Chapter 16
The first among the ladies to speak was Rearwin.
“As expected, it’s Rotsi. Her skills have truly improved in leaps and bounds.”
“You flatter us, Marchioness. Our Rotsi still has much more practicing to do,” replied Countess Hayrold shyly, Rotsi’s mother.
Other noblewomen also offered their compliments to Rotsi, and the girl smiled bashfully.
“Thank you for your kind words. It’s all thanks to my cello teacher, Madam Malon.”
Indeed, for an eight-year-old who wasn’t a prodigy, playing an instrument at that level was no small feat.
The ladies all recognized just how much effort Rotsi must have put into her practice, accepting her somewhat clumsy performance as only natural for her age.
“By the way, Marchioness Pluto—does Crescent not also need a tutor?” Countess Hayrold suddenly asked Rearwin. She answered gently:
“Of course. There are many things I’d like her to learn. At a young age, it’s important to experience many things. But since Senti has only recently come to our household, I wanted to let her adjust before introducing any lessons.”
“I see. Crescent must need quite a lot of teaching. She’s very fortunate to have you, Marchioness. If you’d like, may I introduce Rotsi’s cello teacher to you?”
Countess Hayrold smiled brightly.
But I couldn’t miss the slight contempt buried in her words—she was implying that since I was an orphan, I must know nothing.
The other ladies readily agreed with the countess.
“That’s true. We could also recommend tutors in painting and music. Does the child know how to read and write yet?”
“Hohoho, how kind of you all to care so much. Senti, what do you think? Would you like to learn the cello, like Rotsi?”
At Rearwin’s words, all eyes turned toward me.
I hesitated briefly, then decided to be honest.
“…Ah, actually, I’ve learned cello before.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes.”
I had learned from my father. He was a genius with instruments—cello, piano, flute, violin, he could play them all.
Such instruments were considered privileges of nobles, so in Neverland, our father-daughter duets had always drawn much attention.
Perhaps because of this, the ladies and children didn’t seem eager to believe me.
In Neverland, my father and I even held small recitals on weekends.
Countess Hayrold frowned curiously.
“You’ve learned cello? Then… could you perhaps play just a little for us?”
“Yes, I’d love to hear it,” another lady chimed in.
As the other noblewomen joined in, Rearwin looked slightly troubled.
“Well… I hadn’t known Senti could play cello, so this is news to me as well. Senti, do you think you can? If you’re unprepared, you don’t have to.”
Though Rearwin tried to shield me kindly, the other ladies showed open disappointment.
“That’s too bad. If Crescent has really learned enough to play, it would have been wonderful to hear.”
“I agree. I was starting to think that the Pluto family’s ward must be exceptional.”
Wait a second. I never said I couldn’t play.
They were treating me as though I were lying. Even bringing up the Pluto family’s name—wasn’t that going too far?
Clearly, they wanted me to play only to test whether my words were true.
If that’s how it is, then fine.
I spoke carefully, as though to reassure Rearwin:
“If it’s all right with everyone, may I try playing just a little? I’ll need to borrow Rotsi’s instrument.”
“But of course, dear. I’d be delighted to lend it to you. I can’t wait to hear,” Countess Hayrold said with a gleeful, expectant smile. Rearwin looked stunned, as if she wasn’t sure whether I was truly about to perform.
When I finally sat down with the cello, I could clearly see the children’s expressions.
You? You think you can play?
Except for Meteor, every child frowned as if saying, Let’s see you try.
It felt like standing trial.
I hadn’t meant for things to turn out this way, but now every eye was on me with doubt. A bitter taste spread in my mouth.
Still, I paid it no mind, raised the bow, and set my fingers on the strings.
At once, I noticed flickers of surprise among the ladies. From my posture alone, they could tell I had genuinely learned.
Wow… how long has it been?
Though my body hadn’t gone long without playing, my soul had lived through a tutorial world and regression—it had been ages since I touched an instrument.
Would I still be able to play well?
At that moment—
<‘Dragon Slayer Sylvester’ is trembling with excitement.>
<‘From Maid to Saintess—Astina’ is fervently praying that her hands haven’t grown stiff!>
Even the “elders” were anxious and nervous.
I too, with a fluttering heart, began to play.
I chose Brahms’ Cello Sonata No. 2, Op. 99.
It was a duet for cello and piano—my father had always played the piano part for me.
From the very first notes, the piece’s magnificent, grand melody seized the listener’s attention.
When I played it with Father, I could always feel our hearts uniting as one through music, and that sensation had been more precious than anything else.
Immersed in that same feeling as if I were performing with him again, I soon forgot all awareness of my fingers’ movements.
The world melted away until only music remained.
Even without a piano, the missing harmonies seemed to rise and flow alongside my cello.
It had been years, yet I hadn’t forgotten a single note.
It felt like returning to Neverland.
I surrendered myself to the memories, the nostalgia, the longing. Naturally, I knew the piece’s end.
When my hands finally stilled, the music ended too, fading into silence.
“….”
A hush fell over the garden.
Like one waking from a dream, I opened my eyes. The sunlight still blazed; the garden was still brilliantly green.
That sense of drifting from music back into reality—it had been so long.
And before me, both noblewomen and children sat stunned into silence, unable to speak.
At last, Rearwin broke the trance with difficulty.
“…Senti, this… I can hardly believe such a performance came from an eight-year-old.”
“I… I have no words.”
“Hearing Crescent play, I felt as if I had been transported to another world. I don’t even know what to say….”
Everyone looked bewildered.
Feeling embarrassed, I forced myself to murmur:
“Thank you for listening.”
Then, Countess Hayrold leapt from her seat, her face filled less with wonder than with betrayal.
“I can’t believe it! Crescent! Where on earth did you learn to play like that?”
“I learned when my parents were alive.”
“What? Which noble house were you from?”
“N-no, not nobility. My parents simply played instruments very well.”
“Good heavens….”
Countess Hayrold sank back into her chair in disbelief, looking utterly shaken.
Watching her, Rearwin smiled brightly.
“Well then, Countess Hayrold—it seems our Senti doesn’t need a cello teacher after all. In fact, if Rotsi ever needs, perhaps Senti could even help her with her lessons. What do you think?”
The suggestion that I might teach Rotsi…
At that, Rotsi’s face flushed red, caught between tears and fury, ready to explode.
