Chapter 677: An Invitation to the Recital

We would be eating tonight’s dinner in this room. I supposed we were not going to dine with His Majesty and the others every night. They probably had other people with whom they wanted to deepen their relationships.

“Lionel could’ve eaten with us instead of holding back.”

“Lord Lionel said he would gather information while eating dinner. He asked me to take care of you, Lord Julius.”

“He should at least take his time over dinner.”

Apparently, Lionel had gone to the dining hall used by the castle’s staff. Still, what did he mean by gathering information? Was there something troubling him?

Pondering that, I ate dinner with Nero and Mira.

The following day, I went to the training ground to invite Axel and Ijidol to the afternoon recital and found a small crowd gathered there. Perhaps a notice had already gone out about the holy sword?

“Good morning, Axel, Ijidol.”

“Good morning, Julius.”

“Good mooorning…”

“You look sleepy, Ijidol.”

Ijidol yawned, apparently uninterested in the crowd. Well, if it concerned the holy sword, he probably would not care. It did not seem as though Ijidol practised swordsmanship.

“Haah. Ijidol just doesn’t understand how magnificent the holy sword is.”

“Oh, so everyone really is gathered here because of the holy sword.”

“What, you already knew, Julius? Apparently, they’re going to hold another selection for its wielder soon.”

Axel’s gaze moved towards a wooden noticeboard where the announcement was written in enormous letters. That was fast, considering this had only happened yesterday. They must have desperately wanted a wielder for the holy sword.

That made sense. Matters on the neighbouring continent had begun to seem rather ominous. They probably wanted to advertise the holy sword’s presence as a deterrent.

“Are you going to participate too, Axel?”

“Of course. You’re going to as well, aren’t you, Julius?”

“Who knows? We may return to the territory before the selection takes place.”

“Come on. At least take the test before you leave.”

Axel gave me a wry smile. He could say that because he knew nothing, but we had already discovered that I could use the holy sword. Honestly, I had no need to undergo the selection. I wished I could tell them that.

“Hmm. I feel like the holy sword might choose Julius.”

“Don’t say that, Ijidol. I’m not a knight.”

“That’s right. Julius is a mage.”

“That’s wrong too.”

It might not sound very convincing, but I was neither. So stop looking at me like that, both of you.

Ah, I almost forgot my real purpose for coming here.

“Axel, Ijidol, are you free this afternoon? Through a rather strange chain of events, I’m going to hold a piano recital. I wondered if the two of you might like to come.”

“A piano recital? Who’s performing?”

“The way you said that makes it sound like you, Julius…”

“Well, yes. I’m the one playing the piano.”

“…”

Ah, both of them were staring into the distance. It could not be helped. His Majesty and Her Majesty had requested this. I could not possibly refuse. I explained that to them as well.

“Wait, and you’re inviting us to a gathering like that?”

“Wouldn’t we be completely out of place?”

“It’ll be fine. Sister-in-law Daniela told me I could invite my friends.”

The creases in their strained smiles deepened. Those were smiles they were forcing onto their faces. They were making a heroic effort. They clearly did not want to attend but felt unable to refuse after I had put it that way.

“Julius, when exactly did you become a musician?”

“There are all sorts of complicated circumstances behind this. Do you want to hear them?”

The two exchanged glances, turned back to me and nodded. Very well. I would tell them this sorrowful and fleeting tale.

After I finished, they seemed slightly put off. That hurt.

“I’d like to say, ‘As expected of Julius,’ but I don’t even know what to make of this anymore.”

“I agree. I think we lose the moment we try to understand it. More importantly, I’d like to see that gramophone too.”

“You do seem like someone who’d enjoy magic tools, Ijidol.”

“I like them too.”

Apparently, magic tools were extremely popular among the boys. Of course they were. Magic tools were packed full of a man’s romantic dreams. Ah, they might be filled with women’s dreams too.

“In that case, I’ll give both of you gramophones next time. I should be able to manage it once we’re back at the townhouse. No, come to think of it, I was told I could use the equipment here.”

“I’d be delighted, but I’d feel a little guilty accepting something made at the royal castle.”

“Ijidol’s right. It feels as if we’d be doing something wrong.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. They told me I could use the facilities however I liked.”

In the end, I managed to secure their promise to attend the recital. Should I invite Commander Giovanni and the others too? They had said before that they wanted to hear me play. The number of guests would rise considerably, but I would have Commander Giovanni do his best to make the arrangements.

I then completed my morning training with the two of them on the training ground. Nero naturally joined us. I had left Mira with Sister-in-law Daniela, so there was no need to worry.

One purpose of Sister-in-law Daniela’s return to the capital was to let Mira spend time with the royal family. Her Majesty was probably among those doting on Mira right now.