TMLOH 102

Chapter : 102

No matter how much of a genius I am who never forgets a score after seeing it once, or a prodigy who has played the violin since I was three, I thought it would be difficult because I hadn’t played in such a long time…

Yet, even without piano accompaniment, the rich aria of the violin resonated beautifully.

Estrellita by Manuel Ponce.

Originally a song, arranged into a violin piece by the master Jascha Heifetz.

Zing.

A soft, soothing melody, like the stars twinkling in the night sky. The tune melted into my ears like creamy smoothness, as if it could lull you into a pleasant dream.

It’s a repertoire often played as a recital encore, and I had performed it occasionally myself.

Zing.

As the bow left the strings and the music ended, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“As expected, even playing a single piece with this body is exhausting.”

My left arm, which had been tensed to maintain posture, trembled.

Even performing a virtuoso piece all day would probably leave me completely drained.

“Ah…”

“Wow.”

I turned around at the low sigh behind me, and to my surprise, a crowd had gathered.

“Huh?”

Why are there so many people here?

“They came as if hypnotized, just listening to your performance.”

One by one, they had stopped in their tracks, standing silently at the door to listen.

“You shouldn’t play anywhere like this, young lady.”

“Eh? Why not?”

“Because people will gather just like this again.”

I couldn’t argue with the joking smile in his voice. Even though Dad was here and they couldn’t approach easily, the eyes of the servants staring at me were overwhelming.

“It was such a beautiful piece!”

“Wow, milady, you play instruments too?”

“A genius, right? How did you play that?”

A thunderous applause erupted.

“I’ve never heard music like this before.”

“I cried… the song was just too beautiful…”

“I thought I didn’t understand why people listen to music.”

“Even my untrained ears thought it was amazing.”

It wasn’t even a proper performance, yet the reaction was overwhelming.

“Can you play another piece?”

“I would, but my arm…”

Showing my trembling left arm, everyone looked sympathetically.

“Milady!”

From somewhere in the crowd, the childcare team rushed forward and started massaging my arm.

“Are you hurt?”

“No, it’s just tiring.”

If I struggled this much for a three-minute piece, a ten-minute symphony was unthinkable. I had realized for the first time how exhausting the basic violin posture—holding the instrument horizontally—really was.

Perhaps it was because my fingers lacked strength. Even though my fingerings were correct, there were a few moments where the notes slightly went off.

Still, the difference was so subtle that hardly anyone would notice.

“But the performance has to be perfect.”

It’s a matter of respect for the audience.

I wished my body were healthier.

Now, at this stage, regretting my body’s condition felt almost laughable.

Health… could I even become healthy?

“Why the sudden expression?”

Dad reached out and touched my cheek.

“Just…”

“Just?”

“I just… want to live.”

“Then live.”

It wasn’t that simple, which explained my frustrated expression. Dad chuckled.

“Children shouldn’t think like that.”

“I didn’t ‘want’ what I couldn’t have—I merely did it.”

“Who said that?”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember.”

“No one knows whether you can have something or not.”

“Do you know what I want?”

His mocking words were met with a serious gaze.

“Should I hand you the world?”

“I’m not interested in that.”

I had known I wouldn’t live long, but now I felt attached to this life.

Pession who loved me, the childcare team, Mehen, Dad, Harun, and the twins.

I had met so many good people that I knew what I already held in my hands was amazing, yet I still felt greedy.

And greed would get me scolded.

“Ah.”

Suddenly, a large hand covered my forehead and ruffled my hair randomly.

I glared at Dad with my disheveled hair and focused eyes, and he smiled, folding his eyes gently.

“Why are you bothering me?”

“You had a strange expression.”

“It’s not strange.”

“Smile. It suits you better.”

I puffed my cheeks.

“Sir, your smile annoys me.”

“Again with ‘sir’? Did you confiscate my father?”

I pouted, and Dad lifted me into his arms.

I need to clean the rosin.

Holding the violin, I looked up at him. Even from this angle, there was no humiliation. It felt unfair.

“Was my performance not good?”

“No, it was wonderful.”

“Then why didn’t you praise me? You only looked serious.”

“Our daughter… is just too amazing.”

What was that? Bowing for compliments?

I glared at him, and he smiled, lightly tapping my cheek. Always scheming something.

“Don’t perform in front of the mages.”

“Why?”

“If a mage hears this performance, they might go crazy.”

“?”

I asked what that meant, but Dad just laughed.

The crowd in the central plaza of the imperial capital looked up.

The white clouds hung like a painting in the clear blue sky slowly dispersed, revealing the edge of Sky Island.

“Wow!”

“The Sky Tower!”

Normally, Sky Island rises high enough to see the stars. Now that it had descended, a massive tower stretched skyward as if piercing the heavens.

The holy land of the mages, the central hub of the Mage Tower.

The home of all mages.

After 154 years, the appearance of the Sky Tower in Albrecht drew cheers from the crowd.

Imperial Palace Reception Room

Emperor Edward was gloomy.

“Even now, could I abdicate to Pession?”

“Do you really think that’s possible?”

The grandest social event of the Founding Festival had ended successfully, but in reality, the festival was just beginning.

A series of social events and festivals across the capital.

There was also the continent’s largest auction starting today and continuing for four days.

“I just want to live a peaceful life with Ajeni, but why does the empire have so many things to worry about?”

The Sky Tower’s arrival had been expected.

But what troubled Emperor Edward now was something else.

“Your Majesty, the guest has arrived.”

The master of the Sky Tower, the head of all towers, the idol of all mages.

Archmage Marsedes.

Seeing such a figure, like someone out of history books, Edward sighed deeply.

Why on earth would that heavy figure bother to rise?

“No word yet from Halbern? Will they skip tonight’s banquet?”

“They sent word that His Highness is indisposed due to overusing his powers.”

“Probably just doesn’t want to come.”

Remembering how he had left the first day of the ball just to fetch his daughter, Edward scolded the steward.

“Call him again. Bring him here!”

“Your Majesty…”

“I want to hear about that woman too. Bring him quickly.”

“…Should we send Pession?”

His son had already been making a fuss about wanting to go to Halbern.

Without proper precautions, sending him might risk losing the heir…

“Your Majesty, you must go to the audience chamber.”

“Yes, let’s see what the Sky Tower wants from me.”

Then:

“Your Majesty, urgent news from Duke Idikels!”

The world wouldn’t leave Emperor Edward alone.

Duke Idikels, Terrence

Today, as always, he looked up at the bright and clear skies of the Southern Empire, silently praying for Emperor Edward’s wellbeing.

Mostly wishing he lived a long life, so he could pay back all the troubles later!

Thanks to some blessing of an ancient god, the Southern Empire of Phytal maintained a mild climate year-round. Though smaller than Albrecht, it was a fertile country.

A very livable country, but…

“I want to go home.”

Six years ago, he was suddenly dispatched, and somehow still bound to duty, all he wanted was home.

Tap. Tap.

The steady, metronome-like tapping of his fingers on the desk snapped him out of his thoughts.

Turning around, he saw a dreary interior, the opposite of the sunny weather outside.

Even drearier was the owner of the room.

The true ruler of Phytal, Southern Empire.

Regent, Grand Duke Ludwig von Rock.

“The Duke of Halbern has returned to the capital?”