The Greatest Showman #1211 - Blind Date Meeting

"Matthew-Charles-Dunlop!" Edith yelled, her voice tense and her face contorted with frustration, clearly on the verge of losing control.

But Matthew didn't seem to care. He placed the glass of whisky in his hand on the coffee table in front of Renly, then took another glass of whisky for himself. He turned and sat down opposite, his movements slow and deliberate, showing a nonchalant attitude. He added, "I'm just stating the facts. You should know that yourself."

Matthew's introverted yet sharp eyes raised slightly. "Otherwise, when you chose to make your debut at the premiere of Renly's movie, you wouldn't have looked like you'd die from the pressure. You knew the issue surrounding him would cause a stir in London."

Sharp, accurate, and direct, Matthew's words cut through the tension, opening old wounds for Edith. She glared at him, eyes wide with indignation. "You should stay away from Renly. You've let him spoil you."

"Hey, I didn't say a word," Renly protested.

As soon as Renly spoke, the familiar dynamic between him and Edith was clear. Any traces of Levine seemed to fade, and they quickly fell back into their comfortable, habitual interactions.

Edith rolled her eyes and turned to Renly, raising an eyebrow in a questioning manner. "And you? Do you agree with him? Do you think being Hollywood is the problem?"

Renly pursed his lips and replied, "Prince Harry still looks handsome now."

Prince Harry was undoubtedly an alternative figure among the aristocracy. He spent his time drinking, mingling with models and actors, and landing in the headlines every few days, a constant subject of public conversation.

"And Andre Hamilton," Matthew added.

Renly nodded. "And Andre."

Edith could barely hold back her disbelief. "You're actually comparing me to Harry?" She looked around, but when she couldn't find anything to throw, she kicked Renly's calf instead. This time, unexpectedly, Renly didn't dodge. He just took the hit.

Surprised, Edith still complained, rubbing her leg. "Can't you dodge? God, your muscles are so hard—I'm going to hurt myself!"

Renly, looking harmless, simply nodded. "Sorry."

It was rare to see Renly so well-behaved, neither complaining nor mocking. Edith gave him a helpless look. "I don't need your sympathy. You know how much I hate it."

Renly looked innocent. "Are you sure you don't have a special hobby for being abused?" He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. "Forget it, you don't need to tell me." He caught Edith's glare and shrugged. "I know, I know, I regret it."

He wasn't at all curious about Edith's personal life; he just didn't want to know.

Edith let out a frustrated laugh and took a long sip from her whisky. The amber liquid swirled in the glass, and she softened. "I really like him."

Her words hung in the air, and for a brief moment, there was a hint of vulnerability in her gaze.

"Then fight for him," Renly said with a smile.

Edith snapped back to the conversation, her eyebrow quirked. "Shouldn't you be telling me to give up? Isn't that what you're supposed to say?"

"Do you want to be Elf?" was Renly's answer.

Edith looked at Renly, his calm eyes meeting hers. There was a quiet determination in his gaze—a confidence that everything would work out if she stayed true to herself. It was a look she knew well, one that reminded her of Renly himself.

She laughed softly, knowing that no matter what choice she made, Renly would always be there for her. Not because he was part of the Halls or because she had supported his decisions, but because he believed in her—believed in her judgment and authenticity.

There was a warmth in her chest, but she didn't express it in words. A single look from Renly was enough. "You shouldn't say that to Elf."

"I don't think she would mind," Renly shrugged nonchalantly.

Human beings are emotional creatures, often choosing emotion over reason. Even when they know they should rely on reason, they're still bound by their feelings. Nobles, however, often maintain their dignity by clinging to logic, even at the cost of their emotions.

If Elf had faced the same dilemma, she would have cut through the mess and ended the relationship without hesitation.

Everyone has their own path, and everyone must make their own choices. Right or wrong.

Renly's thoughts briefly flickered to Rooney Mara. He wondered how she would handle this situation.

"So, what happened at the party?" Renly asked, bringing the conversation back. "Don't tell me they set up a private event for you?" Seeing Edith's exasperated expression, he chuckled. "Good grief, they really are too old-fashioned. Couldn't they be a little more original?"

The private party was, of course, a blind date event. A gathering held under some pretext—perhaps a recital or a performance—to allow the right people to meet, mingle, and get to know one another.

If this were a century ago, such a gathering might have been appropriate, but now, in the 21st century, it felt outdated and absurd.

"They sent out invitations claiming that after my work with the UN, there's a series of photos for an exhibition, and everyone is invited to come and enjoy them," Edith said with a sarcastic smile. "God, those photos weren't even used to help the noble ladies talk after dinner."

"Maybe they thought it would raise money for the Red Cross or some other charity?" Renly suggested, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Ha! Very funny," Edith rolled her eyes again. She couldn't keep track of how many times she'd done that tonight, but she didn't care. Here, she could finally relax and be herself.

Matthew, who had been silent until now, raised an eyebrow. "I'm more curious about who was invited. Who was there?"

Edith shot him a glare. "Matthew, since when did you become so gossipy?"

Renly leaned in with a smirk. "Wait, did Andre, Eaton, or the others attend?"

Edith fell silent.

Matthew and Renly exchanged a knowing glance. A flicker of excitement passed between them. This was getting interesting.

"Hey, you two, stop exchanging gossip looks! I'm the one suffering here!" Edith protested.

Renly spread his hands in apology, though the curiosity in his eyes didn't fade. "Since you made it public at the premiere, why not go all out at the party? Wear smoky makeup and jeans, rock out a bit? If you're worried about Denise, you could always get her out of the party."

Edith's face fell. "Did you peek at my script? This isn't right. We shouldn't know each other this well. How do you know I did that?" She took a deep breath. "Wait, I think my IQ is slipping, and I keep falling behind in these conversations. I should… Matthew, can I get another glass of whisky?"

Matthew didn't answer, but he handed her the glass.

"The night of the party, I wore ripped jeans, a pair of big red heels, and a gorgeous tutu, with custom lace layers that were torn apart. Then I added some dramatic smoky makeup," Edith continued with a smirk. "You should've seen Elizabeth's face when she saw me. It was priceless!"

Renly nodded in understanding.

"Edith, what if someone actually liked you like that?" Renly asked, genuinely curious. "You know, the nobility always has strange preferences. Arthur's apartment is full of secrets."

Edith waved dismissively. "But I don't like them."

"And what about Chris?" Matthew interjected. "Would he like the real you?"