Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Assassination - [1]
The sound of the keys rang out exceptionally clear.
My left hand kept drawing gentle waves without pause, while the melody from my right hand fell like petals atop them.
Old albums... or faded photos of smiling faces from the past.
Memories that seemed like they would shatter if grasped floated through the air on the waves of the melody.
Rozina stared blankly at Aiman's performance. With every press of his fingers on the keys, a soft emerald glow emanated outward.
Not passionate music. Soft music. Empty, clear notes that evoked memories filled the workshop.
'...'
Rozina could feel the music pushing at her back.
Most of it was blame and reproach... but woven in was a faint, warm, and encouraging touch.
-You can start over. At your own pace, on your own path...
Rozina felt as if she heard a hallucinated whisper like that.
The sticky emotions of inferiority, jealousy, and defeat that had filled her chest began to melt away in the light.
Emptiness in that space. And what filled it was the emotion of fear.
Yet coexisting faintly was an exhilarating courage that said starting over was fine.
'Good...'
A smile spread across Rozina's lips for the first time in ages.
It wasn't a fake laugh; it was the smile of a girl who had set down her burdens.
Meanwhile, Haruna was smiling for an entirely different reason.
'Yeah. This is...'
She clenched her fist tightly.
'This is my skill.'
Not amplifying the sound, but adding visual effects.
Making the sound spread grandly in line with Aiman's intent...
That glowing melody was a collaborative masterpiece of Aiman's talent and her own craftsmanship...
The final notes were incredibly gentle. The fingers of his right hand softly pressed four keys in an arpeggio pattern.
Light orbs that filled the workshop adorned the finale.
"Ah..."
Rozina spaced out as the light scattered like fireflies and slowly faded away.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I rose from my seat with a satisfied smile.
"How was it? This level should be..."
My words didn't finish. before I could savor that surge of emotion, a small shadow shot toward me like a cannonball from the corner of my vision.
"Aiman! That was insane! For real!"
It was Haruna. She suddenly went berserk and charged at me—I couldn't dodge.
"You fucking...!"
A dull thud echoed as my body staggered. Her arms wrapped around my waist, her face burying into my chest.
For a moment, a strange sensation hit me. The ample, soft feel through her work clothes.
And then.
Crack.
"Gah! Fuck."
My ribs screamed. The air in my lungs was forced out.
"Crazy... air... you bastard—."
To survive, I desperately tapped her back! Graaaah!!!
Of course, Haruna showed no sign of letting go.
"Did you hear it? See it? That glow! Wow, I made it, but isn't it totally nuts? I'm a genius, right?"
"Y-Yeah, genius. Totally, so please... let go..."
By the time my face turned blue, I mustered my last strength to shove her shoulders away.
Only then did Haruna reluctantly release her arms.
"I win, right?"
"I don't know what you won, but sure, you win. Do whatever..."
Wait, wasn't Haruna supposed to be weak for a dwarf?
Is the average dwarf strength really that insane?
Even the weak ones are that strong? Scary race...
She snorted triumphantly, while I knelt, gasping for breath.
"Yeah, Haruna, you're the best. ...Nearly died. For real."
"Right? I'm the best? But it's not over yet."
Haruna ignored my agony completely and dashed back to the piano, inspecting every nook and cranny.
"The parts need time to settle in. Mana flow has to stabilize too. In about three days, I'll come to your place to check it again. Play it gently in the meantime and note anything weird. Gotta make sure."
"Three days?"
"Yeah. Don't manhandle it till then—treat it nice. Got it?"
"Sure, thanks."
I patted my chest in relief. Survived at least. Good.
Shopping done, repairs done. Time to head home.
"Alright, shall we move it?"
Haruna rolled up her sleeves. She placed her hands under the piano and gave a light grunt—heavy grand piano floated up like a feather.
Every time I see magic like that, I wanna learn it. Wahhh... wanna be a baby mage...
"Let's go!"
Haruna led the way, dragging the floating piano like a balloon. Rozina and I followed.
The Bellua family's carriage was waiting, as expected... but Rozina waved them off, and they all backed away.
Not even following from afar. They straight-up vanished...?
'She didn't send them back to the family, did she?'
No way. Anyway, lost in such silly thoughts as we walked, by the time we reached my rundown house on the capital's outskirts, dusk had fallen.
"This the place?"
Haruna deftly maneuvered the piano inside and set it perfectly in its original spot.
"Perfect."
She dusted off her hands.
"I'm off then! Got backlog orders to handle—super busy. See you in three days."
"Yeah, take care."
Haruna waved without looking back and vanished. Rozina standing beside me might as well not exist.
"Finally... time to rest..."
"Yes. Good work, Aiman."
"?"
"?"
I stared at Rozina. She stared back.
Our eyes met, and a staring contest began.
Rozina won—I spoke first.
"Not going?"
"Pardon?"
"Not heading back?"
"Pardon?"
"Back to your family."
"Pardon?"
Rozina tilted her head in confusion at my words, and I could only mirror her expression.
Staring contest round two. I won this time—Rozina spoke first.
"I'm your maid for the week, Aiman."
"Pardon?"
Now I was the dumbfounded one. Maid? Okay, got it. Acknowledged.
But what does that have to do with not going back to her family? Reading my confusion, Rozina kindly explained.
"A maid stays by her master's side to attend him. Serving until he retires to bed, greeting him first thing in the morning."
"... "
"So naturally... I stay here. With you, Aiman. For the week."
I could only gape at her words. Is this girl nuts?
"Hold on, Lady Rozina. Just one thing to confirm."
"Yes, speak."
"Don't you have a fiancé? Someone befitting your station."
Rozina froze. Did she seriously forget? Nah...
"Ah, of course. But it's fine. Anyway, I don't like that jerk... sorry. He's full of himself."
"I'm not fine with it. A fiancé worthy of you must be nobility, right?"
"...I see what you mean."
Rozina nodded at my words, pondering for a moment.
'Yeah, go home. It's awkward.'
Surprisingly, her response exceeded my expectations.
"But I can't go."
"?"
"Well, it's an order from someone much, much higher up... and besides."
Rozina glanced around before continuing. Summarizing her story:
She was moved by my piano piece. Wants to chase her dreams. Start over...
But marriage would end that. So, using this maid gig as an excuse to break it off.
"Sigh... Lady Rozina. What's your fiancé's name?"
"Lucian."
"Got it. Lucian. If that happens, he'll probably try to kill me later."
Rozina went straight for the kill in response.
"A beauty like me serving as your maid? He can handle that much, right? Plus, tomorrow I have to get clothes tailored for you..."
I was purely impressed. Her self-esteem is maxed out.
Before the piano piece, she was all hunched over, but now it's a 180?
And another thought: Is she actually plotting to assassinate me?
How else would she act like this?
'Not some thick-headed villainess from a romance novel.'
Just sighs. As I shook my head, a visitor arrived at the house.
"I'll go check!"
"I'll go."
Rozina perked up like she was proving her worth, but I felt instantly drained.
Opening the door revealed the Red Beard dwarf. I tilted my head—first time seeing him. What's up?
"What... brings you here?"
"You Aiman?"
"Yes."
I nodded. Red Beard glanced at Rozina behind me and flinched.
His face suddenly reddened? Or was he angry?
The dwarf tried approaching me, but before I could react, the envelope in my pocket... slipped out on its own.
"??"
"??"
Both I and Red Beard were stunned, unable to follow.
The envelope flapped on its own, floating through the air, then suddenly... flew at the dwarf!
Whoosh—!
Incredibly, the envelope grazed his neck. Blood began trickling from Red Beard's throat.
"Holy shit."