Chapter 45: The Last Two Seats
A few days later.
Geonwoo was walking down a TS ENM corridor when the casting director approached carrying a file.
“Director, one moment.”
Geonwoo stopped.
“What is it?”
“We received an inquiry about the historian role.”
The casting director handed him the file.
“It’s from Actor Min Jaeha’s side.”
Geonwoo opened the first page.
Familiar works were listed beneath the profile photo.
For the past several years, Min Jaeha had moved between lead roles in movies and dramas.
But farther down his filmography, things looked very different.
Supporting roles.
Minor roles.
Some projects didn’t even list a character name.
He was an actor who had taken a long time to reach his current position.
The producer looked over the file from beside them.
“We didn’t approach him first, right?”
“No.”
“The screenplay reached his agency, and Min Jaeha personally read it.”
The casting director turned the page.
“He said first that he wants the historian role.”
Geonwoo looked up.
“Does he want a meeting?”
“He says an audition is fine too.”
The producer asked again,
“Min Jaeha personally said that?”
“Yes.”
“He heard the director was personally watching actors before making decisions.”
“He said he should be evaluated the same way.”
Geonwoo looked down at the profile again.
The historian.
The man entrusted with the King’s final command who escaped the palace while hiding the royal decree.
Among the four main characters, he moved while carrying the greatest number of secrets.
Being a good actor wasn’t enough.
Even while being chased, the character needed to keep thinking.
His attitude also had to change subtly depending on who stood before him.
“When is he available?”
“The day after tomorrow is the earliest.”
“Let’s see him then.”
The casting director took the file back.
“Understood.”
The producer resumed walking.
“I’m looking forward to Min Jaeha.”
“Me too.”
Geonwoo walked alongside him.
“We’ll know once we see him.”
Two days later.
Min Jaeha arrived ten minutes early.
The door opened and his manager entered first.
Min Jaeha followed.
He carried a screenplay in one hand.
Its corners were slightly worn.
Small notes protruded from between the pages.
Geonwoo stood.
Min Jaeha approached first and held out his hand.
“Hello, Director. I’m Min Jaeha.”
“Baek Geonwoo.”
They shook hands.
After letting go, Min Jaeha looked once at Geonwoo’s face.
“You’re even younger than I expected.”
His manager immediately spoke from behind him.
“Hyung.”
“What?”
“That’s your first thing to say?”
“It was a compliment.”
“Just say you’re happy to meet him.”
Min Jaeha glanced at his manager before looking back at Geonwoo.
“Sorry if that was rude.”
“It’s fine.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Min Jaeha looked around the room.
He checked the camera position and the floor marks.
“I stand here, right?”
“Yes.”
Geonwoo opened the script.
“We’ll start with the scene where the military officer asks to see the old case records.”
“Understood.”
Min Jaeha held his screenplay toward his manager.
The manager didn’t take it.
“You don’t need it?”
“I memorized everything.”
“You said that yesterday too.”
“Today I really did.”
“What’s the first line on the last page?”
Min Jaeha opened his mouth.
He was about to answer.
Then he stopped.
A moment later, he reopened the screenplay and checked the last page.
His manager laughed.
“Hyung!”
“Don’t talk to me.”
The producer lowered his head to hide his reaction.
Geonwoo swallowed a laugh and looked toward the camera.
Min Jaeha finally gave the script to his manager and walked to the marked position.
The expression that had been smiling moments earlier completely settled.
Geonwoo said,
“We’ll begin when you’re ready.”
Min Jaeha gave a short nod.
The reading actor delivered Lee Gyeom’s line.
“I only need to see the records from that day.”
Min Jaeha didn’t answer immediately.
“No.”
“I need to know why my father died.”
Min Jaeha slowly raised his head.
“Knowing won’t change anything.”
“At least I’ll know the reason.”
“You don’t have permission to access those records.”
The reading actor stepped closer.
“A man died.”
Min Jaeha’s lips parted slightly.
His answer came a beat late.
“I know.”
His voice lowered.
“And you still won’t show them to me?”
Min Jaeha looked directly at him.
“No.”
Short.
But not cold.
He understood why the military officer had come this far.
Even so, he had no intention of handing over records he was obligated to protect.
The reading actor continued.
Geonwoo watched Min Jaeha’s eyes.
When the other actor moved, Jaeha didn’t automatically move with him.
He looked first.
Then responded one beat later.
A short while later, the final line ended.
Words appeared before Geonwoo.
[Eye for Casting]
[Role: Historian]
[Candidate Actor: Min Jaeha]
[Compatibility: 95 points]
Geonwoo closed the screenplay.
“That’s enough.”
Min Jaeha’s expression immediately relaxed.
“Already?”
Geonwoo laughed.
“Do you want to do more?”
“I prepared more.”
“I’ve seen enough.”
Min Jaeha carefully studied Geonwoo’s face.
“Is that a good thing?”
“Yes.”
His lips immediately curved upward.
“Then did I get the role?”
The producer laughed.
“You’re asking for the result right away?”
“Why go home and wait for a call when the director is sitting right here?”
Min Jaeha looked at Geonwoo.
“What do you think?”
Geonwoo nodded.
“Let’s work together.”
Min Jaeha immediately stood.
“Thank you.”
He bowed and smiled again.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“So do I.”
His manager bowed beside him.
The producer checked several details needed to proceed with the contract.
Min Jaeha took his screenplay back.
The producer asked,
“I was a little surprised that you were willing to audition personally.”
Min Jaeha turned toward him.
“Why?”
“You’re already at a level where you don’t really need to audition anymore.”
Min Jaeha laughed.
“I’ve done a ridiculous number of auditions.”
“Really?”
“It’s just that I only started passing them not too long ago.”
His manager added,
“He used to visit several auditions every week.”
“Hey.”
“It’s true.”
Min Jaeha glared once at his manager.
“A few years ago, if someone told me to come audition, I went no matter what.”
“There’s no reason for me to suddenly develop some huge ego now.”
He lightly tapped the screenplay.
“If it’s a role I want, and the director says he wants to see me act before casting me, of course I should come audition.”
Geonwoo nodded.
“You made the right choice coming.”
Min Jaeha and his manager greeted them and left.
Watching the door close, the producer leaned back.
“Now only the deposed Crown Prince remains.”
Geonwoo organized the screenplay.
“Yes.”
That afternoon.
The casting director found Geonwoo again.
This time, a tablet was in her hand.
“Director.”
Geonwoo accepted it.
[Nam Giheon, 35]
Famous projects filled the very first page.
Lead roles since his late teens.
Since then, he had maintained his position as a leading actor in both films and dramas with almost no long gaps.
He was the exact opposite of Min Jaeha.
During the years one man traveled from audition to audition, the other had already been a leading actor.
“This is Actor Nam Giheon.”
“Yes.”
“We just received a call from his agency.”
“They said Nam Giheon is very interested in the deposed Crown Prince.”
The producer came closer.
“Is he okay with auditioning too?”
“Yes. I already confirmed that.”
The producer laughed softly.
“We’ve got some good momentum.”
“Yesterday we cast Min Jaeha, and today Nam Giheon contacted us first.”
Geonwoo scrolled through the screen.
“When is he available?”
“Tomorrow at three in the afternoon.”
“Schedule the audition.”
The casting director took back the tablet.
Then, as if remembering something, she added,
“Come to think of it, those two actors know each other.”
Geonwoo looked at her.
“Min Jaeha and Nam Giheon?”
“Yes.”
“They went to the same middle school and high school.”
The producer asked,
“Were they close?”
“I heard they were best friends in middle school.”
The casting director paused.
“But they drifted apart after entering high school.”
“Why?”
The casting director shook her head.
“I don’t know that part either.”
Early the next morning.
Nam Giheon slowly rotated his right arm backward in front of the mirror.
His trainer watched the movement beside him.
“It looks good today.”
“Better than yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“Still, let’s not increase the weight.”
Nam Giheon nodded.
