Chapter 11

There is a contradiction in the settings, so I am making excuses in the activity report. If you are concerned, I would be grateful if you could check today's activity report, dated 2023/07/28.

Before Nate's treatment, Melissa asked Josh and Rose, "Do you know how to become a pianist for the Empire?" She asked this before the treatment because Melissa, who was nervous about touching Nate's face, wanted to prolong the time before the treatment.

"I don't know much about the Empire, but I've heard that anyone with enough talent can become a court musician. Also, court musicians are the emperor's property, and if they are killed, it's not considered murder but rather destruction of property. However, since it's the emperor's property, the punishment is as severe as murder."

Josh's eyes widened in surprise and then he shared some slightly off-topic knowledge. While being warned about murder with a smile, Melissa wondered for a moment whether the advice was from the perspective of the perpetrator or the victim, but then decided it didn't matter at that moment.

If anyone can become a court musician, does that mean foreigners and commoners are also eligible? And how much freedom does the emperor's property have?

"Miss! I'll be leaving the room for a moment to get something. Is that alright?"

After Rose was given permission to leave, the sound of her quick footsteps could be heard, and after a while, she returned, out of breath, carrying a thick envelope.

"Here, I asked an acquaintance to buy these sheet music in Reeves for you. I had prepared them to celebrate your perfect control of magic, but since I gave them to Nate last night, I was planning to give them to you tonight."

Reeves is the neighboring border barony of Roton, which borders the Empire. Melissa had talked about the Empire's sheet music while on the carriage from the capital to Roton. Rose must have remembered and obtained them for her.

"How many are there? There must be a lot of men willing to go to Reeves for you, Rose."

"Eight! Some people even bought more than two each."

Rose is in high demand in Roton. While Rose answered Josh's question brightly, it's unclear how many people actually went to buy the music.

"Seven are sheet music, but one is a book introducing composers and pianists. I only flipped through it, so I don't know the content, but I hope it has some useful information..."

Rose handed her the envelope containing the books.

"Thank you, Rose."

Even when she had a concussion and her family didn't visit, Rose had patted her head and came with her on the three-day carriage ride from the capital to Roton. Melissa felt a warm sensation in her eyes and firmly resolved in her heart that she must ensure Rose is not blamed when she leaves the Johnston family.

The four of them looked at the books Rose had brought. The title was "Modern Telfort Court Musicians," and Telfort is the name of the Empire.

—Court musicians are the highest-ranking musicians who serve in the Telfort Palace for the emperor's enjoyment and various banquets.

There was only a simple sentence about court musicians. The book introduced each musician on a single page, including pianists, composers, conductors, violinists, and even performers of instruments Melissa had never heard of.

"This 'Telfort International Music Competition' seems suspicious."

The introductions included brief biographies, and Josh's comment made them notice the phrase "Apollos Award winner at the Telfort International Music Competition." Apollos is the name of a great composer from Telfort, known as the father of music even outside the Empire. Those whose family names were not mentioned or whose names clearly indicated they were from outside the Empire had all won the Apollos Award.

Feeling reassured by Josh and Rose's friendly reactions, Melissa decided to tell them boldly.

"I want to leave the Johnston family and become a pianist for the Empire."

She explained why she wanted to be a pianist for the Empire rather than her own country, as she had to Josh last night, looking at the two of them seriously.

"Mr. Josh, I want to leave the Johnston family. Can you hire me here without a letter of recommendation?"

Upon hearing her explanation, Rose asked Josh. This Roton manor is on the Johnston family's land, but only Josh and his son have direct contracts with the Johnston family; the other servants are employed by Josh.

"That's a bit premature. But if it becomes necessary, of course, I will hire you. In the worst case, we can get married and change your family name so it won't be noticed. Rose can change a family name in three days."

While the salary and social status of a duchess's maid and a rural manor's maid are incomparable, Rose seems to be fine with it.

"Of course. As it is, if I am asked by the Johnston family, I cannot avoid answering. I wanted them to know that I am willing to leave the Johnston family if it means helping Miss become a pianist. ... Besides, if I can ensure that Miss can live without worries, I was considering leaving the Johnston family and settling in Roton. I intended to stay with Miss as long as she needed me, but I planned to return to this beautiful lakeside in the end."

Even when she was with the Johnston family, Rose had always answered Melissa's questions honestly, even if they were painful. Since coming to Roton, their conversations had increased, and Melissa had come to understand Rose's kindness. She realized that Rose had been doing her job diligently and would not have mentioned sad facts unless asked. Because Rose is so serious, she must have decided to leave the Johnston family if she were to help Melissa run away.

Feeling ashamed for having doubted Rose even a little before consulting her, Melissa listened to Rose's earnest words.

"Miss, Nate, Rose, this is our secret among the four of us. We must not let any other servants or anyone else know. This is not because we distrust the other servants, but to protect them from getting into trouble. If we need help, we must consult the four of us first. Well, secrets tend to leak out unexpectedly, so let's not stress about it and take it easy."

Thus, Josh and Rose agreed to help Melissa become a pianist for the Empire.

After Josh's words, Nate, who had been silent, finally spoke.

"My aunt works in the Reeves border barony. I haven't seen her in six years, but she sent me a book about the Empire's confections after hearing from my mother that I was helping at a bakery. She might be able to provide information on how to become a court musician for the Empire."

Nate, who had never revealed anything about his past before coming to Roton, had now shared his background for Melissa's sake. Josh and Rose understood Nate's feelings for Melissa.

"Then, let's write to your aunt. How about this: a very talented pianist, Nate, has a dear friend who wants to become a court musician."

Nate's mouth twisted at Josh's words. Melissa could tell he was worried.

"My aunt is my mother's sister, but I haven't told her that my mother died a year and a half ago. Moreover, I'm not sure if she will cooperate honestly with me, who had disappeared. ... After my mother died in a fire, I couldn't pay the rent alone, so I decided to go to my aunt in Reeves rather than burden the bakery owner. On the way to Reeves, I collapsed due to untreated burns and woke up in the Roton orphanage. Since then, I haven't been able to figure out how to tell my aunt about my mother, and with the burns, I couldn't even hold a pen. As time passed, I became more and more unsure of what to say, and even after I could hold a pen again, I couldn't bring myself to contact my aunt, and I ended up staying here."

"Write it as it is. Your aunt must be worried that you haven't received any letters from your mother. Your mother is waiting for your aunt to mourn her. Come on! Kids don't overthink things! If your aunt says something harsh, I'll comfort you."

"I don't need it!"

Being kicked out of the house where he lived alone after a terrible burn must have been incredibly frightening. Melissa had lamented being abandoned by her father, but she had come to Roton in a carriage with Rose, without any hardship. Compared to Nate, her misfortunes seemed insignificant.

It seems there are some difficult circumstances regarding his mother that Nate is not ready to share with his aunt, but Melissa will wait for him to talk about it when he is ready. If it's not necessary for him to tell her, it's fine to keep it to himself.

"For now, Nate will write to his aunt. And I will delay reporting to the Johnston family that Miss has mastered magic control and no longer leaks magic. We don't know what will happen."

"About that, I didn't tell Miss because I didn't want to upset her, but even if she reports that her magic no longer leaks, she won't be sent back to the capital. I don't think Amelia would train to return to the capital. ... Most students panic and train just before graduation because they can't graduate from the magic academy without perfect magic control. In my student days, the more magic a student had, the more they struggled, so I kept quiet, thinking it wouldn't be a waste in the future. ... I'm sorry."

Melissa was surprised that she was the only one who didn't realize that mastering magic control wouldn't make a difference. This is probably why she was easily manipulated by Amelia, and she felt she wasn't suited for the nobility. However, unlike when she was with the Johnston family, she didn't feel depressed. There's no need to be overly pessimistic just because of a flaw.

"I see. You're right. I'm sorry for making you worry, Rose."

"No, it's my fault for keeping it from you. And there's one more concern. The roots of Miss's hair are turning golden. My classmate's hair color changed completely from the time they entered the noble school to graduation, so I think Miss will have blonde hair in about three years. If that happens, the Duke of Johnston will never allow her to run away."

Melissa knew that some people's hair color changes as they grow, but she didn't expect it to happen to her. She couldn't see the roots turning golden in the mirror, but as her maid, Rose noticed it early.

"Although it's hard to tell at first glance because Miss is more active and can dip her feet in the Roton lake, upon closer inspection, Miss and Vanessa have the same eye and nose shape. I'm sure in a few years, Miss will become a beautiful lady like Vanessa. ... Vanessa's bright, illuminating presence suited her red eyes, but Miss's gentle, calm demeanor, like the waves of the Roton lake, suits her blue eyes."

Seeing Josh's kind smile and his unabashed praise, Melissa, Rose, and Nate all thought he must have been quite popular in his youth.

"The Duke of Johnston only has eyes for Vanessa. He is obsessed with her and shows little interest in anyone else, even his children. Although Amelia has the same hair and eye color as Vanessa, their facial features are completely different. Still, the Duke of Johnston is obsessed with Amelia because of her subtle mannerisms and the way she speaks, which are hard to put into words but create a similar atmosphere. I didn't realize Amelia's malice until that tea party. The Duke of Johnston is now obsessed with Amelia as a substitute for Vanessa, but if Amelia ever gets tired of it, I think she will stop acting and present Miss, who has grown to look like Vanessa, to the Duke."

Melissa was impressed by how well Rose had observed her father and Amelia. She wondered if things would have been different if she had consulted Rose instead of her grandmother at the time, but she realized that the two of them, crushed by the cold atmosphere of the Johnston family, would have ended up fleeing in fear just as they did now.

"If Miss was seeking the Duke's love, it would have been fine, but if she wants to become a pianist in the Empire, she must not let Amelia or the Duke of Johnston see her."

Melissa shivered as if a cold snake was crawling up her legs.