Agnes and Riel's Music Drama (4)

Tears streamed down my face, incomprehensible and bewildering.

But the theater staff seemed to think they were tears moved by their musical drama. They looked positively delighted.

"Count Yulian... he's moved! This premiere was the right choice after all!"

"Proof that it wouldn't shame the god Hesos or Lord Riel in their dedication!"

Of course, there were parts that differed from the real story I knew through the Demon King Slayer DLC. Still, it was undeniably an excellent musical drama.

I carefully concealed the sheet music resonating with those tears. To mask my confusion, I responded to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their reactions.

"It was a splendid musical drama."

As I spoke and clapped, even the actors let out cheers.

Considering their fame in the imperial capital, it was astonishing they'd react so strongly to my brief praise.

Chloe, seething with jealousy, hid her entire face behind her fan. Cecilia wept openly, while Eirin, her eyes rimmed red, clapped busily.

What the hell just happened...

Thinking back to my pre-possession self, I wasn't the type to cry even at the most touching movies.

And though I'd been immersed just moments ago, the reaction went beyond my emotions.

Guess my body reacted on its own.

It was a story about Yulian's birth parents, after all. In a way, a natural response. But more than that, I pondered the resonance from Riel's handwritten score triggered by my tears.

There's definitely something to this score.

Embarrassing as it was for a grown man to cry in public, uncovering this was an unexpected gain.

I gave glowing reviews to the troupe members asking for my thoughts on the premiere again.

Among them was a bishop-level professor from the Arts Order.

His name was Viktor. Like Professor Elmaier from the Alchemy Order, he was archbishop-rank. The pamphlet listed him as the troupe's representative.

"Professor Viktor... He came in person!! C-could we maybe get an autograph?"

"It really is him. I've never seen him up close before."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Eirin and Cecilia whispered cautiously upon spotting him. As famous actors from Riel's era, and avid musical drama enthusiasts, they knew him well.

I've heard his name plenty too.

Even the highborn noble cadets at Pantheon idolized him. In modern terms, he was a superstar among stars—a living legend of the stage.

The two watched him intently, tense with anticipation for what the renowned director—now retired from acting—might say.

But Viktor himself glanced cautiously at me.

"For Count Yulian to be so moved... astonishing. Does it ring true even to you, Lord Riel's own son?"

"Indeed. Through this musical drama, even I—a son—learned new facets of my parents' past."

"Truly? Then might I ask for a bit more of your esteemed thoughts, Count?"

Yet he treated me like some celebrity critic.

With tears still pooling in my eyes, famous or not, I just wanted him gone. But to hide my embarrassment, I invoked my high noble heir trait for the first time in ages.

I spun eloquent praise for the musical drama. Criticism is like a ring on the nose or ear—whatever fits.

"...In essence, it pierced the core of the new horizons in musical drama charted by Riel, my father. Nay, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this production charts a fresh direction for the imperial capital's arts."

"A lucid critique! As expected of Count Yulian, who in his first year completed our order's theory courses up to second-year level! And such refined vocabulary for impressions... We're thrilled!"

As the professor said, Yulian had aced the Arts Order lectures—unlike the others he'd botched. The professor seemed utterly satisfied.

The troupe swarmed me again, probing for thoughts on acting and singing. I answered vaguely and slipped out of the theater.

Then Chloe grabbed me briefly.

I waved off the lingering troupe staff and spoke with Chloe.

"What is it?"

"Count Yulian! You finally spare me a glance. Did the musical drama please you? Hm. Even Professor Viktor seeking your thoughts personally—I hadn't expected that."

Her expression hinted at ulterior motives.

Chloe kept angling for time alone, but I'd refused citing my busy schedule.

Even days ago at Cecilia's workshop, I'd left immediately. She pressed on.

"Anyway, after such a fine show, there's a must-do: guests sharing tea and impressions. It's the latest noble trend. How about joining me at a cafe run by the Aiterne Merchant Group?"

Having suffered humiliation over tickets and the performance, she seemed to plot something under the guise of critique.

Probably planning to slip an aphrodisiac in my drink, as usual.

I could humor her once, but my mind was full of Riel's score now.

"No. I'm busy."

My firm refusal nearly crumpled her face again.

But I dangled a carrot.

"I was planning to make time for you soon anyway."

Before her scowl fully hid, her fan lowered.

"Really?!"

She beamed shamelessly. Realizing it, she hastily veiled her face with the fan—embarrassed.

Calming, she snapped it shut and continued.

"Ahem. For busy Count Yulian to make time... What's the business? We're linked through Cecilia or that maid... Eirin, professionally. If it's a major contract, how about a secure inn run by our group? Just us two."

I'd said little, yet she painted rosy futures, scheming alone time on that pretext.

"No, business can go through Hans via letters or contracts. It's about that social club I mentioned."

Her face fell, but perked at "social club."

"The social club? Ah, that from before."

Pantheon's social clubs were basically clubs or extracurriculars.

I'd once hinted she scout useful ones.

"Hm. I've scouted spots a count might visit: riding club, pottery appreciation... or tea clubs savoring plebeian scents. Any appeal?"

"No. Something helpful for midterms, especially with seniors offering solid theory advice."

"Theory advice?"

She caught on quick.

"Oh. Midterms. I've heard: Grious Cardinal chewed out Chancellor Sophia over your privileges."

The ordination granting Jedin's priests free access to all orders.

Grious deemed it excessive for a mere cadet and ordered revocation.

"Yet Chancellor Sophia pulled strings. Ace at least two essential subjects from two orders in midterms, and all your theory lectures with top marks—privileges stay."

"You know well."

Spot on. Chloe's info network was sharp.

Spies in Grious and the chancellor's circles, no doubt.

Sophia had eased terms, but they remained tough.

I could cram all-nighters, but Roia's trial comes first—and it's scaled way up from Demon King Slayer.

Prep left little for studies.

But I had a useful ally: Chloe.

"That simplifies things. You know what I need without spelling it out."

"Of course. Name time and place—I'll prep anywhere."

"I trust you. You handle things flawlessly."

"Really? W-well, yes. You know my work's near-perfect."

Well-tamed, she took my commanding tone meekly.

Though really, I'm the one who should beg.

No—she beamed more at my orders. I left her triumphant and hurried from the theater.

Back at the atelier with the two. That resonance from the score earlier.

Eirin and Cecilia, seated beside me, had witnessed it too. Something was there.

I asked them to reexamine the score. They scrutinized it intently.

"Cecilia, did you feel any dissonance during the musical ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠drama?"

"Dissonance...? Ah, yes. This score we saw—with Eirin. Riel's three great lyrical poems matched the performance, but the rhythm was subtly off."

"Exactly. Fine alone, but singing them in sequence per the score... the beat slips."

Eirin, princess of Gloria Kingdom revering Hesos as state god, knew music and arts deeply beyond painting.

Cecilia too. Precise music follows mathematical laws for harmony.

The master artisan sensed it.

"But so subtle it barely shows... I'll verify what you noted, Eirin."

Suddenly, Cecilia glowed with Divine Power. The Crafting God Endia's power manifested.

Demon and dragon though she was, wielding Endia under Light God Jedin posed no issue.

Light and dark blend harmoniously in nature.

Light shines against dark; dark defines against light.

Strong light erases low black magic's demonic energy—like Rene's—but equals coexist like noon sun and shadow.

As I, with demon king blood, wield Jedin's power.

Same for demon Cecilia.

Thus, no hindrance. Eirin pinpointed the off-beat; Cecilia decoded like runes.

"Pronouncing these syllables... meaningless in imperial tongue, but infused with Divine Power... like runes. Wait—runes?"

Eirin nodded. Cecilia's glow intensified.

"Then... perhaps revealing the score's secret..."

The score resonated with her Divine Power—like my tears.

She found the key.

Cecilia sweated, pouring Divine Power. Runes slowly emerged over Riel's handwritten score.

A system alert appeared simultaneously.

Like appraising an unidentified item. Her intensifying Divine Power raised the progress.

But overusing Divine Power could be risky.

Knowing her condition, I worried.

"Cecilia. No need to strain with Divine Power. It's for crafting—stop examining the score..."

I urged her to pause.

But deep in focus, she didn't hear. Then the feared happened.

Her pale green Divine Power flickered out. She clutched her chest.

"Ugh..."

"Cecilia! Are you alright?!"

Eirin cried in alarm. My heart sank.

"Cecilia, you okay?!"

"I-I'm fine... Just need my usual meds... Happens when crafting with Divine Power... Don't worry..."

But her pain seemed severe. I stopped her reigniting Divine Power.

She collapsed into my arms.

"Cecilia!!"

Eirin panicked. But I knew her heart condition. I sorted priorities swiftly.

I scribbled a medicine name on paper. Her workshop stock might fall short.

Or... beyond purification demon ore pills, other methods needed.

If treating her exposed her true form, I couldn't let unknowing Eirin see.

"Eirin! Swing by Medica Order—get this medicine fast!"

"Understood, young master."

"Her workshop has some too. I'll head there first with her."

I directed Eirin, loaded Cecilia into the carriage, and raced to her workshop.