Chapter 17
Capital Orphanage.
It was a time when everyone was asleep.
In the quiet darkness, Aria stirred and got up.
Carefully, she opened the window.
Sitting by the bedside and waiting quietly, a melody soon began to flow in.
It started low and soft at first.
Then it gradually transformed into a colourful and rich performance.
Aria, who had been abandoned at the orphanage since birth, rarely had the chance to hear piano music.
The only time she’d heard it was when she’d watched from afar during the departure ceremony.
Even so, it didn’t feel unfamiliar.
Instead, it was warm and made her feel good.
Images of her hometown and her parents’ faces, which she couldn’t even remember, floated by like a mirage and then disappeared.
‘What kind of music is this?’
Lately, the same piece had been echoing from different places every night.
It was probably the sound of rich noble children living in the capital practicing their piano.
Aria enjoyed that moment.
And then, just like that—
The music would stop.
An emptiness would settle in as if it had never been there.
‘I want to listen more.’
As the streetlights outside turned off one by one, and the complete dawn arrived, Aria could not fall asleep easily.
The next day—
“Director!”
She went to find the monastery director who had visited the orphanage early in the morning.
“What’s the matter, Aria?”
“There’s a sound outside every night!”
“Is that so? It seems we need to soundproof the place again. Did it disturb your sleep?”
“No! That’s not it!”
Aria spun her arms around as if trying to whine.
“A piano! I can hear a piano! It goes like this…”
Aria began to hum the melody she heard last night.
“Dun, da-da-da, da-da~”
“Hmm?”
“It went something like that…”
Joel, the monastery director, patted Aria on the head.
The sight of the little girl imitating the piano sound seemed quite adorable to him.
“Dun! Da-da-da! Da-da-da-da…? Oh, is this not it…?”
At first, he couldn’t tell what piece it was, but listening to her hum for a while, he started to recognize it.
Canon.
It was definitely a piece with that name.
Lately, Canon had been echoing from every noble estate with a piano all day long. There was no way he wouldn’t know it.
“Aria, it seems you really like it.”
Well, she’s always been interested in music.
He’d thought she only liked songs.
“I want to listen to more piano, Director.”
What should he do about this?
A piano was an expensive instrument.
It made sense for nobles with plenty of money, but it was too much for an orphanage.
Recently, some families had even reduced their donations, leading to meals becoming sparse.
Spending such a large sum during times like these would only make him a villain in the eyes of the children.
Not that he even had the money to begin with.
‘Taking her to the theatre is out of the question.’
With that money, he could buy warm bread and soup for the children several times over.
‘This is difficult.’
For commoners who had to prioritize survival, luxuries meant something else entirely.
Enjoying culture and leisure—
That itself was a luxury.
“Director, please.”
But it wasn’t that he didn’t understand Aria’s feelings.
When had this child ever been so persistent?
That music must have truly resonated with her.
Even if life was harsh, one could still dream.
“I won’t eat! I’ll even take a bath only once a week!”
“It’s alright.”
Somehow, Joel felt like Aria would actually follow through on her words, so he quickly waved his hands in denial.
“Make sure to eat well. I’ll find a way.”
With a face full of worry, Joel left the orphanage.
There was something stuck in the small mailbox beside the entrance.
It looked like a bundle of paper.
‘There’s no one who would send a letter here, though?’
Carefully, he pulled it out and turned over the cover.
Inside, written in elegant cursive script, was a signature.
Anton Tilburg.
It was a sheet music book.
The name Anton Tilburg was one Joel was well familiar with.
A famous performer with the favour of the Imperial Family.
It’s said that even the most prominent nobles line up to attend his solo recitals.
He was the one who performed at the celebration stage during the knights’ departure ceremony, and it was also him who debuted the Canon that Aria hummed earlier.
Rumour has it that, just as his name commands respect, the price of his sheet music is equally substantial.
It must have been sent as a Donation.
“Aria will love this.”
Not all donations to the orphanage come in the form of food or daily necessities.
Sometimes, generous patrons would send toys or books, and these items would draw far more attention from the children.
He had been wondering what to give Aria since there were no suitable toys, and though he couldn’t play the piano for her, having the sheet music might bring some comfort.
“Wait a moment.”
Should he take this opportunity to make a request?
If someone could donate something like this to the orphanage, maybe they would understand his situation as well.
Joel turned around and headed to the theatre.
***
“This is Joel Valois, the head of the orphanage.”
Edward greeted him.
It was the first time the two men had met face-to-face.
“Sorry for coming on such short notice. Could I speak with Master Anton Tilburg?”
Though Joel was the head of a monastery, and not of low status himself, he maintained a deferential posture and spoke politely, as he was the one making a request.
“We actually have a meeting scheduled with the young master today to discuss the sheet music sales. Please wait for a moment.”
Edward guided Joel to a room.
It was a lounge that served as both a reception and waiting room for performers behind the stage.
The space exuded a vintage atmosphere.
There was a wooden table and chairs for tea on one side, and an unknown artist’s portrait hung on the wall.
Bookshelves full of books and sheet music lined another wall.
‘Aria would have fainted if she saw this.’
Soon, someone walked into the room.
***
“An Orphanage?”
“Yes, it’s under the monastery’s management.”
Edward had come to the theatre to have a meeting, but a stranger was seated on the sofa.
His name was Joel Valois.
The orphanage he mentioned was one I was familiar with.
I had sent them sheet music as a donation before.
It seems he came after seeing it.
“I apologize if I sent something useless to the children.”
“No, not at all,” Joel replied.
“We have a child at the orphanage who loves music. It will be a wonderful gift for her.”
This was good news to hear.
“We even took her to see the performance at the departure ceremony.”
“Did she like it?”
“Well, she’s not the type to express her feelings openly.”
How honest of him.
The Great Gate of Kiev might indeed be a bit difficult for children to enjoy.
It’s more of a morale booster than a piece meant for enjoyment.
Music more suited for children would be lively, simple pieces like nursery rhymes.
“Perhaps I should compose something for children soon.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to ask of you.”
Joel leaned in, catching onto my mutterings immediately.
“Your Canon piece, to be exact.”
“Yes?”
“It’s become incredibly popular in the capital. One of the children at the orphanage happened to hear it being played.”
Joel’s explanation was straightforward.
No matter how popular a piece of music is, commoners don’t often get a chance to listen to it.
The most they could do is listen closely when the sound of practice drifts from a noble’s estate.
Even if one is curious and wants to hear it properly, that desire only intensifies when they can’t.
He was absolutely right.
Even with sheet music, without a piano, it would be useless.
It was nothing more than a shiny souvenir.
I understood perfectly what Joel meant.
“Could you invite the children from the orphanage to the theatre?”
Joel asked cautiously.
There was no need to hesitate.
If someone liked music,
If I could make even one more person enjoy music,
then the path a performer must take is already set.
“Edward! Let’s get ready!”
“Yes!”
***
From early morning, the children were led out onto the streets.
“Wow.”
“It’s a carriage!”
“Director! Where are we going?”
“Hold hands, please.”
The children, who had never left the orphanage their entire lives, were seeing the outside world for the first time. Their excitement was palpable as they turned their heads left and right, unable to contain their curiosity, their cheeks flushed red.
Aria was no exception.
She stayed close to Joel, hopping along in rhythm as they walked.
The place they eventually arrived at was a theatre located not far from the orphanage.
“Wow, it’s huge.”
As soon as they entered through the grand entrance, Edward welcomed them.
“You all must have had a tiring journey.”
He was holding small bags in both hands.
“Here! Take one each!”
The children accepted the bags, smiling brightly and bowing their heads.
“Thank you!”
Inside, there were delicious-looking snacks, clearly visible at first glance.
“They’re thinly sliced and seasoned dried bread. Quite a delicacy.”
“But isn’t eating inside a theatre prohibited?”
Joel asked in surprise, and Edward shook his head.
“The young master doesn’t concern himself with such rules.”
Feeling slightly bewildered, Joel was led to their seats.
It was a VIP section, the kind that would normally be almost impossible to reserve, located right at the front.
“Aren’t there other guests? We’d be fine just watching from the back.”
“That won’t do.”
Joel had made the request himself, but he felt rather embarrassed to receive such exceptional treatment.
“Director! Look! There’s a piano!”
But all of Joel’s worries melted away with Aria’s words.
If he could bring joy to the children, that was enough.
Soon, a man stepped onto the stage.
—
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