Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Local Tour, Seneca County (1)
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Edward's hired carriage driver arrived at the mansion.
There were two carriages in total.
One of them was shaped like a wagon with a wide cargo bed.
Together with a few workers, they moved the piano.
"Why is this so heavy?"
As I trembled, holding my arms out awkwardly, the carriage driver came over to stop me.
"Young Master, please just stand by and give us instructions."
"Understood."
The workers were all seasoned professionals.
They carefully lifted the piano and settled it onto the wagon.
Just as I thought.
It was better for everyone if I didn't get involved.
I had to go around the provinces and hold concerts, so if I got injured moving something heavy, it would be a huge problem.
That's all there was to it.
"We're all done."
"Let's get going."
I boarded the passenger carriage and headed for the theater where Edward was.
He was with Erdi.
We had decided to take a break from the newspaper delivery for now.
Sitting in the narrow seats, I listened to the schedule.
"We'll be stopping in the South first."
"The South sounds nice."
Truthfully, I had no idea what was there.
I'd find out once we arrived.
"I've already sent a letter to the lord of that region. I've received a confirmation, so you don't need to worry."
"When have I ever doubted you, Edward?"
He didn't answer.
Anyway.
I poked my head out the window slightly.
A warm breeze blew in.
The journey had begun.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Have you heard the news?"
A farmer, who was swinging a hoe in the field, spoke up.
"I heard a famous performer from the Capital is visiting our territory soon."
"You're just finding out now?"
"What!"
"The rumor's been spreading like wildfire."
It was true.
The news that Anton Tilberg, the performer recognized by the Imperial Family and who had astonished the Empire, would be arriving in the Southern County soon, spread to every corner of the territory day after day.
There wasn't a single person who didn't know.
"Are you going to the concert too?"
"A concert? I don't have the money to afford his name."
"I heard the price of a single ticket is just one silver coin."
"Really?!"
While the farmers were talking in excited voices...
In a large mansion far from the fields...
Aiolin Seneca, the lord holed up in her office, rolling her pen, was growing more and more troubled.
"Hmm..."
There was good news and bad news.
The good news was that Anton Tilberg was visiting her territory.
Aiolin knew that name too.
She had never been to one of his concerts.
Seneca County was very far from the Capital.
It took a whole week by carriage, even if you rode all day.
But she had heard the rumors.
Even if it was a frontier territory, it wasn't completely cut off from the world.
And besides...
This man named Edward, who had arranged this visit, had sent her this.
Aiolin ran her fingertips over the stack of papers neatly arranged on her table.
A music score was enclosed along with the letter.
When she opened it, it contained a recommendation from Crown Princess Elise herself.
'Since Her Highness acknowledged him, he must be a big shot for sure.'
It was proper to prepare a grand banquet to welcome him.
That was certainly a happy occasion.
However, she couldn't just be swept up in excitement.
'Can I do this well?'
Lately, the atmosphere in the territory had been extremely chaotic.
There was a reason for this.
Aiolin Seneca.
She was a person far removed from the word 'lord'.
Originally, her older brother, Wolverton, was supposed to inherit the title and lead the family and territory, but things took a wrong turn.
"I'm going out for a brief inspection."
Wolverton, who had said that and left home, never returned.
He had passed away due to an accident.
A sudden, raging typhoon had taken his life.
Their father, Count Colin, was already old and frail.
He needed to appoint an heir as soon as possible, and he passed the position to Aiolin, his only remaining bloodline.
It was an extremely sudden succession.
Aiolin was inexperienced in many ways.
The territory's people were mostly on her side, but some nobles, like Viscount Paube, who had been the Count's retainers, would subtly look down on her.
"Can she even handle the position of lord?"
"It would have been better to appoint a regent."
She endured their scornful glances of contempt and disbelief, day by day.
They weren't entirely wrong.
Her power was far too weak and insignificant to guard and unite the Empire's frontier.
And in this situation, the news of Anton Tilberg's visit arrived.
Perhaps it was the first event she had to host since becoming lord.
A good thing, and not such a good thing.
Aiolin's brow furrowed.
In the worst-case scenario, she had to welcome the guest safely and bring the concert to a successful close.
'An opportunity, but also a crisis.'
If she succeeded, she might be able to change the attitudes of the nobles, even just a little.
But if she failed, that would be the end.
It would be unbelievable for her to manage the territory if she couldn't even lead a single concert properly.
It would be proof that she was unqualified.
'Can I do this well?'
There was no need to even think about it.
The question itself was wrong.
'I have to do it well.'
For the sake of the territory's people, she absolutely had to.
Soon, Aiolin, her fists clenched tight, left the mansion.
She called for her attendants and workers.
"An important guest is coming. Welcome him with the utmost respect."
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"Is that what happened?"
On the road to Seneca County...
Edward gave a brief explanation of the situation.
The lord there was a girl named Aiolin, who had reluctantly inherited the title after her older brother's death.
It was a heartbreaking story.
To have to shoulder such a heavy responsibility so suddenly.
And on top of that, it seemed she was receiving mindless criticism from the surrounding nobles.
They really were a consistent bunch.
They couldn't be bothered to help, but they were quick to pour on abuse.
Just how much of a burden that must be, I could tell without even seeing it.
As I listened, one question arose.
"Edward."
"Yes."
"Is that why we're heading South?"
"Well, there's one more thing. The former lord of that region, Count Colin, was a fervent patron of our theater in his time. He even visited us personally, despite the distance."
Edward said that and pressed his lips shut.
He seemed to be reminiscing.
'So that's how it is.'
Now I had a general direction.
Truthfully, I had been thinking a lot about how to structure the first regional concert.
Thanks to Edward telling me beforehand, the answer was clear.
I should prepare a tribute piece to commemorate the past and console Aiolin.
"Erdi."
He took a score from his bag and handed it to me.
I had been making and accumulating them from time to time.
'I'm sure there was one like this too.'
Found it.
I felt my skills were gradually improving, so I decided to try a challenging piece.
Franz Liszt, Liebesträume No. 3.
In terms of technique, it's not that difficult a piece.
Of course, that's with the condition "for a Liszt piece."
To perform Liebesträume, you must first master a smooth and flowing legato.
Ensuring the notes connect naturally.
Pedaling is especially important, and since it's a lyrical piece, delicate emotional expression is required at the same time.
'It sounds so difficult when I say it out loud.'
I've practiced enough with Erdi, so it should be fine.
"Have you decided?"
"How about this?"
"It seems like a good choice. It's an emotional and elegant piece, so I'm sure the Count there will be pleased."
"I hope so."
And so, after riding the carriage for over a week...
We arrived at the Seneca County I had dreamed of.
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"Thank you for coming such a long way."
A girl, dressed neatly, welcomed us.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Anton of the Tilberg family. This is Edward and Erdi."
"I am Aiolin, head of the Seneca family."
"..."
Something feels off.
A girl who looks to be about my age is calling herself the head of the family and trying to project an authoritative air, but it comes off as a bit clumsy.
Bright orange hair.
Her skin is a healthy, sun-kissed color.
'So this is Lord Aiolin.'
There probably isn't a younger head of a family in the entire Empire.
Even as a guest, I was lower in rank.
I knelt on one knee and paid my respects once more.
Aiolin personally guided us.
"The weather in the South is a bit different."
On the way to the mansion...
Erdi, looking around, spoke.
"It's definitely warmer than the Capital."
I heard the people here mainly work in agriculture, so I can probably understand why.
Clouds floating high in the sky, a clear atmosphere.
"So this is the South."
Soon, a picturesque building came into view.
Decorated with green and white on the exterior walls...
"A castle?"
A fortress that exuded an imposing aura stood there.
'Damn, provincial lords are on another level.'
At best, the residences of Capital nobles were large, rectangular mansions.
I'd seen a castle this big in movies, but this was my first time seeing one in person.
Anyway.
"Pardon our intrusion."
We went inside.
A lavishly decorated grand hall greeted us.
Colorful flowers were showing off their beauty on a brightly-toned table.
A line of attendants and maids bowed deeply to greet us.
I was a bit flustered.
'Wait, they're going this far?'
They must have put a lot of effort into this.
In these situations, you just have to say thank you.
"Your mansion is very elegant."
Aiolin smiled, looking pleased.
Since there was still time before the meal, we decided to review the concert schedule first.
We couldn't forget the purpose of our visit.
We headed to the reception room.
"Before you came here, did you see the garden in front of the mansion?"
Aiolin asked.
Regarding the garden, I saw it on the way in by carriage.
It was a splendid and wide garden that suited the Southern scenery.
When I answered as such, she continued.
"We're preparing to decorate that place as the concert venue. We don't have a suitable theater in our territory."
"That's fine."
Indoor performances are nice, but outdoor ones aren't bad either.
If I was going to nitpick about things like that, I wouldn't have started a regional tour in the first place.
"About how many people are in the territory?"
"Around 30,000 in total."
"Good."
As we were having this and that conversation, trying to build a rapport...
"My Lord."
A maid entered and spoke.
"Viscount Paube has come to visit."