“Are you going to the orchestra concert today?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a shame, Young Master. Since it’s your day off, I thought you’d be going out for a street performance…”
“Nue, like I said, I won’t be performing on the streets for the time being.”
“Hmph… I heard there are still many people waiting for your performances…”
Nue pouted as if disappointed. Dien was already aware of the rumors that many people were waiting for him. However, to Dien, busking was merely a hobby; it could never be his priority.
Furthermore, he had become much busier balancing his successor training with the academy. Between that and the swordsmanship lessons he recently started with Shilona, his interest in busking had waned significantly.
Most importantly, since safety issues concerning the audience had been raised, it was only natural for busking to be pushed down his list of priorities.
“I’ll start performing again after I’ve taken care of the things I need to do. So, let’s not talk about performances for a while, Nue.”
“I understand, Young Master. I won’t bring it up again. But…”
Nue began to fidget, her face turning red.
“What is it?”
“The… the playing…”
“Nue. I have to leave for the concert now.”
Nue hesitated to speak, but at Dien’s urging, she finally opened her mouth with great effort.
“Young Master. That thing called the guitar… could you perhaps teach me how to play it?”
Dien’s mouth hung open in surprise. Looking at her desperate expression, he realized he had been blind. ‘Why didn’t I realize how much she loved the guitar?’ Perhaps the reason she waited for his busking was simply because she found the melodies produced by the guitar so beautiful.
Seeing Nue looking flustered by his silence, Dien gave her a warm look.
“Nue… if you wanted to learn the guitar, you should have just said so. It’s not that difficult…”
Dien smiled brightly and stroked her hair. He understood why she had found it so hard to ask. For a commoner, learning an instrument — especially a stringed instrument — was practically a luxury. Vain musicians would only pass on their skills if paid exorbitant lesson fees, and even then, it was rare for commoners to even meet such musicians unless they were nobility.
“You’ll really teach me?”
Nue’s eyes began to sparkle like an emerald sea.
“Nue… you are someone precious to me, like family.”
“What?”
“If you want to learn how to play the guitar, of course I’ll teach you without a second thought!”
“Really?”
Nue gawked, unable to believe his words. The thought that she, a commoner, could learn an instrument made her mouth and body tremble with emotion.
“But… Young Master, how much will the tuition be…?”
Dien chuckled at her words. She must have asked because she was aware of the murderous tuition fees musicians usually charged.
“There is a fee!”
“Yes… of course…”
Dien’s grin widened.
“It’s quite expensive…”
“How much is it…?”
The sound of her swallowing hard reached Dien’s ears, making the situation even more amusing.
“Staying by my side as my friend for the rest of your life, just as you are now!”
“Pardon?”
She turned her head blankly at Dien’s words. As her thoughts caught up, Nue finally burst into joy and clung to Dien’s arm.
“To think I can learn an instrument from a great musician like you, Young Master… it really feels like a dream!”
“Am I the best?”
“Of course! You’re the coolest in Delos! No! The Empire… no! You’re the best in the entire Grand Continent! I’m going to become a great musician just like you, Young Master!”
She shouted as she ran around the estate. Seeing this, Dien shook his head as if she were hopeless.
“Alright! I’m heading out now! We’ll talk more about the lessons when I get back.”
“Yes! Master!”
Nue performed a martial arts bow she must have seen somewhere, greeting him playfully. Finding her adorable, Dien stroked her hair once more.
As Dien headed out to attend the concert, the servants of the House of Portran rushed out to see him off.
“Why is everyone coming out? It’s cold, so get back inside!”
“Have a safe trip, Young Master~.”
The servants stood in a group, bowing their farewells. Dien scratched his head, feeling awkward. The servants’ flattery was particularly intense today. Embarrassed by their unusual behavior, Dien quickly closed the carriage door.
“We are departing.”
The coachman from the Cherbil Family was equally baffled. No matter how high-ranking a noble was, it was unheard of for every single servant to come out and see them off.
‘Is it because the young master has a nasty personality…?’
The coachman wondered if Dien was a fastidious noble who harassed his servants — the type of noble who demanded absolute etiquette even for a simple departure.
‘A difficult noble, despite his young looks…’
Wary that the young master might find fault with him too, he began to drive the carriage more carefully than usual.
With the crack of a whip, the carriage headed toward the Royal Concert Hall in the southern part of the capital. The coachman sped through the heart of the city, and other carriages moved out of the way immediately upon seeing the seal of the Cherbil Family.
‘So this is why the Chancellor said he would send a carriage.’
Dien could feel the power of the administrative Chancellor’s family even from within the carriage. Without a single stop, the carriage slid smoothly to a halt in front of the concert hall.
***
“Chancellor!”
“Dien! You’re here!”
Stepping out of the carriage, Dien spotted Persian standing at the entrance of the concert hall.
“Welcome, Dien!”
“Young Master Zalz, you’re here too!”
Dien exchanged warm greetings with Zalz, who was standing behind Persian. It seemed Persian had brought all his children to the performance. He could see a girl with her head bowed behind Persian, and Dien guessed she was Persian’s daughter, Dorothy Cherbil.
“Allow me to introduce my daughter, Dorothy Cherbil. I hope you two get along!”
“Ah! Hello, Lady Dorothy. I am Dien Portran of the House of Portran.”
“Yes.”
Despite Dien’s polite greeting, Dorothy kept her head lowered the entire time. She didn’t even spare him a glance. Dien maintained his smile, unbothered by her indifferent attitude.
‘It looks like she was dragged out here against her will, just like me.’
Dien tilted his head as he looked at Dorothy’s listless eyes. There was a peculiar sadness etched on her face. No matter how he looked at it, her expression was not one suited for an orchestra concert.
Once the awkward introduction with her ended, Persian began to laugh heartily while looking at Dien.
“Hahaha! My boy! It seems you are sharp with work but ignorant when it comes to music!”
“Pardon?”
“To think you showed up at an orchestra concert in casual clothes. Hahahaha!”
Dien scratched his cheek at Persian’s remark. Zalz and Persian were both dressed in formal suits with bow ties. As Persian said, everyone around them was dressed in clean, formal attire. Even though he was wearing daily clothes, Dien had thought he had dressed up in his own way, which made him feel even more embarrassed.
“This is my first time at an orchestra performance, so I wasn’t well-versed in concert etiquette.”
Dien’s face turned red as he scratched his head sheepishly. Seeing even small children dressed in tuxedos, he could only let out an awkward laugh.
“Hahaha, it happens. You need to show a few flaws like this to seem human!”
“Hehehehe.”
Zalz couldn’t hide his laughter at Persian’s comment either.
“For a noble of Delos, musical refinement is a basic requirement. Even if you have no interest in music, knowing concert etiquette is fundamental! Furthermore, you should be able to play at least one instrument! Since you are going to be a noble of the Chancellery, take my words to heart!”
“I understand, Chancellor.”
Dien forced an awkward smile as Persian’s lecture dragged on.
‘Do I really have to learn an instrument?’
The lecture was entirely correct. For a noble, playing an instrument was a basic skill. Thus, Dien began to contemplate which instrument he should learn. Even at the academy’s talent show, students had to show off their performances, which was reflected in their grades at the noble academy. Learning an instrument in this world was not an option, but a necessity.
‘It would be great if I could participate in the talent show with a guitar.’
Since guitars didn’t exist here, it was an impossible thought. Dien pondered for a long time but eventually shook his head, thinking of his busy schedule.
“If you wish, I shall provide a music teacher for you! A brilliant musician who will broaden your musical horizons.”
“Hahaha, I appreciate the sentiment, but no thank you.”
“Now, now, young man. Don’t take this lightly!”
“Hahahaha…”
Dien could see in Persian and Zalz’s eyes that they viewed him as a noble ignorant of music. To be branded a noble with zero artistic sense just because he wore comfortable clothes… it was a miserable feeling.
‘I really shouldn’t have come.’
Just as he was starting to regret coming to the concert and his neck was growing stiff with tension…
“Chancellor, it has been a while.”
Pablo, dressed in a sharp suit with his hair neatly styled, approached Persian.
“It has been a while, Baron Pablo!”
When Persian extended his hand, Pablo smiled and grasped it.
“I haven’t seen you since the new song presentation one month ago.”
“Hahaha, indeed. That presentation was truly fantastic! The rhythm that broke away from traditional frameworks was so refreshing! Is there no end to your genius?”
“Hahaha, thank you, Count!”
Pablo smiled brightly at Persian’s praise.
“Now, what was the name of that new song…? Spring, Love, and…”
“Cherry Blossoms.”
“Right, right! Blossoms! It really is a great song, no matter how much I think about it!”
“Hahaha.”
Pablo laughed out loud at Persian’s excessive praise. Then, Pablo’s gaze shifted toward the young lady and young master standing behind Persian.
“Oh.”
His eyebrows furrowed as he spotted a familiar face.
‘No way.’
The corners of his mouth curled up sharply. As soon as his conversation with Persian ended, Pablo hurried toward the young noble standing in the back.
***
“Hello?”
Pablo walked past Zalz and Dien and approached Dorothy. When Dorothy saw the brightly smiling Pablo, her sad expression vanished, replaced by a radiant smile.
“Mister!”
Dorothy snapped her head up. Persian and Zalz watched the two of them in surprise, having never heard her speak in such a cheerful tone before.
“We meet again!”
The two seemed quite close. Persian approached them slowly, surprised by their unexpected connection.
“Do you two know each other?”
“Hahaha, yes. But I only just realized she was the young lady of the House of Cherbil.”
Pablo spoke while looking back and forth between Dorothy and Persian, and Dorothy soon spoke up as well.
“I also just realized that the mister who caused a scene by ignoring concert etiquette was actually the Court Musician, Master Pablo. Hahaha!”
Dorothy spoke as she recalled Pablo’s ungentlemanly behavior during the street musician’s performance. To think the man she thought was a simple drunk was actually the master of royal music, Pablo. Dorothy burst into laughter at the memory of Pablo’s past actions.
“Count! You have no idea how strong the young lady is… really… *ahem*.”
Pablo was also laughing. He shook his head as he remembered the moment his limbs had been pinned down by Dorothy.
Meanwhile, Persian could only manage an awkward smile, unable to understand what was going on. He couldn’t follow their conversation at all. Eventually, Persian gave up on trying to join in.
On the other hand…
‘Where have I seen him before…?’
Dien bit his lip while looking at Pablo’s face. His face was quite familiar. He couldn’t remember exactly where he had seen Pablo, but he was certain they had met. A face that handsome wasn’t something common, after all.