Chapter 32
The academy entrance.
The headmaster, Duke Montella, and Victor Kosolin.
Oscar didn’t come, saying he had an appointment.
It seems the daily life of the student representative is quite busy.
“It’s a shame that you’re leaving so soon.”
The headmaster reached out for a handshake.
“I’m sure we’ll meet again soon.”
Very soon, in fact.
In just a few months, I’ll meet the conditions for admission to the academy myself.
“Take care.”
I exchanged farewells with Duke Montella as well.
Come to think of it, I should have checked how much the Duke’s musical skills have improved.
‘I missed my chance!’
But there was no helping it.
I was quite busy myself.
“I wonder if I’ll reach the capital first, or if you’ll come to the academy sooner.”
“Haha.”
Victor Kosolin added one last comment.
Now that I think about it.
If I come to the academy, I’ll be a student, while he remains a professor.
I wonder if he’ll still call me “Teacher” then.
We’ll see.
“I wish you all the best!”
I waved out the window after boarding the carriage.
I had only been here for a short time, but I already felt attached.
It felt strange.
The academy.
It was a good place.
There were many good people, and the food was delicious.
“It’s really over, huh.”
Edward, seated across from me, spoke.
“Yeah, it is.”
It had been a long journey.
Now we were heading back to where we came from.
After successfully completing the provincial tour.
Memories from that time resurfaced like a movie in my mind.
The County of Seneca and the small village in the countryside.
The Margraviate of Rosley, and even Ibelon.
It’s something I’ll never forget.
I leaned into the swaying carriage.
A cool breeze blew in.
Days went by like that.
And weeks.
Finally, we arrived in the capital, the home we had longed for.
***
A brief reunion with Theo, who came out to greet us.
“Where’s Father?”
“He’s in the drawing room with Count Haverland.”
I was tired, but I should at least show my face.
I headed to the drawing room.
I knocked and entered.
“Anton!”
“We were just talking about you, and here you are!”
It looked like they were in a meeting.
Regardless.
Seeing Father and Count Haverland after so long made me smile naturally.
It finally felt real that I had returned.
“Come, sit! We have something to discuss!”
“…Now? Right away?”
But the joy of our reunion didn’t last long.
“His Majesty the Emperor has decided to elevate our family’s title.”
“Ah.”
“Is there something you haven’t told me?”
I explained everything that had happened to them.
Especially about the incident in Ibelon.
How someone had tried to seize the Margraviate’s port, how I identified and lured out the culprits.
“Are you saying you were at the centre of that plan, Anton?”
“That’s how it turned out.”
Father nodded, as if he finally understood the Emperor’s letter.
He seemed genuinely surprised.
Honestly, I was surprised too.
I already knew that a reward was promised; the prince had assured me of it.
Even knowing that the reward would be a promotion in title wasn’t new information.
However.
‘Count, huh.’
I would have been content with just becoming a Viscount, but it’s two levels higher than that.
I hadn’t expected this.
It seems the prince thought very highly of my actions in Ibelon.
As I was mulling over this, Father smiled beside me.
“This is truly astonishing. Thanks to my son, our family is enjoying unexpected honours.”
Seeing him so happy made me feel good too.
Things moved very quickly.
We were invited to the royal palace for the ceremony, where Father recited the oath on behalf of the family.
The Emperor himself presented a new signet ring with an emblem and a sword.
After the official declaration.
We were granted a new estate.
It was once the County of Periton.
“It’s the land that Sir Periton managed. When they were stripped of their titles for treason against the Empire, it reverted to the Imperial domain.”
Father explained.
Indeed, I remember something like that.
The Periton family.
They had made a desperate effort to disrupt the public concert, eventually ending up imprisoned.
It brought back memories.
“Now, it’s ours.”
“It’s a great responsibility.”
The promotion doesn’t mean we’ll move entirely to a new place.
We’ll continue to live in our original territory while managing the newly granted estate as well.
Julian, my father, no, Julian the Count, was in a heavier position than ever.
Because of that, we made a decision.
Father would reside in the new estate and manage it, while Theo was appointed as the deputy for the original home.
Although he was a hired steward, he had worked for our family for a long time, making him trustworthy enough.
Of course, not all authority was delegated.
“Anton, you should help out as well. It would be good for you to gain some governing experience during this time, wouldn’t it?”
It was a bit bothersome, but it wasn’t something I could refuse.
Being born into a noble family, enjoying all the privileges, it’s only right to bear the responsibilities too.
To think that I’d go from being the eldest son of a humble baron’s family to managing an estate as a count’s proxy.
If this is my fate, then I must accept it.
One must endure the weight of the crown to wear it.
It might sound like a cliché, but there really was no better way to put it.
At least the good thing was that the workload wasn’t excessively burdensome.
Theo, who had helped Father manage the manor back when he was a baron, handled most of the work.
I was more of an assistant to him.
‘Is this really okay?’
Learning knows no hierarchy.
Besides, I had a valid reason to secure enough practice time if I wanted to continue my life as a performer.
It also helped me avoid tedious chores.
Speaking of which.
“Young master.”
Theo called for me.
I had just finished reviewing the tax ledger of the estate residents.
“It’s a list of candidates for the attendant, sent by the Count.”
“Oh, I see.”
I thought he was going to assign me more tasks.
I was sweating for no reason, imagining things that hadn’t happened yet.
I took the document from him.
A list of candidates for the attendant.
Naturally, it was normal for the child of a count’s family to have an attendant.
Until now, Theo had been doing that job.
He had been of great help.
But that was a thing of the past.
In this situation, I couldn’t bring myself to ask him to continue handling my personal affairs.
No, it would be inappropriate.
“Should I conduct the interviews myself?”
“No, it’s fine.”
An attendant.
Is it really necessary?
I’m past the age where I need lessons in etiquette.
Besides, I’m not the type to attend social gatherings frequently.
If I need help at the theatre, Edward and Erdi are there.
When I said that, Theo shook his head.
“Managing an estate while continuing your life as a performer will be very tiring without someone to handle the household affairs. It would also be unbecoming for your status. You are now the eldest son of a count’s family, young master.”
Every word was true.
Another lesson learned today.
I skimmed through the list of names.
Most of them were children of lower-ranking noble families.
I also recognized several names from families that had once served the Periton family.
“None of them particularly stand out to me.”
“Your opinion may change after meeting them in person.”
“Set it aside for now. We’ll revisit it if necessary.”
“Understood.”
“Is there any more work for today?”
“Nothing left. You can rest now.”
Whew.
That was a relief.
I left the house right away and headed for the theatre.
***
“Has Jubel arrived?”
“Perfect timing, you just got here.”
Edward was crouching on the floor, organizing boxes.
There was a mountain of artifacts piled up.
Jubel.
It was a type of recording device I had originally requested from a professor at the academy.
“Does it work well?”
“There are no issues.”
I picked up one of them and placed it in my palm.
Since it’s set to be sold to the public, they seem to have refined the design to look sleeker.
It can record for up to four minutes.
Not bad at all.
For now.
Edward and I sorted through the Jubel devices delivered to the theatre.
Then, we called in Erdi.
We gathered in the waiting room and began our meeting.
“The newly purchased piano arrived yesterday. It just needs to be set up on the stage. Ah! And congratulations on the elevation of your title.”
“Make sure to visit the estate sometime.”
With that, we set aside the small talk.
“We’ve secured about 500 units of the Jubel device.”
“Now the key question is, what pieces will we record to sell?”
It was a tough decision.
It couldn’t be otherwise.
‘What was the most popular piece recently?’
It’s best to follow the trends.
That way, we can boost sales, even if just a little.
“Isn’t it obviously the Canon?”
Edward suggested.
“But wouldn’t The Great Gate of Kiev or the William Tell Overture be better?”
Erdi added.
Both were valid points, making it difficult to openly agree with either.
Maybe I should fill it with a new piece instead?
That might not be a bad idea.
“Actually, with all the estate-related work recently, I’ve been a bit preoccupied. How about temporarily halting the performances and instead releasing a limited run of the Jubel with a new piece recorded on it at the theatre?”
“That’s a great idea.”
A dramatic solution.
Time to choose the repertoire again.
Picking the best from existing pieces is challenging, but presenting an entirely new one is easier.
I had something in mind.
I figured it was about time to reveal it.
“Where is the piano?”
Edward guided us.
It was near the back door, just below the stage.
“Pardon me for a moment.”
I dragged over a small stool and sat down.
To check its condition, I gently pressed the keys.
A harmony flowed from my left hand, while a melody crafted by my right hand layered over it.
With a light touch, I combined staccato and legato.
I gently pressed the pedal so that the lively notes could flow naturally.
Erdi, who was listening intently to the performance, slowly parted his lips.
“…It feels like it expresses a fleeting joy and emptiness in life, a wistful yet elegant melody.”
“Correct.”
A remarkably accurate assessment.
How did he grasp that from just listening to this much?
“Is this a new composition by you, young master? May I ask the title?”
He asked excitedly.
I should answer him.
“Life, or rather… The Carousel of Fate. The title is The Carousel of Fate.”
I just came up with it.
This time, it’s not a classical piece.
It’s a soundtrack from an animated film that was a massive hit in the Korea of my previous life.
I decided to recreate it here.
—
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