Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Diana Pierce! 3
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“Can you play the rhythm?”
“Hmm...! If it's just the rhythm, I can!”
She nods confidently, as if that much is a given.
“Don't overthink it. Just take it slow.”
Her fingertips hesitate, searching for the keys, then press down firmly.
One by one, slowly.
1st, 4th, then 5th.
3/4 time. A waltz.
She repeats the root note with her left hand and chords with her right.
At first, she seems unaccustomed, stopping and starting erratically, but soon she finds the tempo.
Simple, yet cheerful.
Soon enough, she's bobbing her shoulders along, looking quite at ease.
Diana, with a joyful expression, flicks her wrists and strikes the keys.
Now it's my turn.
I sit beside her, extending my index finger.
Chopsticks March.
A vibrant melody created by two root notes.
But it doesn't end there.
I maintain the original mood while adding appropriate arrangements throughout.
I incorporate staccato and legato, adding a new melody.
It feels innocent and free, as if unfolding a world from a fairy tale.
Joy and a wistful ache mix, stimulating the emotions.
“Wow... Ohh...”
A low exclamation escapes Diana's lips.
She's too focused on the performance to articulate it properly, but she seems quite surprised.
Of course she is.
I only added a melody to the simple chords, yet the entire color of the piece has flipped.
This is the kind of music Chopsticks March is.
It's easy to play if you want, but the more you vary it, the more splendid it becomes.
In a way, it's similar to 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'.
Returning to the beginning, the two root notes.
The melody that had been making my heart ache cuts off abruptly, sinking calmly.
As I stop playing, Diana quietly raises her hands.
Both her cheeks are flushed red.
What's welling up in her eyes is probably joy.
“What do you think?”
“...It was wonderful. I feel like I'm about to burst with emotion... and...”
She has many thoughts but trails off, unable to find the words.
Either way.
I don't think she's exaggerating.
This was a performance we shared.
Diana deserves half the credit.
It's only natural for her to feel a thrill, thinking she played such a dazzling, colorful piece with her own hands.
Plus, what's most important of all.
Is that she felt joy from that performance just now.
Joy.
The starting point of all action.
There's no motivation stronger than that.
“Next time, you sit on the right. Just playing chords is boring, isn't it?”
“Ohh! Really...!”
Of course, it seems she'll need a lot of practice for that.
“By the way, Young Master.”
“Hm?”
Just as I was about to end the lesson, Diana spoke shyly.
Her lips trembled slightly.
“Don't... don't you think we're a bit too close...?”
“Ah.”
She was right.
We were sitting pressed right against each other, with the narrow piano stool in the middle.
“My apologies.”
“It's nothing.”
“Go on in.”
“Yes.”
She bowed her head, embarrassed, and quickly ran outside.
Right.
It's natural for a maid to keep her distance from her master.
‘I wonder if she was uncomfortable.’
I was too focused on the performance to notice anything else.
“...Guess I should get to work.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I headed to the theater for the first time in a while.
To discuss the concert schedule.
“I will be performing five pieces in total.”
“Very well.”
Though there was another reason, too.
“Speaking of which, how are Jubel's reactions these days? Is it still as popular as ever?”
I hadn't been outside the territory since then, so I hadn't had a chance to hear the consumers' opinions.
Asking Edward is the best way to handle this.
“It's a situation where if you say it's good, it's good, and if you say it's bad, it's bad.”
“What on earth do you mean?”
“Jubel, still in its unopened packaging, is being traded on the black market. I hear the expensive ones go for nearly ten times the production cost.”
Haa... I figured as much.
But there's no other way to regulate it.
We were the ones who produced a small quantity under the name of a test sale, and even introduced a random draw system, so we can't release more stock here.
If we did, complaints would definitely pour in.
For now, we just have to watch and see.
Putting that aside.
The black market.
“Are there people who actually buy it?”
“I don't know about that. But if it were me, I wouldn't buy it.”
I agree.
It's a disaster caused by people who hoard anything and everything just because my name is attached to it.
I'll have to find a fundamental solution soon.
Let's get back to the original topic.
“Shall we set the schedule for about a week?”
“You seem busy with territory affairs these days, so will you be alright?”
“I've gotten used to it, so I have a bit of free time now.”
Some days, after finishing most of the work with Theo before lunch, I'd have half a day left until evening.
A huge step forward.
“That's a relief. I'll plan it that way, then.”
“Thank you.”
The rest was left to Edward.
After exchanging greetings, I left the theater.
I thought about stopping by my father's territory while I was out, but I decided against it.
I received a letter not long ago.
Most of the wicked laws that had plagued the territory's residents were abolished thanks to the Imperial Household and my father's measures, and apparently, they're even offering tax relief to some who are still struggling.
I send funds whenever I can, so I'm sure he's handling it well.
‘No need to go see him.’
Originally, it's better for a father and son to be a little distant, isn't it?
Not too much, just a little.
Anyway.
I boarded the carriage and headed for the mansion.
“Huh?”
As I was passing through the street, I saw a familiar face.
“Isn't that the Director?”
Joel Balois.
“To see you here, Young Master! I'm so glad!”
I got off the carriage and shook his hand.
“I received the Jubel. Thank you. Aria really loved it.”
“Haha. It makes me happy to hear you say that.”
Then, he suddenly asked me.
“If you're not busy, would you accompany me?”
Accompany him.
He must mean visiting the orphanage together.
There's no reason to refuse.
Aria is my ultimate invention—well, actually, it was made by an Academy professor.
Either way, I'm curious about the reactions to Jubel.
I agreed without a moment's hesitation.
“Let's take my carriage.”
“Thank you.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As we entered, a few children were playing in a small yard.
There's only one building.
“It serves as both a bedroom and a dining hall.”
Below the windows cut into the building, there was a flowerbed, and a small vegetable patch could be seen here and there.
They must grow their own food.
“Aria is probably inside.”
“She doesn't seem to like playing outside much.”
“Yes. It's gotten especially bad lately. She's been holding onto that Jubel all day long.”
“If it breaks from overuse, let me know. I'll get you a replacement.”
“Haha.”
Joel led me inside.
As soon as we entered, beds were lined up in a row.
A table stood in the center.
Aria was in a corner, wrapped in a blanket, looking out the window.
Next to her was the Jubel.
Music was flowing from it.
“Aria...!”
“Just a moment.”
I stopped Joel, who was about to call out to her in a hurry.
“It's better not to disturb her.”
“I understand.”
He nodded as if he understood what I meant.
‘She seems to be enjoying some deep thought.’
A time to get lost in thought while listening to music.
I really like that, too.
It's best not to disturb her then.
She's completely in her own world.
We should stay quiet and leave.
“Please, have a seat for a moment. I'll prepare some tea.”
I smiled at Joel's words as a sign of thanks.
We sat facing each other at the table in the middle of the bedroom-dining hall.
“She's really listening intently.”
“I can't stop her.”
Definitely.
He said she's been holding onto the Jubel all day.
I can understand Joel's words now.
When the music stops, she presses the button again, and again when it stops.
She's so focused she doesn't even turn around, even though she knows we're watching her from behind.
Then, for a moment.
“Hmm~ hmm~”
She starts singing along to the melody, without any lyrics.
“La la la~ la la~”
My ears naturally reacted to her voice.
‘She's pretty good.’
A clear, pure voice.
It's as transparent and clean as a clear blue spring sky.
“She's a child who loves singing so much. But ever since she met the Performer, she seems to have fallen for the piano.”
Well.
Could someone get that good just because they love singing?
‘Could she not know?’
In this world, singing isn't treated as highly as instrumental performance.
At best, it's just labor songs or folk songs sung by commoners.
So, no matter how great her skill is, she wouldn't recognize it as a talent.
But from my perspective, with my memories of a past life, that voice is on a level beyond just a hobby or a passion.
‘If she auditioned, she'd get a free pass.’
Joel stood up from his seat to stop her.
At the same time, a single plan flashed through my mind.
‘Singing.’
Why didn't I think of this before?
Part of the soundtrack I plan to unveil at the concert this time has versions with vocals layered over a gentle piano melody.
I don't know the lyrics at all, but I vaguely remember how the singer felt when they sang the song.
‘Should I try this?’
If I do it well, it could change the landscape of culture.
“Director.”
“Yes.”
“Could I speak with Aria for a moment?”