Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Dilemma - [3]
“If there's anything you need for your comfort, please call anytime.”
The servant bowed at a perfect ninety degrees and withdrew.
I felt like I'd just been talking to someone, but I couldn't remember who.
Best not to worry about it. Just open the door in front of me.
Click.
The moment I opened the door, warm air and a faint lavender scent washed over me.
A plush Persian carpet covered the floor, and logs crackled in the fireplace against the wall.
This was the room the Bellua Family had provided for my stay, telling me to make myself at home.
Was "lodging" the right word? Guest room? I wasn't sure.
A single figure sat on the plush sofa in the center of the room.
“You're here?”
It was Serika. She glared at me while clutching a cushion to her chest.
Her lips were pursed in a pout, whether from waiting too long or plain boredom.
“You got here faster than I expected. Weren't you with Lady Rozina?”
“It's not like we're only staying one day. I figured I'd take my time looking around.”
My piano had already been set up in one corner of the room.
“Come to think of it, this is our first time in a noble house. Both of us.”
“...Yeah.”
“Who'd have thought this day would come? So, what do you think? I haven't even looked around yet.”
When I asked, Serika glanced around the room.
“Well... it's not bad.”
She tapped the sofa's armrest with her fingers.
“The bed's super soft, and the snacks the maids brought earlier were pretty high-class. The black tea leaves are top-grade too.”
Then she crossed her arms and added haughtily,
“But it's nothing compared to the room waiting for me at the Magic Tower. The mana density there is perfectly optimized. This place just feels like they threw money at it. Not comfortable for a mage. The mana here's so thin, it's hard to breathe.”
Anyone could tell she was puffing up her pride. Like she didn't want to admit Rozina had anything over her.
Serika's gaze followed me.
Or more precisely, she kept looking from me to the piano in the corner and back again.
“You'll wear your eyes out like that.”
I pulled out the piano bench and sat down.
“Shall we get started? My fingers were itching anyway.”
Serika nodded. Her eyes sparkled.
I lifted the keyboard cover. Black and white keys gleamed under the light.
I took a deep breath. Then I looked at Serika.
“Like I said, it's a reminiscence.”
“A reminiscence just between us.”
“Right. That one.”
“The one Rozina doesn't have.”
“...Yeah. That one.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ My fingers glided lightly over the keys.
Ding... ding-ding...
The introduction was light and bouncy. Like children running and playing without a care in the world.
But beneath that cheerfulness lay an indescribable wistfulness.
Serika sank deep into the sofa and closed her eyes.
As the music flowed, fragments of memory surfaced in her mind.
The harsh northern winter winds. The time after their parents passed early, leaving just the two of them in the world.
Even amid hunger and cold, they never let go of each other's hands.
'Brother...'
Snow pouring down endlessly, her own small face laughing as they built a snowman.
The memories of sticking branches in for arms.
Aiman's figure staying by her side all night, clumsily caring for her when she was sick and groaning in pain.
The music caressed each of those emotions one by one.
Times that were sad yet warm, lonely yet not alone.
Da-ra-ra-rang—
As the piece moved into the middle section, the melody grew even more lyrical.
The piano's tones wrapped around her like a warm blanket.
The grueling competitions, the normal girl's life she had to give up.
A gentle music that seemed to soothe it all.
'It's so warm...'
Serika felt a fluffy sensation blooming in her chest. This was real.
Not just pleasant sounds—she could feel Aiman truly thinking of her alone, pouring their shared memories into the performance.
Aiman was immersed in the playing as well. To him, Serika wasn't just a little sister.
It hadn't been one-sided, with only Serika relying on Aiman. He'd leaned on her too.
They had been each other's pillar of support in those young days, one reason to keep going in that unfamiliar world...
Ding...
The final note scattered into the air, a long afterglow filling the room. Aiman slowly lowered his hands.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A brief silence.
Serika kept her eyes closed for a while before slowly lifting her eyelids.
“...You're the best, as always.”
Serika sniffed.
“Brother's piano is kinda cheat-level. Shaking someone's heart like this without even using magic.”
“Did you like it?”
“Yeah. Well... it was good.”
Serika stood and came over to me. She leaned her head on my shoulder.
“But...”
She asked in a low voice.
“You played it for me first, before Rozina, right?”
“...Yeah. I came straight here.”
“Right. I got to hear it first.”
She hugged my arm tight, as if relieved.
But moments later, she lifted her head and stared at me intently. Her eyes turned serious in an instant.
“Brother. I have some advice for you.”
“Your voice sounds grave...”
“It is. Be careful of Rozina.”
Serika glanced around warily, lowering her voice.
“Rozina's a noble too. Nobles are the type who'll do anything for their house. And practically speaking, she's the acting head of the Bellua Family right now.”
“The other Bellua nobles... went on that expedition, right?”
“Yeah. In this territory, her word might as well be absolute power. You need to watch out.”
Hearing Serika say it drove home the realization.
“Watch out for what, exactly?”
Serika was just about to launch into a tirade.
Knock knock knock.
A perfectly timed knock. Serika glared at the door and whispered to me.
“See? Told you to be careful. She shows up the moment you get here.”
I opened the door. There stood a woman like a painting, framed by the soft hallway light.
“Pardon the intrusion, Aiman.”
It was Rozina. She wore a flowing nightgown that looked even more carefully chosen than usual.
Two maids waited behind her, holding a tray with teacups and pastries.
“I took the liberty of preparing some tea and refreshments. You must be feeling peckish.”
Rozina smiled radiantly as she stepped inside.
“Th-thank you. I was just about to take a break.”
Rozina nodded to the maids, who set the refreshments on the table.
Once finished, she gestured for them to leave.
Rozina's gaze swept the room.
The open piano lid. The bench with signs someone had just sat there.
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. She grasped the situation in less than a second.
“Ah...”
She brought a hand to her mouth with a regretful sigh.
“One step too late? You gave your gift to Miss Serika first, I see.”
“Uh... y-yeah. Pretty much.”
Rozina approached me slowly. A rose scent tickled my nose.
“You keep your promises. You said order didn't matter, but seeing you look after family first... it's admirable.”
Praise that felt laced with thorns.
Rozina smiled and met my eyes.
“We must be fair, Aiman.”
Her voice remained soft and gentle.
“You played so intimately for Miss Serika when you two were alone...”
Rozina took another step closer. Rose scent enveloped me.
“So I should receive the same, no?”
“Pardon?”
“Next time... I'll invite you to my room.”
“...!”
“I want to hear a performance just for me, with no interruptions.”
Good thing the maids had already left—they didn't hear that.
“Then, please rest well. The refreshments will get cold.”
Rozina turned gracefully, her dress hem swirling.
I stood there blankly until the door closed behind her.
Serika was equally stunned.
It was that devastating.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Three days passed since then. Life at the Bellua estate was pure luxury.
Every morning, servants brought wash water. The meals were no joke either.
Of course, there were awkward moments. Bath time was the worst.
When young maids offered to attend me, I nearly freaked out.
I couldn't refuse. Turning down their service would be an insult.
It was a glimpse into noble life—comfortable, yet mortifying.
“Baron Aiman, this has piqued your interest.”
Rozina had advised me that, as a baron, I needed to stay informed on imperial affairs.
That's why I was reading the newspaper the butler brought. But I froze midway.
“Brother, what's wrong?”
Serika tilted her head beside me.
The article's contents were jaw-dropping.
📰 Breaking News The distribution network behind mysterious accidents involving illegal curse items among noble houses and merchant guilds has been uncovered. The Imperial Academy's investigation team, tracing forged Dean's pendants, raided an Eastern Merchant Guild branch and seized large quantities of curse tools and accursed objects. Who the hell had the guts to forge the Dean's pendant?
📰 Breaking News The captured ringleader, a woman known as the 'Witch,' vehemently denied the charges and claimed innocence. 📰 Breaking News She insisted her items only bestowed warding charms and that she'd come to the empire solely to hear the rumored piano performance. ???
📰 Breaking News She also demanded to meet Hans, an up-and-coming figure from the Bellua Family's commerce division, and said that if the piano playing was as good as rumored, she might even hand over an elixir.