Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Return to The Capital
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At the Academy entrance.
The Dean, Duke Montella, and Victor Korsolin.
Oscar didn't come, saying he had an appointment.
Seems like the student representative's daily life is busy.
"It's a shame you're leaving so soon."
The Dean offered me a handshake.
"We'll be seeing each other again soon."
Very soon, in fact.
After a few more months, I'll have met the requirements to enroll in the Academy.
"Travel safely."
I also exchanged farewells with Duke Montella.
Now that I think about it, I should have checked how much the Duke's performance skills have improved.
'I forgot to do that!'
Well, it can't be helped.
I was pretty busy myself.
"I wonder which will happen sooner: me going to the capital, or you coming to the Academy."
"Haha."
Finally, a word from Victor Korsolin.
Speaking of which.
If I enter the Academy, I'll be a student, while he'll still be a professor.
Will he still call me 'Professor' back then?
I'll have to wait and see.
"I hope you all stay well!"
After boarding the carriage, I waved out the window.
I was only there for a short while, but I've already grown attached.
It feels strange.
The Academy.
It was a good place.
There were many good people, and the food was delicious.
"It really is the end, isn't it?"
Edward, sitting across from me, said.
"So it seems."
It was a long, long journey.
Now, we return to the place we left behind.
Having successfully completed the regional tour.
Memories of that time resurfaced in my mind like a movie.
Seneca County and the small village in the countryside.
Lord Rosley's territory, and even Ibellon.
I think I'll remember this for a long time.
I boarded the swaying carriage.
A cool breeze blew in.
So passed several days.
And a few weeks.
At last, we arrived at the capital, the beloved home I had dreamed of.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The brief, joyful reunion with Theo, who had come to meet me, was soon over.
"Where is Father?"
"He is in the reception room with Count Harborland."
I'm tired, but I should at least show my face.
I headed for the reception room.
I knocked and went inside.
"Anton!"
"We were just talking about you, and here you arrive at the perfect moment!"
It seems they were in the middle of a meeting.
Regardless.
Seeing my father and Count Harborland after so long made me smile without realizing it.
It finally felt like I had truly returned.
"Come, sit! There is something to discuss!"
"...Huh? Right now?"
But the joy of reunion did not last long.
"His Majesty the Emperor has decided to elevate our family's title."
"Ah."
"Do you have any idea why?"
I explained everything that had happened to the two of them.
Especially regarding the Ibellon incident.
That someone had seized the port of the Margrave's territory, and that we had identified and lured out the mastermind behind it.
"You're saying you were at the center of that plan, Anton?"
"It just sort of happened that way."
As if it finally made sense, my father nodded at the Emperor's letter.
He looked incredibly surprised.
To be honest, I was surprised too.
I already knew from the Crown Prince that a reward would be coming.
The fact that the reward would be an elevation of our title was not a new story to me.
However.
'A Count...'
I would have been satisfied with a Viscount, but this is two ranks higher.
This was unexpected.
It seems the Crown Prince thought very highly of my performance at Ibellon.
As I was thinking this, my father laughed from beside me.
"This is truly amazing. Thanks to my son, I am enjoying a glory I never even dreamed of."
Seeing him so happy made me feel good too.
The schedule progressed very quickly.
We were invited to the Imperial Palace for a ceremony, and my father read the oath as our representative.
The Emperor personally handed over a signet ring with a new crest and a sword.
Just after the official declaration was finished.
We were granted a new territory.
The former territory of Count Periton.
"This is the land Count Periton used to manage. It was incorporated into the Empire after he was punished for undermining the Imperial family and his title was stripped."
My father explained.
Now that he mentioned it, I remembered something like that.
The Periton family.
They had desperately tried to disrupt the public square concert and ended up being imprisoned.
It brings back memories.
"And now, we own it."
"The responsibility is immense."
Elevation of a title doesn't mean we completely move our residence.
We keep the land we originally lived on while also managing the new territory.
My father, Baron Julian—no.
Count Julian's shoulders were heavier than ever.
So, we came to a conclusion.
My father would take up residence in the new territory and take charge of its management, while Theo would be appointed as an agent at our original home.
He was a hired manager, but he had worked for our family for a long time, so he was trustworthy enough.
Of course, we didn't grant him full authority.
"Anton, you should step in and help too. Wouldn't this be a good opportunity to gain some experience in governance?"
It was a bit of a hassle, but it wasn't something I could refuse.
If you are born into a noble family and enjoy all its privileges, it is only right to fulfill your duties.
To go from the eldest son of a barony with nothing to offer, to managing a territory as a Count's proxy.
If this is my fate, I must accept it.
To wear the crown, you must bear its weight.
That sounds like something I've heard before.
But honestly, I have no other way to express it.
The only saving grace was that the workload wasn't unbearably heavy.
Theo, who had helped my father, the former Baron, manage the estate, took on almost all the work.
I was mostly in a position to support him.
'Is this right?'
There is no hierarchy in learning.
Furthermore, using the excuse that I needed enough practice time to continue my life as a performer, I was even excluded from the troublesome miscellaneous duties.
Speaking of which.
"Young Master."
Theo called for me.
I just finished reviewing the tax ledgers for the territory's residents.
"This is the list of servant candidates sent by the Count."
"Ah, right."
I thought he was about to give me more work.
I broke a sweat imagining a scenario that hadn't even happened.
I took the documents from him.
A list of servant candidates.
It's normal for a Count's heir to have at least one servant.
Theo had been handling that role until now.
I received a great deal of help from him.
But that was a thing of the past.
Asking him to handle my personal chores on top of everything else doesn't sit right with me.
No, it's just not right to do that.
"Should I conduct the interviews myself?"
"That won't be necessary."
A servant.
Is that really necessary?
I'm already past the age for etiquette lessons.
And I'm not the type to attend social events often.
If I go to the theater, I have Edward and Erdi, so I can just ask them for help.
When I said that, Theo shook his head.
"You are managing a territory while continuing your life as a performer. Without a servant to take care of household matters, you will be extremely fatigued. Moreover, it is unbefitting of your station. You are now the heir to a Count's family."
Every word was true.
I learned something new today.
I skimmed through the documents and looked over the list.
Most were children of minor nobles.
I also saw the names of several families who were formerly retainers of the Peritons.
"No one really stands out."
"Your opinion may change once you meet them in person."
"Put it away for now. I'll bring it up again if I need to."
"As you wish."
"Is there any work left for today?"
"That is all. You may rest comfortably."
Phew.
What a relief.
I left the house immediately and headed for the theater.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Has Jubeil arrived?"
"Right on time."
Edward was squatting on the floor, organizing boxes.
A mountain of artifacts was piled up.
Jubeil.
A type of recording device I had asked a professor at the Academy to get for me.
"Is it working properly?"
"No problems at all."
He picked one up and placed it on his palm.
Since it's planned for commercial release, the design seems to have been refined to be more sleek.
The maximum recording capacity is about 4 minutes.
Not bad.
For now.
Edward and I sorted through the Jubeils that had been delivered to the theater.
Then I called for Erdi.
We gathered in the waiting room and started a meeting.
"The new piano arrived yesterday. We just need to get it on stage. Ah! And congratulations on your title elevation."
"You should visit my territory sometime."
Small talk ends here.
"We've secured about 500 units of Jubeil."
"Now the key is what music to put on them and sell."
This is a dilemma.
It can't be helped.
'What was the most popular song until now?'
Following the trend is the best policy.
That's the only way to boost sales, even by a little.
"Wouldn't it be 'Canon'?"
Edward offered his opinion.
"I think 'The Great Gate of Kiev' or 'William Tell Overture' would be better."
This time, it was Erdi.
Both were valid points, so it was hard to openly agree with either.
If that's the case, why not fill it with a new song?
That doesn't sound like a bad idea.
"To be honest, I'm swamped with work related to my territory right now. How about we pause the concerts for a while and, instead, sell Jubeils filled with new songs as a limited-time offer at the theater?"
"That's a great idea."
A dramatic resolution.
It's time to choose the music again.
It's difficult to pick the best among the existing songs, but presenting an entirely new one is easy.
I have something in mind.
I was thinking it was about time to reveal it anyway.
"Where is the piano?"
Edward guided us.
Below the stage, near the back door.
"Excuse me for a moment."
I pulled over a small chair and sat down.
As a check, I gently pressed the keys.
A harmony flowed from my left hand, and a melody from my right was layered on top.
Light staccato and legato.
I lightly pressed the pedal so the bouncing notes would connect naturally.
Erdi, who had been quietly listening to the performance, slowly opened his mouth.
"...It's a melody that expresses the joy and transience of life in an endless stream... a lonely yet elegant melody."
"That's correct."
A very accurate impression.
How can he grasp it so perfectly just by listening?
"Is this a new piece composed by you, Young Master? May I ask the title of the piece?"
He asked in an excited voice.
I should give him an answer.
"Life, no... The Merry-Go-Round of Fate. The title is 'The Merry-Go-Round of Fate'."
I just came up with it.
This time, it's not a classic.
It's the soundtrack of an anime that was a massive hit even in my past life in Korea.
I've decided to recreate that.