Chapter 14

Belsamum, the maid, had offered to fetch it, but I returned to my room to get the letter myself.

It was a separate building within the castle grounds. The small hut, which sounded much better than it actually was, was where I slept in the carving room.

At first, I was told that a piano couldn't be placed there, so I stormed off to the temple outside the castle and lived there for four months. When Lord Joshua returned to the capital after the parliamentary session and the social season ended, he was surprised to learn that I was living in the temple and hurriedly came to fetch me. He even made sure to place a piano for me.

Lord Joshua seemed unaware that a room in the garden was prepared for me, and when he was invited to have a room inside the castle, I politely declined, as the head butler said I couldn't enter the castle until the priestess princess, who would become the lady of the manor, arrived. Bernard apologized profusely, thinking I had misinterpreted Lord Joshua's words.

Bernard knew that being recommended as a songstress from the temple usually meant being welcomed as the lady of the manor, and he had heard that Lord Joshua had declined. Yet, a woman who had been a songstress came as a priestess. Bernard mistakenly thought that this was an attempt to create a fait accompli.

The guards who accompanied me to the carving room had told me that I seemed to be targeting the lord's wife, and I thought it was important to clarify things from the start.

There were many rumors and misunderstandings, and after being exposed to so much malice, I couldn't trust anyone, so I firmly refused to stay in a room inside the castle.

I had grown accustomed to the carefree life in the temple, despite the inconvenience, and had planned to live there for five years. However, it was imprudent for a woman to live alone, and the security was a concern, so I moved to the separate building in the castle grounds when I was at least asked to stay within the premises.

But it was a corner of the garden, separate from the main castle. It was dark, so Belsamum brought a light to follow me. I lifted the hem of my unfamiliar dress to avoid getting it dirty as I walked.

The clouds parted, and the moonlight shone on the garden.

It was beautiful.

Looking up, I saw a full moon. Although it was spring during the day, the nights were still cold. The light was clear and bright.

Ah, it's a spring night.

In the back of my mind, I heard the familiar sound of the pipe organ.

Suddenly, a wave of nostalgia hit me, and tears streamed down my face. Oh, my makeup will smudge. I can't let that happen.

"Arietty-sama?"

Belsamum called out to me with concern and offered me a handkerchief.

"Ah, I'm sorry. It's nothing."

I didn't take the handkerchief but pressed my hand to my face, and the tears stopped.

The spring festival is an important event for the temple. As a songstress, I sang hymns on the pipe organ, which was only used a few times a year, in the central grand temple. It was a special festival attended by the king and the royal family.

The prayers began at midnight and ended with the sunrise of the spring day.

Every year, the songstresses and I celebrated together. Despite the nervousness and the busy schedule, everyone was excited and dressed up for the occasion. We visited unusual shops at the market held before and after the spring festival and attended tea parties at the noble mansions when invited by acquaintances.

The same moon as back then.

I realized again that those happy days were over. Everyone had gone their separate ways, and I was no longer in a place where I could easily meet my friends. I might never see some of them again. In the confusion at the time, I didn't get to say a proper goodbye, but I wondered how they were doing.

To cut off the sadness, I hurriedly fetched my flute and returned to the grand hall.

I assembled the flute and discussed the arrangement of the pieces for the ensemble. Camilla-sama would play the main melody, Joshua-sama would provide the violin accompaniment and rhythm, and I would lead the arrangement.

Since this would be the last piece, I wanted a slow tempo.

I led the piece from a little behind, watching Camilla-sama, who was studying the score intently. Every time I tried to signal Joshua-sama, our eyes met. He was probably making sure not to miss any signals. He's really perfect.

I ended the piece early this time for Camilla-sama, who hadn't memorized it.

It ended up being a much simpler version, but Camilla-sama seemed satisfied. That's good.

Everyone still seemed to want to dance more, but I was tired from the early morning, so I excused myself. As the guest of honor, Joshua-sama escorted me to my room, carrying my luggage as well.

He praised my violin performance, and it seemed like he had changed quite a bit in just one day. Music is truly great.

But, it was tiring with all that happened.

I wish I could have talked more with Lady Romelia.