Chapter 7
As soon as I returned to the estate, I sought out my father.
“Anton! Are you all right?”
Next to him stood Count Haverland.
It seems they had been waiting for me all day.
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
“That’s a relief!”
Soon, it was time for dinner, and a modest meal was set on the table.
I briefly explained what had happened at the Imperial Palace.
The two seemed quite surprised but said they were relieved everything went well.
“My son will perform at the celebration stage for the Imperial Knights’ Departure Ceremony hosted by the Imperial Family!”
“That’s wonderful!”
“Thank you!”
After the meal, I went up to my room.
“What should I do now?”
There’s still a long time until the Departure Ceremony.
It would be good to prepare in advance, but there’s no need to push myself too hard right away.
I have hundreds—no, dozens—of classical pieces in my head.
Finding a suitable piece shouldn’t be too difficult.
Practicing, on the other hand, is a different story.
“For now…”
I was more concerned about making up for the cancelled performance today.
Because I had been dragged to the palace by the prince, all the spectators who had gone through the trouble of coming to the theatre had to leave empty-handed.
I put on my outerwear again, which I had taken off earlier, and stepped outside.
I ran into Theo standing at the foot of the stairs.
“Are you going out?”
“If my father asks, tell him I was kidnapped by bandits.”
“I’ll say you’re sleeping.”
***
“I’m sorry about today.”
I met Edward at the theatre.
His face had become noticeably haggard over the past few hours.
“I was too complacent.”
When I said that, Edward roughly waved his hand.
“It was something we were prepared for. I’m just relieved you’re safe.”
“That prince… He turned out to be surprisingly reasonable.”
“…”
“Was it too much?”
“It’s fine. There’s no one here to listen anyway.”
“He seemed like an excellent person.”
Edward laughed.
The reason I came to him wasn’t just for idle talk.
There was something I wanted to propose.
“I plan to reveal my identity soon.”
It’s something I had been considering ever since the Imperial Palace incident.
I refuse to be falsely accused of impersonation any longer.
Besides, there’s a risk that other people might get caught up in this mess.
I heard that even His Highness the Prince received hate mail.
I tried looking into magic that could change my appearance, but apparently, none exist.
There’s magic that can alter one’s voice, but who would even use something like that?
In other words, it’s a dead end.
“That’s a good idea.”
Edward agreed with me.
Was he hoping for this kind of resolution all along?
“So, I have an idea of how to go about it.”
I shared with him the plan I had been formulating in advance.
***
“Extra! Extra!”
A young commoner boy ran through the streets, selling newspapers.
A noble gentleman, annoyed by his constant shouting, handed him a silver coin.
“Give me one!”
“Here you go!”
The boy pulled a newspaper from his bag after receiving the coin.
A huge headline.
As soon as he saw the words, an exclamation escaped his lips.
“No way!”
He quickly grabbed the boy before he could run off again.
“Is this really true?”
“Our newspaper doesn’t print lies.”
At the boy’s words, the nobleman sprang to his feet.
“Extra! Extra!”
Soon, everyone on the street was shouting the same thing, unable to hide their excitement.
“The performer is finally revealing his identity!”
“And look at this! A free concert in the plaza!”
Within less than an hour, the news had spread throughout the Empire.
Finally, it reached the ears of commoners and labourers as well.
A chance to experience the music that had always been exclusive to the nobles and to hear a performance by the most popular musician in the capital.
Everyone shared their excitement and anticipation with one another.
“Can I finally listen to it too?”
“You have no idea how curious I’ve been every time the lord spoke about it!”
Of course, there were a few who criticized the situation.
They complained that revealing such performances to commoners who knew nothing of art was a mistake.
Some argued that the commoners wouldn’t understand it anyway, listing various reasons for their criticism.
The arrogant nobles subtly approached commoners in their territories and asked, as if testing them,
“Do you know the name of the piece Victor Kosolin performed at the Imperial Banquet?”
“…I don’t know.”
I found out about all of this a week before the public concert.
Edward visited my estate and gave me the heads-up.
“Many commoners are upset by the insults from the nobles.”
“…Those damn nobles are always useless. Do they think they’re some kind of gods or something?”
“I agree.”
For once, he agreed with me readily.
The purpose of the public concert was originally to introduce ‘cultural arts’ to those unfamiliar with music.
But those wretched nobles threw a wrench in it again.
Now, many labourers are refusing to attend, saying, “What’s so great about music anyway?”
He’s right.
Why does music have to be such a big deal?
If only nobles can enjoy it, then it can’t be called true culture.
There was a misconception even in my previous life that classical music is a high-class hobby, but that’s not true.
The people who attend concerts aren’t wealthy or tycoons.
They’re just ordinary citizens.
They dress in plain clothes, take their seats, and applaud with ordinary expressions.
They simply love music.
Do you need qualifications to love something?
“It seems I need to step in.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“Edward. I dislike Nobles.”
Though I’m a Noble myself, I still dislike them.
So there’s only one way to go about this.
***
“Extra! Extra!”
A nobleman reading the newspaper sighed deeply.
“This is absurd.”
—Dress Code: ‘Linen Tunic’
“What blasphemy is this!”
***
Nobles attending concerts tend to dress extravagantly.
They usually wear evening gowns made of expensive fabrics and luxurious outerwear like fur coats.
Their accessories are lavish as well.
The ostentation reaches such extremes that you can’t tell who the performer on stage is and who the audience members are.
For them, attending a concert is a high-value pastime.
And since they inevitably have to face lords from various regions of the Empire, it’s only natural that they pay more attention to their appearance than usual.
But.
Commoners don’t have such concerns.
Most of them belong to estates, working as farmers or in craftsmanship trades.
They don’t need flashy or cumbersome clothing.
It just needs to be comfortable and light.
Linen tunics, with their short sleeves and well-fitted form, are one such example.
Nobles do wear tunics too, of course.
They’re quite comfortable, after all.
Of course, the designs and materials differ.
Nobles’ tunics are far more luxurious.
But they would never wear them to a concert.
At least, from what I’ve seen, not once.
How could they show up to a noble gathering wearing the same clothes that commoners use for work?
It’s not appropriate.
Setting the dress code as linen tunics was for that reason.
Clothing reflects a person’s identity.
If commoners and nobles were to wear the same clothing, who would be able to tell them apart?
Who would dare to point fingers at one another?
At least during the concert, I wanted to blur the line that separates them.
One more thing.
Some of the more prideful nobles would reject this dress code outright.
The reason they criticize the public concert is simple.
They dislike the idea of commoners enjoying the same culture as they do.
It’s a sense of superiority.
Those who wish to leave will leave of their own accord.
I can’t openly restrict their attendance, but this method is much more effective.
They dare to mock commoners for lacking musical knowledge?
I can’t tolerate that.
My performances should be something that everyone can equally enjoy.
“Will this be okay?”
Edward asked in a worried voice.
Well, I’m not sure yet.
If nothing happens until the day of the event, then I guess it’s fine.
“Let’s wait and see.”
***
“How could this be allowed!”
“Why must we wear commoners’ clothing at such a prestigious concert? I disapprove of this so-called public concert from the start. I can’t accept this, even if it’s under the Prince’s orders.”
“What!”
The Periton family estate.
Two people were having a conversation.
The head of the family, Count Solla Periton, and his son, Hermann Periton.
“I won’t allow the people from our territory to attend this concert. If they do, I’ll punish them severely.”
“Are you saying you intend to defy the rules set by His Highness the Prince?”
Both viewed Anton’s plan negatively.
However, they still believed that the performer was the prince himself.
After all, they had seen the royal carriage on the street, so they had no doubt.
That made the situation even more problematic.
“Father, you’re aware of it too, aren’t you? The future ruler of the Empire will not be Prince Luhan, but Crown Princess Elize.”
“…Yes, but still…”
“This incident only solidifies it further. You know as well as I do that the two Royals are not on good terms. We must take this opportunity to petition Her Highness, the Crown Princess.”
“What are you planning?”
“We cannot stand by and watch as the dignity of the nobility is trampled. Wearing commoner clothing to a public concert is preposterous.”
Hermann took out a sheet of paper and began to write something.
***
“Oh my.”
Elize’s face twisted as she stared at the golden-embellished letter.
“Therese, can you tell me what this means?”
“It seems to be a pathetic complaint from a foolish noble who doubts Luhan’s legitimacy.”
Even though I don’t get along with Luhan, to blatantly slander my brother like this…
Are they insane?
“So, it’s true after all.”
The nobles still believe that the performer is the prince.
Knowing the truth, Elize found the situation quite amusing.
“Do they really think this is an affront to their noble status?”
“They truly are the worst.”
It seems that the ‘real performer,’ Anton, has decided to hold a free concert in the plaza.
The dress code is a linen tunic—commoner clothing.
Elize quickly grasped the intention behind this.
It’s to share his music and inspire people of various backgrounds, regardless of social status.
If it had been held in a theatre, it might have been different, but this was a public concert.
The setting allowed for more freedom from traditional etiquette.
“His depth of thought is extraordinary.”
I myself was introduced to a new world through Anton’s performance.
In a sense, he was my guide.
If more people could have the same experience as me, Elize fully supported Anton’s view.
But that’s that.
“Who is the sender of this letter?”
“It’s anonymous.”
“I have to find out. This is going too far.”
There was someone just right for the task.
She called for Ainz.
Originally, he was Luhan’s adjutant, but there was no one else she could ask.
Besides, few could match his skill at gathering information within the capital.
He was a master in his field.
Elize handed the letter to Ainz, and soon enough, the news reached Luhan as well.
“Hahaha!”
As soon as he read the contents, he burst into hearty laughter.
“That Anton fellow, he’s bolder than I thought.”
“I was surprised too.”
Not only did Anton plan to spread music, previously exclusive to nobles, to commoners, but he also set the dress code as linen tunics.
Just like Elize, Luhan quickly grasped Anton’s intention.
But that’s that.
He glanced back at the contents of the letter.
“This bastard.”
He had already intended to track down the nobles who carelessly mentioned the Royal Family and hold them accountable for spreading false rumours.
And now, a letter blatantly slandering him arrived at the palace.
Whoever sent it must be out of their mind.
“Those idiots sit holed up in their estates and start to think they’re emperors.”
Instead of being grateful for the leniency of the Royal Family, they try to climb above their station.
While Luhan was satisfied with Anton’s plan, he began contemplating how to deal with this arrogant noble.
It wasn’t a matter that required much thought.
The penalty for slandering the Royal Family is death.
“Bring him in alive. For now.”
Murderous intent flashed in his beast-like eyes.
As Ainz turned to leave with the order, he asked,
“Your Highness, do you plan to attend the public concert?”
“I’m not going. My presence would make everyone too nervous to focus on the performance.”
He then considered.
Elize might decide to go.
—
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