Chapter 40
Aria’s performance ended successfully.
Forever, again and again.
Of course, not everything ran like clockwork.
The moment when the audience hesitated and expressed confusion right after the song ended…
Her mouth went dry, and her heart raced.
She even felt a chill; that says it all.
She thought it might still be too early for such a culture.
Excessive shock therapy sometimes leads to backfires.
However.
Very fortunately.
The situation turned around dramatically.
No one could stop the flow of fate.
It was Elize who broke the uncomfortable silence.
Thanks to her starting the standing ovation, the atmosphere in the audience completely changed.
Cheers surged in like a wave.
Everyone released the emotions they had been holding back and showered the stage with praise.
It was the moment when a song, once the plaything of commoners, was truly embraced as the culture of the Empire.
She could never forget the expression on Aria’s face at that moment.
Perhaps it was even brighter than when she invited them to the theatre to hear the canon.
A few more performances followed smoothly.
Aria’s fame skyrocketed in an instant.
“They say an incredible talent has appeared at Lunemoon.”
“I even got an autograph already.”
“What!”
I overheard such conversations on the streets a few times.
I never imagined it would come this far.
‘Who would have thought I’d create an idol in another world.’
Of course.
She seemed unaware of that herself.
“Where are we going, sir?”
“To the theatre.”
“Are we singing again today?”
“I hope you do. If you do well, I’ll allow you to visit the market with Diana in the evening.”
Naturally, I also planned to give her some gold coins.
As pocket money.
“Pick out new clothes and buy some snacks too.”
“Wow! Thank you so much!”
Anyway.
After finishing the performance, the next step was clear.
Jubel release.
The goal was to spread Aria’s hit song, “Forever, Again and Again,” throughout the capital and the provinces.
Thanks to the Academy developing sound duplication magic, everything could be completed with just a single recording.
It was very simple.
Moreover, the artifact itself was refined, making mass production possible.
When supply increases, prices fall.
Strictly speaking, I had no obligation to do this since I had a monopoly on the market.
But considering the original purpose of the Jubel, this was the right way.
Production costs had dropped.
So, there was no reason not to sell it at a lower price.
So that more people could enjoy it.
We produced 5,000 units first.
Sold out.
Then another 5,000 units.
Sold out.
“Sir.”
“Yes.”
“We’re making so much money. It’s a bit scary.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean, Edward.”
Though I couldn’t entirely disagree with his sentiment.
I had never seen over a thousand gold coins piled up in this other world.
But this time, I did.
All thanks to Aria.
There was no reason to delay any longer.
“Aria.”
“Yes.”
“I would like to officially become your guardian. Under the name of the Tilburg family. Will you allow it?”
In truth, regardless of the outcome, I intended to take responsibility for her until the end.
But saying it and making it official are different matters.
For the latter, a formal contract through paperwork was necessary.
It required legal procedures and the approval of relevant institutions.
It was a social declaration that the Tilburg family would take responsibility for Aria’s education and overall well-being.
Not merely for her upbringing.
The goal was to nurture her into an artist.
In a way, it was akin to the modern entertainment industry.
Discovering talented individuals, providing them with wings to soar, and supporting them without reservation.
It was mutually beneficial.
Of course, this was not something I could decide alone.
Aria’s consent was needed first.
“Take your time to think it over and give me your answer.”
“I like it!”
I thought she might take some time to consider.
But she accepted the offer as if she had been waiting for it.
I rushed to report the situation to my father that very day.
“You want to become the guardian of an orphan girl? And under the family name?”
“She is an exceptionally talented child.”
I handed my father the Jubel.
I pressed the button to play the music.
In the corner of my heart… still singing…
“Oh…”
“What do you think?”
My father, unusually at a loss for words.
He hesitated for a long time.
“The blend of her singing and the music is very pleasing. Where is the contract?”
“Pardon?”
“The contract! Draft the contract immediately! If another family tries to snatch this precious asset…”
“I won’t let her slip away!”
It all proceeded swiftly.
***
I gave one of the spare rooms in the manor to Aria.
After a thorough cleaning, I brought in some new furniture.
A bed and a table.
I laid a carpet on the floor.
‘She did say the orphanage didn’t have proper heating, right?’
So, I added a brazier as well.
“Wow… it’s so warm.”
Of course, that wasn’t all.
I gathered various types of Jubels and displayed them by the window.
This way, she could listen to music whenever she wanted.
It would also help with her singing practice.
The interior decor was a bonus.
Good.
Just as I finished tidying up and was about to leave, Aria tugged at my sleeve from behind.
“Mister.”
“Hmm?”
“Um… I’m really happy to have a family.”
Her eyes were glistening with moisture.
Family, huh.
I suppose she could see it that way.
I looked down at Aria, momentarily at a loss for words.
That small being was now under my protection.
Suddenly, the weight of that responsibility felt immense.
However.
Perhaps it might not be so bad after all.
This is my way of repaying her for the courage she showed for everyone.
“Yeah. You can think of us as family.”
“Thank you!”
I closed the door and left the room.
Then, I paused for a moment.
I turned my head slightly.
Aria was reaching out toward the Jubels placed by the window.
Very carefully.
But with a look of eager anticipation in her eyes.
The sight was so heartwarming that I couldn’t help but smile.
***
After a week filled with ups and downs.
Peace finally arrived.
For the first time in a while, the original three gathered at the theatre.
Edward and Erdi.
“Let’s begin the meeting.”
It was time to climb to the next step.
So much had happened during that time.
It was hard to wrap my head around all of it.
We had travelled around the provinces, holding concerts.
We commercialized Jubel, the first-ever record in this other world.
I started giving piano lessons to Diana.
We spread the art of singing, with Aria at the forefront, and officially appointed her as a ward.
In the meantime, our family’s title was elevated, and I was given responsibilities over our estate’s affairs as a bonus.
I have no intention of resting.
We’re experts at rowing while the tide is high.
“You first, sir, if you have any suggestions.”
“I do have some thoughts.”
Two, in fact.
The first is the release of practice sheet music for beginners.
Think of it like Bayer or Czerny from reality.
**T/n: Bayer and Czerny refer to methods or collections of exercises for learning and practicing piano, often used by beginners and intermediate players.**
While teaching Diana, I realized that there are many gaps in the piano education of this world.
It’s not easy to teach the basics with the instructional materials available in the market.
‘Once again, my apologies to Victor Kosolin.’
What we need is a manual that can convey techniques clearly, step by step.
In other words, I plan to create beginner sheet music that incorporates all the insights I gained from my lessons with Diana.
With a focus more on technique than music, drawing on knowledge from my previous life.
However.
There is a problem that needs to be resolved before this can be truly effective.
“There will certainly be some interest, but the demand might be limited.”
Edward pointed out.
A precise observation.
Let’s consider the piano itself.
One key feature, it’s expensive.
It’s an unattainable price for commoners, and even for nobles, they would have to think long and hard before making such a purchase.
And that’s not the end of it.
Let’s say I managed to sell sheet music to a household that owns a piano.
Among them, there would be those who don’t need beginner materials.
Judging by the skills of those who participated in the music competition, it’s easy to infer.
Like Erdi or the Duke of Montella.
They all possessed above-average technique.
They probably learned through self-study.
In short, they don’t need to learn the basics.
To distribute beginner-focused instructional materials, there needs to be a consistent influx of newcomers.
Otherwise, it’s meaningless.
It’s different from when we released sheet music for Moment Musical or Canon.
Those were, if you think about it, more like gifts for those who appreciate it.
Or held the meaning of a souvenir.
Beginner materials, however, are far more practical in nature.
The more people interested, the better; a wider market is necessary.
Edward is pointing out exactly that.
However.
“There is one more thing.”
I had two plans from the start.
The first was the production of beginner manuals.
And the other is.
“Let’s create an affordable piano.”
“…Pardon?”
Inspired by Professor Jubel Brosia’s invention, the Jubel.
It made me realize something.
An artifact that stores sound and plays it back with the press of a button.
‘Couldn’t I tweak this into something like a digital piano?’
Of course, it would require some research, but it didn’t seem impossible.
Just replicate the buttons in the form of keys.
Align the artifacts accordingly and assign the appropriate sounds to them…
‘That’s basically a synthesizer, isn’t it?’
Coincidentally, the refinement of the Jubel is progressing actively, and the theory is solid enough to allow for mass production.
Plus, thanks to the revenue from “Forever, Again and Again” released with Aria, we have sufficient funds.
The limited edition with voice messages applied the gacha system and sold like crazy.
We are still producing additional stock even now.
Anyway.
This new type of piano could be sold at a much lower price than the existing ones.
“The goal is to make it affordable enough that even commoners can buy it with a bit of savings, removing as much extra cost as possible.”
“It’s a good idea, but it will require significant effort.”
“There’s no need to replicate a piano perfectly. That would erase its unique value.”
This is, after all, a budget model.
If there’s a piano that costs 50 million won, there should be one for 100,000 won too.
We are aiming for the latter.
If it succeeds, it won’t just popularize music but the instrument itself.
Then, we can distribute the beginner’s manual that we have prepared.
It’s a perfect plan.
Just as we were about to wrap up the meeting.
Edward spoke up.
“Do you think we’ll face opposition from the nobles again this time?”
“No. You don’t need to worry about that.”
Music is no longer a culture exclusive to the upper class.
We made it that way.
From public concerts to provincial tours.
Moreover.
Just look at how popular “Forever, Again and Again” is in the capital right now.
And it’s sung by a commoner, Aria.
It even received the acknowledgment of Crown Princess Elize.
Even if some refuse to accept it until the end.
‘What are they going to do about it?’
They pose no threat.
Therefore.
“We proceed with the schedule as planned.”
—
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