Chapter 231

Adrian Valdemar's face darkened instantly after hearing Sophia Laurent's words.

He gritted his teeth. "Who made that rule? I can do more than just idol dramas. I can handle spy thrillers, fantasy epics—"

His voice trailed off.

In idol dramas, he played minor roles. In spy thrillers, he was cast as sleazy villains. In fantasy epics, he ended up as the comic relief.

Sophia didn't call him out on it.

Instead, she asked, "Have you heard of the drama Empress?"

Adrian froze, then nodded sullenly. "Yeah."

Empress and Imperial Feast were the two hottest productions right now.

He'd secretly asked his agent to reach out to the Empress team. They hadn't even granted him an audition.

Sophia smiled at his dejected expression. "How would you feel about playing the third male lead in Empress?"

Adrian's head snapped up. "What?"

His eyes widened in disbelief.

"The third male lead in Empress?"

He shook his head. "Are you daydreaming?"

Empress was a prestige production. The role of the Young Marquis was complex—a spoiled nobleman who indulged in hedonism until tragedy forced him to grow into a war hero.

The character's dramatic arc demanded serious acting chops.

More importantly, the script specified the actor had to be breathtakingly handsome.

Director Lucas Sheridan had auditioned countless actors without finding the right fit. Fans had even started online polls about it.

"I'm serious," Sophia said. "Your looks are perfect for this role."

Adrian's face was undeniably striking.

But he waved his hands dismissively. "Don't joke about this. I'm not cut out for serious dramas."

He knew his limitations.

Though he'd taken acting classes, he'd never quite grasped the craft.

Playing shallow roles in cheesy romances was one thing. A production like Empress? Unthinkable.