episode_0026
by fnovelpia
26. The Piano
Day 3 of the ball.
A week-long ball event.
The first three days were reserved for monarchs to exchange information and socialize.
By Day 6, the real powers of the empire—those bastards from the Ohyeong Faction—would muscle in and start their usual nonsense.
The final Day 7 featured the emperor himself, the highlight of the event.
Of course, the so-called emperor was merely a 14-year-old boy with no real power, so no one paid him much attention.
Considering the shameful incompetence displayed by the previous emperor, no one was particularly eager to meet him either.
In any case, the nobles had gathered once again at the ballroom today to mingle.
Among them, Erica stood out in an unusually extravagant dress, surveying her surroundings with smug satisfaction.
“You seem in good spirits, my friend.”
“Yes, incredibly so.”
By the third day, there wasn’t much new to discuss.
Factions naturally formed as like-minded individuals gravitated toward one another.
And beside Erica stood Cecilia, who had approached first.
“It’s getting boring faster than I expected.”
“Haha, isn’t that what noble parties are always like?”
Behind them, Alvarein Aldrens—the puppet ruler of Nigrem and a son-in-law taken into the family.
Raygar, who seemed eager to distance himself from Cecilia’s dimwitted brother, had also joined the group.
And Liriana Pendleton, silently smiling while concealing her thoughts.
The same clique formed on the second day had reassembled.
Cedric, Cecilia’s half-brother, was surrounded by sycophantic nobles angling for scraps of favor, laughing heartily all the while…
Erica found it fortunate that she wasn’t being lumped in with that fool.
“So, my friend. What joyous occasion has you smiling like this?
Yesterday, you were irritable all day because Cain hadn’t returned.”
“Not irritable. Just… something interesting is about to happen. Wait and see.”
Erica, smiling uncharacteristically, addressed her group.
At the mention of Cain’s name, Liriana’s expression nearly cracked, but—
When Erica glared at her, Liriana swiftly restored her usual pleasant smile.
About two hours later,
the party reached peak liveliness, and just as guests finished dining and began relaxing…
-CLANG “Who goes there?!”
The grand, opulent doors of the imperial ballroom clanged open.
Someone shouted in surprise, but soon realized no outsider would dare invade the emperor’s palace and fell silent.
In this moment of collective bewilderment, only Erica stepped forward to greet the unexpected arrival.
“You’re here, my fox.”
“My preparations delayed me.”
Cain, clad in a sharply tailored black suit—unlike his usual attire. Behind him, two dwarves carried a massive, exquisitely crafted black piano.
——————————————————
I was utterly screwed.
Before entering the imperial ballroom, I nervously chewed my nails in anxiety.
Was I unprepared?
No, everything was flawless.
The piano was impeccably finished, even fitted with wheels for easy transport.
Made from premium wood polished by the Huldra sisters, it wouldn’t break even if mishandled.
Just in case, I even had a bespoke suit tailored.
But the biggest problem remained…
“I don’t know how to play the piano….”
Anyone born around ’01 would remember:
Back in elementary school, there was a trend of sending kids to extracurriculars like Go academies or piano lessons.
I briefly attended piano classes, but of course, I’d forgotten everything by now.
Honestly, I’m not even sure when to press the black keys….
“We’re ready.”
“Should we move it now?”
Brook and Aitre, uninvited dwarves, hid their figures under hooded cloaks.
The thick fabric concealed their petite frames and disproportionately large chests.
Attending the Day 1 ball ensured smooth entry, and the piano had passed inspection.
Now, I had to perform in front of nobles.
With skills worse than an elementary schooler’s….
“Aitre, how about you play instead?”
“How could I…? I’m an uninvited guest, and unlike you, Cain, I’m no genius composer.”
Why she overestimates me, I’ll never know.
I’m an engineer, not Mozart….
Brook cutely raised a hand and declared:
“Promise me beer so sweet and cool I’ll get drunk, and I’ll play for you.”
I ignored her.
Left with no choice, I took a deep breath and shoved open the grand wooden doors of the ballroom.
As if waiting, Erica approached to greet me.
“You’re here, my fox.”
“My preparations delayed me.”
“That suit suits you.”
“I’m at a loss for words.”
Replying casually in my black suit, I fought nausea under the nobles’ sudden scrutiny—but retreating now was impossible.
Strong dwarves carried the piano to the center of the ballroom.
“That… is a strikingly beautiful object. The curves and contrast of black and white are truly artistic.”
“Grace’s subordinate, was it? Remarkably talented.”
“I might recruit commoners like him too.”
Perhaps rumors had softened hostility—nobles watched with curiosity, not disdain.
Only Cecilia’s half-brother Cedric fumed, eclipsed by the attention I stole.
Would he smash the piano with a hammer? Nervously, I quickened my pace to the center.
Hooded dwarves delivered the piano safely.
Erica seemed eager to greet Brook and Aitre but focused on me instead.
All eyes—Cecilia’s included—were glued to me.
Drenched in cold sweat internally, I maintained composure and bowed gracefully.
“This is an instrument I crafted myself.”
“In just two days.”
Erica added unnecessary flair.
“To create something like that in two days… My earlier assessment of you was accurate.”
Cecilia stood out among the murmuring nobles.
Her voluptuous figure and aristocratic poise tempted reason, but I held firm.
Debate-obsessed nobles grew louder.
I pressed a piano key.
-Ding♪
A beautiful, crisp note filled the ballroom.
“Good heavens… I’ve never heard such a sound in my life.”
“And such volume!”
“What’s the price?!”
Nobles showered excessive praise.
An outsider might deem it overacting, but to them, this instrument was revolutionary.
Medieval instruments were crude: gut-stringed acoustics with inconsistent scales, or shrill, limited wind instruments like recorders.
Tambourines and cymbals offered variety but lacked refinement.
Even Erica seemed awed by the piano’s tone, staring intently.
“You truly brought the perfect instrument.”
“Your order was my command.”
Playing along to bolster her image before nobles, I watched Erica beam—while Liriana seethed. Was it her time of the month?
Now came the dreaded performance.
Stalling, I explained the piano:
“It produces 88 distinct notes.
White keys—52 in total—are natural tones.
Black keys—36—are sharps and flats, enriching musical complexity.”
“88 notes! What a marvel.”
“Enriching…?”
Someone questioned my phrasing, but I turned swiftly to the piano.
Stretching my fingers theatrically, I loosened my wrists—a stall tactic that ironically heightened anticipation.
Now committed, I began playing.
-Mi, Re, Do, Re, Mi-Mi-Mi♬
First, the universal elementary anthem: “The Plane Takes Flight.”
A children’s melody echoing through the extravagant imperial ballroom.
Silence. Sweating, I finished flawlessly.
Catching my breath, I performed my second piece: “Chopsticks March,” playable even by kindergarteners.
Swinging rhythmically, I hammered out the tune with two fingers.
The room grew even quieter.
Not even a mouse stirred—only piano notes lingered.
Finishing, I clenched my eyes shut.
‘I’m totally screwed.’
Honestly, these two songs were all I knew.
I’d given my all.
Bracing for flying tomatoes, I waited…
-Clap clap clap
Applause erupted.
Sympathy? No—nobles seemed genuinely moved.
“A sound so glorious. Cedric Laxia doubts any instrument could better praise his achievements.”
Regardless of my skill, the medieval audience was enchanted by the novel timbre.
Like handsome men getting laughs for dad jokes?
Scratching my head, I bowed deeply in gratitude.
Erica approached, adjusting my black bowtie:
“You make me proud.”
“Thank you, Countess.”
“Earlier, you called me ‘lord,’ now ‘Countess’?”
Awkwardly laughing, I dodged her question—until a noble asked:
“What is this instrument called?”
“Ah, this?”
Eager faces turned to me.
I’d prepared a name:
“Un cembalo di cipresso di piano e forte”—the original term for “soft-loud harpsichord of cypress wood.”
But this was my creation. I could modify it.
Especially since Erica had been sulking about my recent absence—I owed her.
Meeting her gaze, I announced:
“The Erica Class Piano… or simply, ‘piano.’”
Derived from “Heracles,” it meant “Erica’s Glory.”
Touched, Erica fought to maintain composure under envious noble stares.
“Ahem… why abbreviate it to ‘piano’?”
“I’d rather others not utter my lord’s name carelessly.”
Erica burst into delighted laughter.
In high spirits, I kneeled and bowed.
“I have a small request.”
“Name it.”
I handed her a crisp, white resignation letter.
Smiling, she accepted it… then held it to a candle and burned it.
“Request granted.”
Tch—I’d hoped her mood might let it slide.
Feeling guilty, Erica added:
“You’ll receive a bonus, of course.
And I recall how intently you observed the city on our carriage ride here.
Take time off. Explore as you wish.”
I’d known the resignation wouldn’t work.
But my new plan was darker: train a stellar successor and retire early.
Signaling Brook and Aitre, I motioned them forward.
The dwarves removed their hoods and bowed slightly to Erica.
“I’m Brook.”
“Sister…! I’m Aitre.”
“They were women…?”
Eyebrow twitching, Erica studied the cloaked dwarves.
Seeing them—6cm shorter than her—she snorted dismissively.
“Well, I am Erica Grace, master of my fox here. Will you serve me loyally?”
Never one to waste talent, especially living 3D printers, Erica demanded fealty.
The dwarves knelt—removing cloaks for proper etiquette.
“I swear. Put me under him.”
“I’d like to work under Cain too.”
Then, chests three times larger than Erica’s were revealed.
Her benevolent-lord act vanished—face frozen stiff.
Clenching her teeth, she scanned the room.
“Where’s Cain?”
“He fled just now, claiming ‘time off.’”
Perhaps relishing Erica’s frustration, Cecilia stifled a laugh:
“Your subordinate’s quite the skirt-chaser, wagging his tail everywhere.”
“Goddammit…!”
Bound by decorum, Erica accepted the dwarves—while vowing internally to punish her fox later.
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