Chapter 19

"Miss, it seems to be letter day today. Nate, Prince Aubrey, Carrie, and Noah have all sent you letters."

With that, Rose showed Melissa four letters.

This place is the Apollo Palace within the Telfort Imperial Castle, a palace for the imperial court musicians where Melissa lives and attends the Imperial Magic Academy every day. The Apollo Palace has a proper servants' quarters, so Melissa has hired Rose as her personal maid.

Rose, who had said, "If I can feel at ease knowing that Miss is living without worries, I will live in Rothon permanently," now says that she will not leave Melissa's side until Melissa gets married. Josh, who heard this on the day of the entrance ceremony, said, "Next, she might say she'll stay until she sees Miss's children," with his usual gentle smile.

Nate, Bray, Carrie, and Noah all entered the Wainwright Magic Academy, so Melissa ended up attending the Imperial Magic Academy alone. She didn't participate in the entrance ceremony and started a week late, feeling very lonely without Bray and the others and worried about making friends.

Melissa thought her anxiety stemmed from being disliked by Jacqueline before entering the noble academy, but it seemed that she always felt nervous and anxious about new encounters. When Melissa entered the classroom, Jacqueline was sitting next to her.

Jacqueline, who had been removed from the list of candidates for the engagement to the First Prince Eldred and had her foster relationship with the Hammond Duke dissolved, had returned to her birth family, the Earl's household. As a former candidate for the First Prince's engagement and a former duke's daughter, attending the noble academy was like hell for her. Amelia, who was her only supporter, was engaged to Prince Eldred, and Jacqueline had believed they were best friends. After learning about their engagement and struggling at home, Jacqueline dropped out of the noble academy and moved to the empire to live as a commoner, relying on her relatives.

She apologized for feeling inferior to Melissa due to their different backgrounds when they were 10 and congratulated her on becoming a court musician. It seemed that Amelia had seen through her inferiority and used it. Melissa replied that she wanted to be friends again as they used to be.

After that, it seemed like their friendship would grow, but Jacqueline had already made friends with other commoner students during the first week after the entrance ceremony. In a magic academy where most students were nobles, the commoner students with special circumstances, like Melissa and the four of Bray, leaned on each other and formed friendships, just as they did at the noble academy. Melissa felt lonely not being able to join them but was relieved that Jacqueline wasn't alone.

The reason Melissa didn't get close to Jacqueline and the others was that she didn't want to be a burden to them, who were helping each other. This was because, to the imperial citizens, a court musician was called a "living national treasure" and was deeply loved and respected.

The magic academy, which was mostly attended by the children of nobles, had almost the same students as the noble academy. Until now, Melissa had been treated as an insignificant exchange student, but after becoming a court musician beloved by the citizens of the empire, she became a precious treasure that everyone took care of.

Melissa had her own spacious piano practice room with a washroom and spectator seats. Whenever she played the piano in the practice room during breaks or free periods, the spectator seats were always full. The seat allocation and reservations were managed by volunteers, and it seemed to be based on the guidelines from about 20 years ago when there was a court musician student.

Melissa leads such an unusual school life. She doesn't have specific friends, but she's not lonely.

If Melissa were to sneeze during class, the teacher would rush over to check if the classroom air conditioning was set correctly. For lunch, 2-3 people take turns each day, and the order is managed. When Melissa suggested making it easier for her, people would talk to her about questions or their impressions of her performances. They were thorough in considering her mood and health, even waiting for her to speak first.

Melissa received four letters from Rose and read Nate's letter first.

Nate seemed to be getting along well with Bray and Noah, and his letters always described their fun times together. The handsome Third Prince, who suddenly appeared, the hidden son of a border lord, and Bray, who now had the same face as Amelia, were standing out among the students. In the initial letters, Bray was surrounded by many students as a promising Third Prince, while Nate and Noah watched his growth from a distance. However, at some point, their friendship had changed to include Bray.

From last fall to the six months before entering the magic academy, Nate had been working as a kitchen apprentice under the dessert chef at the Prince's residence, taking the place of the king's son. Since he wasn't allowed to leave the residence, he could only communicate with Melissa through letters, but even that made her happy.

Nate's recent letters from the magic academy have become longer and more skillful with each letter. Nate, who is kind-hearted but a bit blunt in his words, has letters that have become more eloquent, which is very pleasing. There are also language classes in addition to magic classes at the magic academy. It seems that the reason for the previous short and disjointed letters was not due to laziness but because he had only attended a commoner school.

In today's letter from Nate, he wrote that he wants to open a cake shop in the empire. He and Bray and Noah went to a local confectionery shop for market research for this dream. Nate had been saving money to buy a truth-extracting magical tool to expose Amelia, and he plans to use those savings to start his business.

Melissa has her mother's inheritance and a salary as a court musician. When she told Rose that she wanted to use her money for Nate's startup capital, Melissa was scolded. It was said that it would trample on Nate's pride and that she shouldn't say anything until they were properly dating and married.

When Rose said "properly dating," Melissa realized that she had never expressed her feelings to Nate, nor had he to her. She had assumed they would always be together, but she was unsure if Nate felt the same. There were many girls at the magic academy, and there was a possibility that Nate might choose someone else.

Today's letter from Nate, of course, didn't mention any feelings for Melissa. This was because Melissa hadn't written her feelings for Nate in her letters to him. She thought that if she wanted Nate to say "I like you," she should also say it, but she couldn't. She hadn't realized that writing just one word, "I like you," would require so much courage.

Melissa put off replying to Nate and read Carrie's letter.

Carrie seemed to have made a female friend. She became friends with a cool girl who aspired to be a female knight, someone who was in a similar situation to Melissa before, being neglected by her family and compared to a younger sister. The girl was described as more gentlemanly than the now female Bray, and it seemed that Bray's groping behavior hadn't been forgiven by Carrie yet.

Carrie, who became friends with the beautiful Third Prince, initially faced jealousy from the girls. However, as a high-ranking noble, she didn't face overt harassment, but it was difficult for her to make close friends. Melissa was relieved that Carrie had found a nice friend.

Carrie's uncle, who had been trying to find the Third Prince and engage him to his niece, couldn't force Carrie to introduce Bray after she entered the dormitory. The property that was unjustly taken from Carrie, which should have been hers, was returned to her by the Prince, and she could live without relying on her family. Even the dormitory fees, which were required for those with a mansion in the capital, were paid by herself. Incidentally, the cousin who wanted to engage her to Bray was only 4 years old.

In the continuation of Carrie's letter, she wrote that the First Prince Eldred, who had lost his engagement to Amelia and the possibility of becoming the crown prince, was courting her.

Due to the testimony extracted by the truth-extracting magical tool, the illegal drug trafficking by the Queen's family was exposed. As a result, the First Prince Eldred and Prince Christopher, who only had the Queen's family as their backing, were in a difficult situation. Normally, their fiancées' families or close aides would support them, but no one was left around them. Their past actions were so bad that even the high-ranking nobles were searching for the hidden Third Prince. The First Prince Eldred, unable to find a new fiancée, was courting high-ranking noble daughters one by one.

Carrie's letter ended with her offering to introduce her 4-year-old cousin to the First Prince. Melissa wanted to ask Carrie in her reply whether she actually introduced her cousin or not.

Noah's letters were always about love advice.

They were always filled with his feelings for Carrie. Since Carrie wasn't there, Melissa couldn't give good advice. She had been consulting Rose about the contents of Noah's letters, but recently, Rose suggested, "Why don't you accidentally put Noah's letter in Carrie's letter?"

Melissa was considering whether to write Noah's reply as Rose suggested.

The last letter was from Bray.

It seemed that Bray's engagement had been decided. The fiancée was the granddaughter of the late Duke Johnston, Melissa's great-cousin, who was 10 years old. Melissa had never met her great-cousin but hoped they would get along well with the cheerful and easygoing Bray. He probably wouldn't grope a 10-year-old girl.

Melissa realized that Bray would likely become the Duke Johnston after marrying her great-cousin. The letters from everyone, especially Bray's, didn't mention their families. Bray's letters sometimes had odd sentences, and this one also had incoherent parts, as if he couldn't write why he was engaged to Melissa's great-cousin.

"Hey, Rose, do you know anything about the Johnston family?"

Rose, who would tell Melissa the truth even if it would make her sad, left the room and returned quickly.

"The Emperor gave me this letter to give you when you asked about it."

Rose handed Melissa a letter with her father's signature on the back.

--------------------

To Melissa,

It's late, but congratulations on becoming a court musician and on your 16th birthday.

My apologies are probably unnecessary for the current Melissa. I don't expect forgiveness from you. However, I hope you can allow me to write this letter to you now.

Amelia had been drugging my brother, Patrick, and our mother with a banned psychoactive drug. She was experimenting to see how much she could control us while we remained sane, as I learned from the Prince. During the years of her crimes, you were not affected by the drugs while you were with the Duke's family, so please rest assured. This might be the retribution for neglecting you and prioritizing Amelia.

When the drug intake stopped, severe side effects appeared. I was fortunate to only experience heightened sensitivity and tremors for about a month, but my elderly mother began to hallucinate and is now in the hospital.

Patrick, affected by the drugs and his pre-existing mental fragility, attempted suicide by poisoning himself. Fortunately, it was unsuccessful, and he survived. However, his memory is hazy, and he doesn't remember Vanessa or you. He only remembers me, calling me a demon who took away his piano.

You might not remember, but when you became captivated by the piano, Patrick was also deeply moved by it. It was I who took the piano away from him and forbade him from playing.

I didn't write this letter to make you worry about the family. I've been hesitant about sending this letter, but I have one request for you.

I hope you don't see Patrick.

Patrick, with his hazy memory, is playing the piano. His playing is clumsy compared to what you heard at the magic academy's entrance ceremony, but sometimes he produces a melody that is incredibly beautiful. It makes me wonder what the future would have been like if both you and Patrick had been allowed to play the piano.

I know that Patrick, starting to play the piano now, could never surpass you, who have become a court musician. Patrick will be taking a leave of absence from the magic academy for treatment, and he might have to wear magic-sealing bracelets on his arms, which would affect his piano playing.

I am preparing to live as a viscount in a rural area, having transferred the title of Duke Johnston to a relative. I will take Patrick with me and take care of him.

I want Patrick to live the rest of his life enjoying the piano. I don't want him to remember the past and start hating you again. At least, I want to protect the happy Patrick who is now playing the piano. I don't know if this is the right decision, but I have made it to separate you and Patrick.

If you have more than two children and they become interested in music, they might struggle with comparisons or the shadow of your talent. If that happens, I hope you can provide them with a place to escape. You can consider me as one of those places.

The boy who looks like Amelia is a commoner. If you need help as a noble, don't hesitate to contact me. Even as a viscount, I might be able to help. Remember that this promise is valid as long as I am alive, even if we don't communicate again.

This will be the last letter I write to you. I won't visit you, but I might secretly listen to your performances, being careful not to be noticed.

I know it's harsh to tell you not to see Patrick. Forget about me and be happy.

I was a father who should not have had children, seeing only Vanessa. You are not at fault. Being born as my child was a misfortune for both Patrick and you. I am truly sorry.

When I met Vanessa, I had become the same kind of person I once despised in my mother. I had forgotten that Vanessa said she didn't want to be seen only as Daria, like my mother Ada. I also failed to honor Vanessa's last words, entrusting Patrick and you to me.

I am sorry for not being a good father to you.

I remember the tiny hands of the newborn Melissa in Vanessa's arms. When I heard "The Time of Parting," I couldn't stop crying, thinking about how those tiny hands could produce such a wonderful performance.

You don't need to worry about me. I hope you continue to live happily as you have. I pray for your long-lasting happiness.

Elijah

--------------------

Imagining what it would have been like if I had been forbidden from playing the piano while my brother continued to play, I think I would have gone mad. Thinking about my brother's smile when he listened to my piano playing at the Duke's house, my chest ached with a suffocating sadness.

After reading this letter from my father, I don't know what to think or what to do. I don't feel like asking anyone else for their opinion. Maybe when I've grown more and experienced more, I'll understand. For now, I'll keep the letter in my treasure box and read it again when I feel I've grown.

The school is about to start summer break. The first half of the break, I plan to go to the capital of Wainwright, and then spend time in Rothon with Nate. I've consolidated my work as a court musician for the second half of the break, with the Emperor's permission.

In the capital of Wainwright, Amelia's execution is scheduled.

Amelia was ultimately found guilty of six murders, including those of Nate's parents, the Viscount Mills couple, and Melissa's former maid, as well as arson, fraud, illegal drug use, assisted suicide, and illegal modification of magical tools. It took nearly four months to gather all the testimonies, during which she was subjected to the truth-extracting magical tool. Since there was no hope for her repentance, the side effects of the truth-extracting magical tool might have been prolonged to help the victims feel some closure.

The execution is open only to the victims and their families. Attendance is not mandatory. Melissa was considering whether to attend, but after reading her father's letter, she decided to witness Amelia's execution.

-----

During the summer break, Melissa and Nate arrived at a plain, black palace in the far northeast corner of the Wainwright royal castle grounds, a place Melissa had never visited, even though she used to visit the castle four times a week.

In the audience, besides Nate and Melissa, there were a few newspaper reporters and Prince Christopher. The victims of Amelia's schemes and experiments, including Melissa's former maid, had no family. Prince Christopher, who was using his royal authority to be there despite not being a victim, was crying in a corner. Nate had told Melissa that there were still followers of Amelia at the magic academy.

Amelia, who appeared at the execution site, looked thinner and had shorter hair than on the day of the entrance ceremony. Nevertheless, she walked to the guillotine with a straight back and composed steps, as if she were a new student representative walking onto the stage, and placed her head on the block without resistance.

Then, Amelia's execution was over.

Just before her execution, Amelia looked at Nate in the audience with a face that resembled a lost child. Perhaps that was her true expression.

After the execution, the Prince appeared before the stunned and silent Nate and Melissa.

"Long time no see, both of you."

The Prince told Nate