Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Imperial Palace - [1]
"Then... may I play the piece I'll be teaching you first?"
In response to my words, Ria nodded quietly and stepped back to sit down.
Anna stood behind me like a folding screen, while Haruna watched me with eyes that seemed to waver with some emotion.
'What, am I a statue or something?'
Anna aside, I couldn't figure out why Haruna was being so quiet.
Normally, she would've jumped in without reading the mood.
For now, I steadied my breathing and placed my hands on the keys. The air around us settled into a calm hush.
The afternoon sunlight poured into the glass greenhouse, mingling with the drowsy scent of flowers.
Dong...
My left hand pressed a low note softly, yet deeply.
It was like dropping a single pebble into a deep well...
Then the melody began with my right hand. It was slow. Incredibly slow and simple.
There were no flashy techniques, no grand orchestral backing.
Just a dreamlike melody floating through the empty space, flowing out.
[Gymnopédie No. 1] isn't a piece that fills the space with splendor. Strange as it might sound, it's music that empties the space.
The silence between notes. Perhaps the essence of this piece lies in savoring those gaps.
'...'
It hit me anew, but whenever I played like this, no thoughts came to mind.
Maybe it was a desire to focus solely on this moment? Or a smile naturally emerging from within?
In a world with just the piano and me, I felt a profound peace.
A strange tranquility—lonely yet not desolate, sad yet without tears...
The dreamlike harmonies continued, making my ears ring faintly.
.
.
.
The piece ended. I didn't lift my hands until the final chord fully dissipated into the air.
"Hoo..."
After a brief silence, Ria spoke.
"It's beautiful..."
Her voice sounded entranced, like she was in a dream.
"...It felt like time had stopped."
"That's the charm of this piece."
I stood from the bench and yielded the seat to her.
"Just press the keys as I showed you."
Ria sat on the piano bench with a tense expression.
She straightened the hem of her white dress and carefully placed her hands on the keys.
"Left hand first..."
Dong...
The start wasn't bad. But then.
Tik!
Her fingers tangled during the leap, hitting a wrong black key with a discordant squeak.
The dissonance shattered the greenhouse's silence.
"Ah..."
Ria's face flushed red. She seemed flustered.
"My heart's ahead, but my fingers won't listen..."
I could relate. That's what makes it deceptively simple yet hard. Still, it felt better than my first attempts.
"It's fine. Everyone's like that at first."
I placed my hand on the piano and gazed at its glossy sheen.
"Don't rush. Music... is meant to be taken slow."
Besides, she looked younger than me—plenty of time ahead, right?
"You'll have lots of time from now on. Take it slow, keep at it, and you'll improve."
Ria's hands trembled on the keys. She bowed her head, biting her lip hard.
'???'
Her reaction caught me off guard.
"Um... did I say something wrong?"
When I asked cautiously, Ria looked up with a slightly wistful(?) smile.
"No... yes. You're right."
Ria met my eyes directly, without looking away.
"We do have... a lot of time. So much time."
Was I just dense? I couldn't decipher noble speech at all.
Should I take it literally? That we really have tons of time?
Yet her words carried such emotional weight.
Something felt off in the conversation, but it seemed positive, so that was good, right?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the piano session, we followed Anna's guidance to our lodgings.
"This way."
The imperial palace corridors seemed endless.
Red carpets lined the floors, while portraits of past emperors and masterpieces adorned the walls.
Knight in gleaming armor passed by, as did nobles in splendid dresses fanning themselves.
They whispered as they saw us.
-Isn't that Aiman?
-That musician who toppled the Merchant Guild?
-He looks smaller than I thought. Frail, even.
Their stares stung, making my shoulders hunch involuntarily.
'Wow... me, in a place like this.'
Me, who'd wandered markets, now walking gilded palace halls. It didn't feel real.
'Gotta tell Serika later.'
Speaking of, I wondered what Serika was up to.
With that ancient artifact? It must've boosted her power significantly.
She was already a Mage Tower successor candidate; now it probably sealed the deal.
Who knows. Time to stop escaping reality. Ugh... I'm so tense my stomach's churning.
Haruna looked just as spooked, maybe worse.
Normally she'd gush, "Whoa, that looks expensive!" but now she clung to me like a shadow.
This time, not my sleeve—my fingers.
'Must be really scared.'
I didn't shake her off. Truth be told, I wanted someone to lean on too.
"Here we are. Your guest suites."
Anna opened a massive double door.
"Whoa..."
"Holy..."
The room was bigger than my entire house. Maybe even Haruna's workshop combined.
Chandeliers on the ceiling, leopard-print carpets on the floor, beds beyond king-size.
"Meals will be brought shortly. Please rest comfortably."
Anna bowed politely and left. Soon, servants wheeled in carts of delicacies.
Prime steaks, lobsters, unidentified gourmet dishes filled the table.
'Gonna puke.'
I couldn't taste anything. The overwhelming luxury numbed my tongue with tension.
Haruna just poked at her food. Her eyes stayed on my face, not the meal.
-Why keep staring?
When I asked with my eyes, she didn't answer. Was she challenging me to a staring contest?
To escape reality, I locked eyes with Haruna, who quickly looked away.
My victory!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Night deepened. The palace gardens glittered beyond the window under moonlight.
Fountains and statues sparkled unrealistically beautiful.
Haruna was in the next room.
'Tomorrow... meeting the Imperial Orchestra.'
I sat on the bed, lost in thought. The empire's elite performers, crawling with geniuses like Lucian.
Could I perform without shrinking before them?
'They'll probably test my skills.'
Hmm... Something grander, more epic.
A piece befitting the imperial court's authority, history, and this fantasy world's vibe.
Ria mentioned the Saintess from the Holy Kingdom was a special guest here.
And she'd attend the concert specially. Not sure if I should even know that...
As I spaced out, a tune surfaced in my mind.
[Temple of Time]
Game music. The masterpiece that stirred countless players' hearts, piercing the 'temple' theme.
Capturing past glories, the futility of ceaseless time, and the mystery within.
I stood up. Haruna was probably asleep next door.
(By the way, servants had moved the piano here. I nearly jumped when they bowed to me.)
I approached the piano cautiously.
Its sheen glowed brighter, freshly polished.
Nice.
'Time for a dawn practice.'
This guest suite had top-tier soundproofing magic.
So, no one outside would hear the piano.
Then a random thought: the Saintess from the Holy Kingdom being here.
'What if it pierces the soundproofing?'
Serika once said magic and holy power clash.
Like, my playing breaking through to reach the Saintess with her holy power...?
Hah. Even I think that's nonsense. Ignore it. Humans always imagine the worst.
In my past life—back on Earth—I'd play this piece whenever emotion swelled.
I began performing it now.
Hoping tomorrow flows this peacefully too.
This tune truly calms the heart.