Making history

(3rd Person POV)

After her talk with the young demon filmmaker, Lady Velmira fell into quiet contemplation. Though composed on the surface, her thoughts churned beneath. She glanced around the bustling deck of the Grand Whale, taking in the humming crew, the shifting lights, the subtle excitement in the air.

'Is he really planning to sink this ship… for a movie?' she thought, brows slightly furrowed. 'If so, that would be risking lives—crew, actors, everyone onboard…'

The idea unsettled her. And yet—there was something else.

A strange, fluttering sensation stirred in her chest. 'Even so… I'm tempted. To see how it turns out. A film done in one take. Realistic. Raw. No edits. Just pure, living emotion.'

A ship this size could only be sunk once. There would be no second attempt.

While Velmira pondered, her granddaughter Eilsha was lost in another world entirely. She'd been chatting with Firfel—the actress she had admired from afar for years—and her eyes sparkled with joy.

As they walked along the upper deck, the wind tousling their hair and the sunlight dancing on the waves, Eilsha felt something stir within her.

'This… this feels like a better stage than any theatre I've stood on,' she thought. 'I want to be part of this film too...'

But the thought came with hesitation. Her grandmother hadn't agreed to anything yet. And unless Lady Velmira accepted the role, Eilsha wouldn't have a chance.

Firfel, ever perceptive, noticed the shift in Eilsha's expression.

She gently placed a hand over Eilsha's. "Hey, what's wrong? Just a moment ago, we were having such a nice chat… and now you look so down."

"I'm fine," Eilsha replied quickly, forcing a smile. "Really, I am."

Firfel tilted her head, still watching her carefully. "Is the set overwhelming you? You can tell me."

"No, it's not that… Ugh, just forget it." Eilsha sighed, then offered a quick bow. "I'm going to check on my grandma." And with that, she turned and walked off in a hurry.

Firfel watched her go, sensing the unspoken conflict but choosing not to press.

It took Eilsha a while to find Lady Velmira—this ship was far larger than she expected—but eventually, she spotted her seated near the railing, quietly watching the sea.

"Grandma…"

Velmira turned, her expression softening. "Eilsha."

"Did you talk to Mr. Pendragon?" Eilsha asked eagerly. "Did you agree to be part of the movie?"

She was holding her breath, unsure whether her grandmother would once again turn down the world of cinema, as she always had.

But to her surprise, Velmira simply said, "We'll return here in a few days. My manager will come with us then."

"Huh?" Eilsha blinked in confusion.

Velmira smiled slightly. "With him, we'll discuss the contract—payment, responsibilities, all of it."

Eilsha's eyes widened.

Velmira let out a light chuckle. "Yes. I've decided. This film… it's more interesting than I thought. I'd like to be part of it."

"Really!?" Eilsha gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "You mean it?"

Velmira gave a calm nod.

Eilsha could no longer contain her joy. "We're going to be in a Hellfire movie!" she cried, spinning in place with excitement.

To her excitement, Eilsha hadn't noticed the few people nearby—and when she caught their amused glances after her little spin, her face turned red with embarrassment.

'I feel like such an idiot…' she thought, quickly smoothing down her clothes and trying to compose herself.

Lady Velmira, however, simply smiled at her granddaughter's reaction. There was amusement in her eyes, yes—but also something deeper. Guilt.

'I've been holding her back,' Velmira reflected. 'Trapping her on the stage I love so dearly. Refusing to let her explore cinema… refusing to let her grow.'

Her gaze drifted to the sea, its vastness mirrored in her watery eyes.

'I thought I was protecting her. I didn't want her to face the filth—the scandals, the manipulation—that plague the film industry. But… watching her today… seeing the light in her eyes as she explored this set… I realized I was wrong. Not everything in cinema is darkness. Some things are beautiful. Some things are worth experiencing.'

She took a breath, slow and steady.

'I'll speak with Arthur. I'll ask him to give her a part in the movie. Even if it's just a small one.'

---

Three days later, the Grand Whale had grown even more lively. With each passing day, more people filled its decks—actors, crew, and now, a flood of extras. Hellfire was running open auditions, and it had become one of the biggest media spectacles in the world.

At the Hellfire Studio in Franklindale, the line of auditionees stretched down the block, visible even from the skies. Despite weeks of nonstop casting, the line never seemed to shrink. News outlets captured the phenomenon, splashing it across headlines around the globe.

"Arthur Pendragon Makes History Again!" one headline blared. "Hundreds of Extras Already Accepted—Auditions Still Open!"

Even royalty had taken notice.

In the royal palace of Wales, Crown Prince Drakon held a newspaper in hand as his younger sister, Princess Rika, practically bounced in front of him.

"Royal Brother, look! My friends won't stop talking about the Grand Whale! Some of them even went to Franklindale hoping to meet Arthur and get cast! Isn't that wild?"

Drakon raised an eyebrow as he scanned the front page. Sure enough, the headline matched what she said—and beneath it, a picture of the massive crowd lined outside the Hellfire Studio.

She beamed, "I want to go too! And bring my friends! Not just for the cruise—I want to be in the movie!"

Drakon exhaled. "So you want me to personally contact Arthur Pendragon... just so you can play an extra?"

Rika's eyes sparkled. "Exactly!"

Drakon folded the newspaper with a sigh, leaning back in his chair. He remembered the last time he met Arthur—at the Alicorn Auction. The handshake they'd exchanged.

'That demon… I knew then he wasn't ordinary,' he thought. 'He might be stronger than me. Negotiating with him won't be easy.'

He glanced out the window, frowning.

'And that old, ignored ship has become the world's most sought-after vessel… all because Hellfire turned it into a movie set? Is that really all it takes?'

He looked at Rika again. "Fine. I'll see what I can do."

Rika squealed with joy and rushed out of the room.

---

Meanwhile, in Morningstar Kingdom, inside the high-ceilinged chamber of Morningstar Castle, Apollonia sat in her elegant room, flipping through her Hellfire Computer.

The machine, though bulky with humming gears and flickering colored display, was her portal to the world beyond the castle walls.

She scrolled through forum posts and articles about Hellfire's mysterious new movie project. Though the title hadn't been announced, the rumors were spreading fast. Her eyes narrowed as she read through speculation and leaked images of the Grand Whale.

'So Brother turned the Grand Whale into a movie set…? And he's actually casting hundreds—maybe thousands—as extras?' she thought, eyes scanning the glowing text on the screen. The idea fascinated her, filled her chest with a strange excitement.

"I wish I could go," she murmured. "I want to see how the Grand Whale looks now…"

Behind her, a familiar voice broke the stillness.

"You want to see your brother's film production?"

Startled, Apollonia turned around quickly. Standing tall in the doorway was her father—Luke Morningstar.

"Father…" she said softly, guilt tugging at her voice. She shook her head. "It—it's nothing, I was just—"

But to her surprise, Luke raised a hand and calmly interrupted her. "If you want to visit your brother's project, I won't stop you."

Apollonia blinked, unsure if she heard that right. "Wh-what…?"

"I said you can go," Luke repeated, offering a small smile. "If Franklindale is where you wish to be, then so be it."

Apollonia stared at him, wide-eyed. 'Is this really my father?'

Luke chuckled at her stunned expression. "You're no longer engaged, Apollonia. You're free to go where you want. Don't let that worry you."

For a moment, she couldn't speak. A warmth bloomed in her chest, mixing with disbelief. "So… you're really allowing me to see Arthur?"

"Yes." He nodded, firm and clear.

Without another word, Apollonia rushed into his arms, embracing him tightly. "Thank you!"

Luke returned the hug with a faint, tired smile. "You may go with the guards—the Fallen Stars. Or go alone. The choice is yours."

Apollonia stepped back, eyes searching his face. "You won't force me to take them?"

He shook his head.

Overwhelmed, Apollonia bounced in place like a child. She was ecstatic.

But in Luke's mind, his thoughts remained sharp and practical. 'Hmph. That damn nephew of mine is stronger than me and the entire Fallen Stars combined. He's the best protection Apollonia could ever have.'

---

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