Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Debussy, Moonlight (1)
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“You’re here for the performance too?”
“You as well, Count? I hear this performer’s music is truly exceptional. If I didn’t listen, I wouldn’t be worthy of having ears.”
“Hahaha!”
The entrance to the Grand Theater in the Capital.
Two nobles were conversing.
They weren’t the only ones.
From the nearby areas to the remote territories.
It seemed every noble in existence had gathered here; the streets were packed with people.
Among them were local officials who had even brought carriages from the distant south.
“At this rate, we might not even be able to get in.”
“No! I’ve been riding for two nights straight!”
By the time they arrived at the theater, a long line was already stretching out.
Normally, on the day of a performance, nobles would send a letter to the theater to reserve their seats in advance.
But today was an exception.
“You’re telling me to wait outside? Do you have any idea who I am?”
“I apologize, but at the performer’s request, admission for today’s performance is first-come, first-served.”
“Just who is this performer?!”
“I am not at liberty to say.”
At the theater owner’s words, the old duke, who had been spewing anger just moments ago, suddenly became docile.
‘Could it be?’
The old duke’s pupils darted back and forth.
A performer who refuses to reveal their identity.
Other than being exceptionally skilled, nothing was known about them—not even their status, let alone an alias.
‘Is His Highness the Crown Prince really...? No, that’s just a rumor.’
The very idea of first-come, first-served admission was preposterous, so his suspicions about the mastermind behind it all grew ever stronger.
Who could possibly have the power to make the most renowned nobles stand in the middle of the street?
‘It has to be someone from the Imperial Family.’
Of course, that was just a misconception.
***
A short while ago, I learned a new fact from the theater owner’s words.
He had long been a patron of the arts, a capitalist, but his method of running the theater was quite unique.
First, he received contacts from close nobles and assigned them priority seating.
Here, ‘close nobles’ referred to those who had provided the most sponsorship to the theater.
However, naturally, there was a limit to the number of people that could be accommodated.
If they took all the seats, others wouldn’t even be able to enter.
Because of this, only the same audience members, similar nobles, had come to see the performances.
It was a structure where those who had already seen it could see it again, while families not close with the management would never get to see it even if they waited a lifetime.
‘This goes against my intention to spread classical music in this other world.’
More people needed to hear it and share their impressions.
Ultimately, I introduced a method never seen before.
First-come, first-served.
Regardless of rank or class, the person who arrived at the theater first would enter first.
But as expected, there was a huge backlash.
If the theater’s capacity is 200, the crowd gathered in front of it now is roughly double that.
‘Are there this many nobles in the Empire?’
The very word ‘first-come, first-served’ was an insult to their pride, and if they were refused entry for arriving late, a riot might break out.
In the end, it could even lead to them cutting off their sponsorship.
It would only harm the theater.
As a result, I had to come up with an unplanned strategy.
I sought out the owner and conveyed my opinion.
The manager of the Capital’s ‘Rune Moon’ theater, Edward Findel.
“They all seem very dissatisfied with the admission method.”
At my words, he let out a hollow laugh.
“It’s fine. I agree with the Young Master’s philosophy.”
Though he said that, he seemed deeply troubled on the inside, his face filled with worry.
“What is the theater’s schedule like?”
“There is a performance by Mr. Korsolin scheduled for the day after tomorrow. There are no others.”
Good.
Since things have come to this, I should make good use of the vacant time.
“Can I add two more of my performances in between?”
“Are you saying you wish to hold performances for three consecutive days?”
“I can’t just send the audience who came from far away home without anything.”
“The theater would welcome it with open arms! However, I worry that the Young Master might become fatigued...”
A man over forty, treating a ten-year-old child with the respect due to a noble.
I waved my hands awkwardly and replied.
“Don’t worry about me.”
By the way, Edward is one of four people in this other world who know my true identity.
It was simply too difficult to hide my identity from the theater owner who had to host the performance.
The other two are my father and Count Harborland.
And the butler, Theo.
There is no fear of them selling me out.
In any case.
“Then, it shall be done.”
“Thank you.”
***
Edward walked out to the front of the theater and shouted in a loud voice.
“The performance will be held for the next three days! Those who couldn’t see it today have another chance tomorrow and the day after!”
The people in the back of the line cheered upon hearing this.
“Nice! That’s more like it!”
“I almost had to go back without seeing anything.”
Soon, the entrance opened and admission began.
Among them, a girl assigned to the very edge of the audience seats, where the stage was visible from the side, crossed her arms with a displeased expression.
“Isn’t there a seat with a better view?”
“You heard her, Leah. What can we do if we have to sit in the order we entered?”
Leah Dresel and her father, Duke Edelo Dresel.
By rank alone, they held one of the highest positions among those gathered here, but since they had come to the theater, they had to follow the theater’s rules.
Even for a ducal house that was serious about sponsorship, there were no exceptions.
Edelo seemed somewhat satisfied with this method, but his daughter was a bit different.
“This performance had better be worth it.”
Leah glared at the stage with a meaningful expression.
It was her first time coming to see a performance by a performer other than Victor Korsolin.
But she couldn’t ignore the trend.
The ladies from other territories she interacted with had already experienced the last performance, and every time they met, they only talked about the ‘identity-less’ performer.
No matter how much she said Victor Korsolin was the best, they wouldn’t listen.
In the end, they even continued their conversation without her?
A ducal lady being ostracized at a social gathering was an intolerable situation.
At the same time, her curiosity exploded.
“Just how great are they to cause such a fuss?”
Just as her curiosity was turning into excitement.
The curtain on the stage rose.
***
The curtain opened, revealing a single thin cloth.
The piano and the performer on the stage were not visible from the audience.
No, they were visible, but very blurry.
Only a silhouette could barely be captured.
Everyone held their breath at that moment.
The keys began to move cautiously.
“Hoo...!”
“Haaa...”
Even though they knew it was polite not to make a sound during a performance, some spectators couldn't contain their bursting emotions.
A clear and distinct sound.
It was as pure and soft as raindrops falling by a lakeside.
It was as if a single star was sparkling and spreading across a white canvas.
Everyone was captivated by that elegant melody, no one needing to tell them to.
‘What is this...?’
Leah’s lips parted.
She forgot her status and stared straight ahead with a dazed expression.
She couldn’t stop her fingers from trembling.
It was a feeling she had never experienced even when she listened to the performance of Victor Korsolin, whom she admired so much.
The clear and distinct sound of the keys, one note at a time.
The performance, which continued as calmly and placidly as if painting a landscape of a quiet midnight, became much more diverse and rich as it reached the middle part.
Yet, it still maintained its restrained dynamics and delicate expressiveness.
Though she was listening to music, a scene naturally came to mind, leaving a deep aftertaste.
And at the end.
The melody, which seemed as if it would never end, slowly faded away, dyeing the audience’s view in moonlight.
It was comparable to a fantasy magic spell.
Anton finished his performance and lifted his hands from the keys.
Silence descended.
The dazed audience looked at each other and glanced around for a moment.
Then, cheers and a standing ovation erupted in unison, filling the theater.
“Bravo!”
“I’ve never seen such a perfect performance in my life!”
Everyone’s faces were flushed red, as if they hadn’t yet recovered from the ecstatic experience just moments before.
Duke Dresel also rose from his seat.
Leah was on the verge of tears.
As a ducal lady, she couldn’t show such an ugly display, so she desperately held back.
‘Hoo, sponsorship! This absolutely requires sponsorship!’
A hobby as popular among nobles as music is sponsorship.
What greater pastime is there than supporting a performer you have your eye on and competing over each other’s taste?
Moreover, a relationship bound by money tends to be stronger.
The performer is happy because they can focus solely on music without worrying about their livelihood, and the patron is happy because they can watch the growth of the gem they selected right by their side.
Like a shareholder with stock.
Leah wasn’t the only one with such thoughts.
A whispering sound leaked from the mouths of the nobles gathered in the theater.
“I must call for Edward at once. I have to meet this performer immediately.”
“Calm yourself, Count. What if the rumor is true... what if it’s really His Highness the Prince?”
“Eek!”
But the problem was, no one knew the identity of that performer.
Based on the circumstances, they were either a noble or royalty, but what noble would shun fame?
However, if they were royalty, it made sense for them to hide their identity.
Suspicion gradually turned into certainty, and a rumor was spreading throughout the Capital that the identity of the new performer who debuted at Rune Moon was actually the Empire’s Prince, Ruhan Flovitz.
It might have started as just a joke among the ladies, but as the story grew and gained substance, even baseless evidence began to emerge.
“I heard they called the theater manager and loudly interrogated him.”
“There are even stories that they are accompanied by the head of a count’s house as an aide.”
Anton, who had been quietly listening to the nobles’ voices, shook his head.
‘This is bad if I get caught.’
I won’t be executed for blasphemy or slandering the Imperial Family, right?
This was the moment I painfully realized the downside of my mysterious strategy.
***
“Why not?!”
“It is the performer’s privacy.”
“Privacy? No! I’m offering to sponsor them!”
The audience had all left, and the theater was now quiet.
Leah had come to see Edward.
Her reason was that she wanted to have a private meeting with the performer.
Normally, he would never refuse her request, but for some reason, he was being firm today.
Is he acting like it’s really His Highness the Prince or something.
Leah, in fact, did not believe the rumor that the performer was the Prince.
The Prince she remembered had a much sturdier build and was much taller.
She was certain because she had met him up close.
But the man in the silhouette was more slender and agile.
‘What does he take me for... Does he think I’d fall for such a baseless rumor?’
If they weren’t royalty, there was no one in this Empire who could defy her.
And yet, they were refusing a private meeting and turning down sponsorship?
They were crazy.
“Listen here, Edward. You know how much my family sends to the theater every month, don’t you?”
“I am well aware.”
“You’d be fine with us cutting it all off?”
“You may do as you wish.”
“What?!”
Why is this young lady so unreasonable?
Her father, Duke Edelo Dresel, was known for his dignified and refined conduct.
In the first place, it’s the Duke who sends money to the theater, so why is she making a fuss about cutting it off herself?
“Let me meet them!”
Leah even started acting spoiled, swinging her arms around.
Edward looked at the girl with an awkward expression.
Then, he quickly gestured toward the back door.
‘Now!’
‘Thank you, Edward!’
It was a signal.
He meant for me to slip out while he was holding the young lady back.
I didn’t miss this opportunity.
I silently grabbed the doorknob and went outside.
Unlike the main entrance, the back door connected to an empty alley.
Just in time, my father and Count Harborland were waiting.
“Let’s get going, then.”
“Yes.”
While the Count kept watch, my father brought the carriage around.
We boarded the carriage with movements as coordinated as if we were filming a crime movie.
“This is getting kind of fun. I feel a strange sense of thrill, it feels good.”
“Hahaha! I agree.”
As I was about to head home, listening to the two nobles’ innocent conversation.
“I’ve got you.”
A familiar voice came from behind.
‘Damn it!’
She must have slipped past Edward and gotten out in no time.
“Father! Drive!”
We didn’t even look back and sped forward.
“No! Where do you think you’re going?!”
Leah Dresel’s shout could be heard, but I ignored it.
She probably didn’t see my face, right?
She probably didn’t. We weren’t that close, so I didn’t have to worry about her deducing my identity from my voice.
‘I’ll have to be more careful from now on.’
Should I start wearing a mask or something?
***
The corner of Leah’s mouth went up as she watched the carriage get farther away.
“Oh, ho.”
She must have been too preoccupied with the escape to notice.
She saw it clearly.
The crest painted on the back of the carriage.
It was undoubtedly a symbol representing a territory.
‘A large ship inside a circle.’
She replayed the memory in her mind before she could forget it.
She didn’t know all the information about every noble in the Empire, so it was impossible to deduce the answer immediately.
But it was definitely not an Imperial crest.
As soon as she returned to the mansion, she called for a maid and said:
“Have you ever seen a crest that looks like this?”
“It seems I will have to look for it.”
With evidence in hand, it was only a matter of time before she found the correct answer.
“I will find it for sure. I’ll make you regret ignoring me today!”