Chapter 45
“What is this?”
People passing through the streets of the Capital stopped in their tracks.
In front of the theatre.
“It looks like a piano?”
“A piano? Isn’t it just something that mimics a piano?”
“Well, it’s a theatre, after all. It wouldn’t hurt to have at least a piano decoration.”
“Haha! You’re right! It makes sense.”
At that moment.
Edward stepped out from the entrance and addressed everyone.
“This isn’t just a decoration; it’s a product that reproduces the piano. We’ve named it the Affordable Piano. It was made in collaboration with Sir Anton and the Academy.”
“Affordable…!”
“Anton…!”
“The Academy…!”
Everyone expressed their awe, staring at the piano displayed in front of the theatre.
Each had their own reason to be surprised.
“Does that mean this can produce sound?”
“How much does it cost?”
In response to the crowd’s questions, Edward continued his explanation.
“It’s slightly different from a traditional grand piano, but it reproduces the sound perfectly. The price is ten gold coins each.”
“Ten gold coins!”
Until now, the only piano available in the Empire was priced at a staggering 200 gold coins.
The product Edward introduced was twenty times cheaper than that.
It would be strange if people weren’t shocked.
The ones most interested, of course, were the commoners.
“Can we buy one too?”
They pushed through the crowd, eager to ask questions.
“When will it be available for sale?”
“Are you accepting reservations?”
To every question, Edward had only one response.
He simply nodded.
***
The Affordable Piano.
A replica of the expensive piano, designed to maintain its key features while being more budget-friendly.
This product, created based on the theory of the Jubel, which records sound and plays it back with the press of a button, received an enthusiastic response—enough that the initial 200 units sold out in an instant.
Its buyers ranged from nobles who couldn’t quite afford a grand piano to commoners who had been saving up their emergency funds.
The money earned from these sales was reinvested into Professor Brosia.
We made money selling the Affordable Piano and used that money to produce more Affordable Pianos.
What was that called again?
Capital circulation?
Perpetual motion?
Anyway.
We also released a beginner’s textbook along with it, just in time.
A comprehensive guide that made learning music theory and techniques easy and enjoyable, even for people encountering the piano for the first time.
It sold like hotcakes, as if to reward the hard work Erdi and I had put into it.
This time, there was no recommendation from Elize or signature from a performer.
The content alone made it a bestseller.
Moreover.
“The Academy ordered 10,000 copies of this?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes?”
Wait.
There aren’t even 10,000 students there.
I have no idea why they bought so many, but that’s not my concern.
If they want it, I’ll sell it.
It’s common knowledge that textbooks and guides bring in the most profit when distributed to academies or schools.
Thanks to that, we made more money than we’d ever imagined before.
With this much, even the Imperial Palace might be able to afford one.
The thought made my lips itch.
“Edward.”
“Yes?”
“With this much, the Imperial Palace could… No, never mind.”
I held back.
It’s best to avoid making statements that could cause misunderstandings.
Anyway.
I was so happy that I almost said something silly.
Of course.
It wasn’t just because we made a lot of money.
The primary customers of the Affordable Piano were commoners.
Just a year ago, they were distant from the noble culture of music.
But thanks to the Jubel, they could now feel the emotions of listeners.
And with the popularization of musical instruments, they had begun to embrace playing as a new hobby.
The first goal I had set was already achieved.
‘Let’s spread music to as many people as possible.’
After a long journey, we finally arrived here.
So, it wasn’t strange to feel emotional about it.
‘Good.’
Let’s keep moving forward smoothly.
Thinking that, I signed the confirmation order for an additional 1,000 units of the Affordable Piano.
***
Western part of the Empire.
A quiet estate a little distance from the Capital.
Baron Ebner had noticed that there were more requests from the residents lately.
Moreover, the content was always the same.
“They want to buy a piano?”
He couldn’t understand it.
A piano, isn’t that an expensive item?
In reality, it wasn’t his concern what the residents bought.
As long as it wasn’t dangerous.
But, following the law requiring a tax on goods brought in from outside, he had to conduct inspections like this.
But a piano?
No matter how much their lives had improved recently, could they really afford to buy a piano so easily?
Even I wouldn’t dare to think of buying one myself.
“Hey, Jeffrey.”
He called for his steward.
“How can so many people afford to buy a piano?”
“They might be referring to the Affordable Piano that Sir Anton Tilburg developed.”
“Affordable Piano?”
“I hear it’s much more reasonably priced compared to traditional ones. About ten gold coins…”
“What!”
Ten gold coins!
It wasn’t exactly cheap, but considering it was a piano, it was incredibly affordable.
“Is it really a piano? Isn’t it just something that mimics the shape?”
“I’ve heard rumours that it replicates the sound perfectly too. They collaborated with the Academy…”
“Get one right away!”
Not long after.
A box arrived at his mansion.
When he opened it, he found a piano inside.
Though slightly smaller, it had everything from keys to pedals.
It was accurately reproduced down to the details.
“It’s real.”
In truth, he couldn’t play the piano.
Yet, the reason he ordered it through his steward was simple.
Before approving the requests of his subjects, he wanted to see the actual product with his own eyes.
“It looks safe, and it works well.”
He thought it was definitely suitable.
He gathered all the petitions that had piled up on the table.
One by one, he stamped them with his seal.
And soon after,
Dozens of pianos began to be delivered to the Baron Ebner’s territory.
“Here, use this to practice. It’s a textbook I bought from the Capital.”
“Wow.”
The father smiled contentedly at the sight of his delighted daughter.
“Um, could you get me a piano for my birthday?”
“Of course!”
Even the old man nodded with a kindly expression in response to his grandson’s request.
Now, commoners began to have such conversations without hesitation.
Every conversation seemed to mention someone’s name.
“I never thought I’d live to see the day when I could buy a piano for my grandson.”
“Indeed. It’s all thanks to Sir Anton.”
Anton Tilburg.
Was he an artist who led the popularization of music?
Such a description alone was insufficient.
“I heard Seamus’s daughter will be performing at the territory’s festival this time.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
He was a great figure who planted new dreams in the hearts of children.
The two old men thought that perhaps the world he had created might lead to an entirely different era.
***
Imperial Palace.
“Oh ho… Oh ho…”
A young girl sat in front of the piano set up in the banquet hall.
Elize Flovitz.
In her hand was a beginner’s piano textbook released by Anton.
Tempted by the claim that even those who had never played before could easily learn, she bought it.
‘With just this, I too could be like the performer…!’
People who love music fall into two categories.
Those who enjoy listening.
And those who, after listening, reach out to play themselves.
For the latter, just listening isn’t enough.
Lately, Elize faced a similar dilemma.
‘Just listening has gotten boring…’
If only she could play herself.
Wouldn’t it be more fun?
Right then, she heard that Anton’s beginner sheet music had been released.
She couldn’t resist buying it.
She turned the first page.
It described the correct posture and wrist angle.
It also covered how to press the pedals and the ideal position of fingers on the keys.
With accompanying illustrations, it was easy to follow.
She turned each page, practicing slowly.
‘It’s… It’s fun…!’
She never realized it while just listening, but the thought of creating the sound herself was quite enjoyable.
Even though she hadn’t reached the point of playing full pieces yet.
Soon, she reached the harmony section.
She pressed three keys with her left hand.
‘Oh!’
The sound was incredibly pleasing to hear.
Just pressing the harmony produced such a beautiful sound.
After that, she continued exploring.
Following the curriculum outlined in the textbook, she practiced various techniques.
Before she knew it, three hours had passed.
“Aren’t you going to eat, sister…?”
Until Therese, who had come looking for her, found her, Elize couldn’t bring herself to leave the piano.
“Therese! This is so much fun!”
“Oh.”
“Wanna hear?”
“No…”
“I’ll play for you! Sit here!”
“Okay.”
Therese found herself stuck once again.
Elize immediately started playing a few harmonies and melodies.
It was a very simple harmony and a very simple melody.
‘What is this?’
A question popped into Therese’s mind.
‘Is this even music?’
It wasn’t unreasonable for her to think that.
What Elize was playing was just a four-bar exercise sheet.
A section designed to teach how to read notes and keep time.
“How is it?”
“Well… um…”
Therese honestly didn’t quite understand, but she didn’t want to disappoint her sister.
It’s hard to burst someone’s bubble, especially when they’re so excited.
“I-It sounds good.”
“Right? What if someone asks me to play at the theatre? Hehe.”
Therese chose to stop responding.
—
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