The cheers were deafening.
Five more minutes on the stage and one's ears would surely bleed. Yet, at the same time, it felt like heaven. The blinding spotlight being the path to eternal happiness.
When people ask Faivre why she loves performing her answer would not be different from that. Performing, in a way, is much like a drug. She and Carlotta both understand that perfectly, there's a reason why they have not retired.
But only one of the two sopranos understand the dark side of that drug.
Valérie Faivre in her younger years, was a proud soprano in her former opera company, L'Opera Petit Blanc. Just out of the Conservatoire de Paris boasting a 2nd prize in singing, she knew she can sing well, and would absolutely deliver. It also helped that she was considered to be well-built and beautiful. She earned many loyal patrons which boosted her position, in not just the company, but also in society.
She became as sought-out to perform as their prima donna, whose signs of aging became both visible and audible. And in just a short amount of time, she took the position. Many were not happy for the young soprano. And in her debut, in the house's production of Hannibal, many wished for her to fail.
And fail, she did.
There was admittedly a huge avalanche of expectation for her. So much so that even the Paris Opera was outshone that day. Valérie did not actually fail, technically speaking, but she simply could not deliver what was expected of her. She performed well, just not well enough.
Immediately after the opening night, sales decreased tenfold. It was no longer about the young soprano's debut but just about the show itself. And to add nail to the coffin, news outlets reported on her disappointment of a debut, making her the laughing stock of the industry for the whole time of the production.
After her contract ended with the company, Valérie went into silence for three years. Before her decision to disappear in the public eye, she was riddled with many controversies. She still loved singing, and still had a teacher to keep her voice intact, but no longer did she seek to perform on a stage.
Behind the scenes, she was also getting offered marriage left and right. And for a peaceful five years she was known as Valérie Faivre Dubois, wife to Henry Dubois, an architect. M. Dubois died after an accident at a construction site. He left all of his fortune to his wife. For a while, she was convinced that this was god's punishment for her disbelief and tried to become a believer once more. She attended church for an all-time record of 3 masses, something she was proud of.
It was definitely a shock for everyone, when they saw Valérie auditioning in the Paris Opera. Despite her eight years of absence in the industry, Valérie was still a talented woman.
And she became the house's altra prima donna.
"Madame, the tailor said the costume will be done within the day. While the other two pieces will be tomorrow. He had been collaborating with other shops in order to finish everything as soon as they can."
"Is that so? Tell them I need it to be delivered by morning tomorrow. I'll pay extra, of course." Valerie closed the newspaper she was reading, and Monet quickly noticed what it was.
"Madame, that is –"
"I'm just having a bit of a read," Valérie interjected, "it was the same opera, so I want to know what it was I was lacking that time."
She smiled at the concerned majordome: "Thank you, Monet. I fancy another honey lemon tea tonight as well, make it after dinner, will you? I've always preferred your brew."
"As you wish, madame," Monet bowed.
Valérie stood up from her desk and went to open the wooden doors of her bedroom's balcony. She stepped closer to the metal railing and gazed at the sky. The cold wind of the night made her embrace herself as she released a sigh.
The night was peaceful. Maybe too peaceful.
But it was not unwelcomed, in fact she wished for more of it.
She sighed once more.
"Am I doing the right thing, Henry?"