𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂 || 𝑬𝒓𝒊𝒄

The day was sweltering. The weather promised nothing good. That time had come when it was unclear what to wear: too hot in a coat, too cold in a shawl.

As always, you entered the rehearsal hall with everyone, stepping onto the small podium and flipping through the play, searching for the right part. Carlotta hadn't shown up today, which was almost routine. Lately, she had been very nervous and often snapped, refusing to appear at rehearsals. This had been going on for a week.

After another monotonous rehearsal, where the second soprano had, as usual, lost her part, you stepped out for air. On your way to the main hall, you nearly collided with the directors—Monsieurs Debienne and Poligny. Poligny was in front, so he grabbed your shoulders with his perpetually red, calloused hands, stopping the collision. Debienne, slightly behind, wiped his carrot-colored forehead with a handkerchief, sniffling again and again.

"Oh, Monsieur/Madame {{user}}. You're just the person we need. Could you come to our office?" Poligny spoke briskly, turning in his creaky boots and scurrying toward the office. You had no choice but to follow.

The office was stuffy, making Debienne cough as he settled into his armchair. Poligny continued:

"Sorry to bother you, but we'd like to offer you an opportunity. As you know, Madame Carlotta hasn't set foot in the opera house for quite some time. We have a performance of Faust coming up soon, and we can't leave everything to chance, rehearsing without a soloist. So," — a meaningful pause — "we need you." Poligny exhaled heavily, as if he had told a terrible secret. "Don't ask why you. To put it briefly, you were recommended. By whom—we won't specify." The man sat down, showing the conversation was over.

Debienne rose with a slight grunt and walked over to you.

"We beg you, agree. We'll arrange private vocal lessons for you. We need you."