Mathilde looked at the director, but he didn’t signal for the scene to end.

  ‘Does he want us to improvise ? I mean, I’m used to it but what’s up with Mademoiselle Cyrielle ? Isn’t she new to this ? Well, whatever, let’s just continue.’

  The woman looked embarrassed as she looked at the queen.

  “Excuse me ? A butt face ?”

  “Yes, isn’t that what the boy said ?”

  The actor pying the son broke into a big smile.

  “Yes, she really is ugly !”

  The queen squinted, which gave her a more severe look.

  “I need to see for myself. Come here, both of you.”

  The kids walked towards the throne, under the confused gaze of the extras. The girl looked uncomfortable.

  “Do I really have a butt face ?”

  The queen waved her hand, as if to chase away her words.

  “The queen’s words are the kingdom’s words. I will have the final say.”

  She leaned forward, taking a good look at the girl’s face.

  “I don’t see the resembnce. There is no crack in the middle either… Oh, there it is !”

  She solemnly pointed to the boy who was giggling. He immediately became serious and looked at her in disbelief.

  “I saw the crack ! Let it be known, by the queen’s words, that boy is now decred butt faced !”

  Cyrielle was so serious and regal that it amplified the absurdity of her words. It was exactly the type of humor the director had envisioned, and he had to bite the inside of his month to contain his ugh. He asked the cameraman to zoom in on the boy’s mortified face, and finally shouted.

  “Cut ! It was absolutely perfect ! I think it’s the best scene we have had in years. No need for a retake, let’s go with that.”

  Cyrielle breathed a sigh of relief, internally of course, and stood up to join the staff who was reviewing the footage.

  ‘I wasn’t too bad, it really fits with the atmosphere of the show. But is that really funny ? I can’t tell…’

  Humor was generational, cultural, and depended on personality, so maybe Cyrielle wasn’t the target. She had just done what her ‘acting’ ability had told her to, but if the director was happy, then it was good.

  Mathilde, the mother’s actress, came to see her.

  “It was a very good ad lib, it totally fit the tone of the show. Were you an actress before ?”

  Silence descended upon the manor, as everyone perked up their ears. They were all curious as to how a novice could think of such a perfect ad lib, and without any expnation as to what the episode was all about !

  ‘How am I supposed to answer that ? I just activated the ‘acting’ ability, that’s all ! But I suppose it would seem unrealistic to say it’s my first time, right ? But I don’t want to lie either, if they search for my previous works they won’t find anything ! Well, when in doubt, be mysterious, as Julie said.’

  Cyrielle elegantly adjusted her dress and let her gaze lose itself in the empty air, as if reflective.

  “Maybe…”

  She then bowed politely and went back to the changing room. But she left an absolute mess behind her.

  “What ? Was she really an actress in the past ?”

  “I don’t know, she didn’t say it clearly !”

  “But is there any other expnation for what just happened ?”

  “This woman is so mysterious, I can’t figure her out at all.”

  “She has the aura of a veteran actress, it makes sense in my opinion.”

  The director was reviewing the footage again and again. He had been feeling quite down since the show had fallen off, and he didn't put all his efforts into directing it anymore. But seeing such a performance, he somehow felt his energy come back to him. If he used this scene as gas to ignite the rest of the show, he felt that reviving it was possible.

  “Guys, we’ll change the script for the next scene. Jocelyn, you will be nicknamed ‘butt face’ for the rest of the show, I hope you don’t mind it.”

  He had once again started to have ideas, and his imagination was running wild. This new season would change everything for ‘Noble mayhem’.

  ***

  “Should I accept more acting offers ?”

  Julie was discreetly studying Cyrielle’s face to gauge her thoughts. She was not surprised anymore at her friend’s new skill, she had gotten used to it after almost nine months of working together. But it was always hard to tell what Cyrielle wanted, she always kept the full extent of her abilities secret, only revealing it when it was necessary. At least, that was her delusion.

  The elegant woman, on the other hand, was looking out the van’s window with a neutral expression.

  “Do as you see fit. If I don’t like an offer, I can always refuse it.”

  She wasn’t too concerned about her acting career, because she was certain it would fail. After all, the shooting had been a disaster in her eyes. The cheap costumes, the ck of directions, the jokes that weren't funny… Cyrielle didn’t see how any of it would open the doors to an acting career. It was a nice experience, but nothing more. She would rather focus on something else.

  “I almost finished the entirety of my collection. Could you arrange a date for the fitting ? We should make sure everything is perfect before the runway.”

  Julie nodded and opened her notebook.

  “I’ll send a notice to the models, we’ll soon set up a date for that.”

  “Make sure to check if the second choices are free as well.”

  Julie raised an eyebrow.

  “We already chose the models, why keep the second choices in the loop ?”

  Cyrielle was still gazing out the window.

  “I selected the models based on how well they suit my work. But if one of them isn’t taking it seriously, I would rather take them out early and avoid seeing them messing up the event. I didn’t check their personalities, after all.”

  Julie was skeptical, but she simply wrote the instructions in her notebook. After all, Cyrielle was the artist, her words were w.

  A few hours ter, Cyrielle was back at home. She took the st pill she had left, and threw the empty tablet in the trash can. She had reached the end of the prescribed anxiety medication, and she had no intention of going to a doctor to obtain a new one. She felt perfectly fine, and had ‘nerves of steel’ that guaranteed her to never suffer from a panic attack again, so what was the point ? Of course, it didn’t mean she was free from anxiety altogether, but she wouldn’t lose her mind from it.

  She entered her atelier and looked at the dozen outfits dispyed on white headless mannequins. She had done a very good job, and now only the st details were left. Cyrielle was proud of herself.

  [It looks like another goal will soon be crossed from the list.]

  ‘Yes, I’m almost done !’

  She walked around the room, examining all the clothes she had made. It was of very good quality, the choice of fabrics were nice, and the colors were luxurious. It really looked like the collection of a famous fashion designer.

  [You have the same skills as the other professionals. In fact, you are probably better than them. Your runway will make people talk.]

  ‘I don’t expect that much. If people find my outfits cool, I would be grateful.’

  With her inspection done, she trotted to her desk and took out her list of goals from under the keyboard.

  -Make an album

  -Concert in front of a thousand people

  -Make a collection

  -Fashion book

  -Home decor book

  -Makeup lookbook

  -Model for a runway

  -Win a rosette in horse jumping

  -Having 5 diplomas

  -Do characters designs for a videogame

  -Make the pns for a building

  -Act in a movie

  ‘I’m diligently working on the books, but I don’t have enough materials to fill them yet. It will probably take a bit longer. For the other goals, I can’t do anything as of now. It’s not the season for diplomas, I have no connections within the videogame industry, I’m not a well known actress… The only thing I can do is the horse jumping competition. There are some all year round near Paris. I should call the riding instructor.’

  Her next course of action was settled, and she only had to wait patiently while getting her name known. She couldn’t really do anything else if opportunities didn’t come to her.

  [Don’t worry, it will come soon.]

  ‘I don’t mind either way, I’m not in a rush. It’s only my first year of activity, I can’t expect to become a superstar all of a sudden. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.’

  She felt a kind of sweetness emanating from the system, a very caring feeling.

  [You only need to work diligently while being yourself, like you have always done. The world will do the rest for you.]

  ‘Don’t exaggerate, the world isn’t moving for me.’

  Cyrielle ughed and took out a box of pearls, ready to work on the details of her collection. She could vaguely feel a mischievous emotion from the system, but she didn’t pay attention.

  ***

  Julie was at home, in her fancy apartment she was renting. She would soon have enough money to buy it, and the perspective made her happy. She stretched widely and took off her shoes. Finally, the day was over.

  “Thanks for today, Sophie.”

  The chef nodded while putting all the meal boxes in the fridge, and left. Julie looked at what she had brought.

  “Oh, I have ratatouille and bnquette ? I’m really spoiled ! She always says I’m her worst client, but I can see she likes me.”

  She ughed and took out one of the boxes. While she was putting it in the microwave, her phone vibrated.

  -Brrrrrr

  It was a call from an unknown number. Julie cleared her throat and replied in her best professional voice :

  “Hello, CEO Julie Minet from Angel-Minet talent agency, how can I help you ?”

  She listened for a while and slowly nodded.

  “Yes, of course, I know of it. No, it is possible. I will check the schedule and let you know. Yes, good evening to you too.”

  She hung up and started the microwave.

  ‘Touring Cyrielle’s home for a magazine, and interviewing her about her morning routine… It’s standard, quite common, and people tend to like that type of content. But I don’t know. Cyrielle was really bad recently, and she may still have some pills at home. I don’t feel comfortable having people invade her private life, no matter how good it would be for her career. Well, I’ll just ask her. She has the final say anyway.’

  Julie had evolved alongside Cyrielle. Before, she would manage her friend’s life down to when and what she ate, but she was slowly learning to trust Cyrielle. She wasn’t in despair anymore, and needed time to learn about herself, her feelings, her goals, and how to properly take care of herself. It was a journey one could make with an ally, but ultimately you needed to learn for yourself. Julie had understood all of that, and was keeping an eye on her friend while letting her make her own decisions. It was a bit stressful, but everything was for Cyrielle’s good.

  ‘Still, I hope she won’t accept this offer. I don’t feel good about this.’

  Her instinct was rarely wrong.