Chapter 141: Into the Flames

We had been together since the moment we were born.

My Canon Viscount House and Pamela’s Etude Viscount House were both part of the “Arts and Sciences Faction”, and our mothers were best friends.

Because of that, we played together often since we were little, and we often hung out together at the “Academy” too. That was a matter of course; it was our everyday life.

And just like that, around the time we entered the high school division, we became engaged. To outsiders, it might have looked like an arranged political marriage decided by our parents, but we knew each other like brother and sister, and neither of us had anyone else we liked, so we accepted it smoothly.

No, saying I didn’t have anyone else I liked was a lie. At some point, I had started looking at Pamela not as a childhood friend, but as the woman I loved.

I don’t know what she thought of me, but I’d like to think she held enough affection for me not to reject the engagement.

Even after becoming fiancés, our relationship didn’t change particularly drastically.

Even so, eventually marrying her and building a happy family together had become the most important thing in the world to me.

That’s why I worked desperately hard to get a teaching position at the “Academy”, and I made various unseen efforts so she wouldn’t lose interest in me. Well, she probably hasn’t noticed, though…

Pamela, for her part, took a position as a court musician, and her life seemed to be smooth sailing as well, but I only learned later that she had been agonizing all alone behind the scenes.

The world of court musicians is harsh. Even though Pamela was hailed as a genius among our generation, there was no shortage of people jealous of her talent.

She never spoke of it, but apparently, she was receiving petty harassment from her colleagues. How truly pathetic. If they had time to be jealous of her talent, I wanted to tell them to polish their own.

Pamela was seeking new music. Because of that, she wanted to break through the old music but couldn’t; she was badmouthed by colleagues, and spent her days playing the same songs exactly as she was told for work. I never imagined that just because she made the music she loved her profession, she would end up being tormented by it.

All I could do was simply watch as the girl who loved music so much was gradually tortured by it.

All I could do was keep her company for a change of pace occasionally and play alongside her. If my poor cello playing could be even a slight comfort to her, then it was worth keeping it up.

I thought on several occasions that maybe she should just quit being a court musician altogether.

Even among court musicians, a fair number marry, resign from their posts, and become homemakers. I thought it would be fine if Pamela did the same.

However, remembering how she had aimed to be a court musician since she was a child, and how full of joy she was when that dream came true, I couldn’t say such a thing even if my mouth were torn open. I felt my own powerlessness, and feelings of helplessness mounted day by day.

The turning point for her arrived suddenly. I heard that the young lady of the Philharmonie Ducal House had obtained a “Gift” that played music from another world, and the court musicians went to listen to it.

Apparently, the discussion was about whether they could somehow listen to it and perform it at the Autumn Cooling Party. Upon hearing that music, Pamela said she received an incredible shock.

The timing being right, that young lady was looking for a music tutor, and Pamela told me she jumped at the opportunity without a second thought. That reckless girl…

After that, the letters from Pamela that arrived at the “Academy” were filled with lines upon lines of writing where you could practically see her making merry like a child, saying things like, “I can’t believe such amazing music exists,” or “Playing songs is so fun I can’t stand it.”

When I returned home to Symphonia and reunited with her, having regained her original brightness, I was happy from the bottom of my heart. Though it was slightly galling that I wasn’t the one who helped her regain that brightness.

She also said she was able to eliminate her colleague’s harassment thanks to Lady Sakuraile’s advice, so I truly owe that young lady a debt of gratitude.

Though I still don’t really understand why she suddenly grabbed me by the collar and complained to me the first time we met. What was that all about…?

Pamela’s performance, which I heard at the “New Year’s Banquet” at the castle, was absolutely wonderful. When was the last time my body trembled with emotion from music? I understood from the bottom of my heart that it couldn’t be helped that Pamela was so engrossed in it.

Right now, she’s practicing the song she’s going to perform at the “New Year’s Banquet” held at the Ducal House every day with her friends.

Thanks to that, I’ve been left completely to my own devices. Well, I’m also being dragged around to parties day after day by the “Academy” teachers, so it can’t be helped that we can’t meet.

They say it’s only this year since it’s a meet-and-greet as a new teacher for the “Academy”. If this happened every year, I’d seriously get depressed…

Today as well, I’m just on my way back from the Fantasia Ducal House’s New Year’s party. Back when I was a noble, I would have used a carriage, but as a poor teacher, I can’t just use one so lightly. Having already left home, I felt hesitant to use my family’s carriage, so I decided to walk back.

Since the Fantasia Ducal House is the head of my family’s “Arts and Sciences Faction”, I was more nervous than usual. I don’t really remember what we talked about. The fact that I don’t remember probably means it wasn’t a big deal.

“It’s started snowing again…”

I muttered to myself, looking up at the snow that was falling more heavily. I like watching snow flutter down from the deep darkness.

Standing on the side of the road is a bit cold, but it’s just right to cool down a body flushed from alcohol.

I wonder what Pamela is doing right about now…

“Wha!?”

Suddenly, something hit my face and blocked my vision.

When I peeled the paper off my face, it was a letter. Did it blow in on the wind from the window of some house?

“Eh…?”

I absentmindedly looked at the addressee and was shocked. “To Lord Jeremy Canon”… A letter addressed to me!? Why is a letter addressed to me in a place like this…!

When I flipped it over, the sender’s name was there: “Sakuraile la Philharmonie”.

A letter from Lady Sakuraile!?

I looked around frantically, but there was no sign of that young lady.

It’s fine… to open it, right? It’s addressed to me, after all.

For a moment, I considered reading it after I got back, but for some reason, I didn’t do that. Perhaps subconsciously, I sensed something urgent from the rushed, scribbled address and signature.

I peeled off the sealing wax stamped with a cherry blossom design and read the letter inside. At the sentence written there, I instinctively held my breath.

Pamela-sensei’s apartment is on fire. Please head there immediately. This is not a joke or anything; it’s the truth!

Pamela’s apartment is on fire!? What on earth does this…!

Just as I thought that and raised my head, I could see towards the Third District from this vantage point on the high ground near my family home.

The Third District is close from here. When I discovered a building burning like a torch in the darkness, I knew that Lady Sakuraile’s letter was, exactly as it said, not a joke or anything of the sort.

At that moment, I was assaulted by a sensation like ice being shoved down my back, as if all the blood had drained from my body.

Pamela is… in there? That’s a lie…! It’s a lie!

She finally just managed to regain her true self! She was supposed to become even happier from now on…!

I shoved Lady Sakuraile’s letter roughly into my coat pocket and broke into a full sprint toward the Third District.

Even though the Third District is close, it’s still a fair distance. Breaking into a run was fine, but I immediately and acutely felt my daily lack of exercise.

Even so, I couldn’t stop my feet.

Passing through the checkpoint between the Second and Third Districts, I just ran single-mindedly in the direction of Pamela’s apartment.

Pamela’s apartment is a luxury apartment suited for a court musician. I recall hearing that soundproofing and fire-resistance magic had been applied to it.

However, that just meant it was resistant to burning down completely; it didn’t mean it wouldn’t burn.

If people were inside, even if the building didn’t burn and collapse, the residents would burn to death.

I can only hope the Mage Division has already mobilized to extinguish it…!

Please, be safe!

When I arrived at Pamela’s apartment, completely out of breath, her apartment was indeed engulfed in flames.

The five-story apartment building was raising roaring flames, burning with an intensity that kept anyone from approaching.

“No way…”

People from the surrounding area, or perhaps residents of the apartment, were staring at the blazing building with only the clothes on their backs.

A few people were scooping water from a nearby waterway with buckets, trying to put it out, but it truly felt like a drop in the bucket.

I looked around, but there was no sign of Pamela. I grabbed a nearby man to ask him what was happening.

“Excuse me! Are there still people inside!?”

“Y-Yeah, everyone on the first and second floors escaped, but there might still be people left behind from the third floor up…!”

Her room is on the fifth floor. There’s no more time…!

I snatched a bucket filled with water from a man who was fighting the fire and dumped it completely over my head in one go.

I didn’t feel a thing from the piercingly cold water. Cold like this is nothing compared to losing her…!

Pamela can use a little bit of water magic and wind magic. She should be able to create the simple water defensive wall she learned at the “Academy”. That goes away if the caster moves, but as long as she stays in one spot, it should protect her from the flames to some extent. If she uses wind magic too, it should also prevent her from being engulfed by the smoke.

I can’t use water magic, but I can use wind magic. I should be able to reach Pamela without inhaling smoke.

It’s fine. I can still make it in time… I will absolutely save her!

“Here I go!”

Resolving myself for death, I dove straight into the blazing apartment.