell into prostitution, and their reputations only grew worse.

The opposite was true for those that could.

Performing the Gospel Hymn required singers to keep their bodies pure, or they would be judged as disrespecting the gods.

Only troupes like that could grace high society.

"Thank you."

Jenny lowered her head, hiding her reddened eyes.

"I only just joined the troupe. I still have a lot to learn, so I don't know when I'll be able to perform."

"Your voice is distinctive. I'm sure you'll be performing officially before long." Karl offered the polite remark, then looked at the dress displayed nearby.

"This dress is nice."

"Yes."

Jenny's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly said,

"I think so too. Mother was just about to buy it for me."

As she spoke, she tugged at Mary's sleeve.

You...

Mary's eyes darted anxiously. She truly did not want to buy it, but it was hard to refuse her daughter outright at a time like this.

Jenny had seen that clearly, which was why she had taken the chance to "pressure" her with her words.

"Is that so?"

Karl smiled.

"Jenny got into the troupe, and I haven't given her a gift yet. Why don't I buy it for you?"

"Ah!"

Jenny's face lit up with wild delight, and she covered her mouth with both hands.

"Really?"

"Of course." Karl nodded and beckoned a clerk over.

"How much is it?"

"Three pounds!"

"Alright."

"Wait." Seeing Karl take out his wallet to pay, Mary finally came to her senses and hurriedly said,

"I'll buy it."

"It's fine." Karl shook his head.

"I was just wondering what gift to give you."

"Jenny, go try the dress on first. If anything doesn't fit, have them alter it. It won't take long."

"Alright."

Jenny shook off Mary's arm, happily took the dress, and headed toward the changing room.

"I'm so sorry."

Now that things had come to this, Mary could only apologize helplessly.

"You've spent so much."

Karl waved his hand.

He had heard the mother and daughter arguing earlier, and since he had indeed planned to give her a gift, he simply paid for it.

Three pounds meant little to him, but it was already no small sum for an ordinary family. A carriage ride might only cost three or five pence, but taking carriages was not something ordinary families could afford regularly.

Mary had to count every penny carefully.

"Baron Karl."

Emerging from the changing room in the gorgeous dress, Jenny extended an invitation.

"The troupe's seniors are holding a banquet for the newcomers tonight. Could you accompany me?"

"Would that be alright?"

"Of course!"

Jenny looked enthusiastic.

"It would be our honor to have a noble attend the banquet."

Mary opened her mouth beside them, wanting to say something but stopping herself. They had originally agreed that she would accompany Jenny to the banquet.

"Alright, then."

Karl nodded.

"I'll definitely be there."

"Your Uncle's neighbor has a carriage. He'll take you to the banquet. Remember to be polite."

Inside the room.

Mary helped her daughter straighten her clothes.

"Karl won't come until he gets off work, and I don't know when he'll arrive. If he doesn't make it, don't blame him. Inspectors have a lot to keep them busy."

"I know."

Jenny flicked her sleeves impatiently.

"I'm leaving."

"Take some money." Mary stuffed the prepared purse into her hand.

"You're grown up now. You can't go out alone without money."

"Thanks, Mom."

Jenny happily kissed Mary on the cheek, waved, lifted her skirt with both hands, and headed outside.

It was her first formal banquet since becoming an adult, and it was even a troupe banquet. She could hardly wait.

When she arrived at the banquet venue,

quite a few people were already waiting.

"Northscan!"

"Prey!"

"Jenny!"

"..."

Several newcomers greeted one another, complimented each other's outfits, and waited for the seniors to arrive.

Before long,

"Senior Percy!"

"Senior Oberon!"

"..."

Several troupe seniors arrived one after another.

Compared to the inexperienced newcomers, these people were not much older, but their manners were far more polished.

Banquets

were a novelty to newcomers.

To them,

they were nothing unusual.

However, those who had come were only relatively peripheral members of the troupe. None of the true core members had attended this banquet, likely because the newcomers did not hold much status.

"Jenny, that dress is nice." Percy, the troupe's backup lead singer, came over to Jenny and asked with a smile,

"It wasn't cheap, was it?"

"It was alright." Jenny was slightly reserved.

"Three Gold Pounds."

"Oh?" Percy raised an eyebrow.

"I remember your family isn't particularly well-off."

"Yes." Jenny's cheeks reddened.

"A friend gave it to me."

"A friend?" Percy frowned instinctively.

"A male friend?"

"..." Jenny lowered her head.

"Yes."

"He was willing to spend that much on you. It seems he has feelings for you." Percy sighed, then continued.

"But let me remind you: if you want to become the troupe's lead singer in the future, you must not get involved with men."

"Without a pure body, there are many performances you won't be able to take part in."

Jenny's expression changed slightly.

"Who is Percy?"

Just as the two were speaking, a loud voice rang out.

Everyone turned toward it and saw a group of men in Constables' uniforms striding over aggressively.

"That's me."

Percy hurriedly raised his hand.

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes." The Constable in the lead nodded.

"There's a case that may involve you. Come back with us for questioning."

"Ah!"

Percy's face changed drastically:

"At a time like this? Can't I skip it?"

"What do you think?" The constable frowned, sounding somewhat impatient. "We know you're members of the Barrow Troupe. If there's no problem, you can go back tomorrow."

"But..." Percy turned around, his eyes full of pleading.

Yet everyone wore different expressions. Even the troupe members he was close to avoided his gaze, clearly having no intention of speaking up for him.

"What's going on?"

Karl had just gotten out of the carriage when he saw the scene before him.

"Ham, long time no see."

"Baron Karl."

The constable named Ham had originally been wearing a stern expression, projecting an air of authority. The moment he saw Karl, he broke into a smile.

"What a coincidence. You're here for the banquet too?"

"Yes."

Karl nodded.

"What's this about?"

"This..." Ham hesitated before saying,

"Just a minor matter."