We started by collecting ideas from students of each grade, which the third prince kindly did during our general education break.
“Last year’s illusory magic was well received. I think many of the faculty are expecting something similar, if not better.”
He’d even talked to the instructors, which just goes to show those royals knew how to go the extra mile. The bigger issue was that some people were expecting us to outdo our previous display. The groans and tilted heads of the other students told me I wasn’t the only one thinking this. Coming up with ideas isn’t exactly easy.
Hmmm, so we’ll be a large group doing coordinated magic. I guess that means splitting into groups of no more than four— Hm?
Last year we had put on a story by casting a sort of screen. So maybe this year we could do music? I was all but certain there was a sort of orchestra in Ozeria. After all, we had operas, and you can hardly have operas without orchestras.
Sounding like a symphony might’ve been out of our reach, but if we had each group making sounds like electronic notes, with a bit of coordination we could make something fun. Something like retro game music. We could also project images to accompany the music.
While this was sort of what we did last year, that performance put the story first and the background music second. This would be the other way around. We’d have images made to match the songs. It would be a collaboration of sound and footage. Or paintings, I guess?
Not wanting to stand out, I’d have to be sneaky bringing up the idea to Bear. Some people might not be too happy if my suggestion were to get picked.
If use of force were an option, a few unhappy folk won’t be a problem. Oh right, it is an option. Or was that only for the dimwit brother?
After class, I sneaked over to Bear and put forth my idea.
“Oh, that sounds neat.”
“Right?”
“Well then, you’re in charge. Give it your best shot.”
I tilted my head. “Why am I in charge?”
“Because I’m not getting any better ideas from the other grades.” Bear sounded exasperated. “So you can bet your suggestion will be the one that wins. And since you put the idea out there, it only makes sense that you see it through.”
“But I don’t know anything about music.”
“So then why’d ya suggest we play music?”
“Because I thought someone else would make it work!”
Of course I didn’t think the ball would end up in my court!
Bear very unenthusiastically offered a compromise. “Then go find that someone else and drop it in their lap.”
“Woo!”
I know just the person I can dump this on! This is what the royals are for!
That day, we didn’t have any other classes after electives. I dashed from Bear’s prep room back to our general education classroom. The person I needed was still there, and like always, in the middle of a crowd. This throng had layers since you couldn’t really talk to him outside of the academy, especially if you were a girl.
“Your Highness, I humbly request that you manage general magic’s festival display!”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
More than just the third prince, the whole crowd was thrown for a loop.
Oh, there’s also girls from the neighboring class. Mr. Popular over here. Ack, that doesn’t matter. We’re here to explain what Bear said.
“We’re set to go with my idea for the academy festival. However, I thought Your Highness would be better suited to the task of leading the effort. I believe we would be best off receiving the guidance of someone from the royal family.”
“I can tell you don’t mean a word of that. But I guess you’re right. This will be a good chance to practice keeping people in line.”
“Words fail to express my gratitude for this show of graciousness.”
If he hadn’t agreed, I would’ve given him a prodding reminder of his abrupt visit to the Aspozat residence the winter before last. Granted, that had technically already been sorted out by his brothers and Ville.
I thought the third prince would have a musical side to him, and if he didn’t, then he would at least know someone who was. Yes, that was me being completely presumptuous. I also thought he might have connections, ones that would bring us our coveted illustrators. But just as I was patting myself on the back for getting this burden off my shoulders, the prince smiled at me.
What’s that for?
“Though I’ll be taking charge of this project, may I count on your assistance?”
“Wha?”
“It’s only natural, isn’t it? This was initially your job, after all.”
Ugh. I should’ve known a prince wouldn’t be so easily played.
After that, everyone in general magic was made aware of what we would be doing for the festival. The Third Prince Effect was probably what kept anyone from objecting. The next week, we got together in the general magic classroom to discuss what songs we would perform. We only included the students with the best grades from each year. In other words, I had to attend.
Right next to me was the third prince, grinning away, along with some students training to be his aides. Looking around, I saw plenty of faces I recognized from class. Since this included every year, there were both younger students—endearing in their nervousness—and older students, who were much more confident. Imposing, you might say.
Though it was only a select bunch from each grade, that added up to a sizable group. The usually spacious classroom was now packed.
“I figured you’d never settle on anything if you had too many people,” Bear said, just barely acting like an instructor. “So we have only the best of each grade here.”
“Now then, we will begin our song selection conference.”
Serving as chairman (I think) was a boy wearing a black tie. He was the best of the sixth-years, and I was told he was the second son of Earl Humerson, who was a noble in the royal faction. In which case, there was a chance I had seen him back at the hunting festival.
Yeah, I don’t recognize him.
Glaring at our chairman was—going off his black tie—another sixth-year. I didn’t know what was bothering him, but he had been looking at the valedictorian like that since they entered the room. Did he have some deep-seated grudge or something?
“That’s Ilsun, fifth son of Earl Kalaharga,” a voice suddenly whispered in my ear. It was the third prince. “I hear he and Tufead of House Humerson have been rivals since entering the academy. Not only that, Humerson is a royalist, whereas Kalaharga stands with the noble faction.”
Give me a heads-up next time if you’re going to do that. Anyone would get surprised if a boy started whispering to them.
Still, he had told me what I wanted to know. But why bring it up?
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked.
“Hm? The way you were looking at him, I thought you were curious about Ilsun.”
This prince was awfully sharp for a guy who had showed up to the Aspozat residence uninvited. Not only that, he gave his explanation assuming I wouldn’t know their names or affiliations.
“Pardon me, but how did you know I was unaware of their circumstances?”
“Mmm, I guess because you didn’t look like you were aware?”
That’s it? That was all you needed to casually tell me all that? You’re a formidable one, Third Prince.
We weren’t wanting for ideas when we got to discussing what song to do.
“Shouldn’t it be something easy to appreciate?”
“Perhaps, but a simple song will bore everyone.”
“Doesn’t that depend on the arrangement?”
“I think we should go with something everybody knows.”
“I say we pick whatever’s popular right now.”
“And what about pictures? Should we speak to some students at the art club?”
I thought all their opinions had merit. I certainly agreed that we wouldn’t get much of an audience if we played a song nobody knew. However, making pictures for a famous piece would be daunting. It was a little too late to be asking this, but I had to wonder if any students would actually help us. If not, we could just go to Miss Derod like we had done last year.
I was watching like this had nothing to do with me, when the third prince said something I did not see coming. “I just remembered something. At the magic tool exams, Lowell made a very nice song. What sort of piece was that?”
Ough!
That was an attack I hadn’t been ready for! I’d totally forgotten he was in that class with me. Why was he bringing that up now when he hadn’t said anything at the time? He was doing this on purpose, wasn’t he?! That grin of his was getting scarier and scarier.