I still hadn’t paid him back for his help with the musical evening, yet here I was, relying on him again. I wanted to give back to him somehow, but Mikhail was a prince. There wasn’t much I could offer.
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’m having a lot of fun coming up with secret plans with you.”
His smile was so bright and sincere.
You’re really suuuuch a good guy, Prince! I thought for the umpteenth time.
The following morning, I whispered to Olga that everything would be fine the moment I saw her. Explaining the plan in detail would take time, and I couldn’t do that on the spot, so I asked her to meet up with me stealthily after class.
When Flora and I stepped into the empty classroom I’d secured, Olga and Renato were already there. They both looked at me with imploring eyes. They were depending on me.
“Prince Mikhail has agreed to help us,” I said with a smile. “We will be granted an audience with the previous emperor and empress, and on that occasion, you will sing to them to save your grandmother’s piano, Lady Olga. You will come with us to play the accompaniment on that day, Lord Selesar.”
I’d figured Olga would need some mental support, so I’d asked Mikhail to invite Renato as well.
I explained to them that earning the former empress’s praise would be hard, but that Mikhail had assured me he could get the emperor to praise Olga and suggest she pursue music, which would probably be enough to prevent Lydia’s new law from being enforced.
A smile returned to both of their faces.
“The three grand ducal houses truly are on a whole other level. Lady Lydia could never introduce people to the previous emperor and empress so easily,” Renato said, a complicated expression flashing across his features.
Leaving aside his tendencies to forget everything else when music was involved, Renato thought like a vassal of the House of Selesnoa.
“This opportunity was not earned through the influence of my house,” I said. “Prince Mikhail is concerned with the well-being of all his people, including those of the Selesnoa Marquessate. He’s doing this for the stability of the empire.”
Renato’s eyes widened in surprise. He seemed genuinely shocked—deeply moved, actually.
“How kind of him to say that...” he whispered. He paused before adding, “But still, it’s all thanks to you.”
Olga was still smiling, but I could see her face had paled. The pressure of singing in front of the previous emperor and empress was immense.
I’m sorry, Olga. I’m about to make it even more stressful. I’m so sorry...
After apologizing in my heart, I told Olga and Renato that Mikhail had suggested inviting Lydia too to distract her. We’d make her believe she’d compete with me in front of the former emperor and empress, but in reality, she’d actually be competing against Olga.
Just as I’d expected, Olga froze.
Renato, however, nodded several times. “I see, yes. His Highness’s wisdom knows no bounds. Lady Lydia’s attention must be diverted, and this is the best way of doing so. In her ladyship’s eyes, the former empress is a goal, yet also the person she must surpass. But what she truly yearns for, through her, is the God of Music. She’s obsessed with the idea of being invited to his garden, so she’ll do everything she can to prove her worth if she thinks there’s even a sliver of a chance the god will notice her thanks to the previous empress’s favor. She’d fight to the death for that.”
Erm, Renato? Olga’s face is getting paler by the second, so could you please stop?
“If Olga earns the previous empress’s applause in that situation, we’ll finally be able to take her ladyship down a peg once and for all!” Renato concluded.
Huh?!
I couldn’t believe my ears, and my eyes shot back to Renato. The mark on his cute face wasn’t gone yet, but the only emotion I could read on it was determination. He clenched his fists tightly.
“L-Lord Selesar. As I stated earlier, Prince Mikhail will arrange it so that the previous emperor praises Lady Olga. That should be enough to kill the law in the cradle.”
“I understand that, but I want her ladyship to realize that this isn’t acceptable. She needs to know how horrible stealing instruments, music away from others is.”
I’m...not sure she’ll get the message that easily.
“Lady Lydia doesn’t know failure,” Renato said. “She was born the daughter of a marquess, blessed with the abilities everyone expected from her, and has worked assiduously to improve. A lot is expected of her, but she’s always managed to answer these expectations and received commendation for it. She doesn’t believe that anything in this world is out of her reach. In her view, failure only comes to those who do not put in the effort, and she looks down on them.”
Oh boy, talk about elitism. There were people who held similar views in my past world, elites on the fast track to success. Speaking of which, a die-hard elitist who looked down on others... That reminds me of someone.
There had been a piano in the secondary residence where my mother and I had been confined. When I was little, my mother had often played and taught me songs. I remembered her smile and the colorful melodies of the piano...
Somewhere along the way, though, they’d both disappeared—her smile and the piano.
“If she suffers a setback, just once, she might change. She will change.” Renato paused, then admitted, “No... To be honest, I just don’t think I’ll be able to rest unless she feels some true frustration for once.”
I chuckled. I get you. I’m incredibly annoyed too. That’s the sort of feeling you want to get rid of, one way or another.
“Besides, if the former empress approves of you, you’ll be able to live off your music for the rest of your life, Olga. You have to go for it, for the sake of your future!”
“Huh?” Olga yelped. She hadn’t expected Renato to address her directly, and her bright green eyes turned into two round beads.
“She’s under the divine protection of the God of Music, is the wife of the previous emperor, and the mother of the current emperor. In the music world, her word comes second only to a direct invitation from the God of Music. If she commends you, I wouldn’t be surprised if the director of the national theater came begging you to sing for them. You can do it, Olga. I guarantee it!”
Renato... Are you the reincarnation of that retired tennis man who made giving motivational speeches his second career?
Surprisingly enough, that heated speech seemed to have had a big effect on Olga, and she nodded enthusiastically.
“Y-You’re right! I recall how impressed I was when I visited the Music Sanctuary over the summer... People dedicate all sorts of pieces to the God of Music, but I learned that they don’t just do that to offer music. They’re trying their hardest to make a living. Before them, I had no idea it was even possible to live off one’s music! I’d never considered it. Since then, I can’t stop myself from thinking about how wonderful that must be. My heart raced while I watched them perform. They all looked so dazzling on the stage of the sanctuary. I can’t help but hope that one day, I’ll be standing there too.”
Noble girls becoming singers wasn’t improper in this world, but as I listened to Olga, I realized that the nobles of the countryside had no way to know it was even an option. It was only common knowledge in the capital.
“The opportunity I’m being given is far greater than the chance to sing at the sanctuary. The people I saw on that stage wouldn’t have hesitated to take it. I’m sure of it,” Olga continued. “I want to face music without hiding. I-I don’t think I’m worthy of this, but I don’t want to lose. And I’m not talking about her ladyship. I don’t want to lose to my own fears! If I do, if I give up here, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. I’m scared, incredibly so, but I’ll do my best!”
“That’s the spirit, Olga. Let’s give this our best shot together!”