Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Für Elise - [3]
"I'll buy you."
The moment I heard that bombshell from the crazy woman, my brain froze.
'What the hell is with this girl? Scary.'
No matter how I looked at her, she wasn't some ordinary noble lady. Her eyes were way too dangerous. They gleamed with possessiveness that went beyond pure passion.
Those were the eyes of a collector. Like a mad scientist spotting a rare insect specimen and reaching for the tweezers?
"Uh, what do you mean by..."
The instant I tried to back away, a chill sliced through the darkness.
"Ria."
A low, calm voice rang out suddenly, heavy as a lump of iron. It was like a massive glacier had appeared right in front of me.
I hadn't even realized this woman was there. What the hell was that? Magic?
'By the way... Ria. So that's her name.'
The woman who emerged from the shadows grabbed Ria's shoulder.
"Mind your manners."
Just those few words. But the pressure in them was no joke.
"Ah, ow! Anna, that hurts!"
"Be quiet."
The woman called Anna swept her cold gaze over me.
It was a look devoid of any emotion, like grading livestock being dragged to the slaughterhouse.
Fucking terrifying.
I had a rough idea now. The purple-eyed girl in front (Ria), acting all wild despite her fancy clothes. She screamed spoiled youngest daughter of a rich family who knew nothing of the world.
On the other hand, the one who appeared from behind (Anna). Plain attire, but those restrained movements and overwhelming charisma.
Classic fantasy novel cliché. The real power's always behind the scenes.
Those purple eyes were probably just a front—a maid as a windbreaker or a naive little sister—and Anna here was the one actually running the family, some high-ranking powerhouse. No doubt.
I switched gears immediately. You bow to the real deal. I bent at a perfect ninety degrees toward Anna.
"S-Sorry! I didn't notice the real lady in charge because I'm so clueless!"
Anna's eyebrow twitched slightly at my bow. Too much?
Fortunately, she said nothing and just reached into her bosom.
Ting.
A crisp metallic sound. What her thumb flicked into the air was a gleaming golden object.
I reflexively shot out both hands and caught it. A heavy, thrilling weight settled in my palm.
A gold coin. A top-grade one, too, stamped clearly with the Imperial Mint's mark.
"Your music wasn't bad. This is your pay."
Anna tossed it out casually. Nice... this was it. This was nobility.
While the spoiled one up front spouted nonsense like "I'll buy you," this lady wrapped it up neatly with hard cash. The epitome of noble class, right?
"Thank you! Thank you, miss! It's an honor!"
I bowed so low I nearly rolled on the floor. Just one piano piece for this? Insanely efficient!
"Let's go."
Anna turned away like that was that. She then grabbed the nape of Ria, who was still eyeing me with lingering regret.
"No more causing a scene."
"Ah, no! Anna! Wait! I haven't finished talking to him yet... Mmph!"
"Quiet."
Anna's hand clamped over Ria's mouth. Despite being dragged along by Anna's iron grip, Ria desperately reached out toward me.
Her eyes were pitiful.
'I'll come back later! Wait for me!'
That's what her eyes seemed to say, but I pretended not to notice. Sorry, but the one paying is the boss.
You ain't the real deal...
Ting.
The workshop door opened, and the two women vanished. Silence returned to the space the storm had swept through.
"Phew..."
Only then did the tension drain from me, nearly making me collapse. My legs were shaking. Performing for nobles, chatting with them...
The biggest crisis and opportunity of my life. A gold coin. A gold coin... Overwhelming.
I opened my palm, where the imprint still lingered. The lustrous gold illuminated the dim workshop.
'What the hell's she doing?'
I approached Haruna, who stood there blankly, rooted to the spot without moving a muscle since earlier.
"Haruna. Take this. Final payment."
I held out the gold coin.
"It's gold, so no rush on change. Or we can call it even for the next tuning."
But Haruna didn't even glance at it. Where'd that dwarf obsession with gold go? Totally indifferent.
Instead, she lunged and grabbed my waist. Probably meant to grab my collar, but the height difference made it my waist.
Then she looked up at me. The moment our eyes met, chills raced down my spine.
'Why's her gaze like that?'
Like an artist witnessing inspiration that shatters their limits... something like that?
"I don't need money..."
Haruna muttered low.
"Uh... but you still need materials cost, right? You worked hard making this."
"I said I don't need it!"
Why's she yelling all of a sudden? Whatever, Haruna just gripped my clothes tighter.
"Instead, promise me."
"Promise what?"
"Next time too."
Haruna's eyes blazed.
"Next time you play, call me. I want to hear my creation weep... If you don't... I don't know what I'll do."
Her gaze flicked to the piano in the corner, then back to me.
"That child is mine. Sure, you gave it a voice... but still, take responsibility. You have to."
'Responsibility? That's a weird way to put it.'
And "my creation"? Technically, I did the design, and you just assembled it.
So isn't it mine? I paid for it, too.
But saying "You're just the contractor?" right now would probably get my head smashed with that hammer.
Whatever, I was gonna let her hear it anyway. She was the only one in this world who could tune and maintain pianos.
"Okay, got it. I promise. I'll call you when I play."
Haruna finally released my clothes, seemingly satisfied. Her eyes remained fixed on the piano.
Like a stalker in love.
Hmm. Haruna's not right in the head either. Tree-hugger? Nah, she's female, so tree-clinger?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Clatter, clatter.
A lavish imperial carriage engraved with intricate patterns tore through the darkness. Inside, Anna's voice echoed.
"Your Highness. Were you trying to get your identity exposed back there? And what was that? 'I'll buy him'? What is this, human trafficking? You need to uphold the princess's dignity."
Anna's lecture barrage continued.
"Bringing a commoner man—someone of unknown origins, no less—into the palace? Are you sane? His Majesty would clutch his neck and faint if he knew."
Elise pouted and stared out the window. But she was listening. It was all spot-on; no arguing back.
"But... it was just so good..."
Elise mumbled her excuse in a tiny voice.
"Do you buy everything you like? Stop acting like you know nothing of the world. What do you think would've happened if I hadn't stepped in? Can you even imagine?"
"Urgh..."
Elise let Anna's scolding go in one ear and out the other as she recalled the melody Aiman had played.
That clear striking sound lingering in her ears, his fingers dancing over the keys. Even his faint smile.
Even mid-anger, Elise found herself grinning.
"But Anna."
Elise narrowed her eyes at Anna, who flinched.
"Be honest. You liked it too, right? I saw your face back there."
"..."
"You hate music. At banquets, you doze off the second the harp starts. But earlier? You didn't even breathe."
Anna averted her eyes before answering.
"...I won't deny it. It was excellent."
The highest praise Anna could give. Elise's face bloomed like a flower at her words.
"Right? Right? See, I was right?"
Elise latched onto Anna's arm.
"So we're going together next time too. Got it? Yeah? Anna sis."
"Your Highness, even if we grew up together, don't call me sis outside..."
"Say yes, and I won't."
Anna let out a deep sigh. Who could rein in this tomboy princess? And honestly, she wanted to hear that sound again too.
The tones of that instrument called a piano. The music from that man, playing melodies never heard before.
"...Understood. But no more charging in like an idiot."
"Hehe, got it! Next time too, same deal. I'm Ria. You're Anna. Okay? Refuse, and I'll make it an order. You're a noble, right? It'll be fun, yeah?"
"Haa..."
"What if he just spends that gold coin like normal? You put a notification spell on it, right?"
"As if. Who spends a noble's gold coin carelessly? And just in case, I marked it with mana so we can track it."
"Yeah, figured. Hope next time comes soon."
Anna sighed deeply at Elise's childish antics.
Since Elise and Anna were milk sisters, Anna had long known she couldn't win against Elise's stubbornness.
And so, Anna sighed deeply once more.