Chapter 90: Arrival of Autumn

The large tea parties hosted by the Empress, held in spring and autumn: the ‘Spring Sun Party’ and the ‘Autumn Cooling Party’. These women-only parties are, as the names suggest, gatherings to rejoice in the arrival of spring warmth and autumn coolness, but also places where noblewomen from all over the country gather to exchange information and display their power. This is the same for the hosting Imperial Family; frankly speaking, it is also a place to show domestic nobles, “The current Imperial Family has this much power.” Therefore, the effort put in by the Empress and the Empress Dowager Grandmother is extraordinary. Because they cannot afford to make a clumsy mistake and let the Imperial Family be taken lightly. They were extremely busy thinking of combinations of sweets and tea from my store, and devising new clothes referencing clothes from the Fashion Center. Besides that, people from the Court Orchestra came to the store trying to copy the [In-store BGM] by ear. This [In-store BGM] received from the Goddess, but I cannot play specific targeted songs. If I roughly specify ‘Fun songs’ or ‘Calm songs’, or ‘Rock’, ‘Pops’, songs of that genre play. Since I cannot specify song titles to play, even I don’t know when the same song will play next. So, the musicians sharpen their ears and transcribe the songs they hear onto sheet music one after another. But a melody one person can write is only a part. Thinking it’s impossible to listen and transcribe everything, they brought out a brute force method where dozens of people listen simultaneously, transcribe as much as they can, and later compare and supplement missing parts. What tenacity. Just in case, I specified ‘Classical’ which has no lyrics and is easy for people here to understand. There was one time a song caused an uproar like ‘What is this sound?’, ‘I don’t know…’, but… Yeah, there are no typewriters in this world… Could it be the song choice for [In-store BGM] is Sakuracleria-sama’s preference? Having to transcribe sheet music, practice from now, and be able to perform everything by the Autumn Cooling Party is quite tough… I can only say do your best. If I can summon a musical instrument store, I think sheet music would be sold too though. While thinking musicians have it tough like it’s someone else’s problem, a few days later, a music teacher was assigned to me. Why?

“Because as a noble, it is shameful in social circles if you cannot play even one instrument. Almost all adult nobles can play some kind of instrument.”

So taught me Ms. Pamela Etude, who became my music teacher. A woman in her early twenties, the third daughter of a Viscount family, apparently an outstandingly talented person even among young court musicians. Why such a person was assigned to me was because of the [In-store BGM]. Originally, Father and Mother seemed to be looking for a music teacher for me, and Ms. Pamela bit onto that. Apparently, Ms. Pamela said she didn’t need a salary, just wanted me to let her listen to the [In-store BGM] when she liked. For Father, it was just granting permission to stay in a corner of the store I summon almost every daily, so he readily agreed… No, it’s fine though. Since it involves the Ducal House’s dignity, they will pay a proper salary apparently. Even so, music is mandatory for nobles…? Asking around, surprisingly even Bianca can play the flute clumsily. Even more surprisingly, Jean is apparently learning the cello. You guys weren’t just muscle-brains… Honestly speaking, it’s not like I can’t play instruments. I suffered from ‘Let’s form a band syndrome’ common to art design students for a period. But what I can play somewhat is guitar or keyboard! Can’t do violin or flute! Huh? Come to think of it… Asking Ms. Pamela for excuse, I pulled out something I put in the mansion’s warehouse.

“…? What is that?” “Umm, an instrument from another world.” “Eh!?”

Ms. Pamela‘s gaze was glued to the metallic blue Stratocaster I took out from the soft case. This guitar was at the pawn shop. Connect the shield cable to the amp. Good thing the pawn shop had an amp too. Moreover, a battery-powered guitar amp. One that can play for hours with six AA batteries. Attach the strap and lower the guitar from the shoulder. Quite heavy for a child… Turn on the amp power, and strum the guitar with the pick found in the soft case pocket—Gyaan!

“Hauwa!?”

Surprised by the sudden loud sound, Ms. Pamela is trembling—wana wana. Umu, quite a good sound. Checking no problems by plucking one by one from the sixth string, tune the sound with the tuner attached to the head. Alright, then a song after a long time… wait, huh!? Fingers don’t reach!? Or rather, my hands are small and my index finger is shorter than the neck width! Impossible to press F! Curse it…! Just like with the car, to think being small is this disadvantageous…! I fall to my knees in despair—gakkuri.

“Wh-What is wrong!?” “Hands, my hands are small and I can’t press the strings…!” “Ah…”

Ms. Pamela looks at me with eyes containing a bit of pity, with a voice of understanding. Stop! Don’t look at me with those eyes…!

“Could you lend me that for a moment?”

While almost half-crying, I obediently hand the guitar to Ms. Pamela. Ms. Pamela adjusted the strap length to fit herself, and plucked the strings one by one with the pick. Pressing strings at fret positions, she played them one after another as if checking the sound. Eventually, her fingers started carving the scale do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do, and even started playing chords. Various sounds were played from the amp speaker one after another.

“Eh… You’re kidding, right…?”

I was dumbfounded realizing the song she was playing on the electric guitar before I knew it. This is Elgar’s ‘Pomp and Circumstance’… Even adding vibrato, she’s mastered it completely… Ms. Pamela played it through to the end just like that. Geniuses do exist…

“Good…!” “He?” “It is the best! This is the best instrument! Lady Sakuraile! Please, could you let me have this!” “Eh, umm… well I don’t mind but…” “Thank you very much!”

If I recall, the guitar itself was about 30,000 yen, and the amp about 20,000 yen. Even with the other world ripoff ten times price, it’s about 500,000, but for a court musician like her, it shouldn’t be an unaffordable amount. Ah-ah, if I could play, I might not have needed to learn violin. Holding a child-sized violin, ignoring Ms. Pamela frolicking over the guitar, I start practicing violin. Well naturally, no decent sound comes out from the start, only sounds like ‘Gigooo!’ that would get sound effects in manga came out. Anxious about the future…

◇ ◇ ◇

“This was unexpected…” “Usually they send a proxy with some reason.”

Across the table of the ramen chain ‘Horakuen’ which completely became His Majesty the Emperor’s office, Windham, the Emperor of Symphonia Imperial Kingdom, and Marquis Tenor, the Prime Minister, were groaning. On the table, a single letter. The crest pressed on the sealing wax is a double-headed dragon. That was the Imperial Seal of the Allegretto Empire, a great power to the east of Symphonia Imperial Kingdom.

“To think the Imperial Family would say they will attend…” “Probably, no undoubtedly, Lady Sakuraile is the objective. The ‘Princess of the Holy Sword’ who defeated the Dark Dragon, subjugated the cursed Magic Sword, and became a bridge to the elves… The Empire cannot ignore this.” “Thought some hand would reach sooner or later, but didn’t think they would come so blatantly from the front.”

Allegretto Empire isn’t openly hostile, but numerous skirmishes have occurred near the adjacent border. Disturbances like driving bandit groups into the Empire, causing rampages by magic beasts, are too many to enumerate. Although separated from Allegretto Empire by the steep Kalimba Mountain Range, they have clashed repeatedly in history over the Mbira Plains south of it. The most recent war was about thirty years ago, and the one who participated as Crown Prince in that war is the current Emperor of Allegretto Empire, Paptimus G. Allegretto. Even over fifty years of age and reigning on the throne, he has a bitter past of almost controlling Mbira Plains in the previous war, only to be crushed by the exploits of the Kingdom’s young hero, Zalbac von Einsatz.

“From the Emperor’s perspective, Lady Sakuraile is the one who crushed his great achievement… and also the granddaughter of Margrave Einsatz. It would be impossible not to care.” “Caught the eye of a troublesome one.”

The Empire is currently in a period of confusion. Like the Kingdom, there are factional disputes, far from being monolithic. Among them, there is a faction that can be called pro-Kingdom. As the Kingdom, they want to lend a hand to that faction and have them seize real power in the Empire but…

“So, who is coming?” “The Empire’s Fourth Imperial Princess, Her Highness Leticia e Allegretto.” “Fourth Imperial Princess…? Ah, the ‘Ice Princess’.”

Allegretto Empire’s Fourth Imperial Princess, Leticia e Allegretto, was generally called the ‘Ice Princess’. Rumors reached the Kingdom that this comes from her ‘Gift’ being ice-type, and also from her expression like an iron mask that never shows a smile.

“If she’s the iron mask princess as rumored, does that mean they have no intention of compromising with our Kingdom at all?” “Likely so. From their perspective, they want to investigate Lady Sakuraile, not particularly establish friendship with our country.”

There is a possibility they are sending the Ice Princess to anger us. Picking fights and taking invasive actions is the Empire’s specialty.

“And… one more Imperial Princess. Her Highness Risha e Allegretto. Ninth Imperial Princess.” “Ninth… Don’t know her. How old?” “Six years of age. Probably selected because she is the same age as Lady Sakuraile. Her birth mother’s rank is low, and succession rank seems to be the lowest.”

Currently, the Allegretto Emperor has five sons and seven daughters. Originally there were a few more, but they died due to illness or unfortunate accidents. While there are suspicious deaths that make one wonder if they were accidents, currently there are twelve heirs to the throne. Of them, two princesses have already married, so effectively ten are candidates for the next Emperor. Allegretto Empire, like Symphonia Imperial Kingdom, recognizes succession by women. In fact, the Emperor before last was an Empress. However, succession is merely recognized; the rank is greatly influenced by the birth mother’s family status. Princess Risha has a younger brother below her, but due to her mother’s family status, her succession rank is lower than her brother. The current first in line is the First Imperial Prince who is the Crown Prince, but he is reaching thirty and is said to be bedridden with illness. The Crown Prince has no children, and it was said the next Emperor might be one of the Crown Prince’s siblings.

“Anyone would be fine as long as they aren’t idiots hostile to us but…” “Normally it would be the Second Imperial Prince but… he is a hardliner hawk close to the military. If he becomes Emperor, he might turn spears against us immediately.” “Must gather information on them. Let’s ask the Nanane Clan through Cloud.”

No one should know yet that the Nanane Clan, an intelligence organization said to be legendary, has sided with the Kingdom. The King realizes that Sakuraile, who made them allies at this timing, is truly loved by the Goddesses. Otherwise, they wouldn’t let a Divine Beast be a guard beast. One can’t help but think whatever the Empire does, Sakuraile might manage somehow. However, relying entirely on Sakuraile is pathetic as an adult. She is still a child. Even the King does not want to force his cute niece.

“I ask for thorough security at the Autumn Cooling Party. Don’t know what they will pull, but it won’t just end with greetings. Don’t let your guard down.” “Ha.”

◇ ◇ ◇

Carrying numerous speculations, preparations for the banquet begin. What awaits at the end of that banquet? Only God knows that. The story turns. Regardless of the Villainess’s wish or lack thereof.