The music club’s New Composition Recital was sandwiched between the choir club’s performances. I wasn’t looking forward to running into Louise, but it would likely be unavoidable.
“As always, the choir club has such antiquated song choices,” Princess Margaret criticized.
Louise was singing too, but her performance felt lacking and didn’t really stand out from the other female students onstage.
“Aren’t there boys in the choir club as well?” I asked.
I’d seen several male students during the Harvest Festival performance, but today, they were nowhere to be found. Are they all a part of the afternoon performance?
“You really are behind on the latest news, Patience,” the princess replied. “The boys all switched to glee club. I’ve also heard that many of the female students have switched as well, since they can’t get solos in choir club unless they are upper-ranking nobles. The choir club isn’t merit based, which a lot of members were dissatisfied with, so they’ve all left for the glee club.”
I see. No wonder why the choir didn’t feel filled-out. There’s just fewer people in general.
I’d been leisurely reviewing the choir club’s recital as if I were a simple audience member, but once it was over, it was time for the music club to go onstage. The hanon that had been standing off stage was brought to the middle along with the sign to introduce performers.
President Albert then greeted the audience in a practiced manner.
“We will now begin the music club’s New Composition Recital,” he announced.
We’d had a lot of first-year students join this year, so I didn’t have to turn the pages on the sign, which made things a lot easier for me.
The first-years had apparently drawn lots to decide what order they would perform in. First up was Klaus, who was an angelically adorable boy and my ideal kind of shota. He played his new piece, which had been a patch of weeds that we’d somehow arranged into a beautiful flowerbed, along with one of my pieces, “Cat’s Waltz.”
“Bravo!” an audience member cheered.
Oh, it looks like Duke Laforet is here again this year.
Next was Samuel. His new composition was titled “Summer Lightning,” and it had rocklike elements which I quite liked. For his second piece, he played “Nocturne.”
Duke Laforet is getting a bit rowdy with excitement. Oh, President Albert’s making him quiet down. Thank God.
Daniel was next. His song had been the hardest to arrange into an acceptable piece, but we’d managed to polish it. He also played “Farewell,” and I was impressed with how good he was.
The final first-year to go onstage was Valdische, whose new piece was titled “Trot.” It was a song meant to be danced along to, and it really captured the essence of a horse’s trot. He also played President Albert’s technically complex piece. Wow, I can’t believe he can move his fingers that quickly!
I was the final performer of this slot, and I played “Heroic Polonaise” and Princess Margaret’s new piece, “Song of the Youth.” The music club’s performance received hearty applause, which was a great relief. All that was left for the morning was the choir club’s second performance.
“You did well, Patience,” Princess Margaret said.
I appreciate her praise, but I’m more curious about the shadow drawing closer to us. Is that Duke Laforet?
“Patience Granger, right?” the duke said, walking up to us. “You are incredibly talented. I would love for you to come perform at my home.” There was a terrifying seriousness in his eyes, but luckily, Albert stepped in.
“Father, the performances will continue. We should return to our seats.”
Princess Margaret seemed worried as well.
“Duke Laforet is quite dangerous,” she warned. “You must be careful, Patience. Do you have anyone you could get engaged to?”
The Grangers are too poor to get any marriage offers regarding me... Oh, wait, over winter break, Aunt Amalia passed along a proposal to my father.
We’d immediately turned it down, but if push came to shove, perhaps I would have to run back to that proposal. I definitely didn’t want to become President Albert’s stepmother.
I hope it wasn’t from someone too much older. I’m a shotacon, so I don’t really like older men.
The choir club’s performance was so boring that I’d been thinking about such silly things. Louise was still performing in the second set, perhaps because they had just lost that many members.
“It’s time for us to head backstage,” Princess Margaret announced.
Next up was the glee club’s musical, so all of us music club members who were instrumentalists in the performance headed to the dressing room. We walked in to find the members of the glee club dressed in their costumes and buzzing with excitement. Members of the dance club, who were joining as backup dancers, were also there, so the dressing room was overflowing with people. It was a stark contrast with the choir club, which only had a handful of performers onstage at a time.
I was playing the hanon; Princess Margaret was playing the flute; Valdische, Samuel, and Daniel were all playing lutes; Rupert and Klaus were in charge of percussion; and President Albert was conducting.
Alec and Eliza was very good. The audience also seemed to enjoy it, and they were cheering and applauding. The highlight was when Eliza sang “Amazing Grace” to pray for Alec’s safety when he left to fight in the war. I could see why Louise had wanted to sing it.
“The music club may have some serious competition for first place,” Princess Margaret muttered. “Anyway, we should go have lunch.”
“I’m going to do my best to convince my father to stop pursuing your talents, Patience,” President Albert informed me. “Still, I think it’s best that you stay by Princess Margaret’s side. My father is much more obsessive about music than I am. There’s no telling what he might do.”
Now I’d been warned to stay with the princess. Duke Laforet must be pretty dangerous if even his own son is worried that he’ll kidnap me.
I was going to be busy with alchemy club after lunch, so I decided to cast a vote for music club before I left.
Just like the previous year, partitions had been put up in the salon, since Princess Margaret and Prince Keith wouldn’t be able to eat if they were constantly greeting every parent that stopped by their table to say hello. As always, Ralph and Hugo were there to have lunch with the prince.
“What are you doing after lunch, sister?” Prince Keith asked.
The knight club was done with their activities in the morning. I was going to alchemy club, so I’d been hoping that Prince Keith could keep Princess Margaret company, but their conversation was taking a different turn.
“After lunch, I’ll be visiting the alchemy club to try some ice cream,” Princess Margaret shared. “After that, I’ll go to the auditorium for my performance in the New Composition Recital. That’s why I’d like to ask you to accompany Patience, Keith. I want you to watch over her and make sure Duke Laforet doesn’t drag her to his home.”
“You worry too much, Lady Margaret,” I said, trying to refuse any such accompaniment. I’m going to be so exhausted if I have to spend the day with Prince Keith. “That would never happen. I will be fine.”
“Duke Laforet isn’t married, right?” Prince Keith mused. “You’re going to be in trouble if he’s as crazy about music as Albert is.”
Is this kingdom okay? Why are its dukes such weirdos?
“That’s precisely why I’m worried,” Princess Margaret replied to her brother. “Earlier, he was inviting Patience to his mansion. Albert stopped him, but I don’t think she’ll be able to decline his request without me by her side.”
Prince Keith’s brows angrily furrowed. I agree. A middle-aged man shouldn’t be forcing an eleven-year-old to do anything. On top of that, he’s a duke, so I can’t say no.
“Very well,” Prince Keith said. “I won’t leave Patience’s side.”
It was decided that I would be escorted around until the fourth period bell, at which time Prince Keith would take me to the sewing classroom. That was when parents and guardians were scheduled to leave, so I could resume accompanying Princess Margaret.
“Wouldn’t you like to explore the festival for yourself?” I asked the prince. “After this, I’m going to be at alchemy club for a while, so I will be fine.” I was still trying to get out of being babysat, but neither Princess Margaret nor Prince Keith would budge.
“You don’t know how scary nobles can be, Patience,” Princess Margaret said. “If you get forcibly dragged off to his home, terrible rumors will spread, and you won’t be able to find a proper suitor. In the best case, you would become Duke Laforet’s second wife, but it’s very possible that people would simply treat you as his paramour.”
The lover of a middle-aged man?! That thought gave me goose bumps. No way! I don’t want that!
We turned down dessert, since we would be having ice cream next, then we headed to the alchemy club’s exhibit area.
“My, there are so many people here,” Princess Margaret remarked.
I’d been in the auditorium all morning, so I didn’t know that the alchemy club’s stalls were absolutely crowded with festival attendees. Both the bicycle test riding and ice cream taste testing were huge hits.
“Patience! You’re finally here!” President Caesar and Benjamin both exclaimed, greeting me with great enthusiasm.
“We have a table reserved for you, Lady Margaret,” I said. “You’re welcome to join her, Prince Keith, Sir Ralph, and Sir Hugo.”
Considering the huge turnout, I would likely be safe among all these people. Princess Margaret and the others took their seats, and I headed to our little kitchen set up in the other half of our showroom so I could help the maids.
“We don’t have enough bowls,” a maid reported.
There were signs that some dishwashing had been attempted, but it appeared that they’d been much too busy serving guests to be able to actually clean up. I rolled my sleeves up and began washing the bowls, then I used household magic to dry everything to simplify the process.
“Have you had lunch?” I asked the maids.
The Burns household had sent packed lunches for everyone, but it didn’t seem that anyone had eaten yet. I prepared some tea, then I had the maids take turns having breaks, two at a time.
While the maids took their breaks, I prepared the bowls of ice cream. If I handled all the kitchen work, we only needed two maids working to actually serve the guests.