Ch.79Long Days, Long Nights (4)

Ding-

The sound of the keyboard makes me think of so many things.

As the sound changes toward the right or left, I briefly lose myself in it,

and then slowly close my eyes and pull out a score from my memory.

There are quite a few pieces where piano and violin performances blend together, and among them, there was one I particularly liked.

Irene handled the violin better than I expected.

Perhaps if she had been born in my era, she would have been called an excellent violinist.

A piece that could showcase her unique technique and blend well with my accompaniment.

Saint-Saëns, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso.

The performance time was only about 9 minutes, not too long,

and with Irene’s skill… it was a piece she could master with just a bit of practice.

It could be called an extremely romantic piece.

It was a piece that started with a lyrical and romantic introduction and captured the passion of Spain and the beauty of Italy.

If we could successfully complete this performance,

perhaps it would give us another chance to advance our relationship.

I clear my thoughts. Since I was playing the piano after a long time, I slowly loosened my hands and began pressing the keys.

This piece originally showcases the violin.

It was originally composed for violin and orchestra, so the piano naturally tends to be overshadowed.

But could I allow that?

I didn’t really want all the attention to be on Irene.

Of course, as she said, we would be on stage together, but still… I suppose I’m a bit jealous.

The performance intensifies. The lyrical introduction at the beginning? I discard it.

The expertise I’ve built over a decade adds fortissimo to the gentle introduction. Strongly, even more strongly.

Allegro ma non troppo, the score said not to play too forcefully.

Perhaps the piano might stand out too much and overshadow the violin, but what does that matter?

I was well aware of the risk that the piece might be ruined.

But there was a reason I could stand out among so many pianists.

Because it was possible. Even if the piece changed, I could still make it work.

The mood of the piece changes. The rondo with Spain’s unique passionate atmosphere repeats.

This part… I didn’t think it needed any changes.

The lingering effect of swallowing the violin’s presence in the introduction would continue.

Then comes the Capriccioso.

This was the part I considered the climax of the piece.

A part that could be played fantastically with a free and excited feeling.

In this part, I intended to devour the violin.

So much so that no one would be able to look at the violin,

Irene might not like that, but what does it matter?

The piece gradually became more cheerful. The elegance and romantic atmosphere of the beginning was ultimately for this final part.

To gently draw people in, and then at the end, have them completely immersed in the piece and its lingering impression.

If played well, it could be a truly fearsome piece. Like a swamp, it draws people in and completely consumes them in its atmosphere.

…It was quite a flashy piece for a congratulatory performance. But congratulations wasn’t the only purpose.

Perhaps it would create a good situation to use the hand mirror.

Isn’t a hand mirror an appropriate tool for fixing disheveled hair after playing the violin?

I confirmed that Roman Gado would also be attending, and since it was the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration, no mediocre people would be attending.

Ding-

As I struck the last note of the score, I quietly spoke to the presence I felt in the distance.

“I know you’re listening.”

If you’re going to hide, wouldn’t it be better to hide properly?

As I carefully covered the piano keys with the lid, the door opened slightly and Irene’s face peeked through the gap.

“…You knew all along?”

“I knew from the moment I started playing the piano.”

“That attitude is not good for a knight. You need to study more about etiquette.”

Irene retorted with a calm attitude and slightly cold eyes. Somehow, it reminded me of when we first met.

Back then, didn’t she give me a book about etiquette? That book would still be on my bookshelf somewhere.

Thinking about that, I smiled slightly, and Irene looked at me with narrowed eyes and spoke.

“So, is this the piece we’re going to perform?”

“Isn’t it good? Though the violin part might be a bit different.”

“…Hmm.”

After pondering slightly, she eventually approached me and examined the score on the piano.

Come to think of it, she could have asked where I got this score from.

Is she thinking about it on her own?

If someone asks about the origin of this piece later, I planned to say it was from an unknown minstrel.

I could have said I composed it myself, but that would be a bit too much for my conscience.

“Not bad.”

Expressing her great approval in a roundabout way, she continued speaking while slowly examining the score.

“It seems like it will need a lot of practice though.”

“That’s enough.”

I had no intention of making Irene stand out in the first place. The more the gap between her and me widened, the better.

I didn’t know what she thought, but I had no intention of yielding. While she was examining the score,

I got up from the long bench and brought the violin I had placed in a corner and handed it to Irene.

“It’s been quite a while, hasn’t it? Playing the violin, I mean.”

“It’s been a few months. I’m not sure if I can do well.”

Despite saying that, Irene skillfully held the violin and slowly began to play the strings.

And the moment that bow moved, I let out a chuckle at the melody that reached my ears.

I’m pretty sure I just showed her the score, but the sight of her playing Saint-Saëns’ piece, albeit clumsily… isn’t that cheating?

Her snow-white hair flowed down, blending with her black dress.

And I saw her eyes gently closed as she held the glossy violin.

The violin was an elegant instrument. It wasn’t called the “queen of instruments” for nothing.

The diverse and brilliant melodies that emanate from that small frame,

the sight of someone handling such an instrument well was a powerful temptation that could captivate one’s gaze the moment it came into view.

And her innate excellent performance skills and sensitivity.

It was by no means easy to play a piece immediately after seeing the score.

No matter how gentle and restrained the introduction might be, for someone who hadn’t played for months to play a piece right after seeing the score.

If I had met her as a pianist rather than as Evan Fried, couldn’t we have maintained a pretty good relationship?

But it was all useless fantasy, so I quietly listened to her performance and began looking for points to correct.

There were many points to correct, and the night was also long. So, I understood why Irene’s expression darkened as she glanced at my eyes.

Screech-

With a sharp sound, the violin performance was cut off, and Irene, clearing her throat, gave me a strange look.

As if fearing what I was about to say, her gaze slowly turned downward.

But what could I do? As much as I disliked her standing out,

I had to at least ensure she wouldn’t be embarrassed.

“Miss.”

“There was… a little mistake. Yes, I’m aware of that part, so slowly-“

“Rofena would do better than that.”

It was time to be a bit strict.

#

Performance was a task that followed physical fatigue rather than mental fatigue.

Even after just 2-3 complete performances, the body would be completely exhausted.

Although Irene was quite fit, she couldn’t help but be completely drained after several performances.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen Irene in such a disheveled state, hasn’t it?

Looking at her with a faint smile, my face gradually hardened at the thought that came to mind.

…It seems like this is the first time I’ve seen her like this.

“Are you alright?”

Of course, I was also worried on one hand.

Although she wasn’t suffering from overwork like before, I still felt sorry for making her like this, as she still performed various duties as the young head of the family.

But Irene only shook her head in response to my words. Perhaps I pushed her too hard?

After staring at her slumped figure for a while, I finally sighed deeply and slowly moved behind Irene.

The violin puts a lot of strain on the shoulders and neck. After all, you have to use those muscles to support the instrument.

Loosening the muscles was quite important for performers,

which is why I always received care from a professional masseur.

But there’s no professional masseur now, is there?

“Excuse me for a moment.”

It was just a slight movement, but each and every action was filled with numerous thoughts.

Is it okay for me to do this? Would Irene say something?

And finally, would I be unable to control myself?

My hand trembled precariously in the air.

Irene’s snow-white hair flowed down over the desk, revealing her pale nape.

The soft, fine hairs that peeked out from under her hair caught my eye, and I let out a heated breath.

I was just going to massage her. There was no need for strange thoughts.

Perhaps she was really tired, as she showed no reaction even though I came behind her, making my heart race.

By now, she would normally ask what I was doing, but despite me saying I would excuse myself, she remained silent.

What could this mean? Many thoughts came to mind,

but I deliberately cleared my mind and placed my hand on that pale, slender nape.

“Mmh.”

As soon as my hand touched her neck, Irene let out a small moan.

My body trembled for a moment, but I slowly opened my mouth to reassure her.

“Evan…?”

“It’s alright. I’m just trying to loosen your neck.”

The slightly stiffened nape gradually began to relax.

It meant she trusted my words, and also that I could now have this level of contact with Irene.

It took 4 years to get here. 4 years, I took a quiet breath and gradually applied more strength to the hand holding her nape.

It was such a slender neck. So much so that it was completely covered when I placed my two hands on it.

Soft, and as soon as I gently caressed it, I could feel the cervical vertebrae. I slowly stroked down her nape.

“It tickles…”

A weak voice reached my ears.

Honestly, there was no need to stroke it… perhaps it’s right to think I was satisfying a bit of my personal desire.

Slowly composing myself, I lightly touched behind her ear with my finger.

And then I gently, and without causing pain, pressed firmly with my thumb.

“Mmmmh.”

I tightly closed my eyes at the moan that immediately erupted.

Hmm, it seemed like I was reaping the fruits of the patience I had cultivated all this time. All my senses responded sharply.

Vision? Blocked. If I opened my eyes here, I would lose even the little patience I was holding onto.

I focused entirely on the sensation under my hands. The soft skin that twitched every time the tips of my fingers brushed against it,

I lightly pressed the tip that rose at the end of the soft skin.

The moment my finger touched the reddened tip, Irene’s shoulders jerked.

Covering her mouth with her hand, Irene panted heavily as she trembled, trying hard to suppress the sounds escaping.

Of course, what I touched with my finger was the cervical vertebra.

“You seem quite tense.”

Shouldn’t I have done this earlier? As I firmly pressed the side of her nape, Irene clenched her fist as if in pain.

When I thought that was enough for the neck, I moved my hands to grip Irene’s shoulders.

Just enough not to hurt, just enough to loosen the muscles.

“E-Evan. Wait a moment. Mmh, it hurts. Just wait-“

Unlike before, Irene, whose shoulders I gripped, let out a heated breath.

With the tips of her ears completely reddened, Irene looked at me with narrowed eyes as she wiped her completely flushed face.

Touching the nape I had massaged, she wiped the sweat that had flowed down her reddened cheeks and opened her mouth.

“…Do you like it?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked if you like doing whatever you want with my body.”

At those words, I felt as if my words were completely blocked. I should respond,

but her half-closed eyes seemed to pierce right through my heart. I could only stare at her blankly with my mouth tightly shut.

Looking at her exposed shoulders due to the slightly lowered dress, she let out a small laugh and adjusted her clothes.

“…Pervert.”

At that cold gaze, all I could do was smile bitterly.

#

-Mmmmh…

The moment she heard that sound, Rofena’s body, which was heading towards Irene without much thought, stiffened.

What had she just heard? The thoughts in her mind were suddenly cut off,

and her lips parted slightly at the thought that had suddenly turned completely white.

“Miss…?”

Clearly, her mistress was beyond this door. And she also knew that her mistress’s knight was with her.

The moment she recalled what kind of relationship her mistress and the knight had, Rofena covered her mouth and widened her eyes.

‘Oh my goodness.’

-E-Evan, wait a moment. Mmh, it hurts. Just wait-

The panting voice mixed with sensual breaths, wasn’t it clearly her mistress’s voice?

Her cheeks turned red. If such a voice was heard in a situation where they were alone,

Rofena knew well that it meant only one thing.

And in such a situation, it was certainly not good for her to enter the room.

She recalled the expressionless face her mistress always wore.

And imagining such a mistress breaking down and making such sounds,

she had no idea how to face the two of them.

It seemed like just yesterday that she was worried about them just holding hands, but when did they become like this?

Rofena’s body, leaning against the wall, slowly collapsed towards the floor.

What face should she show her mistress tomorrow?

Even though the moaning had stopped, Rofena couldn’t even dare to knock on the door.

She just sat there for a long time, waiting for that door to open.