Chapter 19
The coachman Edward had arranged for arrived at the mansion.
There were two carriages in total. One of them resembled a cart with a large compartment for transporting cargo.
The workers, along with the coachman, carefully moved the piano.
“Why is this so heavy?”
As I awkwardly wobbled while trying to lift it, the coachman approached and stopped me.
“Young Master, please leave the instructions to us.”
“Alright.”
The workers were all seasoned professionals.
They gently lifted the piano and secured it onto the cart.
As expected, it was better for everyone if I stayed out of the way.
After all, I need to travel across provinces for the upcoming performances, and getting injured while carrying something heavy would be disastrous.
In any case, that’s how it went.
“We’ve finished, sir.”
“Let’s head out.”
I boarded the passenger carriage and headed to the theatre where Edward was waiting.
He was there with Erdi.
Erdi had decided to take a break from delivering newspapers.
We sat in the narrow seats, discussing the itinerary.
“We’ll be visiting the southern region first.”
“Sounds good.”
Honestly, I had no idea what was there.
Well, I’d find out when we got there.
“I’ve already sent a letter to the lord of the territory. We’ve received a positive response, so there’s no need to worry.”
“When have I ever doubted you, Edward?”
He didn’t respond to that.
Anyway—
I leaned slightly out the window.
A warm breeze blew past.
It was the start of the journey.
***
“Have you heard the news?”
One farmer, who had been hoeing the field, spoke up.
“They say a famous musician from the capital is coming to visit our territory.”
“You’re only finding out now?”
“What!”
“The word’s already spread everywhere.”
It was true.
The news that Anton Tilburg, a musician endorsed by the Imperial Family and admired throughout the Empire, would soon arrive at the southern county had already spread across the entire territory.
There wasn’t a single person who didn’t know.
“Are you planning to attend the concert?”
“Concert? I can’t afford the ticket prices for someone of his stature.”
“I heard that the ticket price is only one silver coin.”
“Is that true!”
The farmers chatted in excited voices.
Far away from the fields, in a large mansion—
The Lord of the County, Count Lolin Seneca, sat alone in his office, deep in thought as he twirled his pen.
“Hmmm…”
There was good news and bad news.
The good news was that Anton Tilburg was visiting his territory.
Even Iolin knew that name.
He had never attended any of the performances.
The Seneca County was extremely far from the capital.
Even with a full day’s ride on a carriage, it would take over a week to reach.
But he had heard the rumours.
After all, even a remote territory wasn’t completely isolated from the world.
Moreover—
The letter sent by the man named Edward, who arranged this visit.
Iolin brushed his fingers over the neatly placed pile of papers on the table.
Along with the letter, a collection of sheet music was enclosed.
Upon opening it, he noticed it even bore a recommendation from Crown Princess Elize.
‘If Her Highness has acknowledged him, he must be a truly distinguished figure.’
It was only fitting to prepare a grand banquet to welcome him.
That would certainly be something to look forward to.
But he couldn’t simply be delighted.
‘Can I really handle this properly?’
Lately, the atmosphere in the territory had been rather chaotic.
There was a reason for it.
Iolin Seneca—
She was someone far removed from the word “Lord.”
Initially, her brother, Wolverton, was supposed to inherit the title and lead the family and territory, but things had gone awry.
“I will go on an inspection trip.”
With those words, Wolverton left the house and never returned.
He passed away in an unfortunate accident.
A sudden typhoon claimed his life.
Their father, Count Colin, was already old and frail.
He needed to appoint a successor as soon as possible, so he passed on the title to his only remaining blood relative, Iolin.
It was an unexpected succession.
Lolin was inexperienced in many areas.
Although the people of the territory were supportive of her, Viscount Paube and some other nobles, who were former vassals of the late count, looked down on her in subtle ways.
“Can she even handle the responsibilities of a lord?”
“It would have been better to appoint a regent instead.”
She endured the daily insults and distrustful gazes.
It wasn’t entirely wrong.
Her strength was indeed lacking and insignificant for uniting and defending a remote territory of the Empire.
And amidst this situation, the news of Anton Tilburg’s visit to her territory reached her ears.
This would be the first event she hosted as a lord.
Good news and bad news intertwined.
Lolin’s brows furrowed.
In the worst-case scenario, she had to successfully welcome the guests and conclude the concert without any issues.
‘A chance and a crisis at the same time.’
If successful, it might slightly change the attitude of the nobles.
But if she failed, it would be the end.
If she couldn’t even manage a single concert properly, how could she govern the territory?
It would only prove that she was unfit for the position.
‘Can I really do this?’
There was no need to think about it.
The question itself was wrong.
‘I have to do it well.’
For the sake of the people of the territory, I must.
Lolin clenched her fists and left the mansion.
She summoned the servants and workers.
“A distinguished guest is on their way. Welcome them with the utmost courtesy.”
***
“Did that really happen?”
On the way to Seneca County.
Edward briefly explained the situation.
It seemed the current lord of that territory was a girl named Lolin, who had to inherit the title after the death of her brother.
It was a heartbreaking story.
She had to shoulder a heavy responsibility all of a sudden.
On top of that, she’s receiving baseless criticism from the neighbouring nobles.
How typical of them.
Instead of helping, they just heap insults.
The pressure she must be feeling was obvious, even without witnessing it firsthand.
While listening to the story, a thought crossed my mind.
“Edward.”
“Yes?”
“Is that why we’re heading to the southern region?”
“In fact, there’s another reason. The late Lord Colin, her father, was a passionate patron of our theatre during his lifetime. He even travelled from afar to visit us in person.”
Edward’s lips tightened after saying that.
It seemed he was recalling old memories.
‘I see.’
Now I understood.
I had been wondering how to plan the first provincial concert.
Thanks to Edward’s story, I now had a clearer direction.
While honouring the memory of Lord Colin, I should prepare a piece to console Lolin.
“Erdi.”
He handed me the sheet music from his bag.
It was one of the many pieces I had created over time.
‘I think I had it somewhere here.’
Found it.
It was a piece I attempted when I felt my skills were improving significantly.
Franz Liszt’s Liebesträume No. 3.
**T/n (1/2): Liebesträume No. 3 by Franz Liszt is a romantic piano piece known for its expressive melody and emotional depth. Part of the Liebesträume (“Dreams of Love”) series, this composition is characterized by its lyrical and sentimental style, often evoking themes of love and longing. It remains one of Liszt’s most beloved works.**
**T/n (2/2): Franz Liszt (1811–1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor. Known for his innovative compositions and extraordinary piano skills, he played a key role in the Romantic era of music. Liszt pioneered the symphonic poem and expanded the possibilities of piano technique, leaving a lasting impact on classical music.**
From a technical perspective, it’s not a particularly difficult piece.
Of course, that’s only if you add the condition “for a Liszt composition.”
To perform Liebesträume, it’s essential to master a smooth and flowing legato.
Making sure each note transitions naturally into the next.
Pedalling is especially crucial, and since it’s a lyrical piece, it requires delicate emotional expression at the same time.
‘Why does it seem so difficult when I put it into words?’
Since I practiced enough with Erdi, it should be fine.
“Have you decided?”
“How about this one?”
“It’s good. It’s an emotional and elegant piece, so I’m sure the Count of that territory will like it.”
“I hope so.”
We travelled in the carriage for over a week.
Finally, we arrived at the long-awaited Seneca County.
***
“Thank you for coming such a long way.”
A neatly dressed girl greeted us.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Anton of the Tilburg Family. This is Edward, and this is Erdi.”
“I am Lolin, the head of the Seneca Family.”
“…”
Something feels off.
She barely looks like she’s in her teens, yet she’s calling herself the head of the family, awkwardly exuding a sense of authority.
With her bright orange hair and healthy tan skin, she seemed full of vigour.
‘This is Count Iolin.’
I can’t imagine there being a younger head of a family in the entire Empire.
Even though I’m a guest, my rank is lower than hers.
I knelt down and bowed again with proper courtesy.
Lolin personally led us inside.
“The weather here in the southern region feels quite different.”
Erdi, looking around, remarked on the way to the mansion.
“It’s definitely warmer than the capital.”
The people of this territory are mostly engaged in agriculture, and I can see why.
The high, floating clouds and the clear, blue sky.
“So, this is the South.”
Soon, a picturesque building came into view.
Its exterior was decorated in green and white…
“A Castle?”
It was an imposing fortress that radiated overwhelming presence.
‘Damn, these provincial lords are something else.’
Even the residences of the capital’s nobles were just large square mansions at best.
I’ve only seen a castle this big in movies before. Seeing it in real life is a first.
Anyway.
“Please, allow me to lead the way.”
We went inside.
The grand hall, lavishly decorated, welcomed us.
On the brightly lit table, colourful flowers flaunted their beauty.
Servants and maids lined up in a row bowed deeply as they greeted us.
I was taken aback.
‘Are they really going this far?’
They must have put in a lot of effort.
In situations like this, it’s best to simply express gratitude.
“Your mansion is truly Elegant.”
Lolin smiled, seemingly pleased.
Since there was still some time before dinner, we decided to review the concert schedule first.
We must not forget the purpose of our visit.
We headed to the reception room.
“Did you see the garden in front of the mansion when you arrived?”
Lolin asked.
The garden—yes, I remember seeing it while we were riding in the carriage.
It was a grand and vibrant garden that suited the southern scenery well.
I nodded, and she continued speaking.
“We are arranging that garden to serve as the concert venue. There’s no proper theatre in our territory.”
“That’s fine.”
Indoor concerts are nice, but outdoor ones aren’t bad either.
If I had been picky about such things, I wouldn’t have started a provincial tour in the first place.
“How many residents are there in the territory?”
“There are about 30,000 people in total.”
“Good.”
As we continued chatting and building rapport…
“Countess.”
One of the maids entered and spoke.
“Viscount Paube is here to see you.”
—
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