Chapter 610: The Julius Recital Begins

How had this happened?

Sure, I’d said I would “play plenty,” but nobody told me the entire household was going to gather for it.

And because the salon apparently couldn’t hold everyone, the venue had somehow escalated into the ballroom instead.

I mean, yes, there was a magnificent piano here…

But there really hadn’t been any need to turn this into such a massive event, right?

The ballroom wasn’t filled with just family members either.

The knights were here.

The servants were here.

Even the court alchemists temporarily stationed from the royal capital had gathered to watch.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen…”

“I sincerely apologize. This is all because I let something slip.”

“No, it’s not your fault, Nero. I’m pretty sure the real cause was me saying I’d perform thoroughly for everyone. So don’t worry about it.”

I desperately tried to encourage Nero, whose complexion had already turned an alarming grayish color.

Ironically, because Nero looked even more devastated than I felt, I’d managed to keep myself relatively composed.

I’d once heard that when someone nearby was panicking harder than you were, it actually helped calm you down.

This was exactly that phenomenon.

“Ahem. Thank you all very much for attending this suddenly organized Julius Recital tonight. I hope, even if only a little, that everyone enjoys themselves.”

Thunderous applause erupted throughout the ballroom.

The loudest cheers by far came from the knights and the alchemists.

Hearing that I would be playing piano, Lionel had probably gone and said something unnecessary to the knights.

As for the alchemists…

Had Giovanni and the others already told them?

Judging by their reactions, they already seemed fully aware that I could play piano.

…Giovanni wouldn’t casually mention this to His Majesty too, right?

I seriously didn’t want to get summoned to the royal capital over something like this.

As I silently asked myself questions that would never receive answers, I finally steeled my resolve.

The songs I’d play would only be the ones already recorded into the gramophone.

No new songs.

Absolutely not.

Because the moment I performed something new, people would inevitably ask me to record it into the gramophone too.

And so, the Julius Recital began.

In the end, it concluded beneath a storm of applause.

Naturally, there were calls for an encore, but since it was already getting late into the night, I firmly declined.

Bath time was coming up soon, after all.

And Rosalia’s bedtime wasn’t far away either.

Alright.

Things were about to get busy.

Since the night had grown shorter thanks to the recital, everyone would need to move efficiently through bath time.

At least…

That was what I honestly believed at the time.

Right now, however, due to a single comment from Sister-in-law Daniela, the entire family was bathing together.

Even with everyone wearing swimsuits…

Was this really normal?

“Your performance was absolutely wonderful. I was so moved I nearly cried.”

“Th-thank you very much.”

“It was amazing! I want to hear Julius-niisama play again someday.”

“If another opportunity comes up, I’ll perform for you again.”

I plastered an absolutely perfect fake smile across my face for Sister-in-law Daniela and Rosalia.

If I relaxed even slightly, it would probably collapse into a twitching grimace instead.

My cheeks were already cramping from the effort.

Meanwhile, the people who knew full well that I had never practiced piano a single day in this household were all giving me deeply meaningful smiles.

…Yeah.

I was definitely getting summoned for questioning later.

“Could it be,” Mother began slowly, “that the music inside the gramophone was actually performed by you, Julius?”

“Uh… yes, that’s right. At least the piano portions were played by me.”

“I see. If you performed together with a full orchestra, it would probably become something truly magnificent.”

“…Mother?”

Mother nodded repeatedly with a strangely serious expression.

What exactly was she plotting?

Surely she wasn’t thinking about inviting noble ladies over and holding an actual concert?

No thank you.

Desperate to escape reality, I turned my gaze toward Mira, who had been dog-paddling around the bath this entire time.

At the moment, she was my only source of healing.

“Julius, are there other songs you can perform as well?” Father asked.

“If I have sheet music, I believe I can perform most songs to a reasonable degree.”

In truth, “reasonable degree” was an understatement.

I could perform almost perfectly.

But naturally, I intentionally downplayed it.

I wanted to divert even a little suspicion from Father and the others.

Maybe Father had a song he wanted to hear?

Some nostalgic melody tied to his memories with Mother, perhaps.

“Father, the gramophone can store other songs as well, so if there are any you’d like recorded, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“That would be greatly appreciated. There are several songs tied to precious memories of mine.”

“Songs connected to you and Mother?”

I said it teasingly.

In response, Father gave an unexpectedly bashful smile.

Oh?

That was rare.

Sometimes Father made surprisingly adorable expressions.

Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought so, because Mother, Alex-niisama, and Sister-in-law Daniela all looked at him with warm amusement.

“Ahem. Well… yes, something like that,” Father admitted awkwardly. “I already obtained the sheet music long ago, intending to someday have it performed, but the opportunity never came.”

“Then leave it to me. I’ll make sure to give you a performance worthy of those memories.”

“I look forward to it. I’m counting on you.”

Excellent.

Very excellent.

I was steadily accumulating Father Approval Points.

With this atmosphere, Father probably wouldn’t press me too hard about the suspicious origins of my piano skills.

After that, things snowballed quickly.

“Well then, I’d like one too,” Mother said.

Alex-niisama joined in.

Then Sister-in-law Daniela as well.

One after another, they began requesting songs they wanted me to perform.

I agreed on the condition that each of them prepared their own sheet music.

And naturally, those songs would eventually be added to the gramophone collection as well.

Gramophones containing each person’s favorite songs.

Honestly, wasn’t that wonderful?

Maybe for my own gramophone, I should include everyone’s favorite pieces together.

“Julius-niisama isn’t just good at piano,” Rosalia suddenly added, “he’s also an excellent singer, you know?”

“Ah… well, about that…”

Oh no.

This was bad.

Everyone’s attention snapped toward me all at once.

Why did Rosalia always casually drop explosive statements like this?

Was she secretly some kind of bomb girl?

No, seriously.

She absolutely was, wasn’t she?!