When Leon touched the tuft of yellow hair on his forehead and was about to say something, he heard an unusually excited puppy bark.
Feeling that the sound was quite familiar, Leon couldn't help but look toward it, only to find a little husky with a tuft of yellow hair on its head. It had leapt up from a distant counter, wagging its tail at him with a face full of surprise.
*Young Ha... Do you have a role as well?*
Thanks to that unique tuft of yellow hair, Leon recognized Young Ha's identity. Looking at Young Ha, who had some kind of balm on its face and two little braids tied with pink ribbons on its head, Leon was about to call out to it. However, a will transmitted through the threads on his body changed the words that came out of his mouth.
"What I want, Agatha, do you not know it yet?"
Drawing his gaze away from Young Ha and smoothing the yellow gunked-up hair on his head, Leon—or "Mr. Joseph," as he was currently known—lifted his hand to his mouth and produced a lush red rose.
With the rose, which was a bit prickly, clenched between his teeth, "Mr. Joseph" performed a series of flamboyant gestures before grabbing Agatha's arm and raising an eyebrow, eyes sparkling as he proclaimed,
"Compared to the watered-down beer in this tavern, what I truly desire is to pluck you, the blossoming rose~"
*Vorzhe... What kind of dogshit line is this?*
Beyond just Leon, the overwhelming actions disgusted others as well. After experiencing the overwhelming scent of "Mr. Joseph's" cologne, the radiant smile of the waitress "Agatha" became forced.
Pushing Leon gently away with her hand, vibrant and fiery Agatha took a glance at the rose in Leon's mouth, smiled, and declined,
"It's not proper. If you truly love a rose, then please let it flourish in the garden!
After all, the rose you want doesn't love those exquisite and expensive vases. What it truly yearns for is the vast expanse of freedom and the brilliant sunlight unblocked by glass!"
"Yes, yes, yes! You're right!"
Perhaps not the first time he'd been refused, "Mr. Joseph" wasn't mad after taking that soft blow. He spat out the prickly rose with a grin, licking the wound on his lip while gleefully saying,
"When it comes to property, my family has the most land in town! The land my father left me is indeed vast and is on especially sunlit slopes. It's exactly what your charming rose desires! Dear Agatha, if you fancy wild roses, I can even plant you a whole field! Haha! Indeed, we are a perfect match!"
*Got it. My role is the dumb son of a landlord, huh?*
"Mr. Joseph, that wasn't what I meant..."
Despite being so obvious, the landlord's dumb son still didn't get it. "Agatha" couldn't help but shake her head in resignation. Considering that she only planned to stay in this city for another two weeks, leaving as soon as the engagement was broken off, she didn't get entangled further and said with a smile,
"Let's put this aside for now, you still have to place an order!"
Upon hearing the words of his passionately pursued goddess, "Mr. Joseph" nodded repeatedly, as if oblivious to his yellow hair, and casually scribbled something on the menu before handing it back, winking suggestively,
"Just this, and as usual, send it to the table nearest to the counter, the perfect spot to admire my rose."
After the princess left amused yet exasperated, Leon, back in his seat, pulled the barely visible strings on him slightly apart, then squinted his eyes contemplatively.
While he acted to the intent of the "strings," Leon wasn't idle. As he supported the princess acting as "Agatha," he secretly tugged on the strings on the princess's arm, hoping to free her as well.
But unfortunately, for Leon, whose current Contamination Value was barely 5, relying on the resistance provided by [Materialism] to break free and gain freedom was already the limit. Saving someone from the Drama King's Contamination Value of 16 was utterly unrealistic.
So he could only continue acting for now...
Despite performing some flamboyant movements in his seat, receiving no obstruction from the Drama King hinted to Leon at the functional range of these strings.
Reasonable, character-fitting, and slightly dramatic actions wouldn't incur heavy resistance.
However, like earlier, even when having the chance, not immediately professing love, but rather interacting with the goddess's dog was not character-fitting and would be stopped.
With this understanding, there was more leeway.
Surveying the other side of the restaurant, where the handsome youth chatted merrily with "Agatha," Leon's eyes narrowed slightly.
Based on their conversation, his character was clearly a comic foil to highlight the protagonist, even currently "jealously" staring at the protagonist. He might even have a conflict with the protagonist later on due to jealousy.
As said by the princess, the main antagonist in "Twelve Days' Journey" was the female lead Agatha's family, so he probably only appeared in the first act, being put in his place by the protagonist before exiting. The second, third, fourth acts might not even include him.
Glancing towards the protagonists, yellow-haired Leon began contemplating a way to "steal the show," while pondering the core logic of the Master of Drama's Ability.
If guessed correctly, the original actress playing Agatha was mentally breaking down under the Master of Drama's endless control, so the princess, lauded as the most beautiful in the Capital City, was chosen as the lead actress.
After all, choosing someone else as the lead and letting Princess Veronica play a supporting role would see her completely overshadowed by the princess in appearance, poise, and figure, which would ruin the play. The Master of Drama had no other option.
As for why he became the landlord's dumb son...
Recalling his past experiences, Leon's face darkened instantly.
Truly, he was very suitable. Not to mention, merely the identity of the Duke of Lionheart made him the biggest "landlord" in the entire theater, aligning well with "Mr. Joseph" inheriting his father's estate to become the town's richest man and his backstory.
Coincidentally, to everyone, he was a notorious wastrel, leaving the entire Ryan Family to the royal family for the princess's beauty. Even the persona of a desperate simp aligned, making him the ideal pick for the landlord's dumb son.
Just as Leon prepared to stir things up, aiming to intervene in the subsequent plot of "Twelve Days' Journey," Agatha, having helped the protagonist Elijah complete his order, took a quick run to the kitchen and then returned with a steaming tray.
"Your wine and dishes are ready."
Pressing her rose-juice-dyed nails on the menu, leaving two slight marks, "Agatha" said with a smile,
"There are other guests to attend to, so I won't linger. Please enjoy your lunch~"
*Enjoy... my lunch???*
Staring at the tray's familiar sheep head, barbecued red and coated with pepper sauce full of tiny meat bits, holding a large red apple in its mouth, Leon couldn't hold his expression anymore.
No, seriously... Even Young Ha got a role, but how the hell do you have one too?!?!