Chapter 44
In the end,
I borrowed the room used by Diana and one of the maids temporarily.
We had a spare bed, so I swapped it out.
I felt sorry for the two of them, but accommodating guests takes priority.
“It’s okay! I can sleep in the stable!”
“There’s no need for that.”
I offered the room I used as a study and sheet music storage.
“Wow… It’s really dark in here.”
Diana’s words, whether in admiration or shock, were uncertain.
‘It is a bit dark.’
I did it on purpose.
It’s troublesome if the paper deteriorates.
Even the south-facing windows are half-covered, so no moonlight comes in now.
Humidity control is done with charcoal.
If light is needed, use candles.
“It might be inconvenient, but please bear with it for a day.”
“No problem at all! It’s really comfortable! But, young master…”
As I was about to leave after guiding them, Diana caught my arm.
“May I look at the sheet music here… just a little bit?”
She seemed curious.
Ah, I don’t usually show these to just anyone.
“Feel free to look. Just make sure to keep everything organized.”
“T-thank you so much!”
Diana is a musician, after all.
She’s still at the aspirant level, but this is the time when her interest in music is at its peak.
The inspiration received at such times is the most important.
Originally, Erdi and I had transcribed over dozens of classical pieces from Earth into sheet music.
I played the piano, and he wrote them down.
Most of them are still unreleased.
“Wow… How many times does the time signature change in this piece? And so many key changes…”
I glanced at the sheet music she picked.
‘Ah, I see.’
I instantly understood why she was so surprised.
It was Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody.
A piece that requires a high level of technical skill.
Even I found it too difficult, so it’s still incomplete.
When it will be revealed is uncertain.
If I can’t complete it, it might just stay hidden in storage forever.
“Be careful not to let the candle touch the paper.”
“Yes, sir!”
I gave Diana a stern reminder and left the room.
Another servant was assigned to guide Iolin, so there was no need for me to check on her.
I know when to step back.
“Hooo…”
I’m tired.
I should go back to my room and rest.
That thought crossed my mind briefly before fading away.
“Sir! How was the banquet?”
Aria came running toward me.
“Don’t run inside the manor.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
Anyway.
I couldn’t let a child’s excitement go unanswered, so I briefly recounted the events of the banquet.
“Wow…”
Aria’s eyes sparkled.
“I want to attend a banquet too…”
She kept muttering to herself, as if the mere thought was entertaining.
“What does deer meat taste like?”
“It’s quite wild.”
It’s tough and has a strong gamey taste.
“What about Count Seneca? Is she pretty?”
“Yes… she’s pretty…”
“Can I go to the academy too?”
“For now, you’ll have to wait until you’re older.”
She kept asking one unpredictable question after another.
Why is she so curious about everything?
Well.
Considering it’s Aria, it’s understandable.
She spent her whole life in an orphanage.
Though “whole life” would be less than half of mine.
I can imagine how curious she must be about the outside world.
“At the next banquet, you can come along too, Aria. I’ll take you with me.”
“Yay! I’m so excited!”
She raised both her arms in joy.
It’s not as fun as it sounds, though.
Noble banquets are more of political gatherings than parties.
‘I don’t need to tell her that.’
I’m just a little worried she might be disappointed when she actually attends one.
At that moment.
“Let’s practice! Practice!”
“…Practice what?”
“Banquet practice!”
Banquet practice?
“What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, come on, sir! You know… in case I attend a banquet in the future, I need to practice… right?”
She probably just wants to play right now.
She has a way of phrasing it cleverly.
But I get it.
Honestly, it’s been on my mind too.
It’s rare for commoners to be invited to a count’s banquet.
Even if my father is the host, and they are my long-time companions.
At first, I considered inviting even Edward, but he declined himself.
“It would be an overwhelming honour for me. I’ll celebrate quietly from behind the scenes.”
He seemed uncomfortable attending alone without the others.
He’s more thoughtful than I expected.
In that case.
It might be a good idea to host a banquet just among ourselves, where we can relax and enjoy.
“Aria.”
I called her.
“Yes!”
“Let’s do it. Banquet practice.”
***
I asked Diana to prepare some simple food.
It wasn’t anything grand.
Just a few snacks.
Then, I called Edward and Erdi to move the piano to the banquet hall.
Finally.
“Count?”
It’s late, so she might already be asleep.
That’s what I thought, but—
“Yes!”
Iolin opened the door as if she had been waiting for me.
“I’m planning to hold a small banquet downstairs. Would you like to join us?”
“Sure!”
Her response was immediate.
Good.
There were only three tables.
Setting up a chandelier felt like too much, so I just lit a few candles to illuminate the area, which made it quite dim.
“The atmosphere is amazing.”
I couldn’t help but say that out loud.
“Hehe, I like it.”
But Aria seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself.
Well,
As long as you’re happy.
“Erdi, play us a piece.”
“Me, sir?”
“Yes, I’m taking song requests now.”
I ignored Erdi’s puzzled expression and appointed myself as the host.
At the same time, Aria raised her hand high and shouted.
I knew she’d be the first to respond.
“Me! Please play Canon!”
Erdi sat down at the piano with an awkward smile.
“Well then, I’ll play a piece.”
Soon, a graceful melody flowed from his fingertips.
He’s always impressive, no matter when I listen.
I savoured the music while picking at the fruits on the plate.
“May I… make a request as well?”
This time, it was Iolin.
“Of course.”
“I’d like to hear the piece you performed recently at the Capital Theatre…”
She meant Forever, Again and Again.
Since she was in the south, she probably didn’t get the chance to attend the concert.
“In that case, I should be the one to play.”
I joined Aria at the piano.
After switching places with Erdi, I took a seat.
“You remember the lyrics, right?”
“Of course! I sang it today too!”
She’s always prepared.
We started playing right away.
Her warm, fresh voice filled the small banquet hall.
Aria even began conducting the air with her hands.
Her body seemed to move on its own.
She looked much more natural here than she ever did on stage.
‘People are most comfortable when they’re at ease.’
The banquet continued until late at night.
Erdi and I took turns playing the piano.
Partway through, Theo joined us, holding some strange-looking food.
“It’s a fish pie made with our family’s recipe.”
“Ha…”
It tasted good.
That was the surprising part.
Toward the end, Diana said she wanted to try playing, so I gave her my spot.
She chose Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.
Lately, I’ve been teaching her new music, but she seems attached to the first song she ever learned.
Speaking of which.
‘She’s improved a lot.’
Her left-hand arpeggios were smooth, and she seemed to have mastered the technique of embellishing the melody with a variety of notes.
It was quite pleasant to listen to.
As soon as her performance ended, applause broke out.
“Wow!”
“I never knew Diana could play so well.”
Erdi seemed genuinely surprised.
“You’d better step up your game. She might catch up to you soon.”
“Well, you taught her personally, sir… As expected of you. At this rate, you could become a professor at the academy instead of just a student, couldn’t you?”
Is he even listening to me?
“Becoming a professor isn’t something just anyone can do.”
“But there’s no pianist better than you in the Empire, is there? Who could possibly teach you anything?”
Well, he’s got a point.
I’ll think about that later.
I was starting to feel sleepy.
“Let’s wrap this up.”
I felt bad about waking the servants, so I took care of the cleanup and washing up myself.
I sent the four guests staying at the manor back to their rooms, then stepped outside to see Edward and Erdi off.
“It was a great time.”
“Take care on your way home.”
It’s cold.
Winter must be coming.
I’d better hurry inside and rest.
***
“The production of the affordable piano should be possible soon.”
After receiving Edward’s message, I went to the theatre.
“Professor Brosia has finally done it.”
“He’s sent over a prototype.”
“Let’s take a look.”
I opened the box.
Its shape hadn’t changed much.
A long rectangle with 88 keys.
The keystroke feels slightly heavier than before.
“How much is the production cost?”
“Eight gold coins. We plan to set the retail price between ten to fifteen gold coins each.”
“That’s reasonable.”
Although it’s priced in gold coins,
It’s still far cheaper than a grand piano.
Even commoners could afford one with a bit of saving.
“Please have them produce as many as they can and send them all over.”
“Understood.”
The popularization of musical instruments following the spread of music.
It’s just the beginning.
—
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