Time quickly passed and Rexford was lucky enough to get a few interesting talents on his motley crew.
Aside from Reine and Bedelia, the other cast members were average individuals but with a potential for acting.
"I've gotten enough people to take some key roles, I guess asking around for help would do me better… making an all star team on day one is impossible after all…"
Rexford's plan was to build a team of talents who he could train and leave to do everything after. Unfortunately, entertainment was not an industry that was "thriving" in this weird medieval/steampunk world.
People were more inclined to take jobs that had stability, few people dared to go deep into the arts.
While some may practice with the lute, dance or song in their free time, few would use such abilities or talents as a means for earning an income.
No matter how advanced this world looked like, it was after all, a world that was devoid of the internet.
A beautiful woman can't just open a modelling platform, sign up and post photos waiting for men to throw money at them.
Such methods of entertainment always involve physical contact and the place to earn a living through these jobs go by the term "brothel".
In the modern day age of Earth, Physical Contact was a steeply priced commodity, especially if a person carried with them fame.
But in this world, fame did little more than bring in more customers.
Artists also are unfortunate in that travelling bards almost always end up performing for free. Orchestra's are always under the employ of a noble and those who could illustrate are only called upon when someone wishes to have a portrait of themselves to display in their homes.
In the modern era, entertainment is one of the easiest markets to enter, yet also the hardest to thrive in. Competition was steep but success was not as impossible as it was in his current world.
Most importantly… The war had just ended.
Wars brought nothing but destruction, even after the Empire was able to regain its borders and broker peace, the decimated land and the loss of life left the economy in shambles.
If that weren't enough, industries that relied on the money from war had started to shut down. Workers who made a living in these industries lost jobs and despite the bright facade in the capital, Rexford was well aware of the grim darkness that surrounded the lands.
Fathers and brothers lost during war, orphans who have no place to go to and the victims of the madness carried by the soldiers who had to endure the years of conflict.
The wounds had yet to heal, they were far from being scars, clotted and sealed, the wounds may not be bleeding but a small scratch and it would start to flood with blood once more.
Rexford was not stupid enough to think that he could bring the country out of the depression it was in through one show.
But it was the only thing he could do.
The rich and powerful clung tightly to their wealth and influence, they never truly gave it all up during the way.
Life was exchanged for power, power that they took under the pretense of "order".
Now, the leaders were still busy dividing up the gains from the recent conflict.
Management of the lands was done by their subordinates while they spent hours on end debating each other in the palace.
Because of such a situation, the number of auditioners who were not among the population of "women chasing after the third prince" was quite sizable.
These talents, to Rexford, were a treasure, one that he would clean up and present to the world.
But for now, they were still diamonds in the rough and before they could show off their talents, he still had to deal with other matters…
"Filming locations…"
…
Rexford headed for the library, the new hires were all sent to Rexford's protected village. A small piece of land at the outskirts of the capital.
Populated by people who Rexford befriended throughout the years, the people of the village could be called "Rexford Loyalists".
They weren't knights nor were they influential nobles, just a rag tag bunch of people who Rexford befriended and helped. The village focused on farming and other small time works, there were even brothels and special houses from which "The Prince's Women" stayed.
Normally, men would have gotten jealous of the prince but Rexford did not act pompous nor did he force any of the women.
He treated them equally and sometimes, like any man, the prince made mistakes and when he did, he owned up to it.
That said, many were still jealous of him, that feeling would still come up every once in a while but when they recalled how the prince dealt with all his mistakes, the jealousy the men felt would just vanish.
After all, most of the men in the world, even some nobles would pretend that "nothing happened", some would even go as far as to threaten others.
Yet the Prince, even if he slept with a woman by mistake, would go on to "take responsibility".
It was an act only a prince of the empire could do but the fact that he did it was the reason why few could come to hate Rexford.
In a world where abuse of authority and strict class segregation was enforced, an Imperial Prince who begs for forgiveness from a commoner was a breath of fresh air that few would want to change.
The people were more worried that hating the prince would change his kind nature than anything else.
Of course, such a custom was strange to the traveling bards and actors who were led to the place by Anne.
"What a hedonistic prince"
A woman with a pair of black wings sprouting from her lower back muttered as she was introduced to the houses of the "Prince's Women".
While others eyes sparkled with desire, this woman's eyes instead showed a look of utter disgust. This look did not pass Anne as she focused on her and answered.
"That is why we love him, but I do hope you don't show such blatant despite before the Master"
"Oh? Are you one of his women? I guess loyalty is rewarded huh? Is it in money? Or is it in bed?"
The woman did not show any fear or hesitance as she responded to Anne, yet the dark skinned maid only let out a sigh-
"The prince hates it when people push themselves onto him, instead, he loves chasing after those that despite him. So it would be best for you to hide your feelings lest you catch his eye"
"Tsk… not only a hedonist but also a womanizer"
"Oh? That does not apply to women only though"
"Ha? He swings both ways?"
"Unfortunately, not, but he does like the idea of befriending people who dislike him. Apparently, he hates people who chase after his authority and money so he chases after those that looks past that, unfortunately many of those who he approached ended up falling for him, except the men, they ended up becoming "blood brothers" with the prince"
"..."
The woman with black wings could only stare blankly, unable to fully understand what Anne had just said.
"You seem interesting, I am Anne, the Third Prince's secretary and head maid of his palace"
Anne extended her hand after she introduced herself.
"Marie Von Shulz, Averian - Succubus, just a measly wandering bard"
The woman introduced herself while shaking Anne's hand.
"Oh don't say that! The Master has chosen you amongst the many musicians that took the stage today, the master had set quite the high bar for his selection. The fact that you were chosen is not only an indication of your ability but also your latent potential… or so the master has explained to me"
"Latent potential… Does the prince know how to play music?"
"Nope, not a single song or instrument"
"..."
Marie felt her head suddenly explode, her blood was boiling but she kept it all in.
"I see, it seems the third prince is quite a talent himself"
"Indeed! Everything that is within this village and everything that is to come had been planned by the prince! All in order to chase after his dreams!"
"What dream?"
"Only he knows~"
Anne answered with a wink but Marie nearly socked her in the face, fortunately she had experience with unbearable people.
A wandering bard does not only see various sights and experience different worlds. They also deal with many different people and Marie, as beautiful as she is, has attracted one to many gazes all throughout her travels.
It was not rare for men to try and take advantage of her, which was one of the reasons why she has quite the outstanding level of combat ability despite her small and petite frame.
Yet such experiences and strength also twisted her own sense of values.
'Was it a good idea getting involved in this mess?'
She thought while worrying about her future but when she felt the weight of her pockets-
'The end of the war should have given me more opportunities but all I end up doing is playing for free in taverns… damn it'
Ideals and reality are always different and Marie, despite her reservations for this job she had been lucky enough to get, had no other choice but to stick things through.