Chapter 28

"This is bad."

My fingers won't move on the piano.

Thinking back, it's been over 20 days since I last touched the keys. Recently, I haven't been practicing as much as I used to, so my lack of regular practice is catching up with me.

I took out the most difficult étude from the sheet music I have and tried to play it as accurately as possible. Once my fingers started to feel more comfortable, I switched to a march.

It's already been an hour.

The march, arranged like a symphony, requires a lot of effort.

I suddenly thought that I would probably have to perform it at the evening party, so I hurriedly asked for a change of clothes. However, I became anxious because my fingers wouldn't move as well as I hoped.

I should have practiced more.

I should have found time to touch the piano. I hesitated to ask the butler of the townhouse, who has been cold to me, to let me play.

I bit my lip in regret. But I don't want to give up here.

After concentrating for a while, I finally managed to play the low notes to my satisfaction, but my right pinky finger, which plays the high notes, wouldn't move.

Just as I placed my hands on the keys again, feeling frustrated, someone called out to me.

I turned around to see Lord Joshua, and the knights Naga and Leopold waiting.

Both are viscounts under the jurisdiction of the Earl of Carving.

They are representing the knights at the evening party, and also to make their presence known in society.

Since the Earl of Carving oversees the southeastern region, it's important to expand the faces of his subordinates in such social settings.

It seems the time has come.

"Shall we go soon?"

"…Yes."

"Are you nervous?"

Lord Joshua asked with a wry smile.

"No, I can't play the piece well."

Lord Joshua looked surprised.

"I think you can play it well enough. …I'm glad. You looked so serious. Weren't you cold?"

Lord Joshua glanced at the butler.

Scary. His face is really terrifying!

I suddenly feel cold.

The butler, with a pale face, bowed and apologized.

Come to think of it, there was no fire in this salon.

There are still such acts of spite here and there.

It has improved a lot, but this time, I was so engrossed in the piano that I didn't notice.

"No, I was so focused while playing that I didn't feel cold."

Lord Joshua exhaled softly and told the two knights to go ahead.

This is tough, he thought, but didn't show it.

To be honest, Lord Joshua's control over Carving is completely lacking.

In a situation where orders from the top cannot be passed down, it was perhaps natural that he first focused on the domain's army.

After all, the area borders other countries, and when the surrounding areas start to show signs of unrest, the army must be mobilized. If the army is not reliable, it's impossible to live in peace.

I only recently learned that when Lord Joshua inherited the family and officially returned to the domain, the first thing he did was to use military force to stop the illegal mining of diamond mines by the neighboring country of Goll, which was being done on a national scale.

Since the Carving domain's army was unreliable, he borrowed the royal army to drive away the immigrants near the border with Goll.

The nobles who governed the border areas had, unbelievably, colluded with the Goll side, evicted the original inhabitants, and used people brought in by Goll, who were almost like slaves, to smuggle diamonds to other countries.

Lord Orsein, who was governing on behalf of Lord Joshua, had, incredibly, taken a noblewoman from Goll as his mistress and had her live in the Gil-Ganzena Castle.

It's too unsanitary, and I, a child, can't quite understand it.

I never imagined that the Gil-Ganzena Castle, where I live, was the stage for such a suspenseful drama of love and hate.

The darkness runs deep.

But, a thematic melody came to mind, and I got a bit carried away. The fact that I composed a piece after hearing that story is scary and unhealthy.

Lord Joshua stopped the maid who was about to put a coat on me.

He took out a necklace and hairpin that looked expensive. They were probably real.

"…These are diamonds and topazes from Carving. That hairpin is probably glass. I can't have you wear such a fake when representing Carving."

This is why I dislike evening parties.

The higher the status of the evening party, the higher the status of the people who gather, and the more elaborate their attire.

Even though it's necessary, I can't shake the feeling that I'm being dressed up beyond my capabilities.

No matter how much I'm dressed up, my heart doesn't feel light.

After all, everything is borrowed.

The items given to me as a priestess of Etua are for the merit of preparing the ground for the priestess.

Since I am a temporary resident in the Etua Temple, everything feels fake to me.

If only I had something I could be proud of, something I earned with my own efforts.

Thinking about it, I felt a bit sad to take off the hairpin.

A kind reward from someone who genuinely enjoyed the music I created with my own hands is more valuable than luxurious jewels for maintaining authority.

My small hands can only accept what I am satisfied with.

No good.

My pride is hurt by the fact that my piano skills have declined, and I'm being stubborn. Since I'm heading to the battlefield of the social scene, I need to switch gears and behave properly.