Chapter 625: Rosalia’s Growth

When I returned to the dining room after brushing Mira, Mother was there. Father hadn’t yet arrived. Perhaps he didn’t plan to eat lunch in the dining room today.

“You’ve done an excellent job, Rosalia,” Mother said. “Max will be delighted. Would you please ask him to come to the dining room?”

“Certainly, my lady.”

The servant bowed and departed. It would only be a matter of time before Father arrived. Mother must have understood Rosalia’s feelings and summoned him. Naturally, Rosalia wanted to show him the gramophone she had made as soon as possible.

Before long, Father hurried into the dining room. The servant must have told him what was waiting. Even his footsteps sounded unusually light.

It appeared that Brother Alex and Sister-in-law Daniela were having lunch at the Heine Trading Company. They were probably rearranging their work in preparation for tomorrow’s excursion.

“Have I kept you waiting?” Father asked.

“Father! The magic tool you requested is finished. This is the gramophone I made especially for you.”

Looking immensely pleased with herself, Rosalia carried the gramophone over to him. The instant Father saw it, his face broke into an enormous smile.

Was it my imagination, or did he look even happier than when I made one?

Had Father secretly wanted Rosalia to make his from the beginning? If so, he should have said so.

I-It’s not as though I feel lonely or anything!

Perhaps my thoughts showed on my face, because Lady Fabienne squeezed my hand tightly.

It was all right. I had Lady Fabienne. I squeezed her hand in return.

“Magnificent. This is precisely the gramophone I requested. Thank you, Rosalia. I shall have to boast about it. You truly have grown. I had no idea you could create decorations like these now.”

Father sounded deeply moved. Until now, Rosalia had mostly produced cute patterns. Now, however, she could also create sleek, stylish designs like the one decorating the gramophone in his hands.

From now on, Rosalia could make not only adorable magic tools, but cool ones as well. This was tremendous progress, because it greatly broadened the range of her expression.

I looked forward even more to seeing how she would develop as a magic-tool artisan.

After admiring the gramophone to his heart’s content, Father switched it on. Light, cheerful music filled the dining room. Yes, music truly was wonderful.

Now that everyone’s gramophones were complete—and Lady Fabienne would be staying tonight—perhaps I should hold the third Julius recital this evening.

“Father, what do you think of having me perform the song you called ‘a memory for our entire family’ tonight and record it on everyone’s gramophones? Lady Fabienne wanted to hear it as well.”

“Ah, an excellent idea. Let us gather everyone after dinner.”

“Brother’s performance! I want to hear it again!”

“Kyuu!”

Father seemed enthusiastic, and Rosalia and Mira were delighted. Evidently, they had both enjoyed my performance.

“I’m so happy that I’ll hear you perform again, Lord Julius,” Lady Fabienne said.

“Come to think of it, dear Fabienne has heard Julius play before,” Mother replied. “I’m looking forward to it too.”

I would have to choose music that helped everyone sleep comfortably before tomorrow’s excursion. The order of the pieces would be important. Under no circumstances should I select an energising song for the finale.

After that, we happily ate the lunch that had been brought in. It consisted of a fresh salad, thick and creamy pumpkin soup, and soft white bread. The bread was freshly baked and delicious. Spread with half-melted butter, it was exquisite.

Once we had enjoyed lunch, it was time to study. Lady Fabienne, Nero, and I sat shoulder to shoulder at the desk. Mira, naturally, escaped.

They had already learnt that lessons were boring and had probably gone to Rosalia by now.

Perhaps to make up for the month we had missed, our teacher moved through the material more rapidly than usual. Lady Fabienne and Nero concentrated in silence, but I was rather less absorbed, since everything was easy for me.

I had to work hard during lessons on the kingdom’s history, but I already understood calculations and language reasonably well. Consequently, I considered the programme for tonight’s recital while taking care not to distract the other two.

“You make it look effortless, Lord Julius. As expected.”

“Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Don’t let it trouble you too much.”

During a break, I gave some dried fruit to Lady Fabienne, who looked a little tired. Naturally, I gave some to Nero too. There was nothing better than something sweet when one’s mind was exhausted.

If chocolate existed in this world, I would have given them some, but sadly it didn’t.

The thought suddenly made me crave chocolate intensely. If only I had the ingredients, I could make it with my Cooking skill. Unfortunately, I had never seen the necessary cacao fruit. Did it not grow on this continent? Or would I have to travel farther south?

Wait. Perhaps no one had recognised it as an ingredient in the first place. In that case, it might be growing in an ordinary nearby forest. Maybe I should look during tomorrow’s excursion.

It might be much closer than I thought.